Hope College Sustainability Institute

By Melissa Roessing, Community Action House
Think of the words “food pantry” for a moment. What comes to mind? I’d be really surprised if anyone’s first response was “quality.” People usually think of macaroni and cheese and a place that’s a little dull and drab.

Fresh, locally grown produce is donated on a weekly basis to Community Action House for its food pantry, to promote healthy eating.

We’re in the process of changing that assumption at Community Action House. We are not content to be a pantry that hands out canned food with the hope that people know what to do with it.
One in eight people in West Michigan struggles with food insecurity – meaning that they have unreliable access to healthy food. If you identify with that and you experience the strain of constantly stretching the food budget, you know how tough that is. And if the only way to stretch the food budget is to buy inexpensive, nutrient-void food so at least your family can eat, then that’s what you do. Maybe
you’d rather buy those peaches, but you can buy a lot more ramen noodles for the same price.
When a community acknowledges the dramatic increase of food-related illnesses such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes, and proceeds to tell people, “You should eat healthier,” but gives them no options of doing so, what meaningful help is actually being offered?

Melissa Roessing (left) and Deb Ralya showcase some of the bounty of the vegetable section at Community Action House, to promote healthy eating.

Community Action House is seeking to address the issue of healthy eating by offering a full range of choices in our food pantry in the following categories: Protein, dairy, vegetables, fruit, grains and miscellaneous. We’ve formed partnerships with local farms, community gardens, individual gardeners and grocery stores who donate an array of healthy food that we can distribute.
Along with some familiar products, there may be new items on the shelf that customers have never seen before. Therefore, we add recipes and make displays of simple meal ideas to provide new menu options. We host monthly food distributions to help ensure families have a reliable source of food each month. During the summer months, we run a food program called Fresh Fridays. We put out tables of fresh produce every Friday morning, and we always have a crowd of people outside waiting for our doors to open.
We also started an edible landscape this year. Sungold cherry tomatoes and collards decorate the front of the building, just waiting to be harvested by anyone who would enjoy them.
And we’ve worked on “stretching the harvest” this year. When we receive an abundance of fresh produce, we freeze items like bananas and blueberries to share in the winter when we have less produce.
Stop in sometime to see the food pantry and ask how to get involved with helping us feed healthy food to Holland area residents. We have lots of ideas!

 Melissa Roessing is the stabilization services supervisor at Community Action House. She’s loves to inspire others to try kale and relishes her time in the kitchen, cooking healthy food for her family.

This Week’s Sustainability Framework Theme:
Quality of Life: The community, through governmental, religious, business and social organizations, makes decisions that contribute to its own well-being.

ABOUT THIS SERIES:
Living Sustainably is a collection of community voices sharing updates about local sustainability initiatives. It is presented by the Holland-Hope College Sustainability Institute, a joint project of Hope College, the City of Holland and Holland Board of Public Works. Go to www.hope.edu/sustainability-institute for more information.

Living Sustainably: Social diversity enhances area’s sustainability

By Alice Jasper, Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance
As we endeavor to build a sustainable Lakeshore community, we must consider all the elements of sustainability, including social diversity.
When people hear the word “sustainable,” they most typically think of environmental conservation and advocacy. However, when business author John Elkington coined the term “triple bottom line” in 1994 – also referred to as “people, planet, profit” – he maintained that a successful sustainability
framework is contingent on measuring economic, environmental and social impact.

Area students explore themes of diversity and inclusion at a recent Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance workshop.

Environmental and economic outcomes have been easier to measure, and so the social bottom line –the people element – has not been examined to the same degree as those other two legs of the triple bottom line.
As the rate of demographic change continues to climb, it is important that we make intentional strides to genuinely embrace diversity and foster an inclusive community to strengthen our sustainability.
According to the United States Office of Personnel Management, 54 percent of Americans will be people of color by the year 2050. The Lakeshore region is no exception and is presently home to residents of a variety of races, ethnicities, faiths and cultures.
History has demonstrated that differences foster innovation, creativity, broader perspectives and growth. To foster these possibilities on the Lakeshore, we must embrace diversity and inclusion. To do that, we must challenge ourselves to understand the barriers that perpetuate inequities and exclusion.

Several upcoming events offer Lakeshore residents an opportunity to expand their cultural competency:
 The Interfaith Allies group will host “Know Your Muslim Neighbor” at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 2 at Hope College’s Graves Hall. A cross-section of Muslim panelists will speak about their experiences as Lakeshore community members. This is the first session of a series offering the opportunity for residents to meet neighbors of different faith perspectives.
 The Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance will host its next Allies Working for Racial Justice and Environmental Progress meeting at Herrick District Library at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6. This grassroots effort promotes equitable West Michigan communities through collaborative efforts in racial equity, gender equity, LGBTQ equity, immigration policy, environmental protection, interfaith relations, and equitable healthcare.
 The Holland Human Relations Commission is accepting nominations for its 2017 Social Justice Awards recognizing individuals and organizations in categories of housing, education, employment and government/community relations. Mail nominations to the city Human Relations Department at City Hall or to hrc@cityofholland.com by Nov. 15.

By promoting social equity, we promote inclusion and a wealth of opportunities for our communities to thrive, attract and retain talent, generate creative strategies for growth, and develop solutions for complex institutional problems.
For more information on these or other events, go to ethnicdiversity.org or follow LEDA on Facebook or Twitter.
 As associate program director at Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance, Alice Jasper integrates equity related research and her passion for community engagement with consulting strategies designed to dismantle systemic racial barriers.

This Week’s Sustainability Framework Theme:
Community & Neighborhood: The places we live and the individuals we interact with support the development of our personalities and perspectives on life. Encouraging vital and effective communities is essential.

ABOUT THIS SERIES
Living Sustainably is a collection of community voices sharing updates about local sustainability initiatives. It is presented by the Holland-Hope College Sustainability Institute, a joint project of Hope College, the City of Holland and Holland Board of Public Works. Go to www.hope.edu/sustainability-institute for more information.

Holland Energy Fund Wins Governor’s Energy Excellence Innovator of the Year Award

Media Contact: Ashley Kimble, Holland Board of Public Works (616) 355-1576

http://hollandenergyfund.com/

October 20, 2017, Holland, MI – Holland Energy Fund, a nonprofit corporation that supports Holland’s long-range Community Energy Plan, was recognized as “Innovator of the Year” at the Governor’s Energy Excellence Awards (GEEA) for its energy waste reduction achievements.
Holland Energy Fund was one of eight winners announced by Gov. Rick Snyder and honored at a ceremony in Detroit on October 19.
“Holland Energy Fund was incorporated as a non-profit in 2015 and supports the Holland Community Energy Plan, a 40-year path to the city becoming a world-class leader in energy security, affordability, sustainability, and efficiency,” said Anne Saliers, community energy services manager, Holland Board of Public Works (HBPW).
To reach the goal, Holland Energy Fund’s Home Energy Retrofit Program offers a 10 percent rebate to City of Holland homeowners for investing in “deep” energy upgrades. It also offers low fixed-interest loans that residents can conveniently pay back on their Holland BPW electric bill.
“It’s the first on-bill financing program for improving home efficiency and comfort in Michigan,” said Mayor Nancy DeBoer, City of Holland. “As a City that prides itself on being forward-thinking, it’s truly special we’ve been awarded the Innovator of the Year award for pioneering these unique programs.”

Representing two of three Holland projects that are finalists for the Governor’s Energy
Excellence Awards are, in front, homeowner Nancy Kiernan and in back, left to right, Mayor Nancy
DeBoer, Holland Residential Energy Advisor Peter Boogaart, City Treasurer and President of Holland
Energy Fund Tim Vagle, and Holland BPW Community Energy Services Manager Anne Saliers.

The GEEA winners’ energy solutions ranged from improving existing structures with energy-efficient state-of- the-art heating cooling and lighting systems to constructing new buildings, all with a goal of reducing energy waste and improving overall sustainability.

“Reducing energy waste, along with ensuring energy reliability and advancing clean energy, is a key component of Michigan’s energy policy,” said the governor. “We’re proud of the steps taken by the individuals and organizations we’re honoring, because collectively they illustrate what can be done to reduce energy waste and save money, both of which strengthen Michigan’s economy.”
Nominations were made in one of eight categories celebrating differing ways in which energy efficiency can be achieved in the state of Michigan. The award categories include:
 Best Projects (commercial, residential, public, industrial/manufacturing, and agriculture)
 Innovator of the Year
 Contractor of the Year
 Best Communication or Education Program

###

About the Governor’s Energy Excellence Award
The Governor’s Energy Excellence Awards honor Michigan individuals and organizations who have made reducing energy waste and implementing energy-efficient practices part of their everyday lives. The awards would not be possible without the support of the Department of Energy and the Michigan Agency for Energy through the Michigan Energy Office. Other sponsors include CLEAResult; Consumers Energy; Dow Chemical Company; DTE Energy; DNV GL; ICF;
ITC, a Fortis Company; and SEMCO ENERGY Gas Company.
For more information on the awards, go to www.mienergyexcellence.org. For winner and finalist photos and project descriptions, click on “Finalists.”

WMSBF to Honor Holland Board of Public Works with Climate Leadership Award

West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum will recognize the Holland Board of Public Works with its inaugural Climate Leadership Award on Wednesday, October 25 at the sold-out Triple Bottom Line Bash.

The Climate Leadership Award is one of three new awards WMSBF has created as part of its annual Sustainable Business of the Year Awards. It recognizes an organization that has adopted practices that demonstrate climate leadership locally and within its industry. The selection committee evaluates criteria such as community leadership, creation of a climate action plan, innovation, and a commitment to both greenhouse gas reduction and climate adaptation strategies.

To read the full press release, please follow this link.

Living Sustainably: Airport supports sustainable local economy

By Aaron Thelenwood, West Michigan Regional Airport Authority
The West Michigan Regional Airport has been serving the Holland area for more than 50 years, and 30 years ago this month it became a public facility. Since then, it’s economic impact has been massive.

According to statistics from the MDOT/Aeronautics Division’s 2017 Michigan Aviation Plan report, an estimated $164 million of economic impact to the Holland/Zeeland area can be attributed to direct airport activities each year. Furthermore, 1,690 local jobs are directly related to airport operations, in
addition to an estimated 3,272 jobs supported through airport-related activities such as visitor spending and general air transport, according to the report.
The airport, located off South Washington Avenue in the City of Holland, has evolved from a grass-strip runway to a state-of- the-art facility serving local, regional, national, and international customers.

The West Michigan Regional Airport has about 34,000 incoming and outgoing flights a year, helping drive the economic sustainability of the community.

The airport celebrated the opening of its new Airport Business Center on Oct. 13, 2016, and it is celebrating its 30th year under public ownership this month. Development of the Business Center was identified by the West Michigan Regional Airport Authority as essential to the long-term economic success and viability of the airport. Making the Holland/Zeeland/Park Township area a community of choice for business growth is a key benchmark of positive economic impact within the scope of sustainability.

The West Michigan Regional Airport has helped that growth. It has an estimated 34,000 incoming and outgoing flights annually, including business, freight, and independent charter operations. An estimated 54,975 tons of cargo passes through the airport annually. Additionally, there were 22 charity flights provided to patients through Wings of Mercy over the last year. Wings of Mercy, an airport partner for many years, provides life-giving transportation to patients in need of treatment who otherwise could not afford to fly. The West Michigan Regional Airport is managed by the West Michigan Regional Airport Authority, which is comprised of representatives from three local municipalities: The cities of Holland and Zeeland as well as Park Township.

The airport is supported through a combination of federal, state, and local funding. The local funding is a 0.1 mill property tax in the three communities. For capital projects, the federal share can amount to up to 90 percent of costs, with state and local shares at 5 percent each. Additional revenue is generated through rents and fees charged to airport customers.

Around 95 percent of airport traffic is business related, allowing job creators in this community to remain competitive in a fast-paced world. The airport provides key infrastructure for companies and organizations to operate nationally and internationally while ensuring jobs remain and grow locally.

 Aaron Thelenwood is the assistant manager for the West Michigan Regional Airport Authority and also is the solid waste, recycling, and sustainability coordinator for the City of Holland.

This Week’s Sustainability Framework Theme
Economic Development: Businesses and the local consumers are driving engines that generate capital for growth and development. We want to be a location of choice for new business and industry.

Living Sustainably: Three Holland projects are finalists for state energy awards

By Anne Saliers, Holland Board of Public Works

The Holland Energy Fund, a finalist for the Governor’s Energy Excellence Award, is represented by (left to right) Holland BPW Community Energy Services Manager Anne Saliers, City Treasurer and President of Holland Energy Fund Tim Vagle, and Holland Residential Energy Advisor Peter Boogaart.

Holland’s leadership in energy efficiency could produce three winners in the Third Annual Governor’s Energy Excellence Awards that recognize people and organizations in Michigan that have taken firm, meaningful actions to improve energy efficiency.
Sandra Keirnan is a finalist for Best Residential Project. She had already begun renovating her 1891 home on State Street when she heard about Holland’s 40-year Community Energy Plan.
From that point on, Keirnan was “all in” on energy efficiency, making good use of the programs offered by the City of Holland and Holland Board of Public Works. Those included the Home Energy Retrofit Program incentive, rebates through Holland BPW and SEMCO Energy, and being the first to use the new On-Bill Loan Program.

Sandra Keirnan, one of the most active home energy savers in Holland and a finalist for a state energy award, is greeted by Mayor Nancy DeBoer.

Keirnan also competed in the Holland Energy Prize Biggest Loser Challenge and won “most improved” by doubling her U.S. Department of Energy Home Energy Score from 4 (out of 10) to 8. Her renovations ranged from replacing inefficient appliances to improving her home’s insulation and windows. She expects to save 802 kilowatt hours of electricity and 417 therms of natural gas annually.
Next, GreenHome Institute is a finalist in Best Communication or Education Program for its Biggest Loser Challenge held in Holland during the Georgetown University Energy Prize competition.
The year-long initiative encouraged Holland residents to reduce their electric, gas, and water usage in 2016 from the previous year. Cash, plus energy- and water-saving prizes, went to the residents who were the biggest overall “losers” in energy use. The program urged residents to become energy efficient at a level that fit their lifestyle and budget. The 118 residents who participated saved 10 percent on energy overall, with the Biggest Loser saving 36 percent.

Third, Holland Energy Fund is a finalist for Innovator of the Year. Incorporated as a non-profit in 2015, Holland Energy Fund supports the Holland Community Energy Plan, a 40-year path to the city becoming a world-class leader in energy security, affordability, sustainability, and efficiency.
The Fund offers a 10 percent rebate to city homeowners for investing in deep energy efficiency upgrades. It also offers low, fixed-interest loans that residents can conveniently pay back on their Holland BPW electric bill. It’s the first on-bill financing program for improving home efficiency and comfort in Michigan. To learn more about Holland Energy Fund and its programs, visit hollandenergyfund.com.
“Energy efficiency doesn’t mean doing less; it means doing as much or more, but using less energy to get it done,” Gov. Rick Snyder said in his special message on energy in 2012. “Energy efficiency is the best example of a no-regrets policy Michigan can have.”

The Governor’s Energy Excellence Award Categories:
 Best Residential Project
 Best Industrial/Manufacturing Project
 Best Public Project
 Best Commercial Project
 Best Agricultural Project
 Best Communication of Education Program
 Contractor of the Year
 Innovator of the Year
Learn More: www.mienergyexcellence.org

Award winners will be announced by Snyder in Detroit on Oct. 19.
 Anne Saliers is community energy services manager at Holland Board of Public Works and serves on the Governor’s Energy Excellence Awards steering committee.

This Week’s Sustainability Framework Theme
Smart Energy: We need to use both conservation and efficiency measures to manage our resources to provide access to reliable and cost-effective energy.

HOPE EXPERTS GUIDE ALUMNI AND FRIENDS THROUGH TANZANIA

By Lynne Powe ’86

The jubilant “whoop” on the plains of the Serengeti isn’t the call of the African black-bellied bustard. It’s award-winning wildlife photojournalist and field biologist Dr. Tim Laman ’83 celebrating the composition of a special photo. As he reviews the images on the back of his camera, he beams with satisfaction, and a brief nod confirms he’s enjoying his time photographing the national parks of northern Tanzania.

In a nearby Toyota Land Cruiser, Dr. Eldon Greij, professor emeritus of biology and founder of the magazine Birder’s World, focuses his binoculars on a pair of raptors, while calling out identifying characteristics. The local driver/guide joins in. When necessary, they consult, “The Birds of East Africa,” a field guide laying on the dashboard. The energy and enthusiasm is palpable as they confirm another species to add to the checklist that evening.

Photo of Eldon Greij and Tim Laman — The former faculty and student research team takes a break in Arusha National Park as colleagues and trip co-leaders.

An African safari has been my dream trip since I was a Hope sophomore and hoping to photograph wildlife found in that part of the world. When I heard that Eldon Greij and Tim Laman were co-leading a tour with the Hope College Alumni Association, I was the first to pay my deposit. Based on their expertise, I was confident it would be an exceptional experience.

To read the full article, please follow this link.

Hope College Featured in Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges

October 3, 2017 — by Tyler Thayer and The Princeton Review

Hope College is one of the 375 most environmentally responsible colleges according to The Princeton Review. The education services company known for its test prep and tutoring services, books, and college rankings features Hope in the 2017 edition of its free book, “The Princeton Review Guide to 375 Green Colleges.”

The ranking can be accessed at princetonreview.com/green-guide (registration on website required).

From recycling to energy conservation efforts on campus made by students, faculty and staff alike, Hope places a high value on modeling sustainability and keeping the West Michigan community beautiful. In May, Hope received a STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating) Silver rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, up from the Bronze rating that the college had held since 2012.

To read the full article, please click here.

You can learn more about sustainability at Hope on our new website: www.hope.edu/sustainability

Living Sustainably: Holland Energy Park – Resource, Destination, Gateway

By Michelle Gibbs, Holland-Hope College Sustainability Institute

Holland’s vision is to be a thriving, world-class energy efficient city that generates energy cleanly, uses it efficiently, and distributes it reliably and affordably.
A cornerstone of that effort is the new Holland Energy Park, and a Living Sustainably Along the Lakeshore event offers the first chance for a public visit to the facility on Tuesday, Oct.10. The event is limited to 80 guests, so an RSVP is required at http://bit.ly/visit-holland-energy-park.

The new power plant at the Holland Energy Park is a key part of Holland’s groundbreaking Community Energy Plan. Photo courtesy of the City of Holland.

Holland Board of Public Work (HBPW) General Manager, David Koster, will discuss how the Holland Energy Park is helping the city to meet our goals in becoming a more sustainable community. After the presentation, guests will have the opportunity to walk around and see the new energy education center on a self-guided tour. HBPW staff will be stationed around the facility and able to answer questions. Door prizes will include home energy efficiency resource totes.
The City of Holland’s long-range Community Energy Plan is a 40-year plan to become a world-class leader in energy security, affordability, sustainability, and efficiency. To see the full report, please visit: http://www.cityofholland.com/sustainability/holland-community-energy-plan.
The Holland Energy Park fulfills three core functions: to be a world-class resource that provides a sustainable and long-term energy source and is an educational hub; to be a destination that provides activities for the public to
connect the community; and to be a gateway-enhancing eastern access into the City of Holland.
In July 2016, the Holland Energy Park received the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure’s Envision Platinum award recognizing the sustainability of public infrastructure. Holland Energy Park is the first-in- the-country base load power generating plant to receive an Envision rating!
Paved walking trails around the plant are connected to miles of protected Macatawa Greenway space throughout the Holland/Zeeland community.
We look forward to having you join us as we learn more about Holland Energy Park and opportunities that lay ahead for Holland.

If You Go
What: Living Sustainably Along the Lakeshore-Holland Energy Park
Where: Holland Energy Park, 1 Energy Park Way, Holland
When: 6:30 to 8 p.m., Tuesday Oct. 10
RSVP: http://bit.ly/visit-holland-energy-park

Please save the date for these other upcoming Living Sustainably Along the Lakeshore events. The November and January events will be 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Herrick District Library.
 “Community and Neighborhood: Recycling, It’s not just 3R’s. Hint: It’s 8R’s,” Tuesday, Nov. 14.
 “Economic Development: Forecasting a Sustainable Government,” Tuesday, Jan. 9.
To see recordings of past events and details about other upcoming community events, visit the “Events” section at www.hope.edu/sustainability-institute or you can follow us on Facebook by searching for “Living Sustainably Along the Lakeshore.”

 Michelle Gibbs, is the director of the Holland-Hope College Sustainability Institute. The vision for the institute is a healthy and economically vibrant community that promotes environmental stewardship and mutual respect for people and the planet. Our mission is to foster collaborative efforts to infuse sustainability into the minds and practices of the greater Holland community.

This Week’s Sustainability Framework Theme:
Smart Energy: We need to use both conservation and efficiency measures to manage our resources to provide access to reliable and cost-effective energy.

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