NEWS
Guiltord’s green teurs: spetlighting Guilferd's sustainability
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Guilford farmer Korey Erb spends time with an eco-tour group, led by Bryce Bjornson.These
tours spotlight features in Archdale Hall, the upgraded farm, solar panels, the pulper and more.
By Ali Krantzler
Staff Writer
Walking around campus, some may not
notice all of the green changes that have been
made to make Guilford more sustainable. The
college's efforts go further than what may be
seen up close.
To make people more aware of Guilford's
sustainability mission, "Green Tours,"
sponsored by the Admission and Sustainability
Offices, are now available for all. Sustainability
Engagement Consultant Bryce Bjomson '10
leads the tours. The tours explain the school's
progress in becoming a sustainable campus.
'The effort to green Guilford moved
along at a slow pace up until President Kent
Chabotar signed the Colleges and Universities
Presidential Qimate Commitment (in 2007),"
said Director of Environmental Sustainability
David Petree.
'The goal is to reduce green house gases and
become carbon neutral," said Petree.
Guilford aims to achieve total carbon
neutrality by 2043. The coinciding goal is' to
reduce Guilford's carbon footprint. Green
Tours explain how the school is accomplishing
these gods.
The first stop on the tour is Archdale Hall.
This building became LEED Silver-certified in
2009.
"The building was constructed with the
Triple Bottom Line concept which keeps
people, profit and planet in mind, instead of
]ust profit," said Bjomson.
Archdale has a VOL system, which creates
higher air quality. The paint used for the
interior is eco-friendly and does not contain the
normal chemicals which have a funny smell
and cause headaches. There is also a special
heating system that regulates the temperature
so it remains constant instead of varying.
Moreover, all of the water in the building
comes from reused rainwater. Bjomson hopes
that more buildings on campus will become
LEED certified in the near future.
The second stop is Ragan-Brown Field House,
where human energy is being transformed into
electricity. Exercising on the "Re-Rev" elliptical
machines produces energy that is used to
create electricity that powers the building. Solar
panels on the roof ^so retain heat energy to
power the facility. The athletic fields on campus
are also maintained by using water from the
lake instead of an outside source.
Next, the tour goes to the cafeteria, where
people can learn how much water Guilford
conserves. Not having a tray-based system
allows for us to reduce water usage because
there are no trays to wash.
Guilford also reduces waste when it comes
to the actual food.
'The school produces 150 pounds of food
waste per day and aU of this waste is extracted
by a pulper," said Bjomson.
The pulper is like a large garbage disposal
that takes all of the water out of the food. The
food is then brought to one of the two earth
tubs for compost.
"Some of the best ways we are currently
attacking (the problem of carbon neutrality) is
with the farm," said Petree. "... ITs one of the
most exciting initiatives we've got."
The community garden and farm are located
behind New Garden Friends School. The
community garden has several plots where
people can plant their favorite herbs, fmits and
vegetables.
Just down the path at the farm, there is
a green house where vegetables grow. The
farmers are also building a hoop house to
allow for more production. Spinach, amgula,
tomatoes, kale and Swiss chard are just some of
the veggies being grown at the farm.
"5,000 pounds of veggies have been sold to
the cafeteria," said Petree.
Meriwether-Godsey is not the only group
interested in buying from the farm, though.
"Elizabeth's Pizza is re-doing their menu,
and they are interested in buying our produce,"
said farmer Korey Erb.
The last stop on the tour is Re:Cycles Bike
Shop, which encourages people to reduce their
carbon footprint by biking instead of driving.
Re:Cycles is also a great local resource for tune-
ups and other fixes. The shop also does rentals
for $5 a day.
Green tours are offered on the fourth Friday
of every month and are limited to seven people.
The tours leave from New Garden at 2 p.m.
RENOVATIONS
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They Call Me Muslim (2006) - Wednesday, February 15th
7:00-9:00 p.m. in Founders Gallery.
27 minutes
Women Like Us (2002) — Wednesday, February 29th
7:00-9:00 p.m. in Founders Gallery.
60 minutes
My Home, Your War (2006) - Wednesday, March 21st
7:00-9:00 p.m. in Founders Gallery.
52 minutes
That Paradise Will Be Mine (2005) - Wednesday, April 4th
7:00-9:00 p.m. in Founders Gallery.
54 minutes
Founders Hall to be renovated Summer 2012
Continued from page I
bottom open work environment. A mini-art
gallery is currently in the last parts of the planning
phase as well.
Some, like sophomore Peter-Lawrence Terrell,
a Founders renovation committee member, are
optimistic about the changes. Terrell said that
he offers the committee his thoughts on what
students would like to see in a student union,
contrasted with how Founders is currently used.
"Founders will be more open and inviting to
students," said Terrell. "Also, the committee is
making sure that students have an input in the
renovations, which is something most colleges
do not allow."
Founders Hall, which houses the majority
of student organization offices, as well as the
college's dining facilities, bookstore, and mail
services, is the most centrally located building on
the Guilford campus.
Discussions about how space is to be divided
for those student organizations that require
a degree of enclosure, such as WQFS, The
Guilfordian and CAB, are nearly finished.
Fetrow said some student organizations, such
as Pride, will move out of Founders entirely, as
the need for Safe Zone training in a private setting
is more necessary than being centrdly located.
"We just want to see the renovations actually
make a change, instead of just making dated
space new," said Fetrow.
Vamell told The Guilfordian that he hopes that
as many people will contribute to the planning
process as possible.
"Now is a key time for input and many
changes are coming out from the open meetings,
which is why we have them," said Vamell, who
has been attending meetings with the community
and various student organizations following
Community Senate to examine and redefine how
the space will be used.
Adam Faust, a sophomore and Founders
renovation committee member, said that
he weighs in when a question posed to the
committee elicits a thought that he thinks should
be heard.
"So far, I have advocated from an art student's
point of view, a tour guide s perspective, and just
a regular studenT s point of view, said Faust. "I
am really excited to see the upgraded Founders,
and have been pleased with the changes the
committee is suggesting.
Faust said the ultimate decision will be up to
Chabotar, whom Faust hopes will pay attention
to what the Founders renovation committee has
to say.
Vice President of Enrollment Services Randy
Doss said that he believes the renovations made
to Founders Hall will make it a comfortable
destination that more students will want to
use, which would ultimately help draw in new
students with its charm.
"Certainly prospective students will see the
commitment we have to community when they
see the construction in Founders," said Doss.
Vamell agreed with Doss, telling The
Guilfordian fet the administration will make
renderings of the future plans public once they
have been discussed with the community and
pending Chabotar's approval.
With the plans nearing final completion,
Fetrow shared his excitement.
"You can paint my office chartreuse; I don't
care about color. I'm just excited to see students
in the building and using it," said Fetrow.
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