Radnor Township is taking drastic steps towards becoming more environmentally friendly. The Environmental Advisory Committee and Shade Tree Commission are just two examples of residents banding together for change. Cabrini College is not far behind.
“Educating the community by spreading the word through our schools is most important,” Sloan Walker, council member, said. “I’m talking starting in our pre-schools all the way up through the local colleges.”
The agenda last Thursday, Sept. 23 called for a number of different briefings on projects and reports on interworking with other boards within the district. Projects that took precedent were WaterSense, Sustainability, Community Environmental Awareness and the collaboration with the Shade Tree Commission.
Community Environmental awareness is, according to council member Anne Poullin, always a big deal.
She also said that she sees passing ordinances for geothermal, wind and solar energy as of the utmost importance.
Cabrini is following in Radnor’s always shrinking carbon footprints. Cabrini College is home to an Environmental Awareness and Responsibility Themed Hall or E.A.R.T.H. as part of the college’s program of Living and Learning Communities or L.L.Cs. Professor Caroline Nielsen explained why E.A.R.T.H. is exclusively for freshman non-science majors.
“The science is done,” Poullin said. “We need people who can bring about action. Communicators get the word out, artists to inspire people, business majors to put pressure on companies to be more environmentally friendly.”
Nielsen thinks environmental education is important especially when it comes to social justice. She says that environmental justice is one of the most important and simplest ways social justice is practiced.
“Every time you leave a light on, that effects someone in an impoverished country who doesn’t have any means or political power,” Nielsen said.
The Radnor Township Environmental Advisory Council was first established in 1997 as a subdivision of the board of health. According to their website their mission is to handle any environmental issues that may arise.
This includes but is not limited to helping establish, update and enforce local laws and ordinances, planning and holding events and projects and educating the community.
Anyone who is a part of the Cabrini College community is most likely familiar with the environmentally friendly initiatives on campus, which are kind of like school-wide ordinances.
Meatless Mondays in the Marketplace, more efficient machinery and improvements to the Iadorala Science building including a solar panel roof, solar hot water and motion censor lighting are just a few.
The EAC WaterSense is concerned with all things water. Currently the EAC is focusing on water preservation. Close tabs are being kept on how much water is used and for what purposes. The community is also being educated on how to conserve water and the water cleaning process.
Nielsen gave an example of how WaterSense could play out on Cabrini’s campus. “Other colleges have done things like hold competitions between dorms to see who can use the least water.”
Sustainability pertains specifically to a set of new initiatives called “The Sustainability Series.” They are a set of projects whose aim is to educate and offer pragmatic solutions to common dilemmas. Issues like how to build more green homes and how to keep track of one’s carbon footprint are just a couple.
Radnor Township’s Shade Tree Commission is currently working closely with the Environmental Advisory Council but are not the same organization or subdivisions of each other.
According to Howard Holden, who is both head commissioner of the Shade Tree Commission and director of facilities at Cabrini College, the mission of the Shade Tree Commission is to promote and monitor the planting and maintenance of trees within Radnor Township.
The seven-member council meets on the fourth Thursday of every month at 6 p.m., September through June. Meetings are held in the Radnorshire room of the Radnor Township Building in Wayne. All meetings are open to the public.
Sometimes this entails making residents, developers and tree care companies abide by the Shade Tree Ordinance in order to plant, preserve and maintain the large tree canopy of the area.
There was a lot of talk about the large tree canopy. Later, Holden explained why it was so important. “The large tree canopy cleans our air, cools our summers and aides in storm water management,” Holden said.
The four-member Shade Tree Commission meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month, September through June at 7:30 p.m., in the Radnorshire room of the Radnor Township building as well. Their meetings, as well as EAC meetings, are broadcast live on television.
However there is still more that can be done.
“The community as a whole needs to be more aware of recycling, we need to consider the flow of recyclables in and out of the entire organization,” Holden said.
Brenda Gotanda, chairperson of the EAC gave advice at the EAC meeting.
“As we begin to more critically evaluate the triple bottom line, the environmental, social and economic, aspects of our activities, we can improve the choices that we make,” Gotanda said.
Gotanda and Holden stressed the importance of leadership in interviews.
“It’s all about stewardship,” Holden said.
Gotanda said that in order to take small steps to improve the environment the public can start by taking personal responsibility.
“Be a leader and reach out,” Gotanda said.
Radnor Township is taking drastic steps towards becoming more environmentally friendly. The Environmental Advisory Committee and Shade Tree Commission are just two examples of residents banding together for change. Cabrini College is not far behind.“Educating the community by spreading the word through our schools is most important,” Sloan Walker, council member, said. “I’m talking starting in our pre-schools all the way up through the local colleges.”The agenda last Thursday, Sept. 23 called for a number of different briefings on projects and reports on interworking with other boards within the district. Projects that took precedent were WaterSense, Sustainability, Community Environmental Awareness and the collaboration with the Shade Tree Commission.Community Environmental awareness is, according to council member Anne Poullin, always a big deal.She also said that she sees passing ordinances for geothermal, wind and solar energy as of the utmost importance.Cabrini is following in Radnor’s always shrinking carbon footprints. Cabrini College is home to an Environmental Awareness and Responsibility Themed Hall or E.A.R.T.H. as part of the college’s program of Living and Learning Communities or L.L.Cs. Professor Caroline Nielsen explained why E.A.R.T.H. is exclusively for freshman non-science majors.“The science is done,” Poullin said. “We need people who can bring about action. Communicators get the word out, artists to inspire people, business majors to put pressure on companies to be more environmentally friendly.”Nielsen thinks environmental education is important especially when it comes to social justice. She says that environmental justice is one of the most important and simplest ways social justice is practiced.“Every time you leave a light on, that effects someone in an impoverished country who doesn’t have any means or political power,” Nielsen said.The Radnor Township Environmental Advisory Council was first established in 1997 as a subdivision of the board of health. According to their website their mission is to handle any environmental issues that may arise.This includes but is not limited to helping establish, update and enforce local laws and ordinances, planning and holding events and projects and educating the community.Anyone who is a part of the Cabrini College community is most likely familiar with the environmentally friendly initiatives on campus, which are kind of like school-wide ordinances.Meatless Mondays in the Marketplace, more efficient machinery and improvements to the Iadorala Science building including a solar panel roof, solar hot water and motion censor lighting are just a few.The EAC WaterSense is concerned with all things water. Currently the EAC is focusing on water preservation. Close tabs are being kept on how much water is used and for what purposes. The community is also being educated on how to conserve water and the water cleaning process.Nielsen gave an example of how WaterSense could play out on Cabrini’s campus. “Other colleges have done things like hold competitions between dorms to see who can use the least water.”Sustainability pertains specifically to a set of new initiatives called “The Sustainability Series.” They are a set of projects whose aim is to educate and offer pragmatic solutions to common dilemmas. Issues like how to build more green homes and how to keep track of one’s carbon footprint are just a couple.Radnor Township’s Shade Tree Commission is currently working closely with the Environmental Advisory Council but are not the same organization or subdivisions of each other.According to Howard Holden, who is both head commissioner of the Shade Tree Commission and director of facilities at Cabrini College, the mission of the Shade Tree Commission is to promote and monitor the planting and maintenance of trees within Radnor Township.The seven-member council meets on the fourth Thursday of every month at 6 p.m., September through June. Meetings are held in the Radnorshire room of the Radnor Township Building in Wayne. All meetings are open to the public.Sometimes this entails making residents, developers and tree care companies abide by the Shade Tree Ordinance in order to plant, preserve and maintain the large tree canopy of the area.There was a lot of talk about the large tree canopy. Later, Holden explained why it was so important. “The large tree canopy cleans our air, cools our summers and aides in storm water management,” Holden said.The four-member Shade Tree Commission meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month, September through June at 7:30 p.m., in the Radnorshire room of the Radnor Township building as well. Their meetings, as well as EAC meetings, are broadcast live on television.However there is still more that can be done. “The community as a whole needs to be more aware of recycling, we need to consider the flow of recyclables in and out of the entire organization,” Holden said.Brenda Gotanda, chairperson of the EAC gave advice at the EAC meeting. “As we begin to more critically evaluate the triple bottom line, the environmental, social and economic, aspects of our activities, we can improve the choices that we make,” Gotanda said.Gotanda and Holden stressed the importance of leadership in interviews. “It’s all about stewardship,” Holden said.Gotanda said that in order to take small steps to improve the environment the public can start by taking personal responsibility. “Be a leader and reach out,” Gotanda said.
