10/28/04 - sustainability group meeting minutes
Thursday, October 28, 2004 2:00 - 3:30 pm Building 1, Room 212

Attendees:
Moriah Demers, Associated Students of Lane Community College
Roger Ebbage, Science
Jacqueline Fern, Science
Mandy Haenelt, Student and Facilities Management & Planning
Jennifer Hayward, College Operations
Bob Mention, College Operations
Joe Russin, Science
Mike Sims, Recycling & Surplus Property
Rick Venturi, Specialized Employment Services

Minutes:

1. Green bag lunch on model sustainability building

Russin briefly reviewed the meeting on the proposed Lane Model Sustainability Building that was on 10/26/04.  Meeting attendees agreed that they would like to have an informational green bag lunch on the proposed building in early December.  Members suggested Wednesday, December 1, 2004.  Russin will check with architect, Galen Ohmart, on whether he can make this date.

2. Review indicator reports and set goals for improvement

Energy:  Members reviewed the energy indicator and determined that the group's goal will be 10% energy use reduction by June 30, 2005.  Hayward noted that the college is in the process of hiring an energy analyst whose goal will also be to reduce energy use by 10% by 6/30/05.  The sustainability group will help with an intensive promotional effort and with planning for conservation projects.  Other energy saving measures that the group suggested were:

• reduce temperature of hot water delivered by 1 or 2 degrees F; and
• turn off hot water circulation system at night.

Water:  Members agreed that a water use reduction goal of 10% would be a good target for this year. 

Hayward reported that a graduate student from Antioch University has asked if she could install a rainwater catchment system at the college as part of a research project.  The system would be connected to a roof and could be used for irrigation or toilet flushing.  The graduate student would also work with faculty and students on curriculum about water conservation.

Fern reported on her research on using ozone generators to whiten and disinfect laundry rather than using chlorine.  Fern spoke with Steve West, Water Management Specialist, at EWEB.  West indicated that Laundries could purchase an ozone-generating box for approximately $1500 that can be connected to several washing machines.  West suggested speaking to other businesses that have purchased the ozone generators to see if they work well.  Fern noted that there is a human health concern because ground level ozone is a harmful pollutant.  If the ozone generators leaked, they could cause more problems than chlorine.  Venturi will audit environmental practices in the Laundry to determine whether improved environmental practices could be implemented.  The investigation will include:

• chemical use;
• water volumes;
• temperatures;
• heat recovery (Ebbage noted that an Energy Management class could help the laundry investigate heat recovery strategies).

Russin will ask the Green Chemistry Club coordinator, John Thompson, whether the Club's students would be interested in researching Laundry chemical use as a project.

Venturi noted that every department should be asked to evaluate practices to determine whether there are more sustainable options.

Recycling:  Sims suggested a recycling rate increase of 5% for 2004/2005.  Key strategies for improving the recycling rate will be:

• increase the number of recycling containers on campus;
• improve handling of surplus property;
• implement waste reduction demonstration projects (cloth towel dispensers; post consumer food waste composting);
• education;
• paper use policy.

Members agreed.

Transportation:  Members briefly discussed potential goals for transportation reduction.  Hayward suggested that a goal be eliminating the need for a multilevel parking structure.  Demers suggested implementing a parking fee.  Ebbage suggested increased frequency of busses up 30^th Avenue to campus and improved bike parking both at Lane and at the bottom of the hill at a bus stop.

The group will finish goal setting for transportation and landscape maintenance at the next meeting.

3. Next meetings

Russin proposed changing the meeting time to Wednesday afternoons so that three faculty and staff members who are not available on Thursday afternoons could attend meetings.  All members in attendance agreed that they could attend Wednesday afternoons.

The next two meetings were scheduled for:

• Wednesday, November 10, 2004 from 3:00 - 4:30 pm [NOTE:  Meeting has been scheduled in Building 16, Room 211]; and
• Wednesday, November 24, 2004 from 3:00 - 4:30 pm

After these two meetings, the Steering Committee will reevaluate whether it should continue meeting every two weeks or whether subgroups working on specific goals should meet more frequently while the Steering Committee meets less frequently.

Minutes prepared by: Jennifer Hayward                  

Date:   11/3/04                       

Action Items

• Venturi to audit environmental practices in the Laundry to determine whether improved environmental practices could be implemented.  The investigation will include: chemical use; water volumes; temperatures; and heat recovery (Ebbage noted that an Energy Management class could help the laundry investigate heat recovery strategies).

Encouraging participation in the sustainability group

• Russin to contact the Green Chemistry Club and the Campus Ecology Club to encourage participation in the sustainability group. 
• Russin to also ask the Green Chemistry Club coordinator, John Thompson, whether the ClubÕs students would be interested in researching Laundry chemical use as a project.
• Demers to contact OSPIRG.

Transportation Opportunities

• Hayward will obtain approval from Marie Matsen to participate in the RideShare Alliance. 
• Demers will determine ASLCC's interest in participating or co-coordinating a commute challenge.

Indicator reports

• Fern to research the impacts of using chlorine vs. ozone to whiten and disinfect laundry and provide the committee with a recommendation.
• Waste Water subcommittee to finalize the Waste Water indicator.
• Cruz to post the indicator documents on internet.

"Green bag" lunches

• Russin to determine whether architect, Galen Ohmart is available to do a presentation on Lane's proposed Model Sustainability Building on Wednesday, December 1 from 12:00 - 1:00 pm.
• Hayward will ask Marie Matsen to ask Tracy Simms if the monthly sustainability green-bag lunch event could be a regular event listed on the Lane home page.

Foundation account

• Matsen to provide suggested talking points for group members to use when promoting the sustainability account.

Community college meeting on sustainability

• Hayward to put the list of Lane's sustainable activities on our website and e-mail the link to the community college sustainability group. 
• Matsen to ask the community college business officers group in which she participates to put a discussion about sustainability on an upcoming meeting agenda.