Environmental policy
Environmental policy statement
Approved by the Reed Faculty December 4, 2006
Approved by the Board of Trustees February 10, 2007
Reed College is committed to responsible stewardship of its campus
environment and is aware that our actions and decisions impact our
city, our region, and our planet. As an institution of higher
learning, Reed is dedicated to investigating, understanding, and
promoting awareness of its present and future impact on the natural
world. Through broad community involvement and education, Reed
strives to incorporate ideals of sustainability into the operations of
the College and the daily lives of individuals on campus.
Sustainability is commonly accepted to mean meeting the resource needs
of the present without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their needs. All Reed efforts in support of
sustainability will strive to maintain and develop the College in a
responsible manner and to minimize the College’s impact on the
environment.
Activities in support of the above policy statement include:
1. Promoting Awareness
- Provide educational opportunities for community
members to learn about the College’s commitment to sustainability.
- Encourage all community members to incorporate environmentally sound practices into their campus activities.
- Research and evaluate current practices and policies in light of new advances in technology.
2. Making a Commitment to our Campus Environment
- Maintain and develop the campus landscape,
including the Reed College canyon, using environmentally sound
practices.
- Use sustainable building practices in construction activities on the campus.
- Develop, implement, and modify a campus master plan that respects the environment.
3. Making a Commitment to our Global Environment
- Promote the efficient use of resources including water, fuels, electricity and other materials.
- Limit waste through recycling and responsible purchasing of materials and services.
- Understand best practice standards, requirements of
environmental laws and regulations and have a process of continual
environmental improvement.
The Environmental Sustainability Committee facilitates and coordinates
the College’s activities in support of sustainability. This
committee monitors the current environmental impact of the campus and
reports its findings annually to the faculty and to the
community. The committee encourages proposals and suggestions
from the community for ways to improve current sustainability practices
and helps to determine which practices to investigate and adopt.