Environmental Concerns to take Center Stage
 

Chartwells introduces energy and food saving concepts and will participate in Trinity's Campus Sustainability Day.

HARTFORD, Conn. – “Green” won’t just be the color of the day but the mind-set on Wednesday, October 22, when Trinity hosts its first annual Campus Sustainability Day, an environmentally-friendly event during which faculty, staff and students can engage in activities such as exchanging their electricity-wasteful light bulbs to learning about fuel-efficient Zipcars.

More than a dozen organizations are expected to participate. The event will take place between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the quad in front of Mather Hall. Should it rain, the Washington Room will serve as the main venue.

Trinity, like higher education institutions across the country, has become increasingly attuned to the necessity of preserving and protecting our environment, whether by shrinking the College’s carbon footprint, recycling mercury-laden products or serving locally grown food.

President James F. Jones, Jr., was among several hundred college and university leaders who signed the Presidents Climate Commitment in the summer of 2007, a document stating that education officials are deeply concerned about the unprecedented scale and speed of global warming, and that they recognize the need to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by 80 percent by mid-century. The Commitment requires all signatories to take measurable steps in pursuit of climate neutrality, and to meet certain deadlines.

To that end, Trinity formed a Campus Sustainability Task Force, which is the institutional structure that is guiding the development and implementation of the College’s climate neutrality plan. Under the task force’s leadership, Trinity has already agreed to adhere to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver Standard in constructing new buildings; purchase energy-star appliances; and encourage the use of public transportation. Other recommendations will follow in the months ahead.

Campus Sustainability Day is an effort to involve faculty, staff and students in the campus-wide effort, and to introduce them to ways that they can join the fight against global warming.

Among the events and activities planned are:

• Nexus Environmental Partners, a consulting firm hired by Trinity to assist the Campus Sustainability Task Force, will present its report detailing the College’s carbon footprint, and opportunities for energy conservation and carbon reduction.

• The Recycling Task Force will make available information about recycling solid waste, bulky materials, cardboard, containers, paper, and metals. New recycling collection containers are currently being distributed.

• Representatives from Chartwells, which is Trinity’s food service provider, will talk about “Trayless Tuesdays,” their use of recycled materials and biodegradable plastics, eliminating food waste, their use of biofuel, and their purchase of locally grown food. For example, Trinity buys cage-free eggs and antibiotic-free pork and chicken. Chartwells will also be having its annual Apple Festival at this event.

• Zipcar, the world’s largest provider of cars-on-demand by the hour or day, will be on hand to remind members of the Trinity community that two Toyota Matrixes are available for use 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The cars, which are fuel efficient, can be rented at reasonable rates that include gas, maintenance, insurance, and reserved parking.

• Two companies that do business with Trinity will discuss and display their environmentally friendly product lines: W.B. Mason, the office supply retailer, will showcase its array of “green” office products. AllSteel, a designer and manufacturer of office furniture, has integrated environmental management and lean manufacturing processes into its products for the past 20 years.

• Green Monster will engage in eWaste recycling. It will accept old, outdated or malfunctioning electronic computer equipment, cell phones and MP3 players. Computer monitors will not be accepted.

• The Sustainability Task Force will unveil a new campus Carpool Web Site that will allow faculty and staff to easily contact other employees who live nearby or within proximity of their driving route. An annual report will be given.

• Other activities will include the exchange of incandescent light bulbs for energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs; the availability of free ridership passes for students who take the bus; an Apple computer recycling program; the giveaway of metal water bottles; and the raffling off of environmentally friendly products to students who pledge to reduce their carbon footprints.