The Boiler Green Initiative was founded in 2006 by Ryan P. Cambridge (President 2006) and Bel St. John (Vice-President 2006). Both Cambridge and St. John were juniors in the Landscape Architecture program at the time and had a passion for making the Purdue community more sustainable.
The founding members only totaled 12 people; most of them landscape architects students. Since 2006, BGI has branched out across campus to reach more than 400 students of all majors of study, has written and received more than $100,000.00 in grant funding, and generates nearly 95,000 global search results according to google.com.
Focus Groups:
Green Roof Technology:
This group specifically focuses on researching the feasibility of the use of green roof systems in our community. When feasible, we work towards physical implementation and long term monitoring of those systems.
Recycling:
This group focuses on increasing education of the importance reducing, reusing, recycling. We also work to increase recycling usage on campus and in our surrounding communities through education and when possible the assisting in the addition of recycling bins to areas with need. This group was responsible for the implementation and management of the first ever recycling effort that took place within Ross-Ade Stadium in 2008.
Carbon Neutrality @ Purdue:
CN@P is a group that continually calculates and monitors the carbon footprint of Purdue University. Because this is something very difficult to do, CN@P has served as a consultant to several municipalities who wish to calculate their carbon footprint but do not have the means to do so. CN@P also works to plan programs to educate others on how and why to reduce their carbon footprint.
Storm-water Management:
This group works on projects related to the sustainable management of storm-water in our community. They look at alternative methods of handling run-off water that results in the reduction of surface pollutants allowed into our rivers and streams.
Environmental Policy:
Our EP team members lobby for environmental policy that is sustainable at both the local and global levels. They are responsible for communicating our environmental concerns to those individuals who are in leadership and decision making positions.
Alternative Transportation:
Students in this group are advocates for increasing the use of different methods of alternative transportation. It is their goal to take on projects that will enable people to leave their automobiles for a more sustainable means of transport.
Energy:
The Energy group is focusing on effective use of daylight as well as use of effective lighting fixtures in the building. The goal of the group is to reduce use of energy on campus through reducing lighting usage.
Grant Writing:
Our grant writing team is one of the most important of all. Any project we take on, regardless of focus, requires money. This team of individuals seeks out and writes grants to assist in the completion of our various projects. To date BGI has received in excess of $100,000.00 in grant funding.
Leadership
President:
Carmen Martin (cbmartin@purdue.edu)
Major: Nutrition Science and Dietetics
Minor: Biology
Expected Graduation, May 2011
Carmen joined BGI as a freshman in 2007. She became the Recycling Chair for the 08-09 school year. Some of her favorite BGI projects have included the Ross Ade Stadium recycling program and the bottled water education promotion. Although her career goals are not sustainability related, being green and green education remains one of her greatest passions.
Vice
President:
Hollie Colony (hcolony@purdue.edu)
Major: Landscape Architecture
Expected Graduation: Spring 2010
Hollie joined BGI at it's inception in 2006. She was president in the 07-08 school year left for her internship during the following year and will be our Vice President this year. She is interested in Green Roof Technology.
Treasurer:
Amy Bare (abare@purdue.edu)
Major: Natural Resources and Environmental Science
Expected Graduation: 2013
Amy enjoys being able to learn so much about sustainability from the other members, as well as the friends she has made from being in BGI.
Secretary:
Rachel Huber (rhuber@purdue.edu)
Major: Natural Resources and Environmental Science
Expected Graduation: 2011
Rachel joined BGI in Fall '08. She became the secretary for the '09-10 school year. She is passionate about educating others in the easy and fun ways to be green. Her favorite part in BGI is making a big difference on campus.
Advisors
Dan
Schuster:
Campus Energy Data Coordinator, Purdue University.
(dcschuster@purdue.edu)Dan helps BGI by managing the energy monitoring in 4 of the residence halls and the related competitions.
Joni Heide: Project Manager II, LEED AP, Purdue University (jlheide@purdue.edu)
Joni has helped BGI as project manager of the Schleman Hall Green Roof. She will continue to help BGI in pursuing more endeavors in Green Roof Technology.
Leigh Raymond: Associate Professor, Political Science, Liberal Arts (lraymond@purdue.edu)
Leigh works with both the Carbon Neutrality group as well as the Policy group giving direction to each group.