Stoffel is campus’s new sustainability coordinator

Last year, Josh Stoffel was leading efforts to train a small group of students to promote recycling and energy conservation in the campus’s residence halls. But starting in June, Stoffel became the campus’s first sustainability coordinator, expanding his responsibilities to include a range of green initiatives and the development of an institutional climate action plan.

The new post is a part-time graduate assistantship, but Stoffel brings a sense of commitment and a level of hands-on experience to the job, according to Physical Plant director Pat Daly, who chairs the campus’s Environmental Performance Advisory Committee (EPAC), formed last year to advise the chancellor on related issues.

“In late spring, EPAC decided the campus needed someone to take the lead on sustainability issues,” said Daly. With the backing of Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Joyce Hatch, funding from Physical Plant, Facilities and Campus Planning, and then-dean of Natural Resources and the Environment Steve Goodwin was pooled to create the coordinator position.

Stoffel, who was a student representative on EPAC and leader of the Eco-Rep Program, was a good fit for the post, said Daly.

Established on campus a year ago, the Eco-Rep Program is a national movement that uses student representatives to promote environmental action in on-campus housing. Stoffel trains and supervises the two student managers, seven mid-level managers and 60 eco-reps in the program. Program participants receive payment or academic credit for their involvement.

“The main tactic that the Eco-Rep Program employs to more effectively educate students about current environmental issues is allowing students to educate each other,” said Stoffel.

Starting this week, eco-reps will go door-to-door in Central, Orchard Hill, Northeast and the Southwest residence halls to inform students about alternative recycling of CDs, ink cartridges, used batteries and burnt-out light bulbs. In October, the program will host an alternative Halloween, where eco-reps will trick-or-treat for alternative recyclables and reward students with candy for their contributions.

With the Eco-Rep Program gaining steam, said Daly, Stoffel can reduce his oversight of the campaign to focus on more wide-ranging issues, including the drafting of a climate action plan for the campus.

In April 2007, President Jack M. Wilson signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, pledging the five-campus University system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and work towards carbon neutrality.

Although the campus was supposed to submit its climate action plan by Sept. 1, a four-month extension has moved the due date to the end of January.

In addition, Stoffel is advising Facilities and Campus Planning on sustainability options, and creating a proposal for the Revolving Green Fund that would finance green projects on campus. Stoffel, who is enrolled in a master’s program in the School of Education, also hopes to develop a sustainability certificate program that would allow students from diverse concentrations to add an environmental focus to their studies.

Stoffel can be contacted at jstoffel@admin.umass.edu or 545-1188. His office is located in 433 Hills North.

Story and photo by Sara Afzal

September 29, 2009.

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