Division Sustainability Committee

Our Logo: When Talking About Sustainability, How Would You Define the Following?

Division Sustainability Committee Logo

ECONOMIC

1. Building Design: As populations expand and resource availability decreases, new challenges arise in building construction and renovation. With a focus on stewardship, sustainable construction plans should monitor both the distribution of goods and services and adverse environmental impacts (direct and indirect) on present and future populations. Conscious design technique should preserve the health and productivity of occupants while reducing the need for maintenance through the use of green materials.
2. Responsible Purchasing: Is the social and environmentally conscious procurement practice to secure the well being of individuals and the lasting impact of resources. Products purchased should be made from recycled materials, be resource efficient, and follow equitable manufacturing processes.
3. Mindful Investing: The guarding of financial resources in which profits are not reached at the expense of other living beings but advance the goals of social equality, economic development, and a healthy environment.

SOCIAL

1. Fairness/equity: This commitment attends to the basic needs of individuals and the distribution of goods and services while also promoting human potential through community and civic engagement. Such practices should preserve heritage and encourage educational creativity.
2. Education/Marketing-Initiatives: Educational institutions that employ the tenants of sustainability as a framework for programs and services for the benefit of the community. Institutions serve as front-runners on issues of sustainability, through research, decision-making, and sharing of best practices for the advancement of the community at large.
3. Community: A social practice of mindful living that takes into account the principal of collectivity so that all may have access to resources through equitable membership and responsibility, to foster a self-sustaining way of life. The tenants of sustainability outline the community vision. In addition, those who participate in the community make decisions for the common good through mediation and peaceful conflict resolution. Examples include but are not limited to, community gardens, intentional living communities, co-ops, etc.
4. Collaboration with Student Affairs: Building of institutional-wide partnerships that promote community and involvement, celebrate the diversity of perspectives and people, practice transparency and allocate resources responsibly.

ENVIRONMENTAL

1. Water conservation: Rationing the consumption of water for growing populations so that individuals worldwide have equal access to safe water for drinking and sanitation purposes. Attention should be placed on the development of alternatives to reduce the use of water and prevent the contamination of these sources.
2. Energy/emissions: The use of efficient renewable resources for the reduction of CO2 emissions through alternative efforts such as collective transportation, biodiesel, solar power, wind/wave power, and geothermal energy.
   
3. Green Cleaning: Is the standard of using cleaning products and practices that promotes human health and does not harm the environment. Products should be biodegradable, non-toxic and made from renewable resources.
   
4. Food Sourcing: Making conscious decisions about what we eat, where it comes from, how it is produced, how far the product traveled to reach us, and where it ultimately ends up. (Adapted from Carleton College). Focus attention on food consumption and alternative sources such as local farms and fair trade products.
   
5. Recycling: Is the intentional commitment to the reduction of non-consumable goods, looking for alternatives to reuse materials and the deliberate disposal of waste.