In creating the Task Force on Environmental Sustainability on February 1, 2006, President Kermit Hall outlined the broad goal it would help address. "As a public higher education institution, the University at Albany has both an obligation and an opportunity to be a leader in environmental sustainability. Our institution can and should set an example as an environmentally responsible citizen—a model for other colleges and universities as well as a model for our own students and the community in everyday life.
The task force is assessing the state of the University's current sustainability policies and practices through the work of six committees. The group is gathering facts and developing an environmental scorecard to benchmark and track conditions in areas ranging from energy use to waste management. The task force will also recommend ways to raise awareness university-wide, promote a culture that supports sustainability, as well as improve policies and practices long-term. The creation of a permanent group was envisioned to report annually at the Spring Faculty Meeting on progress.
Co-Leaders
Kathryn Lowery, Vice
President for Finance and Business
Mary Ellen Mallia,
Director, Office of Environmental Sustainability
Andrei Lapenas,
Associate Professor, Department of
Geography and Planning
George Robinson,
Associate Professor, Co-Director,
Campus Natural Areas Studies,
Department of Biological Sciences
Members
Steve Beditz, Assistant VP for Human Resources Management
Vincent Franconere,
Director, Environmental Health and
Safety, Division of Finance and
Business
John Giarrusso, Assistant VP for Physical Facilities
Catherine Herman, Interim VP for Media & Marketing
Helmut Hirsch,
Distinguished Teaching Professor,
Department of Biological Sciences
Indu, Energy Manager
Karen Kettlewell, Director of Food Services
Gary Kleppel,
Professor, Director of
Biodiversity, Conservation and
Policy Program, Department of
Biological Sciences
Catherine Lawson,
Assistant Professor, Director of
Masters of Regional Planning
program, Department of Geography and
Planning
Doug Melnick, Senior Planner, Department of Development & Planning, City of Albany
Robert Nakamura,
Professor, Department of Political
Science, Rockefeller College of
Public Affairs and Policy
Richard R. Perez, Senior
Research Associate, Atmospheric
Sciences Research Center
Lynne Radle, President for UAlbany Students for Sustainability
Matthew Ryan, Graduate Assistant
Michael J. Sattinger,
Professor, Department of Economics
Stacy Stern, Assistant to VP Finance and Business
Miriam Trementozzi,
Associate Vice President for
Community Engagement
Katherine Trent,
Associate Professor, Department of
Sociology
Holly Van Allen, Assistant Director for Residential Life
Benjamin Weaver, Assistant to the Provost
Staff
Normajean Bennett,
Administrative Assistant to the Vice
President for Finance and Business
Committees and
Objectives
(Note: Individuals with an asterisk (*) next to their name are members of the Task Force)
Built Environment
Chair: Kate Lawson
Committee members: Ben Weaver, John Pipkin, S. Thyagarajan, Jason Zogg, Joy Kim
Objective: Address areas around and between campus buildings and other places where people interact with their surroundings, with the goal of improving these interactions
Goals/projects for academic year:
To facilitate the development of overarching strategies to promote and preserve the built environment on and between campuses
- Participate in the Getty Grant by conducting a survey of student responses to the built environment
- Coordinate with the Washington/Western BRT Study with recommendations for development around transit nodes to enhance the walking environment
Curriculum Development
Chair: Kendra Smith-Howard
Committee members: Stacy Stern, Joy Kim, Dan Sellers, Mary Ellen Mallia
Objective: Assess incidence of daily choices that reflect ecological knowledge, incorporate concepts of sustainability into all academic activities, and develop campus sustainability service practicum
Goals/projects for academic year:
- Identify courses that deal with sustainability
- Seek out opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration
- Help develop and promote educational events centered on environmental sustainability
- Help incorporate Earth Day activities into courses
Energy Use
Chair: Indu (acting chair)
Committee members: Andrei Lapenas, Richard Perez, Vinnie Franconere, Matt Ryan, Brett Rogers, Karen Kettlewellen
Objective: Assess energy use and resultant air pollution, promote conservation, green energy use, reduce air pollution and produce savings
Goals/projects for academic year:
- Bring some type of energy campaign to the podium buildings
- Inter session shut down, help achieve buy in
- Once a week slowdowns for energy savings
- Sponsor energy forum
Environmental Landscape
Chair: George Robinson
Committee members: John Arnason, Don Keenan, Steve Beditz
Objective: Build information base on land holdings, land cover and surface waters; develop policies for sustainable land planning; create more interesting and appealing campus grounds
Goals/projects for academic year:
- Participate in post-"pond renovation" renovation
- Calculations of ecological footprints, with emphasis on our reliance on natural "capital" to sustain us
- Work with LA consultant on enhancing treed landscapes
- Work with Hazardous Waste chair (Vinnie Franconere) on campus watershed plan
- Research native plant species
- Implement raingarden project
Green Commerce
Chair: Gary Kleppel (Bio/BCP)
Committee members: Dixie Botts (Barnes & Noble Bookstore), Helmut Hirsch (Biology/Human Biology), Kenneth Jones (Purchasing), Melissa Kalvestrand (Graduate Student), Erin LaBarge (Undergraduate), David Lewis (Geography and Planning), Michelle McConville (University Auxiliary Services), Dan Sellers, Lorre Smith (Library), Katherine Trent
Objective: Examine food procurement practices at UAlbany; assess the waste stream and potential for composting and replacing disposables with reusable's; focus on green product purchases
Goals/projects for academic year:
- Develop a campus garden -- to provide food to faculty, staff and students; link the food production process with an academic education experience [planning to take place in Fall 2008]
- Begin developing a campus biodiesel program to convert WVO from Chartwells' kitchens to biodiesel, part of which will be distributed to farmers that produced food for the campus [proposal submitted to NYFVI; NYS Assemblyman P. Lopez is moving the proposal forward]
- Conduct large fall and early spring farmers' markets; develop a small weekly market on campus [completed]
- Promote responsible, "change-of-culture" purchasing by giving extra credit to students who buy recycled products at the Bookstore
- Convene a symposium on eating locally at the institutional level -- publish a report on the findings [planning to take place in Fall 2008]
Public Relations and Outreach
Chair: Holly Van Allen
Committee members: Gina Muscato, Cynthia Calautti, Miriam Trementozzi
Objective: To promote awareness of the Task Force on Environmental Sustainability; support the objectives and activities of individual committees through marketing efforts to increase participation and collaboration; foster relationships with the greater community by sponsoring and supporting programs and events that coincide with the mission statement
Goals/projects for academic year:
- Assisting communities with publicizing upcoming events
- Establishing community connections
Solid and Hazardous Waste Committee
Chair: Vinnie Franconere (Hazardous waste); Open Position (Solid waste)
Committee members: Bob Nakamura, Doug Cornwall, Tim Reilly, Lisa Donohue, Kristen Kielbasa, Karina Cuenca, Meghan Reardon, Katie Devlin, Jessica Rivolo, Mary Ellen Mallia, Angelica, Andy
Objective: Understand source of waste production on the campuses; develop more proactive, responsible ways of reducing waste
Goals/projects for academic year:
- Improve information on battery recycling
- Improve recycling infrastructure in apartments
- Improve recycling infrastructure on podium, with an emphasis on heavily populated areas such as the Campus Center, SEFCU and libraries
- Initiate an ink jet and toner recycling program
- Brainstorm on ideas to reduce the build up of hazardous waste in academic departments
Transportation
Chair: Kate Lawson
Committee members: Mike Sattinger, Rose Dorsman, Mike Koch, Jamie Sepler
Objective: Address areas around and between campus buildings as well as the means of traveling to the University with the goal of improving these interactions
Goals/projects for academic year:
Facilitate the development of a comprehensive transit strategy to serve the needs of students, staff and faculty
- Develop and distribute a "user-friendly" University-focused transit map (http:www.albany.edu/pmts/UAlbany-Bus-Map(4).pdf)
- Participate in the Western/Washington BRT Study to ensure accurate data collection and analysis of the transit services provided by CDTA
- Conduct additional transit services analyses to provide a better understanding of the current transit system under the control of the University and develop strategies to maximize available resources
- Use the findings from the concurrent studies to promote the use of transit and other alternative modes (e.g., walking and biking), including the identification of infrastructure needs (e.g., pathways between transit stops and building entrances)
Participate in grant proposals that will help promote and preserve better transportation options for the campus and surrounding area
- Submit NYSERTA grant: Understand Commuter Patterns & Behavior: An Analysis to Recommend Policies Aimed at Reducing Vehicle Use
- Submit DOH grant: Active Campus by Design: SUNY Healthy HEart Program
Coordinate with the Albany Bike Corridor Studio project, including working with surrounding neighborhoods to promote bike commuting
