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

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!

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.