In a letter to the Williams community, January 24th, 2007, President Morty Schapiro noted:
“I am pleased to say that President’s Staff enthusiastically endorsed the report (of the Climate Action Committee) and that the Board of Trustees, in what someday may be considered a historic vote, unanimously passed this resolution: “WHEREAS, The President and Trustees of Williams College believe that the principles and practices of environmental sustainability in general, and greenhouse gas emissions reductions specifically, are institutional priorities,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
As recommended by the President’s Staff acting on the report of the Climate Action Committee, Williams College hereby adopts as a goal the reduction of its greenhouse gas emissions by ten percent below the College’s 1990-91 emissions level by the year 2020.”
For the past several months the Zilkha Center has been working with various committees on campus to craft a set of guiding principles in response to this resolution that we hope will inspire and inform all of the work that we do.
We will welcome your comments and thoughts. Please share them with us by clicking on “Write Comment” or send an email to Stephanie Boyd, Director of the Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives (sboyd@williams.edu).
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Williams College Environmental Sustainability Principles
Williams is committed to protecting and enhancing the natural and built environment in which we learn, work, and live, and to supporting the global effort to advance environmental sustainability. These efforts rely on the involvement of all members of the campus community. To succeed, initiatives must be not only environmentally responsible but also socially fair and economically sound.
The College’s greatest contribution is through educating our students, who will go on to become environmental stewards through their many roles as scientists, lawyers, investors, politicians, manufacturers, writers, advocates, artists, teachers, parents, consumers, and citizens. We do this through our teaching, research, and co-curricular offerings, and by demonstrating and embracing sustainable practices in the development and operations of our campus.
As faculty, staff, and students, we educate ourselves about important issues related to sustainability and pass on our learning to the larger communities of which we are all part. We eagerly share ideas with and learn from our neighbors and colleagues and seek consortial arrangements that can develop and broaden such practices. We work to contribute to the development of environmental standards. We report regularly on our progress.
In addition to adhering to all environmental laws and regulations, Williams focuses on the following sustainability issues.
Energy and Emissions:
We reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by increasing energy efficiency and selecting cleaner and renewable energy sources. We reduce energy use by constructing only the facilities we need and by building, renovating, maintaining, and operating them to use energy efficiently throughout their life. As campus community members, we seek to reduce energy use in our daily lives, in our work, and in our travel and to be mindful of the impacts of our choices.
Natural Resources:
We reduce our effects on water systems by minimizing use and by managing storm-water runoff. When materials are required, we select sustainability harvested sources to preserve natural resources. We protect the local habitat by limiting the physical growth of the college. We work to develop built landscapes in ways that support natural ecological functions by protecting existing ecosystems and regenerating ecological capacity where it has been lost. We provide opportunities for members of the community to interact with and appreciate the environment.
Procurement, Consumption, and Waste:
We reduce, reuse, and recycle materials. We work to understand and decrease the environmental impacts of the use, production, transportation, and disposal of items we purchase. We select vendors committed to sustainable practices throughout the life cycle of their products, and we prefer to buy locally.
Quality of the Built Environment:
We build and maintain buildings that provide safe, comfortable, and healthy environments for students, faculty, and staff through effective use of day-lighting, ventilation, and connections with the natural environment. We work to improve our understanding of toxic materials used on campus and to reduce their presence in labs, art studios, and building and maintenance materials as well as in cleaning, landscaping, and pest-control.