Going Green on Campus and in the Classroom

1. Going Green on Campus and in the Classroom Hilary R. Mosher and James M. Haynes Dept. of Environmental Science and Biology Green Campus Initiative www.Brockport.edu/GCI

2. Discussion Outline • How the College is Going Green • The 3 Rs • Reuse • Reduce • Recycle • Energy Conservation • What you can do to ‘Go Green’! • Break old habits and form new ones. • Be a role model for your students. Green Campus Initiative www.Brockport.edu/GCI

3. Did you know? • Making paper from recycled material uses 60% less energy than making virgin paper. • If every household in the U.S. reused a paper bag for one shopping trip, approximately 60,000 trees would be saved each year. • Making cans from recycled aluminum saves 95% of the energy required to produce cans from virgin material. • Approx. 75% of our trash can be recycled. Green Campus Initiative www.Brockport.edu/GCI

4. The College gets a Green Star! • Reduced energy consumption by 35% over the last 10 years. • Installed geothermal wells in our new Townhouses that meet LEED certification standards. • Has the only comprehensive management of environmental, safety and health system in all of SUNY. Green Campus Initiative www.Brockport.edu/GCI

5. College Cont…. • Recycles 40% of all domestic refuse collected. • Implemented a collaborative stormwater management plan in cooperation with EHS, Earth Sciences, Monroe County and NYSDEC. • Produced a video, “only rain down the drain,” widely used for training purposes. • Student-run program uses fryer grease (from food service) to make biodiesel for diesel vehicles on campus. Green Campus Initiative www.Brockport.edu/GCI

6. Reuse! • It’s as simple as it sounds! • Have students buy used text books—this saves the cost of reprinting and saves hundreds of sheets of paper and therefore trees! • Encourage students to write on required handouts rather than use new sheets of paper. • Try to reuse products as much as possible. • Reuse water bottles by refilling instead of buying new. • Carry a reusable mug for coffee- this saves money too! • Bring your own plate, napkin, tableware and mug to the Union. Green Campus Initiative www.Brockport.edu/GCI

7. Reduce! • Consider the end life of the product you are using . • Purchase post-consumer paper in your Dept. • Be a good consumer—buy products with the least packaging that are made from recycled materials. • Purchase less. • Prepare handouts that are single spaced and double sided with narrower margins. Nothing reduces consumption rates better than less stuff to trash and recycle! Green Campus Initiative www.Brockport.edu/GCI

8. Recycle! • Recycling one soda can (vs. making a new one) saves enough energy to power a television or computer for 3 hours! • Use the recycling bins in your classrooms and office. • Paper and cardboard; clear, brown and green glass; plastics #1 and #2. • Encourage classroom recycling by students. • Make the building coordinator aware if there is not a recycling bin in your classroom or office. • Recycle your printer cartridges! • Collection boxes set up all over campus—inquire at the information desk. Green Campus Initiative www.Brockport.edu/GCI

9. Paper Use at the College • From 01 January through 23 September 2008, 3,103,618 pages were printed at the College. • Daily printing at the College averages 14,598 pages! • This equates to 6,207 reams or $15,518! • How can you reduce paper use? Green Campus Initiative www.Brockport.edu/GCI

10. Reduce Paper Use • Utilize the ANGEL system as much as possible. • Print documents double sided and single spaced. • Reduce margins and paragraph and line spacing. • Have students print in handout mode (9 slides per page) for all power points. • Try to reduce the amount of presentation handouts you require. • Emphasize paper reduction during class. Green Campus Initiative www.Brockport.edu/GCI

11. Be a good consumer! Try to buy only products that: • Were produced locally. • Can be recycled. • Have the least amount of packaging • Look for the triangle with a # 1 or 2 for plastics. • Only clear, green and brown glass. Everyone can make a difference through small changes. Green Campus Initiative www.Brockport.edu/GCI

12. Energy Conservation • Do you enter or leave a lit classroom with projectors on? • Turn off lights, computers, and AV equipment when not in use. • Use natural lighting as much as possible • Keep windows and doors closed in the heating season • Walk around the campus—don’t drive! These actions reduce your carbon footprint by decreasing your electricity use and fossil fuel (mostly coal) consumption! Green Campus Initiative www.Brockport.edu/GCI

13. You and Your Students: Get Involved! − Volunteer for campus cleanups and encourage student participation. − Help make our campus aesthetically pleasing by acting responsibly; don’t litter and pick up litter where you see it! − Volunteer for environmental programs that benefit the campus and the community. • Use environmental examples in courses whenever possible (math, English, business, nursing, etc.; examples abound!) − Check out our Green Campus Initiative Website (www.brockport.edu/gci) to get more information! Campus Beautification International Coastal Cleanup Campus Cleanup Green Campus Initiative www.Brockport.edu/GCI

14. Campus Projects • Recycling on campus • Geothermal heating and cooling • Solar photovoltaics • Waste water/storm water • Transportation issues (biodiesel) • Green design • Sustainable food services • Energy conservation Green Campus Initiative www.Brockport.edu/GCI

15. Sample Curriculum List from Ithaca College • School of Business • School of Communications • School of Health Science and Human Performances • School of Humanities and Sciences • Division of Interdisciplinary and International Studies 122 Courses with a sustainable theme! Green Campus Initiative www.Brockport.edu/GCI

16. Sample Inclusion from Ithaca College • Mathematics incorporates statistical data from governmental agencies regarding curve fitting and regression analysis for current environmental trends. • Business, Biology and Sociology utilize “The Low Carbon Diet” to encourage students to reduce their climate impacts. • Communications students created a successful “pledge green” campaign to encourage other students to be sustainable. • English students write sustainable poetry. • Business students create a green business and marketing plan. Green Campus Initiative www.Brockport.edu/GCI

17. Teaching Tricks for Going Green • Choose books and readings on environmental issues that meet course objectives. • Collapse by Jared Diamond • Field Notes from a Catastrophe by Elizabeth Kolbert • Walden by Thoreau • Plan B 2.0: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble by Lester Brown • Tour of ENV 201/202 Angel site. • Give, receive and grade assignments on Angel. • Use “track changes” in MS Word for grading. Green Campus Initiative www.Brockport.edu/GCI

18. Help the College go Green! Get a Green Star! 'The world is not dangerous because of those who do harm but because of those who look at it without doing anything' Albert Einstein. Green Campus Initiative www.Brockport.edu/GCI