September 2014

Sustainability Bulletin

Energy Campaign

September 3rd–November 9th

Keynote Speaker: Bill

McKibben

Tuesday, September 16th

People’s Climate March

Sunday, September 21

Paul C. Lemon Endowed

Lecture: Dr. Tyrone Hayes

Monday, September 22

National Kale Day

Wednesday, October 1

Campus Crunch

Friday, October 24

Speakers on Campus

Energy Campaign

Student Spotlight

Around Town

Opportunities

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Photo by Frank Kovalcheck

Cover photo by Paul Miller

Author and environmentalist Bill McKibben will give a keynote lecture at the PAC Main Theater on Tuesday, September 16th at 2:30 about our current reliance on fossil fuels, the looming climate crisis and, most importantly, our ability to advocate for positive change. He is the founder of 350.org, the first planet-wide grassroots climate change movement. Foreign Policy recently named him to their inaugural list of the world’s 100 most important global thinkers, and the Boston Globe said he was “probably the world’s most important environmentalist.” The event is sponsored by SA, GSA, the Office of Environmental Sustainability, UAS, and UUP.

“On to New York: Why the Climate

Movement is on the March”

McKibben’s talk leads up to The People’s Climate March in NYC on Sunday, September 21, which will be the largest climate rally in history, urging U.N. world leaders to take action this September dramatically reduce global warming pollution. For roundtrip bus tickets from Collins Circle to Manhattan, click here.

Dr. Tyrone Hayes will speak in

the PAC Main Theater on

Monday, September 22nd at

4pm about the chemical

industry. Agriculture in the

United States uses millions of

pounds of pesticides and

herbicides per year. At the

same time, many amphibians

are ‘feminizing’ – meaning

male frogs and toads, among

other animals, are producing

eggs instead of sperm. Are

agricultural chemicals to

blame? What are the

implications for human

fertility and health? Join us as

one of the nation’s leading

experts on the effects of

agricultural chemicals on

hormones, Dr. Tyrone Hayes,

answers these questions and

more. Brought to you by the

Paul C. Lemon Lecture Series,

sponsored by the Department

of Biological Sciences and the

College of Arts and Sciences.

“From Silent Spring to Silent night: A Tale

of Toads and Men”

Live video of the lecture will be available at:

http://new.livestream.com/hvccstreaming/Hayes

Reception follows in

the PAC Futterer

Lounge

Since 2008, the residents of

Empire Commons apartments

receive mock electric bills during

the Energy Campaign and then

again over a two-month period in

spring. The educational initiative

aims at teaching students about

their general usage in comparison

to their neighbors. The bills show

each apartment’s usage as well as

the highest, lowest and average

use for all apartments. Not only

do the bills teach an essential life

skill, the program works to lower

the UAlbany’s total electricity

usage. Just listen to Alex Laskey’s

TED talk on why.

The campus buildings have once again begun vying for the title of top energy reducer. The Energy Campaign, a 10-week challenge to reduce electricity consumption, was officially kicked off on September 3rd. In 2013, we saved over a million kilowatt hours and achieved a 10.02% campus-wide reduction. This equates into taking 102 cars off the road or supplying the energy for 24.5 homes or the sequestration of 402 acres of forests. You can view more equivalents at the EPA website by clicking here.

Dedicated students, led by sophomore Emely Rodriguez

and junior Sarah Helgeson, volunteer their time a few

nights a week to go through academic building classrooms

to power down any electronic left on. These energy checks

ensure that our lights and computers are not buzzing while

we sleep soundly. The students leave friendly reminders to

practice environmentally-friendly behaviors when it comes

to our gadgets.

Follow us on Twitter or Like us on Facebook to

compete each week during the Energy Campaign for

a gift card to the Campus Bookstore!

Standby power is the energy used by some products

when they are turned off but still plugged into a power

outlet. While this standby power sometimes provides

useful functions such as remote control, clock displays,

and timers, in other cases it is simply wasted power as

a result of leaving an electronic device or power adapter

plugged in. The devices causing this waste are referred

to as energy vampires because these products are

slowing sucking energy from your home while not

providing any useful function! In addition to your home

office and home electronics equipment, chargers for cell

phones, ipods, power tools, etc also suck energy from

your home when they are plugged into an outlet, even if

they aren't charging.

The amount of energy used by products when they are

in standby mode is significant. The average U.S.

household spends $100 per year to power devices while

they are off (or in standby mode). On a national basis,

standby power accounts for more than 100 billion

kilowatt hours of annual U.S. electricity consumption

and more than $10 billion in annual energy costs.

Taken from Energy Star.gov

Tips for Conserving Electricity

Use a power strip as a central “turn off” point Plug your computer, printer, tv, chargers, and other electronics into a power strip and then turn off the strip when not in use.

Avoid energy vampires

A typical American home has about 40 products continuously drawing power. This combined phantom energy can account for about 10% of your power bill.

Replace standard bulbs with CFLS

A CFL uses about 75% less energy than a standard incandescent.

Wash full loads of clothes A laundry machine uses the same amount of energy whether you’re washing a full load or a pair of socks. Decrease the amount of energy you use by waiting until you have a full load of laundry.

ALBANY, N.Y. (September 3, 2014) -- This fall, a new H2O Zone located in the Campus Center is providing free filtered and seltzer water to all University at Albany students, faculty and staff. The complimentary hydration station is a result of the efforts of Karan Verma, a B.A./M.P.A., who has made curbing the number disposable water bottles consumed at UAlbany a priority

Last year, approximately 500 bottles of water per day were consumed in the Campus Center. This statistic propelled Verma and a group of students to start working alongside UAlbany's Office of Environmental Sustainability and University Auxiliary Services (UAS) to review the issue, conduct preliminary research and submit recommendations to the campus community by Fall 2015.

A native of Chicago, Verma first became interested in UAlbany's carbon footprint when he became part of the Living/Learning Community for Environmental Sustainability.

"I was exposed to the issue of water usage by some great faculty, one of which was Professor of Biology Gary Kleppel, who explained how the University of Vermont had instituted a bottle ban," said Verma. With guidance from UAlbany's Director of Sustainability Mary Ellen Mallia, Verma was provided the necessary tools and connections to create a proposal and offer it to UAS.

Agreeing with the benefits of the proposal, UAS opened the H2O Zone and has begun distributing 6,000 free water bottles to students, with the goal of curbing disposable plastic water bottles from entering the landfill, ultimately reducing the University's carbon footprint.

The hydration station is a brightly designed 150 square foot retail space that now houses three Crysalli countertop water units with usage meters attached. Each unit has two spouts, for a total of five regular filtered water spouts and one seltzer spout. Customers can fill their reusable bottles for free anytime during the Campus Center’s hours of operation.

Over the course of the semester, Verma will study the impact of the new station as part of his degree program, examining accessibility, convenience, and preferences from the student population.

“Setting up the H2O Zone at this time made sense. As the students begin their research, we are able to help them assess usage, gather customer feedback and help drive the community towards a more sustainable behavior pattern from the project’s onset," states UAS Executive Director Stephen Pearse.

In addition to the H2O Zone, the University is currently working on installing more water fountains with bottle filling attachments and dining services uses hydration stations as the standard for catered events and in the all-you-care-to-eat dining rooms.

"The reason I chose UAlbany was the ample opportunity to get involved and forge your own path," said Verma. "In my own experience, it was Toastmasters, The Great Danes Debate Team, and my Living Learning Community, along with the great relationships I fostered with my classmates and professors."

Verma also notes the flexibility his degree program offers, as it allows him to earn both a bachelors and master’s in public policy, with the option to select concentrations in environmental policy and sociology.

After graduation, Verma hopes to put his degrees to good use by finding a career in leadership

facilitation where he can work to make positive social change.

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Verma hopes to find a career in leadership facilitation where he can

utilize his interest in sustainability. (Photo Mark Schmidt)

It's that time of year when birds

are on the move. Come along on

an early morning adventure to

observe some of the amazing

birds here and see our science

team in action as they capture

and band birds! They are working

together to learn more about birds

migrating through the Pine Bush.

After a short outside observation

period, an indoor hands-on

presentation will take place.

Indoor portion will occur rain or

shine.discuss a basic overview of

climate change and weather at

the Albany Pine Bush Discovery

Center on September 20th at

7am.

Birds Take Flight DIY Hot Sauce

Learn how to ferment hot

peppers of your liking and

create hot sauce using

process that will allow you

to improvise with a variety

of heats and flavors.

Preserve your peppers

and keep warm all winter

while impressing your

spice-loving friends. Bring

a quart jar and $3 if you

plan to get started, or just

observe and ask questions

at no cost at Honest

Weight Food Coop’s

Teaching Kitchen on

September 18th at 6pm.

“Celebration” isn’t quite the right word for this

centennial exhibit; let’s go with “memorial.”

One-hundred years ago, the last passenger

pigeon died in captivity. A species that once

numbered in the billions in North America was

wiped out through zealous over-hunting and

habitat destruction. The New York State

Museum takes a look at this long-gone bird—

and the lessons we can learn from what

happened to them—in The Passenger Pigeon:

From Billions to Zero. Dr. Jeremy Kirchman, the

Museum’s curator of birds, will give a lecture

on “The Passenger Pigeon: Icon of Extinction”

at 1 PM on Sept. 28 in the Huxley Theater. The

exhibit is now on view at the New York State

Museum through March 30, 2015.

Local Harvest Fest

Come down to the Lakehouse at Washington Park on Sunday, October 5th from 12-4 for the Local Harvest Fest.

Now in its sixth year, the festival has grown to feature over 50 local farms, vendors, businesses and a slew of great local bands.

The Passenger Pigeon: From

Billions to Zero

Key Responsibilities The Project Coordinator is an important member of our team and has the opportunity to work with communities across the state to develop opportunities for outdoor recreation and active transportation, manage a variety of projects and develop new program directions. Duties include:

-use trails, engage in public outreach, foster trail-related tourism, and promote local trail use;

and promote the Canalway Trail Adopt-a-Trail, Ambassador and End-to-End programs; and organize and promote the annual Canal Clean Sweep;

bicycle-pedestrian issues at all levels of government;

related to planning, organizing and outreach. Qualifications

public administration, recreation, or related field and preferably at least three years of related experience

communities and constituents to action

delivering public presentations

-starter able to work with minimum supervision on multiple assignments and projects and thrive in a collaborative and fast-paced office environment

-state travel with overnight and evening commitments

Additional Skills/Experience Desired

the state

Compensation Competitive salary and excellent benefits package. How to Apply Submit a resume and cover letter that addresses why you are excited by this position and why we should be excited about you. Please provide your salary requirements. The position will remain open until filled. Send materials to: Project Coordinator Search, Parks & Trails New York, 29 Elk Street, Albany, NY 12207, careers@ptny.org

Parks and Trails New York

On Saturday November 1, 2014, Cornell University in association with the New York State

Sustainability Education Working Group are hosting the 2nd annual Campus Life Sustainability

Education Roundtable. In 2013 the Roundtable brought together 100 staff, students, and faculty

from across New York to share ideas and discuss programs that engaged students in campus-

based experiential sustainability learning opportunities. Participants wanted more! The 2014

Roundtable will again provide a forum for an exchange of ideas, information, and best

practices, but will be so much more.

NEW THIS YEAR: The 2014 Roundtable will have special sessions by and for students along with

sessions led by campus life and sustainability staff from around the state. In addition, there will

be a poster session and an evening networking reception.

Campus Life Peer Sustainability Education Roundtable

Greenovate NYS

Present your ideas to environmental experts, established professionals, and potential employers. The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute Research & Development Student Competition is now accepting applications!

NYSP2I is pleased to invite applications from undergraduate or graduate students for our 4th Annual R & D Student Competition. The competition fosters creative thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and collaboration across disciplines and provides an opportunity for students to present their projects to environmental experts, gain insight from established professionals, and receive recognition by potential future employers. The program provides funding to offset project costs as well as awarding prize money at the culminating competition exhibition on Earth Day, April, 22 2015 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

All required forms, the Request for Applications and additional details can be found on our website at: http://www.rit.edu/affiliate/nysp2i/rd-student-competition. Applications are due Friday, November 7, 2014 by 5pm EDT.

Office of Environmental Sustainability

The Office of Environmental Sustainability is seeking three motivated and energetic interns to

assist with the publication of monthly sustainability bulletin, developing flier templates for a

variety of sustainability engagement initiatives, assisting with social media management and

completing other assignments as requested. The interns are expected work a minimum of 10-

12 hours weekly. Internships are unpaid though students may obtain academic credit through

the Communications Department.

Deadline: Applications for the fall internship will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

If interested, send a resume and letter of intent to Mary Alexis Leciejewski

at mleciejewski@albany.edu. Questions about the internship can be addressed to Mary Alexis

at 518-442-2592

In a continued commitment to reduce its carbon footprint, UAlbany welcomes

Zipcar, the world's leading car-sharing service, to its campus community. With

Zipcar, members can reserve self-service, on-demand cars by the hour or day,

24/7. All 18 and older UAlbany students can become members for $25, with an

opportunity to earn $45 in free driving privileges, if enrolled by September 30,

2014. Former Hertz 24/7 Members, UAlbany’s previous car-sharing service,

can currently enroll in Zipcar for free.

UAlbany's partnership with Zipcar provides a number of environmental benefits

to its campus and beyond, including reducing personal CO2 emissions, driving

40 percent fewer miles, and providing options for students without cars on

campus. In addition, a Transportation Research Board/National Academy of

Sciences study finds each shared car takes about 15 private cars off the road.