Calvin Part of Sustainability Conference

November 6, 2007 == MEDIA ADVISORY

Summary: Calvin College will participate in a first-of-its-kind in Michigan conference November 16 at the Eberhard Center on the Grand Rapids campus of Grand Valley State University.

Full story see http://www.calvin.edu/news/releases/2007-08/sustainability.htm

Calvin College will participate in "Plugging the Leaks: Energy Conservation and Efficiency," a day-long event bringing together representatives from a wide variety of Michigan's public and private colleges and universities.

The goal of the conference -- to be held November 16 at the Eberhard Center on the Grand Rapids campus of Grand Valley State University -- is to get the state's college and universities thinking, and talking, about energy conservation.

Calvin academic dean Janel Curry will be moderating many of the morning sessions, while physics professor Matt Heun and Calvin vice president Tom McWhertor will participate in panel discussions.

Curry said it is important for Calvin to be part of the conference and to be involved with both the Grand Rapids Community Sustainability Partnership and the Michigan Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability (the latter group is coordinating the upcoming conference at GVSU).

"To be able to borrow ideas and share best practices on both a local and a state level is critical to the success of sustainability initiatives," said Curry. "Sustainability takes collaboration."

That's one of the reasons the November 16 conference will include not only a variety of local speakers, but also national figures, including Marty Kushler from the American Council on an Energy Efficient Economy and Paul Meierdierck, co-chair of the energy committee of the New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability.

In addition Calvin alum and U.S. Congressman Vern Ehlers, sponsor of the recently introduced "Higher Education Sustainability Act," will open the conference with introductory remarks.

Contact Curry at 616-526-6869

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Received on Tue Nov 6 22:25:16 2007