The CC Sustainability Awards annually recognize contributions CC individuals make to the campus, local, regional, or global environment. Examples include the development of a campus environmental initiative, publication of independent research or literature related to the environment, or rehabilitation of impacted wildlife habitat. Historically, awards have gone to one member of the faculty, staff and student body. In 2010, we recognized that some of the best sustainability-related work is the product of collaboration; therefore we are expanding the awards to recognize outstanding teams!
2010 CC Sustainability Awards
Emil Dimantchev, ‘11
As an active member of EnAct, a State of the Rockies researcher, student government representative to the Campus Sustainability Council, and new intern for the Office of Sustainability, Emil Dimantchev stands out as a motivated student leader committed to advancing the College’s sustainability efforts and educating his peers. This year, Emil helped develop and promote an internal carbon offset program, organized a faculty panel addressing climate change legislation, coordinated an Energy Challenge amongst CC’s residence halls, and was a lead organizer for one of the most robust and engaging Earth Weeks in CC history.
Gail Rogers, Staff Assistant, Classics and Comparative Literature
The Sustainability Champions Network, launched in the spring of 2009, supports CC individuals who are committed to educating themselves about sustainability, acting as role models to their peers, and promoting conservation in their offices, departments or living spaces. Gail Rogers, staff assistant to the Classics and Comparative Literature department, was an inspiration for developing the program. According to a faculty member, Gail “has done an excellent job of making us aware of how we can have a greener working environment. While she is concerned with sustainability on the very minute level (recycling paper, closing blinds, turning off computers), she is also responsible for major changes in the office, which have a large impact on our departments' sustainability.” This year, Gail procured funds for renovating the departmental office, installing a sink in which to wash dishes (no more paper), and a water filtration system to phase out bottled water.
Tom Allen, Director of Custodial Operations
What do single stream recycling, water conservation, worker health, carbon neutrality and green building have in common? They are all part of CC’s sustainability goals, and the College’s recent successes in all of these areas have been supported by the diligent and thoughtful work of CC’s Director of Custodial Operations, Tom Allen. Tom has successfully implemented single stream recycling across campus. Thanks to Tom’s data tracking strategy, we know that this program diverts between 40% and 50% of CC’s waste from landfills (up from 15% before the program’s inception), which mitigates the greenhouse gas emissions associated with solid waste. CC’s award-winning green cleaning program, designed and enacted by Sodexo Custodial Operations, protects our community from harmful chemicals, improves indoor air quality, and promotes water conservation. It also earned the Cornerstone Arts Center an Innovation Credit in the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification process and is now being premiered in Sodexo facilities nationwide.
Group Awards
The Office of Communications
Several years ago, many sustainability initiatives were underway on campus, but the story behind them was often missing. Today, thanks to the support of our Office of Communications, the College is telling its sustainability story in a vivid and exciting way, both to the campus community and to the rest of the world! The new website and virtual tour serve as high-visibility tools for education and outreach. Sustainability-related stories are featured regularly on the home page, in the Bulletin, in Around the Block, and in national reports. As we work serve as a model for campus and community sustainability, the Office of Communications plays a key role in conveying our actions to our community. Special thanks to Mark Lee, Jen Kulier, Karen To and Leslie Weddell!
Mark Wilson and the Barnes/Olin Sustainability Champions Team
Science buildings can prove to be particularly challenging in a quest to conserve energy and materials. They are home to resource-intense research labs, which usually feature a wide array of equipment and heavy use on the block plan. Professor Mark Wilson (Biology) has taken on the challenge of promoting resource conservation in two of our noted “energy hog” buildings. Earlier this year, he enlisted resident chemists, physicists, and fellow biologists to the Barnes/Olin sustainability team, and they have since mobilized to survey space usage and equipment loads. In recent months, they have enacted energy conservation measures specific to labs, and the students have taken notice.