College seeks to expand sustainability fellowship to office
Marisa Reed |
Last Updated:11/23/09 Section: Features
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The committee formed in 2008 to keep up with the times and lessen the impact of pollution in the area. One of their main objectives is to wisely spend the $15 Green Fee charged to every student per semester on sustainability projects and research, including water efficiency, alternative energy options, and sustainable food on campus.
Mr. Zapfel served as a member of the committee as an undergraduate student and was hired as the full-time chair when it expanded to more than 150 volunteers and 15 subcommittees. He said that an anonymous donor paid for the creation of the position.
"Ideally, we're looking to expand my position into an office on sustainability," he said.
Some of his responsibilities include coordinating volunteers, overseeing outreach, and exploring fundraising opportunities, and he is currently compiling a purchasing guide for the College. When new furniture needs to be bought, for example, he recommends furniture built from sustainably-harvested wood. One of the most noticeable signs of the committee's work is the improved recycling program across campus.
Mr. Zapfel also oversees three undergraduate interns, who have made the dining halls more environmentally friendly by purchasing more sustainable foods and encouraging recycling and composting campaigns.
He said the committee is important because not only can it save the College money by increasing efficiency, but it also means a lot to students and alumni that the entire community is becoming more sustainable.
"We're looking at institutionalizing sustainability as a priority as itself, and supporting other priorities of the College such as undergraduate research and interdisciplinary study," he said.
Students have gotten involved by using some of the Green Fee money to do research. Over the summer, two students found a way to trim $50,000 from the College's annual budget through recycling, purchasing local food, and reusing storm water.
Mr. Zapfel encourages students to get involved in any way they can. His blog, "Hark Upon the Green," hosts a wealth of information on the sustainability initiatives being undertaken at the College.
"It's a unique opportunity to get involved in because it's so driven by students," he said. "It's a powerful example of what William and Mary students can do."
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