Environmental Committee Making a Difference at International Programs
By Lini Ge
The title of Lori Eiserman’s presentation at the 2007 CIEE Conference was “Bringing Environmental Activism to the Field of International Programs.” Eiserman launched her speech by presenting herself as “an environmental activist, an enthusiastic coach, and a fellow globe-trotter working to reduce [her] carbon footprint.”
Throughout her presentation, Eiserman strived to convey a simple yet crucial message—“there is an important local opportunity to be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Eiserman took her opportunity by initiating the Environmental Committee within International Programs in December 2006.
“The need for the committee stemmed from an overall awareness that there was a lack of programs and encouragement for staff to recycle, to think about lighting choices, heating and cooling costs, carbon offsets, ‘phantom energy’ lost when not using power strips, car-pooling, and an entire list of fairly simple initiatives that when combined can not only reduce carbon emissions and lead to energy efficiency, but can actually motivate staff and help develop deeper social connections across units,” Eiserman said.
With 13 members from different areas of International Programs, the committee meets once a month, with discussions primarily focused on recycling, energy and efficiency, and outreach and education. One step at a time, the committee has been making progress in all three areas. The group initiated a recycling program in the staff kitchen, had power strips installed in every office and cubicle, and collaborated with Facilities Management to reduce lighting and address heating and cooling issues in the University Capitol Centre (UCC), where International Programs is located. Staff also participated in tree-planting and river clean-up programs and were involved in a new UI initiative, “Environmental Impact…Go Green Iowa” through the Civic Engagement Program.
When Eiserman presented the efforts of the Environmental Committee together with other panel members at the 2007 CIEE Conference, they received enthusiastic feedback from the audience.
“A lot of people came to us afterwards and said ‘This was one of the best presentations I’ve been to all week. You really motivated me. I can’t wait to go back home and start thinking about this and that,” Eiserman said.
The various initiatives of the Environmental Committee have also been well-received within International Programs. Eiserman said she is always excited when colleagues suggest ideas for the committee to discuss or ways to reduce paper consumption. Colleagues have brought her newspaper clippings and cartoons to share with the rest of the committee, and send her links to online articles about discussions pertaining to the environment, such as global warming, renewable energy, alternative transportation, and others.
“It’s definitely helpful and really nice to know that people are looking out for the environment, when before they might have just seen the comics and turned the page,” Eiserman said. “Now if they see something that has to do with the environment, they’ll take the time to stop, to read it, to cut it out and bring it in to me.”
These contributions to the Environmental Committee’s work are creating more awareness within the office, Eiserman said. But even if the colleagues all react with positivity and appreciation, the committee members sometimes still find it hard to put their job responsibilities on hold and move forward with the committee’s initiatives. This is probably the hardest part for a voluntary committee, Eiserman said. However, members do have some flexibility since the work is not directly linked to their job responsibilities, she added.
With its effort recognized with a University-wide Improving Our Workplace Award in 2007, the committee is working hard to contribute more to improving the environment. Some upcoming projects in 2008 include purchasing re-usable plates, bowls and cutlery for the staff kitchen, organizing an environmental film series within the UCC, implementing a recycling program to the larger building-wide staffroom, and drafting a letter of inquiry that calls for a larger environmental coalition within the UCC. In the long run, the committee aims at continued improvements in the lighting, heating and cooling issues in the building through cooperation with Facilities Management on an energy audit project.