SPEAR: Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Responsibility - graphics by Lee Hopkins

Meeting Minutes

October 26, 2009

Week in review

  • Campus Sustainability Day went great! The water tasting station definitely changed people's opinions.
  • Story of Stuff was a blast.
  • C-12 grant $50000: video for the Water Bottle Initiative completed. Many thanks to Erik!
  • Brita Filter for Good grant: topic is change to white roof. $10000 grant.
  • Pearsons: done.

Andrea George, Director of SEMO

  • topic: green jobs and green careers
Skills
  • systems thinker: seeing relationships among things
  • out of box thinking
  • adaptable: the field changes daily
  • understand science and research
  • relationship and consensus builder
  • "soft skills": speaking, writing, and research skills
  • empathy for other's viewpoints
How to get into a green career
  • few majors focused on sustainability
  • internships are very important
  • volunteer experience
  • advanced degrees (master's)
Hot fields
  • clean energy devel.: solar (Clarksville Hemlock Semicond. plant), biomass (esp. switchgrass), wind, and alternative fuel vehicles
  • green devel
  • consulting
  • corporate management (e.g. green house emission calculation)
  • entrepreneurship
Other notes
  • current political landscape favorable for green jobs
  • to learn more, contact Courtney Dial at the career center: first sustainability careers consultant
  • most important: network
  • look at SustainVU web site for more information

Haiz Oppenheimer, Green Corps

  • GC trains people to become organizers
  • 13-month paid program that trains college graduates to run environ. campaigns: influence decision makers
  • combines training with working at great placements
  • GC transforms awareness into action
  • typically work with large national groups (those with money)
  • example: Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign
  • GC helps employees find other jobs in the environ. field

Video Clip of the Week

  • Cars made of aluminium that run on compressed air

Opportunities of the Week

  • Wellness Bash: 3-5, 5-7 shifts
  • Vanderbuddies: this Saturday 11 AM to 1 PM: fun recycling games!
  • Engineers Without Borders fundraiser: selling $10 water bottles (cheaper than bookstore- $16)

Next Time:

  • Stacy Worman from the Vanderbilt Biodiesel Initiative
  • Truman/Udall scholarship: interest meeting Monday, November 9 at 5:30 PM in Sarratt 112.

October 12, 2009

  • Bobby Bowman (RA, Towers): Green Tailgate on October 31 against Georgia Tech. Tailgate begins ~ 3 hours before kickoff. Contact Bobby if interested, or just show up.
  • Think Gold Act Green (TGAG): An annual event in which all environmental groups on campus come together to promote a project. This year's focus is the water bottle initiative.
  • House Energy: making connections, posters, flyers, Fb messages. People berated for using elevator. :) Hank Ingram reported to have dark windows. "Desserts in the Dark" party. 
  • Meeting with Darren: learned about energy, particularly at med. center. More efficient light bulbs (thousands switched), switching from T12 to T8 fluorescent bulbs, timers for lights (although some resistance from people working late). Coordinating heating and cooling.
  • College Sustainability Report Card came out on Oct. 7.
  • Grant applications are due end of October / beginning of November. What to do with the money is open to suggestion. Please sign up for grant writing sessions if interested.

Presentation from Kendra Abkowitz, Sustainability Professional at the Sustainability and Environmental Management Office (SEMO)

  • SustainVU contact information: email SustainVU@vanderbilt.edu, or call 615-322-2057.
  • SustainVU website: join the mailing list to receive updates. SustainVU is also on Facebook.
  • recently published environmental commitment statement (Apr 29, 2009). Also published baseline greenhouse gas inventory. Almost 50% generated by electricity.
  • Eco-Dores program: students representing every residence hall serve as environmental mentors and experts and organize monthly events. Still looking for volunteers. Please contact Kendra if interested.
  • upcoming Bike Share Program: trying to locate bikes and stations. Probably be up next semester.
  • Think One program: reducing energy use through better habits.
Energy conservation tips
  • 40% energy use from heating/cooling. Suggested thermostat setting: 75ºF in summer, 68-70º in winter.
  • If AC unit is not working, please contact your RA and/or Area Manager.
  • Take advantage of shades or blinds.
  • Dress for the seasons.
  • Lighting counts for about 22% of energy use. Turn off lights when not in use. Take advantage of day light. Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs.
  • Computers consume about 17% of energy at colleges. Set sleep/hibernate options, and turn off when not in use. It has been shown that regularly turning computers on and off does not damage the circuitry.
  • Unplug electronics, especially those with power bricks. Electronics consume energy even when they are not in use. This is called "phantom power" or "vampire loads."
  • 90% of energy used by washing machine due to heating water. Use cold/warm settings. Wash full loads.
  • Purchase Energy Star certified electronics.
  • Clean out "dust bunnies" from behind electronics. 
  • Use stairs instead of elevators.

October Opportunities

  • Campus Sustainability Day is Tuesday, October 20th. This is strongly encouraged to attend! 5:30 pm in Wilson 127. Come celebrate sustainability on our campus!
  • The House Energy Competition is almost mid-way through! The winning house will still be receiving tee-shirts, a pizza party, and a masseuse for the day.

Please contact Leslie if you would like to participate in any of the following:

  • Habitat For Humanity's Commodore Trot fundraiser: Oct. 28, 6 PM. Sign up under the SPEAR team!
  • Grant writing next Monday, October 19th, in Buttrick 201 at 8 pm
  • Recycling for the football game this Saturday

Next meeting: Monday, October 26

Speakers are Andrea George, Director of Vanderbilt's Sustainability and Environmental Management Office (SEMO), and Haiz Oppenheimer, from Green Corps.

September 28, 2009

Dorebusters

  • Student discount program
  • 21 businesses. TPAC, ballet, ClothingXchange, etc.
  • through VSG

Think Gold, Act Green Coalition

All of the environmental groups on campus unite together to promote environmental awareness. Last year, members and sponsors were VSG, VUcept, SustainVU, SPEAR, the Office of Greek Life, LDIA, WilSkills, OACS, Net Impact, Residential Education and the Dean of Students.

Battle of the Bulbs:

  • 3rd annual House energy competition
  • Winning House receives pizza party, massage, and T-shirts
  • Endorsed by Dean Wcislo
  • House leaders needed to promote and raise awareness within houses. House leaders meet every Monday in October at 8 PM in Buttrick 201.
How to conserve
  • Use compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).
  • Use natural lighting whenever possible.
  • Set thermostat to 75-78 degrees.
  • Don’t open windows.
  • Use energy saving settings on computer.
  • Don’t leave rechargers plugged in. Transformers and power bricks use energy even when no device is connected.
  • Reduce hot water use when doing laundry. Run on full loads when possible.

Pollinator garden

  • Visited this past week
  • Will be covered during SPEAR meeting week of 14 Nov

Ecodores

  • Received 80 applications for 34 spots
  • Applicants are still needed from Reinke, McGill, Vaughn, EAST, Memorial, Murray, West, Kissam, Crawford, Chaffin, and Barnard.

Jennifer Hackett’s recycling info

  • Adding in recycling bins as budget allows.
  • Students can recycle paper, plastics # 1 and #2, aluminium and cardboard anywhere. Please sort recyclables into the appropriate bins.
  • Battery, ink cartridge, and cell phone recycling at most on campus libraries.
  • Glass recycling is available in the Commons.
  • CFL recycling at Peabody Maintenance and Bryan Building.
  • Electronics/appliance recycling during move-out.
  • Student workers always needed! Contact if interested for volunteering as well.
  • Doubled recycling volume 2007-2008
  • Greek recycling just launched!!!
  • Contact Jennifer Hackett at Recycle@vandderbilt.edu, or 615-34-EARTH
  • SPEAR partnering at move-in cardboard crew and Rites of Spring recycling

October environmental opportunities

Grant writing
  • Pearson’s Sustainability Deadline, 6 Nov
  • Brita Filter for Good, 30 Oct
  • Earth Aid, 2 Oct
  • C14, TBA
Eco-Dores still needed!
coming with Green Corps
  • Haiz Oppenheimer coming to speak on 22/23 Oct.
  • Date to be rearranged, due to conflict with October Break.
1st annual summit for campus sustainability
  • Friday, 2 Oct., 8:30 am
  • Middle Tennessee State University, Tom H. Jackson Building
Game Day Recycling
  • Sat. 3 Oct., 4:45 pm, Gate 2
  • 10-12 volunteers needed
Engineers without Borders fundraiser
  • $10 to buy a sturdy reusable water bottle
Campus Sustainability Day
  • 20 October 2009
  • Faculty panelists wanted! Please ask your professors by Thursday, 1 October.
Brown Bag lunch with Mr. Jeff Gowdy
  • Vanderbilt Center for Environmental Management Studies
  • Oct. 9, 11:30 am
  • Jacobs Hall Room 269
Green Evening Cafe
  • World Cafe on Community Devel
  • 29 Sept, 6-8:30 pm
  • Emporium Cafe, 25 East Main Street, Hohenwald, TN (90 miles!)
Grassroots
  • Concerts on the Lawn at Dismas House
  • Friday, 9 October, 5-7 PM
  • Free admission!

Smart Grids video clip

In future, energy will come at different rates based on time of day used. Smart meters tell you not only how much energy you used, but also when you used it.

Next SPEAR meeting

  • Monday, 12 Oct, 8 PM in Buttrick 201
  • Speaker: Kendra Abkowitz: carbon emissions report

Coming up

  • Game day recycling this Sat!
  • Battle of the Bulbs begins Mon. House leaders meet on 5 Oct. at 8 PM in Buttrick 201.

September 14, 2009

  • $1,300 raised at Eco-friendly fashion show, $160 in bags. There are still some left; contact .
  • Another Kilowatt Ours training session will be scheduled for those who missed the first one. Time TBA.
  • Careers center now has an environment and sustainability option!
  • Biodiesel: needs to increase biodiesel supply
  • Solar panels on roofs is a potential development at Vanderbilt.
  • Composting: Training is 18 September, 3PM Commons Center Patio.
  • Residential composting is something are exploring. VSG covers entire cost. Wide interest in the room!!!
  • Energy saving tip: paint roofs white to reflect sunlight and reduce AC use.
  • Wind powered things…
  • House energy competition: 15 Oct-1 Nov
  • Guest speaker next week: Jennifer Hackett, Vanderbilt Recycling Coordinator
  • Ideas: clotheslines, rainwater collection, fraternity recycling, light sensors in bathroom with automatic off
  • Art gallery: raise water bottle usage awareness. Have 3-story hanging space exhibit of water bottles used!!!
  • Next meeting: Monday, September 28 at 8:00 pm in Buttrick 201. Bring your own spoon, if you can!