A recent debate associated with Under the Big Tent focused on energy use, fossil fuel use and the environment. Panelists included Amanda Stahl, Donald Wall, Matt Beil and Brett Haverstick. The debate was moderated by Robert Richards.
The panelists discussed the problems with fossil fuels, the public misconceptions on nuclear energy safety and the issues with overdrilling. You can see the Daily Evergreen student newspaper's recap of the event below.
http://www.dailyevergreen.com/story/34471
Also take a look at this article from the WSU News Center about a new style of living that is carbon neutral. WSU was involved in the plan and development! Go Cougs!
http://wsutoday.wsu.edu/pages/Publications.asp?Action=Detail&PublicationID=25749&PageID=21
Are you informed on the issues surrounding fossil fuels, drilling, nuclear power? If not, we strongly advise you take a few moments and do a little research. Information is power, an informed citizen has the power to decide how to proceed in the future. A well informed citizen can help protect the environment. So become that well informed citizen, the environment needs it!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Sustainability in Practice- Sustainability Video project
Here's a few suggestions of how WSU students can practice sustainability. We understand the "poor college student" mentatility so we provided a few options that are cheap or free.
Hope you enjoyed the video!
Hope you enjoyed the video!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Sustainability in Practice- What motivates you?
This morning, as I put my recycling bins out on the curb for pick up, I couldn't help but notice that only about 1/3 of the houses within my view were utilizing Pullman's recycling service. It is provided free of charge with garbage pick up and only takes a little bit of extra effort! I know many of my friends don't recycle just because of that little bit of extra effort but come on!
Here are some interesting facts about how big of a difference recycling can make from recycling-revolution.com
Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours -- or the equivalent of a half a gallon of gasoline.
An aluminum can that is thrown away will still be a can 500 years from now!
Recycling a single run of the Sunday New York Times would save 75,000 trees.
Plastic bags and other plastic garbage thrown into the ocean kill as many as 1,000,000 sea creatures every year!
A modern glass bottle would take 4000 years or more to decompose -- and even longer if it's in the landfill.
The above list is just a few stats I pulled from the list. Check out the full list at http://www.recycling-revolution.com/recycling-facts.html. We want to know what motivates you, or keeps you from being unmotivated to recycle! A little effort from you can make a huge difference!
Here are some interesting facts about how big of a difference recycling can make from recycling-revolution.com
Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours -- or the equivalent of a half a gallon of gasoline.
An aluminum can that is thrown away will still be a can 500 years from now!
Recycling a single run of the Sunday New York Times would save 75,000 trees.
Plastic bags and other plastic garbage thrown into the ocean kill as many as 1,000,000 sea creatures every year!
A modern glass bottle would take 4000 years or more to decompose -- and even longer if it's in the landfill.
The above list is just a few stats I pulled from the list. Check out the full list at http://www.recycling-revolution.com/recycling-facts.html. We want to know what motivates you, or keeps you from being unmotivated to recycle! A little effort from you can make a huge difference!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Sustainability in Practice-WSU Team for Idaho Idea to Market 2011 Competition
A WSU team is participating in the Idaho Idea to Market 2011 competition on May 17-18. The competition is a business feasibility study of future technology. They chose to develop a Nanoantenna product (a rectifying antenna which is a solar collection device that captures abundant solar energy). Nanoantenna has more benefits than today's solar power.
Nowadays, people are interested in alternative energy which can save environment and save money. Solar rays are the most available source among alternative energy, some experts say. Researchers at the Idaho National laboratory have developed a solar energy collector that can observe the energy not only during the sunny days, but also at night and on cloudy days. This technology is called Nanoantenna collects hear energy generated by the sun and other sources. The main difference between current solar power and Nanoantenna is that current solar energy's solar cells are mostly made of silicon; the primary component is sand and Nanoantenna is lightweight and made of flexible materials.
The WSU team is trying to find out what kind of product can deliver value to consumers.
Nowadays, people are interested in alternative energy which can save environment and save money. Solar rays are the most available source among alternative energy, some experts say. Researchers at the Idaho National laboratory have developed a solar energy collector that can observe the energy not only during the sunny days, but also at night and on cloudy days. This technology is called Nanoantenna collects hear energy generated by the sun and other sources. The main difference between current solar power and Nanoantenna is that current solar energy's solar cells are mostly made of silicon; the primary component is sand and Nanoantenna is lightweight and made of flexible materials.
The WSU team is trying to find out what kind of product can deliver value to consumers.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Sustainability in Practice- Do-It-Yourself Composting
About 1/3 of household garbage is food waste!
While college students tend to be a little more careful about the food they throw away, I am always blown away at how little my friends care about saving leftovers. I save all my leftovers. My mom is the same way so that is probably where it comes from but I cannot stand to throw food away! Not only is this basically like throwing out money, when food ends up in landfills it lets methane gas into the environment as it decomposes which is a harmful green house gas.
One simple and environmentally responsible alternative is to start your own compose bin at home. By composting you eliminate waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill and your generate a material that is a nutrient rich fertilizer that is non-toxic and completely environmentally friendly.
Check out this link to see how to start your own at-home compost bin! http://www.ehow.com/how_4733853_start-compost-bin.html
While college students tend to be a little more careful about the food they throw away, I am always blown away at how little my friends care about saving leftovers. I save all my leftovers. My mom is the same way so that is probably where it comes from but I cannot stand to throw food away! Not only is this basically like throwing out money, when food ends up in landfills it lets methane gas into the environment as it decomposes which is a harmful green house gas.
One simple and environmentally responsible alternative is to start your own compose bin at home. By composting you eliminate waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill and your generate a material that is a nutrient rich fertilizer that is non-toxic and completely environmentally friendly.
Check out this link to see how to start your own at-home compost bin! http://www.ehow.com/how_4733853_start-compost-bin.html
Friday, April 1, 2011
Sustainability in Practice-Nuclear Safety
While media hovers around the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex in Japan, public concern hovers around the Columbia Generating Station in Richland, WA.
Columbia Generating Station is the only commercial nuclear reactor in the Northwest. There are also research nuclear reactors at Idaho State University, Oregon State University and Washington State University. There are over 100 commercially-operated nuclear reactors, of various types and models throughout the United States and more than 25 research reactors, Corey Hines, reactor supervisor at the WSU Nuclear Radiation Center said.
“The media exploited the fear when initial reports of the Japan nuclear crisis were being distributed, he said. “It wasn’t the earthquake but the tsunami that knocked out the pumps, generators and batteries. The reactors withstood the earthquake exactly how they were supposed to.”
Hines said the threat of a similar situation happening to the Columbia Generating Station is next-to impossible because it is located far enough inland that the possibility of a tsunami is non-existent. It is also far enough away from the Columbia River, about three miles, that flooding is not a significant threat, according to the Energy Northwest Web site.
Energy Northwest CEO Mark Reddemann was unavailable for comment but in a guest commentary published in the Tri-City Herald he stressed that nuclear facility employees across the country receive detailed and continuous nuclear and plant operations safety training.
“In addition to robust emergency response training and drills, reactor operators train one week out of every six to demonstrate proficiency in their primary responsibilities, and must pass an exam annually to maintain their license,” Reddemann’s guest commentary in the Tri-City Herald.
WSU and OSU both have one megawatt energy production research nuclear reactors. In comparison, the Columbia Generating Station houses a nuclear reactor operating at nearly 1,200 megawatts and the Fukushima nuclear plant produces over 2,000 megawatts.
“The OSU reactor is used only for research and produces one megawatt of power compared to the 2,000 megawatts produced by the reactor in Japan,” Lyn Smith-Gloria, a public information representative in the OSU department of nuclear engineering said. “It uses a small quantity of low-enriched fuel so even if a catastrophic event caused all the water to leak out, the reactor would not melt down or explode.”
Hines said in the event of an earthquake, the WSU reactor takes 0.9 seconds to go from full power to full shutdown. He also said the reactor is generally shut down at the end of the day and restarted in the morning after scram measures and safety checks are conducted.
“95 percent of our job is maintaining the reactor,” Hines said. “ We do daily and routine system checks; we have an eight-page check procedure before starting up the reactor. We are constantly doing preventative and scheduled maintenance.”
He also said there is no environmental or human threat in the minuscule chance the reactor leaked.
“We never want to say never but it’s hard to describe a situation where it (Columbia Generating Station reactor) would leak,” Hines said.
The Japan crisis may affect nuclear energy development in the United States.
Anti-nuclear campaigns are using the nuclear crisis in Japan as a reason why nuclear development should not be pursued in the United States. This crisis comes at a particularly crucial time in the legislative process as Senate Bill 512 IS, the Nuclear Power 2021 Act is currently being reviewed by the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
“We knew there would be backlash from the crisis in Japan,” Hines said. “It’s unfortunate but the other alternative is coal-powered plants that run on fossil fuels which are extremely harmful to the environment. Nuclear energy has to be a part of the solution.”
He also recognized the option of solar power but said it is not developed enough to compete with the energy amounts created from nuclear reactors.
The Columbia Generating Station is in the process of renewing its license, a process which takes about 30 months, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Web site. The original license for a nuclear plant is 40 years, with renewal periods of every 20 years. According to the Web site, the Columbia Generating Station licensee review should be completed in June of 2012.
Due to the volume of questions NRC has been receiving regarding the current situation in Japan and how a similar crisis would unfold in the United States, the NRC declined to comment on specifics of the issues unfolding abroad. The NRC is referring people with concerns to the NRC Web site for a list of commonly asked questions and answers regarding the local and global nuclear concerns.
Columbia Generating Station is the only commercial nuclear reactor in the Northwest. There are also research nuclear reactors at Idaho State University, Oregon State University and Washington State University. There are over 100 commercially-operated nuclear reactors, of various types and models throughout the United States and more than 25 research reactors, Corey Hines, reactor supervisor at the WSU Nuclear Radiation Center said.
“The media exploited the fear when initial reports of the Japan nuclear crisis were being distributed, he said. “It wasn’t the earthquake but the tsunami that knocked out the pumps, generators and batteries. The reactors withstood the earthquake exactly how they were supposed to.”
Hines said the threat of a similar situation happening to the Columbia Generating Station is next-to impossible because it is located far enough inland that the possibility of a tsunami is non-existent. It is also far enough away from the Columbia River, about three miles, that flooding is not a significant threat, according to the Energy Northwest Web site.
Energy Northwest CEO Mark Reddemann was unavailable for comment but in a guest commentary published in the Tri-City Herald he stressed that nuclear facility employees across the country receive detailed and continuous nuclear and plant operations safety training.
“In addition to robust emergency response training and drills, reactor operators train one week out of every six to demonstrate proficiency in their primary responsibilities, and must pass an exam annually to maintain their license,” Reddemann’s guest commentary in the Tri-City Herald.
WSU and OSU both have one megawatt energy production research nuclear reactors. In comparison, the Columbia Generating Station houses a nuclear reactor operating at nearly 1,200 megawatts and the Fukushima nuclear plant produces over 2,000 megawatts.
“The OSU reactor is used only for research and produces one megawatt of power compared to the 2,000 megawatts produced by the reactor in Japan,” Lyn Smith-Gloria, a public information representative in the OSU department of nuclear engineering said. “It uses a small quantity of low-enriched fuel so even if a catastrophic event caused all the water to leak out, the reactor would not melt down or explode.”
Hines said in the event of an earthquake, the WSU reactor takes 0.9 seconds to go from full power to full shutdown. He also said the reactor is generally shut down at the end of the day and restarted in the morning after scram measures and safety checks are conducted.
“95 percent of our job is maintaining the reactor,” Hines said. “ We do daily and routine system checks; we have an eight-page check procedure before starting up the reactor. We are constantly doing preventative and scheduled maintenance.”
He also said there is no environmental or human threat in the minuscule chance the reactor leaked.
“We never want to say never but it’s hard to describe a situation where it (Columbia Generating Station reactor) would leak,” Hines said.
The Japan crisis may affect nuclear energy development in the United States.
Anti-nuclear campaigns are using the nuclear crisis in Japan as a reason why nuclear development should not be pursued in the United States. This crisis comes at a particularly crucial time in the legislative process as Senate Bill 512 IS, the Nuclear Power 2021 Act is currently being reviewed by the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
“We knew there would be backlash from the crisis in Japan,” Hines said. “It’s unfortunate but the other alternative is coal-powered plants that run on fossil fuels which are extremely harmful to the environment. Nuclear energy has to be a part of the solution.”
He also recognized the option of solar power but said it is not developed enough to compete with the energy amounts created from nuclear reactors.
The Columbia Generating Station is in the process of renewing its license, a process which takes about 30 months, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Web site. The original license for a nuclear plant is 40 years, with renewal periods of every 20 years. According to the Web site, the Columbia Generating Station licensee review should be completed in June of 2012.
Due to the volume of questions NRC has been receiving regarding the current situation in Japan and how a similar crisis would unfold in the United States, the NRC declined to comment on specifics of the issues unfolding abroad. The NRC is referring people with concerns to the NRC Web site for a list of commonly asked questions and answers regarding the local and global nuclear concerns.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Sustainability in Practice-WSU student implements change
Washington State University student Skuyler Herzog heard student complaints about WSU’s mandatory student fees, which topped $448 this spring and decided to give the power of choice to fellow students.
Herzog, a senior environmental science major and the Associated Students of Washington State University environmental task force chair, established the optional $5 Cougar Green Fee, available starting summer semester 2011.
Herzog labels himself a sustainability advocate hoping to one day live in a world that unites modern technology with sustainable lifestyles.
“I do not think that we should abandon our modern inventions and lifestyle,” he said. “But as stewards of the earth it is our responsibility to take care of it.
Herzog said everyone can improve efficiency while decreasing environmental impact.
“It doesn’t have to be a choice between iPhones or forests,” he said.
Money collected through the Cougar Green Fee will be placed in the Cougar Green Fund. The fund, managed by the Sustainability and Environmental Committee, will support student proposals regarding sustainability practices on campus, Dwight Hagihara, executive director of Safety, Health, Environmental and Risk Management Services said.
After three years of planning and submitting proposals, over 3,000 student signatures and an ASWSU Senate approved resolution, the Cougar Green Fee obtained final approval from WSU administration about a month ago, Herzog said.
Student support for the optional fee has been strong.
“Even if it just means more recycling bins in the residence halls, I’m all for it (Cougar Green Fee),” said Jesse Soy, a junior biology major. “I’d be fine with it being mandatory because it would go towards something wholesome versus just more stadium and CUB renovations.”
Herzog is pleased with the support he’s gotten from other registered student organizations as well as ASWSU Sens. Derrick Skaug and Bryan Inglin and WSU staff such as WSU Environmental Wellbeing Coordinator Jamie Bentley and Hagihara.
The Cougar Green Fund is designated for undergraduate research and student initiatives regarding sustainability on the Pullman campus, said Herzog. It was established with the idea that students could choose to donate $5 or more, along with faculty, staff and any individual. Herzog hopes it will be implemented at other WSU campuses and inspire similar projects at other universities.
The University of Idaho and Harvard University have had similar funds in place for years, each a little different but what makes the Cougar Green Fund different is that it was student proposed, Hagihara said.
The Cougar Green Fund stemmed from the sustainability initiative, approved in 2009, which led to the creation of the Sustainability and Environment Committee. The SEC is composed of faculty, staff and students to organize and focus WSU environmental efforts.
“The Sustainability Initiative is more of a statement of purpose rather than a specific action, Herzog said. “It established the Sustainability and Environment Committee but the document itself does not provide for further changes, it just establishes WSU’s commitment, which is useful but only if more actions come from it.”
The SEC monitors WSU’s green house gas inventory and developed the Climate Action Plan signed by WSU President Elson S. Floyd, Hagihara said. The Climate Action Plan was a response to President Floyd’s signing of the President’s Climate Commitment. Both are pledges made by WSU to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80 percent by 2050, and identify areas for environmental improvement at WSU.
There is no dedicated funding for campus sustainability as a whole, Hagihara said. Energy efficient lighting in residence halls, the Green Bike program and sustainability-integrated curriculum are some projects already underway but funding for programs like these comes from specific department budgets, not the university as a whole, Bentley said.
“We don’t have an existing fund for sustainability so that is why it (Cougar Green Fund) is needed,” she said. “Most universities have a sustainability office and sustainability officer or coordinator. WSU doesn’t have either of those things because we are in a hiring freeze and financial uncertainty.”
Herzog has big plans for the Cougar Green Fund. He wants to focus on projects like solar power for the CUB and other buildings on campus and create a large campus community garden. Herzog and administrators are also interested in graywater usage on campus but high costs have put the idea on the back burner.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency Web site, graywater is water from bathroom sinks, showers and tubs and washing machines. It has not come in contact with human or animal feces but may have traces of dirt, hair, grease and household cleaning products. Graywater can be a beneficial source of irrigation water for landscapes.
“One of the things we would like to look into is the use of treated gray water to irrigate green spaces on campus,” Herzog said. “Currently the gray water exits the Pullman Water Treatment Plant and is just emptied back into the South Fork of the Palouse River while fresh water is used to water the plants. I would like to see the Cougar Green Fund share the cost with the university in the future and make this happen.”
All it took was a few voices, one determined individual and the passion and hard work to get it done. What can you do to help the environment?
Herzog, a senior environmental science major and the Associated Students of Washington State University environmental task force chair, established the optional $5 Cougar Green Fee, available starting summer semester 2011.
Herzog labels himself a sustainability advocate hoping to one day live in a world that unites modern technology with sustainable lifestyles.
“I do not think that we should abandon our modern inventions and lifestyle,” he said. “But as stewards of the earth it is our responsibility to take care of it.
Herzog said everyone can improve efficiency while decreasing environmental impact.
“It doesn’t have to be a choice between iPhones or forests,” he said.
Money collected through the Cougar Green Fee will be placed in the Cougar Green Fund. The fund, managed by the Sustainability and Environmental Committee, will support student proposals regarding sustainability practices on campus, Dwight Hagihara, executive director of Safety, Health, Environmental and Risk Management Services said.
After three years of planning and submitting proposals, over 3,000 student signatures and an ASWSU Senate approved resolution, the Cougar Green Fee obtained final approval from WSU administration about a month ago, Herzog said.
Student support for the optional fee has been strong.
“Even if it just means more recycling bins in the residence halls, I’m all for it (Cougar Green Fee),” said Jesse Soy, a junior biology major. “I’d be fine with it being mandatory because it would go towards something wholesome versus just more stadium and CUB renovations.”
Herzog is pleased with the support he’s gotten from other registered student organizations as well as ASWSU Sens. Derrick Skaug and Bryan Inglin and WSU staff such as WSU Environmental Wellbeing Coordinator Jamie Bentley and Hagihara.
The Cougar Green Fund is designated for undergraduate research and student initiatives regarding sustainability on the Pullman campus, said Herzog. It was established with the idea that students could choose to donate $5 or more, along with faculty, staff and any individual. Herzog hopes it will be implemented at other WSU campuses and inspire similar projects at other universities.
The University of Idaho and Harvard University have had similar funds in place for years, each a little different but what makes the Cougar Green Fund different is that it was student proposed, Hagihara said.
The Cougar Green Fund stemmed from the sustainability initiative, approved in 2009, which led to the creation of the Sustainability and Environment Committee. The SEC is composed of faculty, staff and students to organize and focus WSU environmental efforts.
“The Sustainability Initiative is more of a statement of purpose rather than a specific action, Herzog said. “It established the Sustainability and Environment Committee but the document itself does not provide for further changes, it just establishes WSU’s commitment, which is useful but only if more actions come from it.”
The SEC monitors WSU’s green house gas inventory and developed the Climate Action Plan signed by WSU President Elson S. Floyd, Hagihara said. The Climate Action Plan was a response to President Floyd’s signing of the President’s Climate Commitment. Both are pledges made by WSU to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80 percent by 2050, and identify areas for environmental improvement at WSU.
There is no dedicated funding for campus sustainability as a whole, Hagihara said. Energy efficient lighting in residence halls, the Green Bike program and sustainability-integrated curriculum are some projects already underway but funding for programs like these comes from specific department budgets, not the university as a whole, Bentley said.
“We don’t have an existing fund for sustainability so that is why it (Cougar Green Fund) is needed,” she said. “Most universities have a sustainability office and sustainability officer or coordinator. WSU doesn’t have either of those things because we are in a hiring freeze and financial uncertainty.”
Herzog has big plans for the Cougar Green Fund. He wants to focus on projects like solar power for the CUB and other buildings on campus and create a large campus community garden. Herzog and administrators are also interested in graywater usage on campus but high costs have put the idea on the back burner.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency Web site, graywater is water from bathroom sinks, showers and tubs and washing machines. It has not come in contact with human or animal feces but may have traces of dirt, hair, grease and household cleaning products. Graywater can be a beneficial source of irrigation water for landscapes.
“One of the things we would like to look into is the use of treated gray water to irrigate green spaces on campus,” Herzog said. “Currently the gray water exits the Pullman Water Treatment Plant and is just emptied back into the South Fork of the Palouse River while fresh water is used to water the plants. I would like to see the Cougar Green Fund share the cost with the university in the future and make this happen.”
All it took was a few voices, one determined individual and the passion and hard work to get it done. What can you do to help the environment?
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Sustainability in Practice- Moving Forward
I realize the last blog post was on the situation in Japan and while I do not want to be exhaustive, I believe this terrible disaster has great potential to have devastating effects world wide. While the country is still under strict media attention, we know this will fade, as did Haiti and the BP oil spill. In the coming weeks and months it will be important to remember what has happened and realize that the country and people will be hurting for a long time. It will be interesting, however, to see if the media attention will continue because of the nuclear fall out threat.
The latest count I could find reports more than 8000 dead and nearly 13,000 people still missing following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Keep in mind these deaths have occurred, mostly, due to the actual quake and tsunami. We have yet to see how many people will be fatally affected by this disaster as a result or radiation exposure, hunger, sickness, etc.
I was reading an article this morning that reported crops and water supply in the surrounding area have been contaminated by nuclear fallout. Also, cows at a diary farm had been contaminated. All of these instances render the material unusable for any sort of consumption. In addition, rain and dust from the area have been tainted and it is not yet known how far the radiation will travel via these two channels.
Another area of concern as far as food contamination is concerned, is the seafood Japan produces every year. Seafood export is a $1.3 billion dollar industry annually and much of that seafood ends up on store shelves across the world, bringing this scare closer to home than many would like to think.
This morning I received an email from my mom who has a friend living in Sendai, Japan right now. She reported a feeling of peace as she watches the people of Japan come together in this time of disaster. She said there is a feeling of uncertainty, but at the same time, one of being united and coming together as neighbors.
As Kasey mentioned in her blog post, are nuclear power plants worth their cost? In times like these, the entire stability of the eco-system of Japan is under threat. Soon, the effects and threat could be a lot more wide spread. Maybe then the world will begin to ask the same question. While disasters like the one in Japan are devastating, I can't hope that something positive will come from it. If it could possibly be a nuclear free world, It could lead to a much more stable, sustainable world.
The latest count I could find reports more than 8000 dead and nearly 13,000 people still missing following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Keep in mind these deaths have occurred, mostly, due to the actual quake and tsunami. We have yet to see how many people will be fatally affected by this disaster as a result or radiation exposure, hunger, sickness, etc.
I was reading an article this morning that reported crops and water supply in the surrounding area have been contaminated by nuclear fallout. Also, cows at a diary farm had been contaminated. All of these instances render the material unusable for any sort of consumption. In addition, rain and dust from the area have been tainted and it is not yet known how far the radiation will travel via these two channels.
Another area of concern as far as food contamination is concerned, is the seafood Japan produces every year. Seafood export is a $1.3 billion dollar industry annually and much of that seafood ends up on store shelves across the world, bringing this scare closer to home than many would like to think.
This morning I received an email from my mom who has a friend living in Sendai, Japan right now. She reported a feeling of peace as she watches the people of Japan come together in this time of disaster. She said there is a feeling of uncertainty, but at the same time, one of being united and coming together as neighbors.
As Kasey mentioned in her blog post, are nuclear power plants worth their cost? In times like these, the entire stability of the eco-system of Japan is under threat. Soon, the effects and threat could be a lot more wide spread. Maybe then the world will begin to ask the same question. While disasters like the one in Japan are devastating, I can't hope that something positive will come from it. If it could possibly be a nuclear free world, It could lead to a much more stable, sustainable world.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Sustainability in Practice-Footsteps
With the eyes of the world on Japan and the possible nuclear meltdown, energy sources are being reviewed. Is nuclear energy worth the time, money and risk if a meltdown similar to Chernobyl is still a threat? Fossil fuels are becoming a thing of the past and there has been a shift towards wind energy in the form of turbines but every option has positives and negatives.
The real challenge is weighing those positives and negatives, deciding which areas one is willing to risk and then stand by that decision. Who should we entrust with this power? I argue we should trust no one but ourselves with this power. We are responsible for the environment and the footsteps we leave for future generations.
Make sure your footsteps will make a positive impact in the environment so your children and grandchildren can enjoy the beautiful lakes, oceans, forests and mountains you enjoy today
The real challenge is weighing those positives and negatives, deciding which areas one is willing to risk and then stand by that decision. Who should we entrust with this power? I argue we should trust no one but ourselves with this power. We are responsible for the environment and the footsteps we leave for future generations.
Make sure your footsteps will make a positive impact in the environment so your children and grandchildren can enjoy the beautiful lakes, oceans, forests and mountains you enjoy today
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Sustainability in Practice- Your Education
Some campuses may recycle, or use recycled material when possible, but Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan offers entire college degrees with a sustainable emphasis! Aquinas College Sustainable Business programs teach students how to function in a sustainable manner in the business world. They emphasize social and environmental sustainability as well as fair treatment of employees and fair business relations.
One of the college's "mission's" if you will is to dismantle the belief that implementing sustainable business practices is expensive. On the contrary, the program holds the belief that if the innovation does not save the business money and increase profitability, it is not one of sustainability.
The college hopes to produce graduates that can implement sustainable practices that will benefit grass roots causes such as businesses that can hire community members. For example, a college grad being able to return to their home town to find employment instead of having to re-locate half-way around the country. This localized spillover approach seems very opposite from the practice of the last few generations but it sure makes sense to me.
Instead of trying to implement sustainable afterthoughts here and there, it is logical to mold ones entire education and background around sustainability. Cheers to Aquinas College's sustainable mindset! I encourage you to look into their program if you are interested! http://www.aquinas.edu/sb/
One of the college's "mission's" if you will is to dismantle the belief that implementing sustainable business practices is expensive. On the contrary, the program holds the belief that if the innovation does not save the business money and increase profitability, it is not one of sustainability.
The college hopes to produce graduates that can implement sustainable practices that will benefit grass roots causes such as businesses that can hire community members. For example, a college grad being able to return to their home town to find employment instead of having to re-locate half-way around the country. This localized spillover approach seems very opposite from the practice of the last few generations but it sure makes sense to me.
Instead of trying to implement sustainable afterthoughts here and there, it is logical to mold ones entire education and background around sustainability. Cheers to Aquinas College's sustainable mindset! I encourage you to look into their program if you are interested! http://www.aquinas.edu/sb/
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Sustainability in Practice-Student Change
Students do have a say and can affect change. Skuyler Herzog is one of those students at Washington State University. Instead of just watching sustainability unfold around campus, he chose to make something happen.
Starting this summer, a new optional fee will show up when students register for classes. Herzog stresses the importance of it being an option because he does not think students should be forced to pay for something they don’t support or believe in, though he finds it hard to think people wouldn’t want to help support the “Cougar Green Fund”. The $5 optional fee is available to students as a fee yet staff and faculty can also donate and Herzog hopes that in the future, businesses would be willing and able to match donations. Herzog stresses the importance of student participation, saying “it can’t be done without the students”.
The “Cougar Green Fund,” over the years, will hopefully grow to support large projects but for now the focus is on smaller projects such as battery recycling in the CUB and energy efficient light bulbs in the residence halls. Larger projects Herzog hopes the CFG can aid are solar power energy for the CUB or other buildings (during appropriate seasons) and a big campus garden. One of the major projects Herzog would like to look into is the use of treated gray water to irrigate green spaces on campus.
Currently the gray water exits the Pullman Water Treatment Plant and is just emptied back into the South Fork of the Palouse River (river that runs through downtown) while fresh water is used to water the plants. The University has looked into this project but the cost is really high. Herzog would like to see the CGF share the cost with the university in the future and make this happen.
Through determination and passion, Herzog, with the help of other students and administration, showed that students do have the power to make a difference so I encourage everyone to follow your passions, put in the effort; you CAN implement change!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sustainability in Practice- College Sustainability Report Card 2011
Each year The College Sustainability Report Card offers an in depth evaluation of campus sustainability practices at both colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. This report offers information and inspiration for other campuses looking into implementing or improving sustainable practices.
This years report is the organizations fifth edition and covers 322 campuses. This year, Washington State University received an overall grade of C. The sustainability report considers administration, Climate Change & Energy, Food & Recycling, Green Building, Student Involvement and Transportation.
While the report recognized WSU for it's climate change & energy and food & recycling, it ranked low in terms of green building, administration and student organizations. Some of the positive mentions received included the fact that dining services spends 20 percent of it's food budget on local items and that fair trade coffee is offered at each meal. In addition, WSU composts the majority of dining food waste and organic waste. This diverts 82 percent of total waste from ending up in a landfill. In an effort to reduce waste further, all electronics are recycled in addition to traditionally recycled material. The report also mentions how WSU has made a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 36 percent from levels in 2005 by the year 2035. Some of these offsets will occur with an on-site composting facility.
The report is highly informative and recognizes many schools for their innovative green practices. Check it out! http://www.greenreportcard.org
This years report is the organizations fifth edition and covers 322 campuses. This year, Washington State University received an overall grade of C. The sustainability report considers administration, Climate Change & Energy, Food & Recycling, Green Building, Student Involvement and Transportation.
While the report recognized WSU for it's climate change & energy and food & recycling, it ranked low in terms of green building, administration and student organizations. Some of the positive mentions received included the fact that dining services spends 20 percent of it's food budget on local items and that fair trade coffee is offered at each meal. In addition, WSU composts the majority of dining food waste and organic waste. This diverts 82 percent of total waste from ending up in a landfill. In an effort to reduce waste further, all electronics are recycled in addition to traditionally recycled material. The report also mentions how WSU has made a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 36 percent from levels in 2005 by the year 2035. Some of these offsets will occur with an on-site composting facility.
The report is highly informative and recognizes many schools for their innovative green practices. Check it out! http://www.greenreportcard.org
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Sustainability in Practice- Valentine's Day
Each year 200 million roses are grown specifically to fill the demand on Valentine's Day. That is a lot of water, land use and labor! In addition, millions of greeting cards and boxes of chocolates are sold which are made from trees and take a lot of resources to create.
Everyone wants a Valentine, but college students are especially picky about not spending the holiday alone! Dates opportunities are immense (if you have the courage to ask) and if you do have one, you better not show up empty handed!
Guys and girls, as you are out shopping for the perfect bouquet, a card that says everything your heart feels and candy to sweeten your night, consider earth friendly options!
If you're short on cash, consider making a card. I know it sounds cheesy but it can be very effective! My boyfriend made me a Valentine a couple of years ago and I still have it. It is my favorite card he has ever given me! If you prefer to buy one, cards made from recycled material are very common nowadays. The book store on the WSU campus offers such cards.
Boxed chocolates-- dated! This is the easy way out! Bake some cookies!
As for flowers, they are the Valentine's Day staple. They are beautiful and ladies love them :) It is important, however, to consider where the flowers you buy come from. Many flowers are grown using a ton of pesticides and the companies provide very poor conditions for workers. Kenya, one of the worlds top flower exporters, is home to Lake Naivasha. However, the lake is severely polluted from the pesticides, used to grow flowers, running off into the lake. Buying flowers locally through a natural grocer or farmers market are usually good bets or you could always try planting a small organic garden of your own!
While showing your love for your someone-special, don't forget to show love for the earth!!! There is only one of her and she's much harder to make amends with!
Everyone wants a Valentine, but college students are especially picky about not spending the holiday alone! Dates opportunities are immense (if you have the courage to ask) and if you do have one, you better not show up empty handed!
Guys and girls, as you are out shopping for the perfect bouquet, a card that says everything your heart feels and candy to sweeten your night, consider earth friendly options!
If you're short on cash, consider making a card. I know it sounds cheesy but it can be very effective! My boyfriend made me a Valentine a couple of years ago and I still have it. It is my favorite card he has ever given me! If you prefer to buy one, cards made from recycled material are very common nowadays. The book store on the WSU campus offers such cards.
Boxed chocolates-- dated! This is the easy way out! Bake some cookies!
As for flowers, they are the Valentine's Day staple. They are beautiful and ladies love them :) It is important, however, to consider where the flowers you buy come from. Many flowers are grown using a ton of pesticides and the companies provide very poor conditions for workers. Kenya, one of the worlds top flower exporters, is home to Lake Naivasha. However, the lake is severely polluted from the pesticides, used to grow flowers, running off into the lake. Buying flowers locally through a natural grocer or farmers market are usually good bets or you could always try planting a small organic garden of your own!
While showing your love for your someone-special, don't forget to show love for the earth!!! There is only one of her and she's much harder to make amends with!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Sustainability in Practice- Focus on Water
The school I love- Washington State University- is located in Pullman, Washington. For those of you that have not been to Pullman, it is a small town. In a count taken July 2009, the population was 27,619. This number, however, is highly seasonal. The university’s student population accounts for the vast majority of people and between the first week of May and the end of August, the population is reduced greatly as students return home for the summer.
One of the main reason’s the university was built in Pullman was the plentiful supply of water from the naturally occurring Grande Ronde Aquifer. This aquifer provides drinking water to 50,000 residents of Pullman, Washington and Moscow, Idaho as well as outlying areas of Whitman and Latah Counties. This aquifer, which is vital to the survival of many, is dropping an average of 1.5 feet per year. This may not seem like a lot, but a balanced aquifer will replenish naturally. The stress put on this aquifer, however, is too great to allow for recovery so we see the water levels dropping.
While I have used Pullman as an example of the draining effects a large population can have on a water supply, water conservation is a worldwide issue.
There have speculations as to how long earths water supply will last. Some estimates predict by 2025, more than 8 billion people will suffer from water shortages. Claims like this are shocking and scary. If you take a minute to think of everything we need water for, it is a LOT. As scientists and governments struggle to find a solution, there are some things you can do to reduce your water use!
- · Don’t run the water when you brush your teeth to save around 25 gallons per month.
- · Only run your washer when you have a full load of clothes.
- · Water your plants and lawn early in the morning or late in the evening to prevent evaporation.
- · Never pour water down the drain that can be used for other things such as watering plants.
- · Reduce your shower time. Cutting shower time by just a few minutes each time can reduce water use by more than 150 gallons per month.
- · Using a water bottle instead of a glass every time you get thirsty can reduce the number of glasses you have to wash.
- · Use an efficient shower head. This can save up to 750 gallons per month.
Implementing even one of these tips could make a dramatic difference in water use habits! It is everyone’s responsibility to be part of the change!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Sustainability in Practice-Heating, Electricity and Water
Living in a residence hall on campus has its benefits and students take full advantage of them. It’s not more than a 10-15 minute walk to any other part of campus, there are dining centers in close proximity so you don’t have to worry about making sure the fridge is stocked and the dishes are clean but the benefit most students take advantage of is the flat rate for electricity, heating and water usage.
The rate for living in Orton Hall for the academic year 2010-2011 is just over $6,300. While this large amount may draw a gasp, it is less than one would pay living in an apartment if one was to use the same amount of electricity, heating and water. In the residence halls, some students try to balance “getting their money’s worth” and not wasting resources but it is difficult in the easiest of times. These long, cold Pullman days mean turning up the heater a few degrees and spending a couple more minutes in a hot shower. This also means more electricity use as students use hot pots to make Tom Ramen and hot chocolate. Students typically stay indoors more in cold weather so that means more lights on for a longer period of time as well as more usage of electrical appliances such as televisions, computers and gaming systems.
So I urge students living in residence halls…wait… I urge everyone to try some of these tips to help combat the usage of electricity, heating and water in living spaces.
1. Instead of turning up the heat, try putting on a sweatshirt, some sweatpants and snuggling up under a blanket.
2. When you leave a room, turn off the lights and invest in LED light bulbs and lamps instead of using the large overhead lights.
3. Try keeping your shower to the same length during the winter days, and if you’re feeling especially environmentally-friendly, try reducing your shower by a couple of minutes.
4. Unplug appliances and chargers that aren’t being used, it is amazing how much energy a “sleeping” computer uses. Don’t just turn off the toaster, unplug it. It’s safer and better for the environment by conserving energy.
If you can implement these 4 tips into your daily routine, I promise you will see a change in your water and electricity bills. If you live in a residence hall, you don’t see those bills but you can take comfort in knowing you are making a difference in the environment by being sustainably conscious. Plus, it’s good practice for when you do start paying for electricity and water.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Sustainability in Practice- The Coffee you Drink
One of the first things I do in the morning is have my coffee. In order to wake up and become functional before my 9 a.m. class I NEED my coffee! This is a notion shared by many college students across the world. We have weird sleeping hours, a lot of classwork and still try to squeeze in some time for fun!
While we choose our cups, however, do we ever consider where the coffee came from? Most likely not. A quick fix is usually top of mind, but maybe we should. A sustainable cup of Joe would be one in which the beans had no adverse affect on the environment or people during their production.
So what does sustainable coffee farming mean? There are two parts here- the environment and the people.
In terms of the environment, sustainability means utilizing renewable resources, minimizing water use and pollution and making a habit of organic farming and sustainable agriculture.
For the people side of the equation, sustainability means taking care of employees. This means providing safe and comfortable working conditions as well as a fair compensation for work.
Finding sustainable coffee is not as hard as you might think. Here in Washington, Boyd Coffee- served on campus at WSU and across the west- and Starbucks are both sustainable coffee participants.In Canada, Tim Horton's also carries sustainable grown coffee. These are just a few shops. I am sure there are several other brands and campuses across the globe that take part! As sustainability becomes more important to the world, as I can only hope it will, sustainable coffee will become easier to find and more common practice.
So, next time your in the grocery store selecting the prefect blend for in-home preparation or out looking for the nearest coffee shop on campus, try factoring sustainable practice into your decision!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Sustainability in Practice-Food Service
Sustainability, we’ve all heard the word and as students, we hear on a daily basis but what does it mean? How does it affect university students around the world and specifically, WSU students?
WSU has a sustainability initiative that many departments and areas on campus support, one being the dining centers and coffee stands around campus.
Dining Services buys fair trade and organic drip coffee from a local roaster by the name of Thomas Hammer. This coffee is offered in all three dining centers as well as the espresso bar in Carlita’s restaurant located in the Compton Union Building. They also partner with Starbucks and Seattle’s Best Coffee, both of which have well-known fair trade and sustainability programs.
In terms of locally grown foods, Dining Services say they only use flour from Shepherd’s Grain; an alliance of local farmers committed to sustainable agricultural practices. Shepherd’s Grain also supplies Dining Services with lentils and garbanzo beans which are used in some of their signature recipes, according to the Dining Services Web site. Pre-made bakery items are supplied by Hearthbread Bakehouse out of Spokane and they also only use Shepherd’s Grain flour.
Dining Services also advertise, via their website, that their potatoes come from Walla Walla and the Tri-Cities and wild rice from St. Marie, Idaho. The majority of the beef used comes from Angus Meats in Spokane and chicken is supplied by Draper Valley Farms of Mount Vernon, WA.
Organic berries, used mainly in the signature cobblers, come from Walla Walla and other organic fruits come from WSU Orchards and Tuky Organic Farm on campus.
I commend WSU dining services for their sustainable and organic food practices, as well their supplying compostable tableware.To-go utensils are made from potatoe products and are compostable in just a few weeks. To-go dishware is compostable and recyclable as well. “Green cups,” made from corn materials, are used in every dining center, Carlita’s and campus espresso bars. The lids and straws for these cups are also compostable.
Again, I support the steps WSU Dining Services has taken towards more sustainability and organic-minded food service but I also question how often these practices are put into routine use. When dishwashing employees clear trays, do they sort the compostable silverware out? Are their compost bins in every dining center and espresso bar? What sort of recycling practices (paper plates, milk cartons and plastic bottles) are daily occurrences? Offering these compostable and recyclable items is a step in the right direction but I challenge the day-to-day practices and implementation by employees. Hopefully an investigative piece will highlight these issues and provide answers to these questions and more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)