Green Bag Discussion Series- A Monthly Lunch & Learn on Sustainability

The Sustainability Council launched the Green Bag Discussion Series today, featuring Associate Director for Sustainability Lori Strawder, who presented the newly-approved Campus Sustainability Plan.  The discussion series is a monthly lunch & learn meeting, on the first Monday or Tuesday of the month, to help explain and explore sustainability topics on campus.  Upcoming events will be posted on the FrontPage Calendar and on the Sustainability Council Facebook page.

Strawder outlined the year-long process to create an official campus sustainability plan, a document that guides the university toward improving energy conservation, materials recover, and sustainability policy.

The university’s vision of sustainability includes:

  • implementing sustainability initiatives embracing social, environmental and economic components throughout campus;
  • progressing as a model of engagement through development and promotion of community-based partnerships;
  • evolving as a model for a sustainable campus in the Middle Georgia area; and
  • attaining recognition in the University System of Georgia as a campus leader in sustainability.

The document goes further to outline specific tasks to reduce energy usage and increase recycling.  While the plan has been approved by campus administration, it remains a ‘work in progress,’ as Georgia College works to improve its campus sustainability rating.

Green Initiative ‘Green Bag’ Discussion Series

SUSTAINABILITY GREEN BAG DISCUSSION SERIES

Come share lunch and learn about Campus Sustainability!

Monday, 8 September 2014, 12:30-1:30pm HS 211
Topic: Campus Sustainability Plan
Speaker: Lori Strawder, Assistant Director of Facilities Operations for Sustainability

Tuesday, 7 October 2014, 12:30-1:30pm HS 211
Topic: Georgia College Recycling Program
Speaker: Dr. Doug Oetter, Professor of Geography

Monday, 3 November 2014, 12:30-1:30pm HS 211
Topic: Sustainability, Ethics, and Food
Speaker: Dr. Mark Causey, Instructor of Philosophy and Liberal Studies

Brought to you by the Green Initiative
http://www.gcsu.edu/green

2014 Cool Schools Rankings- GC at #171

The 2014 Cools Schools report came out this week, and GC came in at #171.  It’s the first year we’ve been ranked, and while there is room to move up, we are ahead of most of our peers, many of which were not ranked.

Other schools to note:

  • Georgia Institute of Technology    10
  • Appalachian State University    22
  • University of Minnesota Morris    31
  • Emory University    47
  • The Evergreen State College    56
  • Elon University    69
  • Southern Oregon University    73
  • Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania    89
  • Florida Gulf Coast University    130
  • Keene State College    164

The full report is at: http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2014-5-september-october/cool-schools-2014/full-ranking

GC Sustainability Leaders Attend Professional Workshop

Associate Director for Sustainability Lori Strawder and Sustainability Council Chair Doug Oetter recently attended the Campus Sustainability Leadership Program at the University of Vermont.  The week-long professional development workshop offered extensive training and skill-building in campus sustainability, including:

  • Introduction and Systems Thinking
  • Campus Operations
  • Curricula
  • Making Change: Specific Strategies
  • Community Partnerships and Sustainability Education
  • Leadership and Synthesis

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Lori Strawder, Associate Director for Sustainability, and Doug Oetter, Professor of Geography, at the 2014 Campus Sustainability Leadership Program in Burlington, Vermont.

Sustainability Courses at Georgia College

The Sustainability in the Curriculum teaching circle recently updated the list of core and upper-level courses that include significant sustainability content:

Course Name Description
BIOL 1120 Biodiversity Includes in depth treatment of ecology and conservation biology are covered
ENSC 1000/1000L Introduction to Environmental Science Course directly addresses sustainability, resource use, and water issues
ENSC 1050 Sustainability and World Population Course directly addresses sustainability, resource use, and water issues
GC1Y Climate and Chemistry Course content includes in-depth analysis of climate change
GC1Y Environmental Literature Topics include a variety of environmental authors and texts related to sustainability
GC1Y Global  Challenges Course investigates major changes in the global future, including food, water, populations, and conflict
GC1Y Into Wilderness Topics include environmental ethics, natural history, and personal responsibility for sustainability
GC2Y Animal Ethics In-depth analysis of food ethics and environmental consequences of animal agriculture
GC2Y Crossroads Global political inquiry into resource conflict and population pressures
GC2Y Ecosophy Presentation of environmental ethics and critical analysis of important local, regional, and global issues
GC2Y Ethics & What We Eat Study of the environmental impacts of food choices, including a call to personal involvement in campus involvement
GC2Y Global Connections Detailed analysis of the social, economic, and environmental impacts of global trade, both locally and globally
GC2Y This Island Earth Study of past environmental and cultural histories of our local area, with detailed attention to human rights, ecology, and individual responsibility
GC2Y Water & Society Detailed investigation of water supply and delivery, and the ecological issues related to water
SOCI 1121 Sociological Perspectives Global Inequality and Population/Demography issues, discussion of problems (and possible solutions) with sprawl and a discussion of water resources and water scarcity, as well as some of the environmental consequences of population pressures in developed and developing countries.
BIOL 2800 Ecology Human modification of nutrient cycles, conservation biology, water conservation, biodiversity, sustainable urban ecology
ANTH/POLS 4600 Rise and Fall of Civilizations Detailed examination of past civilizations and their connection to the natural world, including those activities that contributed to ecological demise
ECON/ENSC 3680 Natural Resource & Environmental Economics A study of how economic forces can lead to environmental degradation and how the same forces can be directed to enhance environmental quality. Topics include resource and environmental valuations, property rights and externalities, market failure, alternative solutions and policies, problems in monitoring and enforcement, economic analysis of the development of legislation and regulation, and applications to current policy issues.
ENSC/GEOG 4400 Resource Use A study of the nature of natural resources, their distribution, usage, and renewal. Addresses concepts that define resources and their allocation, the geographic dimensions of natural resources, as well as the effects of their exploitation. Topics may include forests, fisheries, minerals, natural amenities, tourism, water resources, human-environmental interaction, resource evaluation, and institutional influences on resource use and management.
ENSC/GEOG 4450 Environment and Society A study of the basic principles of ecology, resource economics, and environmental history as they relate to environmental management and resource conservation issues around the world. Addresses the social impacts of air, water, and soil pollution, human population growth, food production, deforestation, and many other environmental issues.
GEOG 4250 Geography of Health This course examines the impact of physical and cultural geographic factors on military and humanitarian relief operations in a variety of physiographic and cultural regions throughout the world from ancient times to the present.
KINS 3353 Introduction to Environmental Health Examine health issues, scientific understanding of causes, and possible future approaches to control the major environmental health problems in industrialized and developing countries.
ODED 4500 Ecological Connections in Outdoor Education examining multiple social and non- human environmental issues including population dynamics, manufacturing, consumerism, climate change, Environmental values and beliefs, environmentally responsible behaviors, etc.

Ennis Hall Targeted for LEED Silver

The team renovating Ennis Hall is targeting their work for the Silver Certificate in the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building certification process.  Georgia College has enjoyed the the sustainability initiatives of the Wellness & Recreation Center, with its own Silver certification, and we look forward to exploring the possibilities of being able to certify a building restoration. 

The design team was tasked with preserving the building historically significant features while reconfiguring the interior to meet the needs of the college’s growing Art Department. Included in the planning process were upgraded mechanical, electrical, plumbing and information technology systems to meet new building standards. The renovation reused nearly 100 percent of the structure, including exterior walls, roof decking and structural floor. Perhaps more importantly, the project demonstrates that existing campus legacy buildings can be successfully recycled into new green buildings.

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Conserving Energy During Cold Weather

Dear Campus Community,

Due to the severe temperatures, gas and power prices are rising. Directives have been issued to Georgia College by the State of Georgia Natural Gas Program Office and the University System  of Georgia Office of Real Estate and Facilities to minimize usage of power and gas for today where possible. Facilities staff are making efforts to reduce lighting usage.

Currently, a curtailment of natural gas is in effect as of Jan 6.  The curtailment requires Georgia College to switch from natural gas to alternate fuel for heating purposes. The switch over took place Monday afternoon and will continue throughout the day, today.

We are asking all employees to be cognizant of your usage and reduce where applicable/possible. For example, if you notice any lights left on in classrooms or conference rooms, please shut them off.

Should you have any questions or concerns, feel free to forward those to me.

Thanks,

Lorianne H. Strawder
Assistant Director of Facilities Operations for Sustainability
Georgia College & State University
Milledgeville, GA  31061
Sustainability email: sustaingc@gcsu.edu
Sustainability listserv: sustaingc@list.gcsu.edu
478-445-7016
478-445-1797

Sustainability-“the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs”.  Go Green!!!!

America Recycles Day

The Environmental Science Club and Sustainability Council are hosting a table FOUR days this week (Tue-Fri, 10-2) for America Recycles Day (15 November)!!

We will have a lot of things to pass out and inform, including buttons, stickers, bookmarks, magnets, pencils, and information. Several recycling bins will be raffled away to students who can pass the “Can I Recycle This” test! Recycling pledge cards will be collected to promote initiatives to recycle!

We need your help on any of these days- please stop by the tent and spend some time getting to know the topics and message. Sign a pledge card, enter to win a bin, and spread the word that Georgia College Recycles!!

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America Recycles Day 2013 at Georgia College

Get Ready to Recycle, America!

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The Environmental Science Club and Sustainability Council are hosting a table FOUR days this week (Tue-Fri, 10-2) for America Recycles Day (15 November)!! 

We will have a lot of things to pass out and inform, including buttons, stickers, bookmarks, magnets, pencils, and information.   Several recycling bins will be raffled away to students who can pass the “Can I Recycle This” test!  Recycling pledge cards will be collected to promote initiatives to recycle!

We need your help on any of these days- please stop by the tent and spend some time getting to know the topics and message.  Sign a pledge card, enter to win a bin, and spread the word that Georgia College Recycles!!