| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.95 |
| Liaison | Kathleen McCaig |
| Submission Date | June 14, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Berea College
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Kathleen
McCaig Sustainability Coordinator Operations & Sustainability |
Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the municipal/local level?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level, including the issues, legislation, and ordinances for or against which the institution has advocated:
The city of Berea originated with the founding of the college and holds a large presence to this day in terms of footprint. Our VP of Sustainability and Operations works in partnership with the city manager, city council, and mayor on a tremendous amount of issues (not necessarily resulting in actual legislation and ordinances, but more in line with sustainable practices and stewardship), most visibly as it relates to infrastructure and fairness issues.
Stormwater runoff & water consumption: Because of our large footprint and the college's commitment to sustainable building practices and green infrastructure, what would be a huge burden to city sewer systems is mitigated by our use of permeable pavement, bioswales, and water collection systems. We have reduced our water consumption dramatically and educate students, facility, and staff about water conservation measures for work and home (the aquifer that feeds our city water supply sits within the college forest which requires intensive collaborative between forestry, facilities, and public works.
Construction of less energy intensive buildings (LEED): Berea College is a major user of electricity from Berea Municipal Utilities. Again, because of our commitment to sustainability, even when adding overall sq. ft. of building space, our energy use has remained flat, or dipped in certain years which impact BMU's capacity.
Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level, including the issues, legislation, and ordinances for or against which the institution has advocated:
Our current president, Dr. Lyle Roelofs, supported the state advocacy effort spearheaded by Kentucky USGBC, KFTC, and other solar advocates to increase the current net metering cap of 30 kilowatts which limits solar growth potential. Unfortunately, our efforts were unsuccessful in the coal-backed state.
Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the national level?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level, including the issues, legislation, and ordinances for or against which the institution has advocated:
Berea College was an early signatory with the Second Nature Climate Commitment, and President Roelofs has participated in the collective effort to show support by lending his name in support of Berea College for the Paris Agreement when signed, and the need to remain in after Trump was elected.
Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the international level?:
A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level, including the issues, legislation, and ordinances for or against which the institution has advocated:
A brief description of other political positions the institution has taken during the previous three years (if applicable):
A brief description of political donations the institution made during the previous three years (if applicable):
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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