ENVS 50 Archive

Students working together in groups will formulate and justify policy measures that they think would be appropriate to deal with a local environmental problem. The purposes of this coordinating course are to: 

1. Give students an opportunity to see how the disciplinary knowledge acquired in their various courses and departmental major programs can be integrated in a synthetic manner;
2. Provide a forum for an in-depth evaluation of a significant environmental policy problem; and
3. Give students the experience of working as a project team toward the solution of a real-world problem.

​Considerable field work may be involved, and the final examination will consist of a public presentation and defense of student-generated policy recommendations.

Supervising Faculty: Nick Reo

Full Report

Supervising Faculty: Nick Reo

Full Report

Supervising Faculty: Nick Reo

Full Report

Supervising Faculty: Nick Reo

Full Report

Supervising Faculty: Rich Howarth

Full Report

Supervising Faculty: Nick Reo

Full Report

Supervising Faculty: Rich Howarth

Full Report

Supervising Faculty: Doug Bolger

Full Report

Supervising Faculty: Doug Bolger

Full Report

Supervising Faculty: Chris Sneddon

Full Report

Supervising Faculty: Karolina Kawiaka

Full Report

In this class, students prioritized the recommendations made in ENVS 50 (S09) and selected a project to research and develop and work towards implementing on the Dartmouth campus.

Supervising Faculty: Karolina Kawiaka

Full Report

In the coming decades Dartmouth College will have to face the dual crises of global warming and peak oil. By weaning the institution off of fossil fuels as quickly as possible, both issues can be addressed. This report recommends a multi-phase approach in order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The first phase tackles the energy demand on campus; the second phases looks at alternative ways of producing energy-in lieu of burning heating oil at the central heating plant, as is currently practiced. It is recommended that the two phases, though distinct, occur simultaneously.

Supervising Faculty: Chris Sneddon

Full Report

This report examines the relationship between regional planning and sustainable transportation in the Upper Connecticut River Valley, with regard to the associated environmental and socioeconomic impacts. It proposes increased interactions between structural elements and more even dispersal of resources in order to promote the efficiency of planning structures in this area; a key weakness is revealed in the lack of coordination between planning entities.Public transport and alternative modes of transportation in the Upper Valley are found to be decentralized and haphazard, and it is suggested that employer and town-based TDM programs would have a significant effect in promoting sustainability efforts. The environmental impacts of road salting were found to be a particularly critical issue requiring further study.

Supervising Faculty: Doug Bolger

Full Report

This report investigates the issues surrounding exurban sprawl in Hanover, New Hampshire and Hartford, Vermont. It examines historical land-use, agricultural change, affordable housing, water quality, wildlife habitat fragmentation, land-use regulation, community values and local government structures, and concludes with several recommendations, including:

• Conduct comprehensive land valuation and Cost of Community Services studies to determine the relative importance of open space and agricultural lands and their economic viability
• Implement policies promoting clustered development along existing roads, especially in rural areas
• Establish a comprehensive GIS database to provide concrete data regarding rural growth

Supervising Faculty: Rich Howarth

Full Report

This report examines the viability of wood chip energy generation in New England from a variety of perspectives and aims to explain and assess: the science and technology behind wood chip technology and the current and potential supply of wood chips in relation to the New England forest industry (with an emphasis on sustainably harvested chips). It also examines several local and regional case studies that illustrate the pros and cons of wood chip energy for utilities, schools, and municipal buildings.

Supervising Faculty: Rich Howarth

Full Report

While recognizing Dartmouth's capacity to be a leader in environmental efficiency and sustainability, efforts clearly need to expand and improve. This report, a compilation of research and recommendations to support an expanded advocacy effort, examines residential halls as a means of understanding current hindrances and future capacities for "green" living spaces. Covered in depth are new dorms, specifically plans for the McLaughlin cluster, opening in fall 2006, and the green elements that were incorporated into the buildings' design (Chapter 3). Existing residential halls are evaluated, along with programs such as ECO and SPARC, vehicles for improving student environmental awareness (Chapter 4). Research conducted with college architects, real estate officers, students, and faculty provides the foundation for a comprehensive plan for a Sustainability Center, a facility designed to promote sustainability from the people within and through the actual building with its many green technologies (Chapter 5). The report concludes with an examination of Dartmouth's peer institutions' commitment to environmental stewardship (Chapter 6).

Supervising Faculty: Andy Friedland

Full Report

Dartmouth College must take steps to reduce its impact on the environment. We provide the college with a number of effective ways to reduce its CO2 emissions. Implementation of our recommendations would demonstrate that Dartmouth can be a leader in environmental awareness. The several options outlined in this report show that if Dartmouth makes a commitment to acting upon our recommendations, the rewards will be substantial. These rewards achieve our mission of reducing Dartmouth's CO2 emissions and improve Dartmouth's reputation, intellectual atmosphere and capacity as an educational institution.

Supervising Faculty: Richard Howarth

Full Report

In order to realize the goals identified in the Open Space Priorities Plan (OSPP), released in the fall of 2000 by the Hanover Conservation Commission, this report investigates land protection strategies for the town of Hanover. We concur with the long-term conservation spirit of the OSPP and present this document as a logical next phase for the preservation and management of open space in Hanover. By focusing almost exclusively on open space protection tools, this report aims to shift the documented support for open space in Hanover beyond the theoretical realm and into practical implementation. A brief introductory chapter begins the report, followed by three chapters that each comprehensively analyze a different implementation vehicle: Planning and Zoning (Chapter 2), Economic Incentives (Chapter 3), and Conservation Easements and Land Acquisitions (Chapter 4).

Supervising Faculty: Richard Howarth

Full Report

The Spring 2000 Environmental Studies 50 class has researched the transportation situation at Dartmouth College in order to establish its role in this environmental problem. We have determined that Dartmouth has much room for improvement in reducing the energy used and pollution produced by transportation on and around campus, especially when compared to other colleges and universities. It is our hope that the recommendations we provide will be used to change transportation policies and practices at the college. The two major areas for improvement are among commuters and within the college fleet. College policies can influence the former and directly change the latter.