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		News Kenneth Thiemann June 15, 2002 Guest Column © 2002 Kenneth Thiemann. Photos © 2002 Keweenaw Now and MTU Photo Services. Published with Permission

Committee Promotes "Greener" Michigan Tech

By Kenneth Thiemann

HOUGHTON -- The "greening" of the Michigan Technological University campus is underway, thanks to the Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC). MTU President Curt Tompkins established the group last summer in response to a May 2001 proposal from Students Against Violating the Environment (SAVE).

The recently established ESC campus-wide mixed paper recycling program is just one part of the committee's response to President Tompkins' dual charge to the group: create a recycling program and establish a white paper on the potential for improving environmental sustainability on campus.

In early May 2002, launching the MTU campus recycling program, Kristine Bradof, left, and Maria Stoneberg, Environmental Sustainability Committee staff and student members, respectively, discuss acceptable paper types with graduate student Changpeng Fang of Shanghai, China, who noted that China also has recycling. (Photo by Michele Anderson)

The ESC's Vision Fund proposal, "Greening Michigan Tech: Environmental Sustainability in Campus Operations and Activities," was one of five to be approved for funding out of the original 89 ideas that were submitted to the University's Strategic Planning Working Group.

"We hope to set a good example for the greater community," said Kristine Bradof, community programs coordinator for the GEM Center for Science and Environmental Outreach and co-chair of both the ESC recycling subcommittee and the energy efficiency/green building subcommittee.

The ESC consists of 16 individuals, half students and half faculty and staff. The group is partnering with those involved in campus operations, such as grounds and custodial supervisors, to develop ideas and action plans. Modeling itself after successful programs on other campuses while also looking for opportunities to be innovative, the ESC aims primarily to integrate an environmental ethic into the way we do things here at Michigan Tech and the communities in which we live.

Shalini Suryanarayana, ESC committee chair, said student involvement has been the main impetus to the program.

"Without a doubt, it is because of student involvement that the ESC was brought to life," she explained. "They have been the driving force behind many of the initiatives, and their spirit definitely keeps everyone on the committee energized!"

The mixed paper recycling program is limited to the MTU campus and accepts office paper, junk mail, catalogs, magazines and newspapers.

Reported Bradof, "We've already shipped off six tons of paper to Manistique Papers in the first month of the program, which is gradually being expanded to all buildings on campus. We have more than 60 volunteer departmental recycling liaisons, including President Tompkins."

Michigan Tech President Curt Tompkins is one of 60 volunteer departmental recycling liaisons working with the campus Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC). Tompkins established the group last summer in response to a May 2001 proposal from Students Against Violating the Environment (SAVE). (Photo courtesy MTU Photo Services)

Bradof added that Isle Royale National Park, Keweenaw National Historical Park and the United States Forest Service office are also cooperating partners in the recycling program.

While the recycling program is the most visible ESC project right now, several ESC subcommittees are also looking at topics like campus energy efficiency, green building design, transportation alternatives, green purchasing, low impact landscaping, campus and community education, the cost-benefit analysis of proposed activities and funding of environmental initiatives. 

The ESC subcommittees include both ESC committee members and other interested individuals. Meetings are open to anyone and are announced on mtugreen-l@mtu.edu. campus energy efficiency, green building design, transportation alternatives

The idea is to create a win/win situation for both university economics and the environment.

"ESC's approach is about much more than recycling," Bradof noted.

She said the ESC will be concerned with such issues and opportunities as creating student internships; working with faculty to incorporate relevant issues into course curricula; senior design projects; engineering enterprises; evaluations of environmental costs and benefits; collaborating with student organizations on environmental projects; and informing the public about such issues as recycling computers, reducing energy use and carpooling.

Since launching the campus recycling program in early May, the recycling subcommittee members have been investigating the use of recycled-content paper and reuse of one-sided paper in copiers and printers. The group is also working with Phi Sigma Biological National Honor Society on the expansion of a program to collect packing peanuts for reuse by The Shipping Shop in Houghton.

Looking at leadership in energy and environmental design, the energy efficiency/green building subcommittee is meeting regularly with the architects for the new Center for Integrated Learning and Information Technology (Fisher Hall and Library Expansion).

Lastly, the transportation alternatives subcommittee, co-chaired by Suryanarayana, is looking at past surveys and documents from the parking task force and will be evaluating ways to promote walking, bicycling, carpooling and other alternatives to driving alone to campus.

With the help of the new ESC at Michigan Tech, the campus may find itself a greener, more environmentally aware campus that is competitive on a national level with other green universities. So good luck ESC, and keep up the good work!

To obtain more information on the committee, or to subscribe to the MTU green list, contact mtugreen-l@mtu.edu.

Editor's Note: For more information about the Gem Center for Science and Environmental Outreach, visit their Web site. See also their information about recycling in the local community. This is one of a series of Keweenaw Now articles on community "firsts" in the local area. If your organization is doing or planning a new or innovative project of benefit to the local community, send the information to the Editor at andersm@pasty.com.

Learn more about the author of this guest column, Kenneth Thiemann.

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Note: Views expressed by our guest columnists are not necessarily the views of Keweenaw Now.