About

What is the Green Committee?

The UWest Green Committee is a group of students, faculty, and staff who have come together to promote sustainability efforts on our campus. Our current officers are:

Chair: Dr. Chi Sheh
Vice-Chair: Judy Hsu
Secretary: Lorena Gonzalez
UWSG Liaison: Vaishali Gaidhani
Members at large: Sylvette Mijares, Juan Tinoco, Dennyses Hernandez.



Committee Bylaws

What is Our Mission?

1. Recommend and implement actions that promote environmental sustainability.
2. Enhance communication in the community regarding our environmental efforts and best practices.
3. Provide a forum for environmental sustainability issues and fostering collaborations from all areas of our community.

What is Sustainability?

"Sustainability, the long-term viability of a community, set of social institutions, or societal practice." -- Britannica Academic.

Programs & Initiatives

Our committee seeks to target the following areas on our campus for sustainability improvements.

Accreditation & Standards

🔳 STARS: See Plans & Commitments.

Energy and Buildings

Water and Landscaping

Transportation

🔳 Provide electric vehicle charging stations.

Waste Reduction & Recycling

☑️ Obtain blue recycling bins and make them available all around the campus with instructions on recyclable materials.

🔳 Educational bookmarks on recycling.

🔳 Reusable bottle water initiative.

🔳 Campus relations management system.

Purchasing & Employee Benefits

🔳 Introduction of socially responsible investment (SRI) options to UWest employee 403(b).

1. 5/4/2017: The Sustainable Investing Club, with Dr. Chi Sheh as its faculty advisor, presented the Socially Responsible Investment Fund Informational Workshop.

2. 8/16/2017: University announces change to the university's retirement plan provider. New provider will enable individuals to invest in SRI funds via its Fund Window option.

3. 9/26/2017: Introduce employees to the SRI fund list (presented at Town Hall).

4. TBD: SRI Workshop for employees.

Food & Dining

🔳 The reduction or elimination of EPS foam ('Styrofoam') containers from our food and dining services.

1. 5/4/2017: Presentation made at Socially Responsible Investment Fund Informational Workshop (Voting Results)



References

• “Expanded Polystyrene Food Containers.” County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, 21 Sept. 2010. Web. 1 May 2017.
• Heverly, Stephen et al. “Recommendations for Reducing or Banning Foam Food Service Containers.” Center for Sustainable Energy, Mar. 2017. Web. 1 May 2017.
• National Toxicology Program, “Report on Carcinogens.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service. 2016. Web. 1 May 2017.
• “Pollutant Fact Sheet.” Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Web. 1 May 2017.
• Tokiwa, Yutaka et al. “Biodegradability of Plastics.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences 10.9 (2009): 3722–3742. PubMed Central. Web. 1 May 2017.
  
  
2. 8/14/2017: As of Fall 2017, UWest dining services no longer use Styrofoam take-out containers.

3. TBD: Resolution to eliminate the usage of EPS foam (Styrofoam) from all campus events and services.

🔳 Educational efforts to reduce the usage disposable one-time use take-out containers. Push for dine-in & reusable containers.

1. 10/23/2017: Data collection/survey via take-out slips that will need to be filled out in order to use a take-out container. Educational display of incremental changes and future goals.

Plans & Commitments

Long Term Goals

We will come up with attainable goals and commitments that will allow us participate and engage with STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating system of AASHE, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

Get Involved/Take Action

Join our mailing list to get updates or volunteer.

Meeting Times and Location

TBA at AD121.

Contact Information

Committee Chair: Dr. Chi Sheh ( , 626-571-8811 ext:381)

Information & Links of Interest

• The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
• My mushroom burial suit
• The Economic Injustice of Plastic
• How to save Earth with 5 minutes a day of responsible consumerism
• 3 thoughtful ways to conserve water