Sustainability Workshops Offered at Washington College

Chestertown, MD — Tools for ecological survival and sustainable living will be explored in two events at Washington College on Friday and Saturday, March 20 and 21. Scott Kellogg will lecture on "Radical Sustainability and Community Building" on Friday, March 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the Casey Academic Forum. On Saturday, March 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Custom House lawn at the foot of High Street, he will demonstrate how to attach rain barrels, construct artificial wetlands for water filtration, and establish aquaculture ponds for food and wildlife habitat.

"These are projects you can do right in your own backyard," says Shannon Holste, who manages the George Goes Green sustainability campaign at the College.

Kellogg is co-founder of the Rhizome Collective and director of its sustainability program. He is an experienced teacher, activist and ecological designer. The Rhizome Collective, a non-profit organization based out of a warehouse on the East Side of Austin, Texas, operates an Educational Center for Urban Sustainability and a Center for Community Organizing. "We are working to build the world we want to live in," he said, adding that community participation is necessary and central to this challenge.

Both events are free and open to the public. They are sponsored by the Center for Environment & Society at Washington College and the Town of Chestertown. For more information, call 410/810-7162.

'George Goes Green' Revolution Continues at Washington College

Chestertown, MD — "George Goes Green," the environmental-sustainability initiative at Washington College, enters its third year this April with a variety of events and activities.

George Goes Green is a campus-wide initiative for sustainability, encompassing everything from local foods in the dining hall to energy conservation in the dorms. Every time someone on campus does something to preserve the environment, improve the campus community, or make connections with the Chestertown community, they're helping George Go Green.

Since 2006, when George Goes Green was launched, campus sustainability efforts and student awareness have grown faster than a melting Arctic ice-sheet. The ever-growing movement has begun to attract acclaim—locally, regionally and nationally. In the spring of 2007 George Goes Green received glowing coverage in a syndicated feature article distributed by the Capital News Service. And Washington College was highlighted in a cover story in the Fall 2007 issue of Newsweek's campus-oriented magazine Current, which reaches 225,000 students nationwide. In addition to being selected for the magazine's cover photo, Washington College now also has the distinction of having been awarded "Sexiest in Sustainability" status by Newsweek.

The awareness-raising has been paying off: Today, students, faculty and staff sign a voluntary Green Pledge, dorms compete to see which can be the most energy-efficient, and the College is now, by its President's signature, on board with a nationwide campus-sustainability pledge.

This spring's George Goes Green campaign includes four themes and four ways to save, rolled out week by week through the month of April: Week One — Water Conservation. Week Two — Energy Conservation. Week Three — Waste Reduction. Week Four — Earth Week. A host of green-themed lectures, presentations and events throughout the month culminates with an Earth Day celebration on April 26. For details on all that's happening during George Goes Green Month at Washington College, go to http://georgegoesgreen.com/.

April 1, 2008

Washington College President Tipson Joins Nationwide Effort, Signs Climate Commitment Pledge

Chestertown, MD, July 9, 2007 — As part of a nationwide incentive to further the cause of environmental sustainability, Washington College President Baird Tipson has joined with leaders of more than 300 institutions of higher learning in signing the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment.

Building on the growing momentum for leadership and action on climate change, the Presidents Climate Commitment provides a framework and support for America's colleges and universities to go "climate neutral." With 319 signatories to date, it is a high-visibility effort to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse-gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth's climate.

Launched in December 2006, the Commitment recognizes the unique responsibility that colleges and universities have as role models for their communities and in training the people who will develop the social, economic and technological solutions to reverse global warming.

Washington College's signing of the Commitment reflects the increasing momentum of its environmental initiatives, spearheaded by the Center for Environment & Society. Located in the historic Custom House along the Chester River, the Center supports interdisciplinary research and education, exemplary stewardship of natural and cultural resources, and the integration of ecological and social values. Ecologically minded students are active in the Student Environmental Alliance, and the College is gaining renown both regionally and nationally for its "George Goes Green" environmental-sustainability campaign.

In addition to Washington College, other Maryland schools that have signed on to the Commitment are Frostburg State University, Goucher College, Howard Community College, McDaniel College, Mount St. Mary's University and the University of Maryland, College Park.

"When Washington College was approached about participating in this Climate Commitment, we were eager to take part," Tipson said. "With campaigns such as 'George Goes Green,' the students and staff at our Center for Environment & Society had kept the campus community focused on environmentally friendly initiatives, and the Buildings and Grounds Committee of the Board of Visitors and Governors had already decided that future campus buildings would meet strict environmental standards. By banding together with colleges and universities across the country, the College becomes part of an initiative that can help direct everyone's attention to the importance of addressing the challenge of global warming."

By signing the Commitment, Tipson has pledged that Washington College will eliminate its greenhouse-gas emissions over time. This major undertaking is fivefold: 1) completing an emissions inventory; 2) within two years, setting a target date and interim milestones for becoming climate neutral; 3) taking immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by choosing from a list of short-term actions; 4) integrating sustainability into the curriculum and making it part of the educational experience; and 5) making the action plan, inventory and progress reports publicly available.

"We, the undersigned presidents and chancellors of colleges and universities, are deeply concerned about the unprecedented scale and speed of global warming and its potential for large-scale, adverse health, social, economic and ecological effects," the Commitment reads. "While we understand that there might be short-term challenges associated with this effort, we believe that there will be great short-, medium- and long-term economic, health, social and environmental benefits, including achieving energy independence for the U.S. as quickly as possible."

Join the "George Goes Green" Campaign to Conserve Energy

Chestertown, MD, March 22, 2006 — Concerned about soaring oil prices? Noticing that something is definitely up with the weather? Take charge and do your part to conserve energy.

During the month of April, Washington College's Committee of Sustainability, in cooperation with the Student Environmental Alliance, Buildings and Grounds, Student Affairs, Dining Services, the Office of College Relations, and the Center for the Environment and Society, is sponsoring the first Washington College Energy Conservation Competition, otherwise known as "George Goes Green."

Each residence hall on campus will compete by attempting to reduce its energy consumption by the highest percentage. The winning dorm will be announced Earth Day, April 22, and its residents will delight in an exclusive party April 30 at Hynson Pavilion, featuring the musical talents of Hot Rock and the Heat Strokes.

Throughout April, the students with the most creative ideas for conservation will also be featured on the home page of the college Web site, along with the residence hall in the lead for the week. Additionally, the overall amount of money, energy, and carbon dioxide saved through the "George Goes Green" campaign will be calculated.

Ideas and photos of energy-saving solutions should be directed to Shannon Holste at tholste2@washcoll.edu by Thursday at 5 p.m. each week to appear on the Web site.