Welcome to the Sustainability Committee Home page!
"Sustainability is a state in which interdependent natural, social and economic systems prosper today without compromising their future prosperity."
Sustaniability Committee Mission:
Wheaton College students, faculty and staff will meet monthly to discuss Wheaton's actions and policies regarding the environmental impact of the college. Topics will include energy efficiency of buildings, maintenance of grounds, access to recycling on campus, and other related matters.
The goal of the Wheaton College Sustainability Committee is to create a forum for ideas and concerns to be shared between various parts of the campus community. Communication between departments allows for better understanding and documenting of the school's efforts in achieving sustainability. The Wheaton College Sustainability Committee will be able to recognize positive actions and note areas that need improving.
Background:
The idea for the Sustainability Committee began during student meetings with members of the Wheaton Board of Trustees. Spring of 2006 and fall of 2007 a small group of students meet with trustees to discuss the greening of Wheaton's Campus. The trustees wished to see more student action regarding improving Wheaton's environmental policies. Trustees and students agreed more communication between the faculty and students would benefit raising awareness on environmental issues.
Fall of 2007 to test the Wheaton student body's concern for becoming a more energy efficient campus, members of the Eco Club created a light bulb petition. The petition asked for students to sign in support of changing all light bulbs in the Madeline Clark Wallace Library to energy efficient bulbs. With in a week over 300 signatures were obtained from the student. There is support form the student body to make our campus more energy efficient.
Logistics:
Before the monthly meetings a proposed outline for the meetings will be posted on the Wheaton website. Everyone is welcome at the meetings.
Dates Spring 2007:
Friday, February 23
Friday, March 30
Friday, April 27
Location: TBA
Time: 2:00 pm
We have a listserv!
To get on send a blank e-mail to:
sustain-on@wheatonma.edu