Sustainability Subgroup, January 20, 2012
Campus Master Plan Sustainability Subgroup Meeting Minutes
January 20, 2012, 12:30-2:00 pm, Highsmith 223
In attendance:
Rob Nelson, consultant and Working Group chair; Melissa Acker, Landscape Architect; Renee Bindewald, student; Macon Foscue, student & ASHE co-president; Jim Fox, Director of NEMAC; Don Gordon, Dir., Design & Construction; Dr. Ed Katz, Dean of University Programs; Dr. Kimberly Newsome, AVC, Student Affairs; Norm Richards, DDC Computer Systems Operation
Rob Nelson called the meeting to order at 12:45 pm
Subgroup members introduced themselves and their roles on campus.
Mr. Nelson gave the new members of the subgroup a background history on the campus master planning process to date. For the Sustainability Subgroup, there is already some work that has been done. The Strategic Plan has some sustainability metrics. The charge of this subgroup will be to develop an all-encompassing sustainability plan for the University using the CMP Guiding Principles.
Dean Katz updated the group on an Energy Project, funded by a State Energy Office grant that is updating the campus energy policy. Dean Katz will bring the draft policy to the subgroup for feedback.
At a future meeting Don Gordon will share the University of Buffalo High Performance Building Standards, which UNC Asheville has been following. It would give us a good starting point for comprehensive sustainability practices.
The group will also look at other University Sustainability plans. Three or more plans will be circulated with the group. Some model plans to look into include Stanford, University of Minnesota and University of Vancouver.
The subgroup discussed how to reach the end goal. What resources (internal and external) would be needed, who is going to help us do it, and what is the timeline? The group decided that it would most likely work through the summer to complete the plan. At the next meeting the group would review the University of Buffalo Building Standards, and at the following meeting, the draft Energy Policy.
The group discussed how we might operationalize the plan:
- Allow for innovation and failure (risk-taking)
- Trailblazing successes would give more justification for decision makers’ support
- Build sustainability into the community culture
- Add an education component to the plan. With a focus on training for Facilities professionals, and general education for Faculty/Staff and students (build it into orientation)
Mr. Nelson thanked the group for their feedback. He adjourned the meeting at 1:30 pm.