Environmental Responsibility

Environmental Responsibility at Earlham

Earlham College’s Strategic Plan (approved in 2002) calls on us to make the college “a more responsible community in its operations, especially in its use and disposal of scarce physical resources.” In its section on Simplicity, Principles and Practices (2005) asks each of us to consider “Am I careful about how I use both human and environmental resources?” And “Do we as a community work for an environmentally responsible and sustainable future?”

The college’s approach to environmental responsibility is embodied in an Environmental Plan, approved by the Faculty and the Board of Trustees in 2004-05. The Plan calls for the college to consider improving its impact on the environment in six areas: (1) new and remodeled buildings, (2) energy conservation – buildings and grounds, (3) energy conservation – transportation, (4) water use, (5) solid waste, recycling and composting, and (6) land use and stewardship.

The college also has an Environmental Responsibility Committee (ERC), which “monitors and encourages the implementation of the Earlham Environmental Plan, provides consistent and long-term oversight and coordination for campus environmentally-oriented activities, serves as the central point of information and education on campus environmental issues, and makes recommendations to appropriate persons or college units.”

Minutes and working documents of the Environmental Responsibility Committee can be found on the committee’s section of Community Documents in WebDB.

The Key 7 Areas

The Earlham Environmental Plan divides Earlham's environmental responsiblities and practices into seven different areas.

New and Remodeled Buildings

Energy Conservation – Buildings and Grounds

Energy Conservation – Transportation

Water Use (Including Stormwater)

Solid Waste, Recycling and Composting

Land Use and Stewardship

Culture of Sustainability