E&E Committee Meeting Minutes
Friday 2nd May 2008: Union
Present: Sarah McCusker (E&E Officer), Jonathan Davies (Socs Officer), Susan Horsman (Estates), Bruce (Union Man), Dylan, couple other randoms…
The Ethics & Environment Committee, open to anyone, discussed the following issues:
- Updating University Fair Trade status (Susan)
- Interhall Energy Competition (Sally’s reduced 1/3 heating/electricity use)
- What do student’s actually think about it though?
- Ethical Investment big losses recently for university
- Plastic Bag Free St. Andrews – what about Fresher’s Fayre plastic goodie bags?
- Fresher’s Fayre – How can we reduce waster?
- Green electricity is now 47% for all of university estates
- The student referendum was 75% in favour of 100% but practical demands prevent this
- The Halls of Residence are charged at a different VAT, and 100% green would be unaffordable now
- The 47% means that all non-Halls of Residence buildings are 100% Green,
- Overall, an increase of 17%, and extra money saved for installing other efficient/renewable energy technological improvements
- Jonathan producing a guide for Societies about how to act more sustainably, possibly with One World input – anyone have ideas? (ie: ethical banking, local procurement goods and services for events, etc.)
- Banking with Triodos (ethical bank) via RBS?
- DRA Needs Help! Represent a huge body of students, but no capacity for enacting Sustainability principles, despite living in the residences winning numerous green awards acknowledged by Gordon Brown’s visit last year
- Sarah M. making an “Action Plan” to involve Student’s Association and Union, Societies, University, etc. to make the Sustainability Policy “beefy”
- Jonathan suggested coming to Societies Committee meetings at 4pm on Wednesday, and to read the Societies Handbook
- Susan H. said recycling in halls taking place 29th and 30th May
- Suggestions-Publicity-Help?
- Also mentioned Student Survey needs more people next week from 4th to 8th May
- SDSoc communicate to students in SD and on website
- Sarah, Jonathan, and Susan all looked at SDSoc plan and said great, let’s get moving!