Green Campus Initiative Going Green on Campus and in the Classroom Hilary R. Mosher and James M. Haynes Dept. of Environmental Science

Green Campus Initiative www.Brockport.edu/GCI

Going Green on Going Green on Campus and in the Campus and in the

ClassroomClassroomHilary R. Mosher and James M. Hilary R. Mosher and James M.

HaynesHaynes

Dept. of Environmental Science Dept. of Environmental Science and Biologyand Biology


Discussion OutlineDiscussion Outline• How the College is Going GreenHow the College is Going Green• The 3 RsThe 3 Rs

– ReuseReuse– ReduceReduce– RecycleRecycle

• Energy ConservationEnergy Conservation• What you can do to ‘Go Green’!What you can do to ‘Go Green’!

– Break old habits and form new ones.Break old habits and form new ones.– Be a role model for your students.Be a role model for your students.


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.


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.


College Cont….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.


Reuse!Reuse!• It’s as simple as it sounds!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.


Reduce!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!


Recycle!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.


Paper Use at the CollegePaper Use at the College

• From 01 January through 23 From 01 January through 23 September 2008, 3,103,618 pages September 2008, 3,103,618 pages were printed at the College. were printed at the College.

• Daily printing at the College Daily printing at the College averages 14,598 pages! averages 14,598 pages!

• This equates to 6,207 reams or This equates to 6,207 reams or $15,518! $15,518!

• How can you reduce paper use?How can you reduce paper use?


Reduce Paper UseReduce Paper Use• Utilize the ANGEL system as much as possible.Utilize the ANGEL system as much as possible.• Print documents double sided and single Print documents double sided and single

spaced.spaced.• Reduce margins and paragraph and line Reduce margins and paragraph and line

spacing.spacing.• Have students print in handout mode (9 slides Have students print in handout mode (9 slides

per page) for all power points. per page) for all power points. • Try to reduce the amount of presentation Try to reduce the amount of presentation

handouts you require. handouts you require. • Emphasize paper reduction during class.Emphasize paper reduction during class.


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.


Energy ConservationEnergy Conservation

• Do you enter or leave a lit classroom with Do you enter or leave a lit classroom with projectors on?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 These actions reduce your

carbon footprint by decreasing your electricity use carbon footprint by decreasing your electricity use and fossil fuel (mostly coal) consumption!and fossil fuel (mostly coal) consumption!


You and Your Students: Get You and Your Students: Get Involved!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!

International Coastal Cleanup

Campus CleanupCampus Beautification


Campus Projects Campus Projects

• Recycling on campusRecycling on campus• Geothermal heating and coolingGeothermal heating and cooling• Solar photovoltaicsSolar photovoltaics• Waste water/storm waterWaste water/storm water• Transportation issues (biodiesel)Transportation issues (biodiesel)• Green design Green design • Sustainable food servicesSustainable food services• Energy conservationEnergy conservation


Sample Curriculum List Sample Curriculum List from Ithaca Collegefrom Ithaca College

• School of BusinessSchool of Business• School of CommunicationsSchool of Communications• School of Health Science and Human School of Health Science and Human

PerformancesPerformances• School of Humanities and SciencesSchool of Humanities and Sciences• Division of Interdisciplinary and Division of Interdisciplinary and

International StudiesInternational Studies122 Courses with a sustainable 122 Courses with a sustainable

theme!theme!


Sample Inclusion from Sample Inclusion from Ithaca CollegeIthaca College

• Mathematics Mathematics incorporates statistical data from incorporates statistical data from governmental agencies regarding curve fitting and governmental agencies regarding curve fitting and regression analysis for current environmental trends.regression analysis for current environmental trends.

• Business, Biology and SociologyBusiness, Biology and Sociology utilize “ utilize “The Low The Low Carbon Diet” Carbon Diet” to encourage students to reduce their to encourage students to reduce their climate impacts. climate impacts.

• Communications Communications students created a successful students created a successful “pledge green” campaign to encourage other students “pledge green” campaign to encourage other students to be sustainable. to be sustainable.

• EnglishEnglish students write sustainable poetry. students write sustainable poetry.

• Business Business students create a green business and students create a green business and marketing plan.marketing plan.


Teaching Tricks for Teaching Tricks for Going GreenGoing Green

• Choose books and readings on environmental Choose books and readings on environmental issues that meet course objectives.issues that meet course objectives.– CollapseCollapse by Jared Diamond by Jared Diamond– Field Notes from a CatastropheField Notes from a Catastrophe by Elizabeth by Elizabeth

KolbertKolbert– WaldenWalden by Thoreau by Thoreau– Plan B 2.0: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Plan B 2.0: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a

Civilization in TroubleCivilization in Trouble by Lester Brown by Lester Brown

• Tour of ENV 201/202 Angel site. Tour of ENV 201/202 Angel site. – Give, receive and grade assignments on Angel.Give, receive and grade assignments on Angel.– Use “track changes” in MS Word for grading.Use “track changes” in MS Word for grading.


Help the College go Help the College go Green! Green!

Get a Green Star!Get a Green Star!

'The world is not dangerous because of 'The world is not dangerous because of those who do harm but because of those those who do harm but because of those who look at it without doing anything'who look at it without doing anything'

Albert Einstein.Albert Einstein.

Documents

Green Campus Initiative Going Green on Campus and in the Classroom Hilary R. Mosher and James M. Haynes Dept. of Environmental Science