Charges & Goals

Sustainable Committee

Charge:

• Incorporate sustainability into the life of Niagara University. Sustainability is the ability of current generations to meet their needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

Goals:

1. Educate and explore opportunities to improve or develop new educational programs that highlight sustainability on campus and ultimately in the community.
2. Bring environmental change to the campus by identifying environmentally responsible practices and facilitating positive actions.
3. Determine the best way to conserve and utilize energy on our campus.
4. Promote the reduction, reuse and recycling of materials on our campus.
5. Incorporate green initiatives into all building projects, with the goal that new buildings would be healthy, energy and resource efficient, and qualify for LEED certification.
6. Evaluate progress and communicate what Niagara is doing to protect the environment to the university community.

Curriculum Committee

Chair: Mark Gallo

Charge:

• To bring environmental change to the campus by education, facilitating and providing leadership for “green issues” on our campus.

Goals:

1. Recommend ways that we can improve existing educational programs by introducing “sustainable issues" into the classroom.
2. Educate the university on opportunities to create new programs that focus on sustainable issues.
3. Make recommendations for improving the environmental studies program.

Reduce, Reuse Recycle Committee

Chair: Karin Crumb-Kosmala

Charge:

• Promote the proper use of materials on our campus for a sustainable future.

Goals:

1. Reduce: Minimize our waste stream by increasing our knowledge of other environmentally-friendly processes and actions.
2. Reuse : Start or enhance programs that will increase the life of previously purchased materials.
3. Recycle: Promote the increased use, and ease of programs that restore materials to an almost new condition.
4. Quantify our recycling program.

Energy Committee

Chair: Steve Peterson

Charge:

• Determine the best way to conserve and utilize energy and water on our campus.

Goals:

1. Facilitate the calculation of the campus’ carbon footprint.
2. Recommend purchasing energy star appliances.
3. Recommend ways to conserve water.

Our Living Environment Committee

Chair: Jill Shuey

Charge:

• To bring environmental change to the campus by education, facilitating and providing leadership for the outdoor environment on our campus.

Goals:

1. Lead or initiate programs to improve our physical surroundings and build awareness to the issues that confront our world.
2. Facilitate positive actions to improve the physical environment of the university.
3. Create a community garden on campus.

Sustainable Lifestyles Committee

Chair: Abigail Levin

Charge:

• Identify areas where the individuals and our campus can benefit from more environmentally-responsible practices.

Goals:

1. Support efforts that bring healthy and locally produced  food choices on campus.
2. Recommend that green cleaning products are used on campus.
3. Develop a brochure outlining student and staff practices.