This Way to Sustainability II a huge success, with over 900 registrants!

The BC Sustainability Bulletin

News and more about Sustainability Efforts, Initiatives and Events at Butte College

and in our local communities that promote EcoLiteracy and Resource Conservation.

November, 2006

News

The Butte College Sustainability Steering Committee is official! So far, this is a group of interested and passionate folks from all areas of campus that have come together to help develop a focus on sustainability at Butte. If you would like to get involved beyond receiving this bulletin, contact Kelly Munson. No regular meetings are set yet.

Chico’s Mayor, Scott Gruendl was authorized by the City Council (4 to 3 vote) to sign the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Agreement. For more info on the agreement and Cool Cities, check out http://www.seattle.gov/mayor/climate/ or www.coolcities.us

Butte is the first community college to host the Green Campus Program on campus. Until now, the program was only on university campuses. Through Green Campus, students are working to save energy on campuses by building general campus awareness, incorporating energy conservation and efficiency into course curricula, and implementing projects targeting energy use, student purchasing decisions, and operational changes. The office is located in LRC 141. Chuck Rogers is the student intern (20 hrs. per week). You can contact him at environmentalas@butte.edu.

At the Energy Awareness Fair on Oct. 18^th & 19^th , the Student Alliance for Sustainability and the Green Campus Program distributed 100 new CFLs (Compact Florescent Lamps) in exchange for incandescent light bulbs. Taking the regular bulbs off the grid helps reduce the energy required in these homes and offices.

We now have a Sustainability Resource Center! Thanks to Samia Yaqub (and all the T & GE Chairs who use the LRC) and Mike Miller, the new center is in LRC 141 with the Green Campus Program. Our goal for this center is to be a hub of information – books, magazines, journals, guides, rotating exhibits, and more for students, faculty, and staff to check out and borrow! The selection is just staring to build. We are currently accepting donations. Contact Chuck Rogers at environmentalas@butte.edu to donate. There will be a room warming event on Nov. x, so stop by and say hi and bring a resource if you have one.

The Board of Trustees approved a Recycling Policy (4.59) at their Sept. 13^th board meeting. It states “The District shall, whenever practicable, use recycled products and recycled materials to meet its needs. The District will make resource conservation an integral part of its physical operation and will integrate waste reduction and recycling into its environmental compliance program.”

If you would like to hear more about the case for sustainability at Butte College, check out one of the upcoming presentations to the Academic Senate (11/), Classified Senate (11/), Management Association (11/), Associated Students (11/7) and Board of Trustees (11/ ).

Facilities is implementing energy efficiency projects using scheduled maintenance and lighting sensor and occupancy sensor projects in buildings across campus. These projects will save approximately $100,000 in PG & E costs.

Both Stapes and Office Depot have recently issued “Green Guides” that feature a selection of their products that are more environmentally friendly, i.e. use recycled materials or are non-toxic. Check them out for your office and home supplies.

Butte College will soon be a member of the American Association for Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). This organization is a hub of information for colleges involved in sustainability efforts. Four faculty and 3 students recently attended their national conference in Tempe, AZ and brought back a wealth of information, resources and excitement. We will keep you posted on how you can utilize the campus membership. Until then, check out their website at www.aashe.org.

A group of concerned and passionate students have newly formed the Butte College Student Alliance for Sustainability (BC SAS) Club. The founding student groups include: Friends of the Refuge, Phi Theta Kappa and the Associated Students. So far they coordinated the Energy Awareness Fair, are working on the Sustainability Resource Center, and are key volunteers for the upcoming Sustainability Conference at CSUC. They meet on Tuesdays from 12:30 to 2 in LRC 141. Check out their informative web blog at www.bcsas.blogspot.com.

The Associated Students recently hired a new student Recycling Coordinator. The position is 20 hours/week and is responsible for helping Facilities staff pick up bins, provided education on campus, and help grow the recycling efforts at Butte.

If you know a student who is interested in participating in or starting a sustainability related project on campus or in the community, they can earn 1 unit through IDST 94 – Sustainability Projects. Kelly Munson is facilitating this independent study class and can be contacted at munsonke@butte.edu.

Chico State now has a “Managing for Sustainability” minor through their Business Department. Butte College Business Faculty and Curriculum representatives are working with CSUC Faculty to articulate our current (and possibly new) classes to support Butte students transferring to Chico State for this minor.

Events / Important Dates

This Way to Sustainability II Conference, Nov. 2 to 5

BMU at Chico State

Guest Speaker - Dr. Anthony Cortese, Nov. 3^rd

10 to 11 a.m. in AHPS 131

Want to Get Involved?

Depending on your interest and availability, there are three different ways for you to help support a Sustainable Butte College:

§ Steering Committee – representation from admin, voc faculty., trans. and gen. ed. faculty, classified staff, student services, and students that focus on the overall College Sustainability Plan. Oversees major projects, grants/funding, assessment, newsletter, and awards. Meets bi-monthly.

§ Action Committees – sub-committees working on specific sustainability projects/areas of plan. Meetings defined by project needs. Report to Steering Committee and through newsletter to campus.

§ Ambassadors – anyone on campus that is interested in furthering education and support for sustainability on campus and beyond. Share tips with colleagues, go on field trips, attend guest speakers, act as a sounding board to develop strategies and find solutions. Gatherings monthly.

Contacts

The current members of the Sustainability Steering Committee include: Les Jauron, Mike Miller, Suzanne Wakim, Al Konuwa, Samia Yaqub, Kelly Wood, Mike Williams, Kelly Munson, Christie Lee, Shandin Rudesill (student), Chuck Rogers (student and Green Campus Program Intern). Alma Cacho (Student Trustee), James Allen Morton (student). Contact Kelly Munson if you would like to get involved with the Steering Committee.

Facilities Contact: Mike Miller, x2298

Student Programs and Events Contact: Kelly Munson, x2945

Curriculum Contact: (T & GE) Melinda Riley, x2497 or (Voc) Lyman Hagen, x2593

* This Bulletin was compiled by Kelly Munson on behalf of the Sustainability Steering Committee. Questions or comments can be directed to munsonke@butte.edu or 895-2945 and will be forwarded to the committee.

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Should we include???

LEED projects

Mimi’s Class

Other Facilities projects

Solar Certificate Program

Talloires Declaration

Other things???

A did you know section with interesting facts, such as:

- Our Auto Program currently has 2 hybrid vehicles in their fleet.

- Our 3.4 acre solar array is the largest …

- A CLF uses approximately 70% less energy than a regular light bulb.

Check out the program, now available in the links section.

Climate Protection Agreement adopted in Chico

Chico City Council passes the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement

In a well attended meeting Tues Oct 17, 2006, the Chico City Council considered a proposal in support of the City of Chico maintaining an energy inventory, and energy efficiency policy.

40 citizens spoke in favor of immediate adoption of the resolution.

There were no citizen comments against the proposal. Three city council members wanted to wait to ratify, because they felt they were not properly supplied with information about the proposal. We spent two and a half hours educating them, and eachother, about the need for energy conservation, and a for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

After many powerful, and diverse, arguements the vote was taken: 3 opposed, 4 in favor. A landmark decision in our regional movement for sustainability!

The current mayor is running for re-election on an environmental/social/economic platform. He brought the proposal to the City Council, made key arguments, and when the proposal passed, immediately began building a committee to implement it. Another council member volunteered to convene the committee. City staff, CSUC, and Butte faculty expressed willingness to support the city in its climate protection goals. Any SAS volunteers for the committee?

www.coolcities.us

Why My City is Cool

Chico is Cool because citizens recognize the need to address the global energy problem, locally. We will call on the Mayor to adopt the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, and we will ask the city to do an energy inventory and to identify policies to promote 1- green vehicle fleets, 2- energy efficiency, and 3-renewable energy. We will urge the city to develop a plan to promote these policies and, then, to implement and monitor their plans. We also care enough to make individual political and personal choices that reflect these goals. We intend, therefore, to influence our educational, business, and other organizations so that they will develop similar strategies. Please join us, in whatever way you can!

Say 'no' to water privatization! Public comment deadline extended to Oct 30th

From: Todd Manley <tmanley@norcalwater.org>
To: Todd Manley <tmanley@norcalwater.org>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2006 3:34:39 PM
Subject: Sacramento Valley IRWMP Comment Period Extension

In response to a number of requests, the comment period for the Sacramento Valley IRWMP has been extended two weeks. We will be receiving comments for inclusion in the final plan through close of business Monday, October 30th.

Todd N. Manley
Director of Government Relations
Northern California Water Association
455 Capitol Mall, Suite 335
Sacramento, CA 95814-4496
Phone: (916) 442-8333
Fax: (916) 442-4035

www.norcalwater.org

Free lecture: Chico bioregion in the year 2020

Monday, Oct. 16
On the Creek Lecture Series
The Chico Bioregion in the Year 2020
Mike Madison
7:30 p.m. Ruth Rowland Taylor Recital Hall

Predicting the future is often a murky and doubtful
business, but there are reasonable ways to go about
it. One is to apply the techniques and principles of
ecology to analysis of a household, or a bioregion, or
a nation. These results can then be projected forward.
I use this approach to speculate on the state of the
Chico bioregion in the year 2020.

This event is free and open to the public

http://www.csuchico.edu/sustainablefuture/events/index.shtml#onthecreek

BC SAS supports the Talloires Declaration

Composed in 1990 at an international conference in
Talloires, France, this is the first official statement made by university administrators of a
commitment to environmental sustainability in higher education. The Talloires
Declaration (TD) is a ten-point action plan for incorporating sustainability
and environmental literacy in teaching, research, operations and outreach at
colleges and universities. It has been signed by over 300 university presidents
and chancellors in over 40 countries.

http://www.ulsf.org/programs_talloires.html

Second Nature, founded by
Anthony Cortese (who is the keynote speaker for the Nov. 2-5 conference)

www.secondnature.org