To: Frank Thomas, and the Interim Master Plan Committee

From: Vince Eckhart

Date: 28 February 2000

Re: The Eco-campus Committee's Open Forum on Campus Environmental Issues, Forum Coffee House, 24 February 2000

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A recent open forum held by the Campus Advisory Committee on Environmental Concerns (a.k.a. the EcoCampus Committee) solicited input from Grinnell students, faculty, and staff about the environmental ramifications of the Master Plan. This memo summarizes some of the comments made at the forum.

1. A prominent student comment was that Grinnell students tend to accept uncritically the idea that the College strives to be environmentally responsible, as part of its commitment to social responsibility. Yet it is also clear to students that the campus itself provides little evidence of such a commitment. Some suggested that a clearer commitment to sustainable building, landscaping, and resource use on campus could be a powerful recruiting tool, demonstrating Grinnell's commitment to progressive action, despite its out-of-the-way location.

2. During discussion of the proposed new energy center, the comment emerged that now is the right time to "green" the College's energy infrastructure. Unless the College invests in alternative energy and energy conservation measures as it upgrades its heating and cooling systems, the College may severely restrict its ability to increase its energy efficiency in the future. In other words, there is a large opportunity cost associated with upgrading the energy center without at the same time adopting progressive, energy- and cost-reducing technologies.

3. Several in attendance suggested that an independent audit of current and anticipated resource use by the College would be extremely valuable, as part of the Master Planning process.

4. Students commented that the Master Planning process represents an opportunity to design infrastructure dedicated to composting landscaping (and possibly dining) waste. Among Iowa colleges, Luther College and Kirkwood Community College already have such systems in place.

5. More than one student recommended that any new building be designed: (a) for long life expectancy; and (b) with sufficient flexibility that it can be re-used readily for alternative applications.