Student Stevie Freeman: A Tribute to Earth Day

Stevie Freeman is a current student (PIM 67) in the Sustainable Development degree area.  She is a former Peace Corps volunteer and is currently doing her WorkStudy opportunity as an Alternative Energy Coordinator with Andy Martyn Sr., head of the Facilities Department (see Andy’s entry below).  In celebration of Earth Day, we are happy to announce the SIT Graduate Institute’s signing of the Presidential Climate Commitment.  Read Stevie’s blog entry below to learn about SIT’s Environmental Working Group and some of the exciting projects taking place on campus.

When I was hired as the Alternative Energy Coordinator for SIT Graduate Institute I found myself in a position that seemed to happen often in my life. I was in over my head.  I had minimal experience with alternative fuels and a passion to learn the different methods that are out there to reduce our emissions. I began researching and understanding the different paradigms that play out for a university on how they can tackle their efficiency problems. The first step was to create a GreenHouse Gas Inventory (GHGI) to understand where our emissions were coming from and how much over all we were contributing to global warming.

A Tribute to Earth Day, continued

I had no previous experience doing a carbon audit before coming to SIT.  With local resources, conversations, and modeling after Middlebury’s work, I was able to slowly see a light at the end of the tunnel. I worked closely with Facilities Department, mainly Andy, Sharon, and Pat, where they helped explain and envision possibilities for our structural barriers to cut emissions. Maria Echevarria and Michael Ireland who are staff members active in SIT’s Environmental Working Group, helped guide me and pointed me in the right direction of where my questions and data needed to filter through. They listened to my results and helped find caveats and kinks that we should notate for future inventories to address. I realized that our completed inventory is not all-inclusive.  But despite these setbacks we can record our data and I’m proud to say that as an institution we now have a better understanding of our carbon footprint.

To move forward with the new study, the SIT Environmental Working Group has been advocating heavily for our administration to sign the President’s Climate Commitment, an exciting pledge to reduce our carbon emissions. Seven months of pressure and dialogue with higher administration proved worth-while and they have agreed to sign the commitment this month, April 2008. This is a wonderful step forward for our institution. It shows SIT’s commitment to environmental justice and to accept responsibility for our role in this truly global problem.

The experience for me has been extremely rewarding. I had no idea I would have gained such practical skills for social change through my “outside of the classroom” activities. One other beautiful thing about the SIT campus is the possibility to advocate for campus issues and learn by doing. Not all issues have been as successful as the signing of the President’s Climate Commitment but I hope to now join other struggles and bring these skill into my practicum work. I want to thank everyone who took part of this push and who all equally deserve thanks:

Maria Echevarria, Michael Ireland, Andy Martyn Sr., Sharon Waterman, Sharon and Pat, Megan Luce, Richard and Angela Berkfield, Chris Adams, Amber and Anne, Troy Montes, Dwede Tarpeh, Laura Raymond, Christina Casillo and all other EWG and ETF members.

For an overview of some other ‘green victories’ on campus, please see the document below produced by the SIT Facilities Management Department:

Trash, Composting, Recycling and energy

Trash
The history of trashing and composting at World Learning: About four years ago we at WL decided to make a difference in the flow of trash that leaves our facility. At that time we had nine large dumpsters around the campus and they were being emptied twice a week. All of the dumpsters were being taken to landfills. We evaluated each one and came up with the scenario that is now in place. We purchased our own compactor that could be emptied once a month. We then talked to Triple T Trash Co. to find out what was happening in the area. They explained that a company in Greenfield Mass. was starting to compost material that was picked up from all local businesses. We then had a larger dumpster installed at our kitchen that replaced the one that was there. We put together a campaign to make our kitchen staff and the rest of the facilities personnel aware that this dumpster was just for items that could be composted. At this date, according to our trash hauler, we are considered to be doing the largest amount of composting in this area. That includes schools and businesses. In the last year the kitchen contracting company implemented the use of recyclable take out food containers. Shortly after, WL saw the need to put smaller receptacles around the campus so these food containers did not find their way to the landfill.

Bee Line
In September 2006 the Bee Line, a local bus company, began making trips to our campus for drop off/pick up of staff, students and faculty.  By subsidizing this service, World Learning has cut down on the gasoline that would otherwise be used.

Recycling
Trying to improve on our recycling program, we purchased our own metal, glass, plastic and paper recycling trailer and found that it is the most efficient way for us to keep this material out of the waste stream. Overall we are sending about 2,000. pounds per month to the redemption center and sometimes more. We also separate all batteries and florescent lights that no longer work.

Water
Our campus uses 3,400,000. gallons of water each year. In 2002 we focused on the amount of water we use. We felt the biggest savings could be met by changing all of our toilets. We went from the 4 and 5 gallon toilets to all 1.6 gallon toilets. This made such an impact on our usage that our water department called and said there was problem with the meter. Our water bill this year is going to be about 25,000. dollars.

Green Cleaning products.
As of Nov. 2007 we have switched to almost all green cleaning products. These products can only help to improve the overall health of all student, staff and faculty and just another step in the right direction.

Carbon foot print.
In September of last year we employed a work study student who is  working together with a few other students on the carbon foot print of this organization. When the over view is complete we will be able to zero in on the areas that need to be improved on.

Community Gardening.
In the spring of 2007 we subsidized the community garden on the campus. We even were able to bring back material that left here from our own kitchen the year before,  in the first stage of compostable material. It was tested and put in the garden. There were several gardens in the area and the one here was considered to be the best.

Paper usage.
During the summer of 2006 all paper towel dispensers were removed from dormitory bathrooms. This has cut down the amount of paper we use, tremendously. The paper towels and toilet tissue we supply on campus is made from 45% post consumer waste.

Wind energy and Wood pellets.
At present we are looking into the possibility of wind energy credits to help offset our electric bill, and wood pellets to offset our oil consumption. This is in the very beginning stages, but if all goes well we will be moving strongly in this direction.  Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Andy Martyn Sr. , WL Facilities Management

Tags: Andy Martyn Sr., PIM 67, Stevie Freeman