ALLEGHENY COLLEGE Trustees adopt document outlining environmental policy

The college announced last year that it would use wind power for 7.5 percent of its electricity.
MEADVILLE, Pa. -- The Allegheny College Board of Trustees has adopted new "Environmental Guiding Principles," with officials citing a strengthened resolve to meet the responsibility and challenges of environmental leadership.
"Many institutions have environmental programs, recycling policies or green power initiatives," said Environmental Science Associate Professor Rich Bowden, who serves as chair of the college's Campus Life Committee.
"But, instead of taking a piecemeal approach, we wanted a single statement -- a comprehensive document that could provide a thoughtful framework to inform decisions in all areas of environmental education and stewardship."
Creating an environmental policy document was difficult, Bowden said. First, he explained, such statements at other universities are rare, so finding a model was difficult. Second, drafters wanted to be sure the document was inclusive of the entire campus.
A 2000 environmental summit of students, faculty, administration and staff discussed research and rationale for proposed guidelines. A final version was approve by trustees this fall.
Campus programs
Environmental programs on campus include:
UWind power, with the college announcing in 2002 that it would buy 7.5 percent of its electricity from wind power marketer Community Energy Inc.
UA composting facility, with Allegheny College being the first in Pennsylvania, in 2001, to install an on-campus composting facility.
UA Partnership for Energy Performance, with the college entering an energy management venture with the Meadville Medical Center, joining the Energy Star Buildings program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The partnership is now headed by the Meadville Community Energy Project.
UA Center for Environmental and Economic Development, with various faculty members engaging in projects with community members to show how environmental and economic decisions work together to enhance quality of life.
UThe Department of Environmental Science, with sustainability course projects and internships.