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September 2015
Sustainability Bulletin
4 Energy Campaign
8 Sustainable Leadership Summit
12 Faith and the Environment Series
14 Scaling Up: Farm to SUNY
18 Waste Not
20 Around Town
Wh
at’s Hap
pe
nin
g on
Cam
pu
s Famers’ Market
Wednesday, September 16th 11AM-2PM
Small Fountain
Caring for the Earth: Faith Communities Respond to the Pope’s Encyclical Thursday, September 17th 7PM PAC Recital Hall
Kale Day Wednesday, October 7th
11AM-2PM Campus Center
Sex in the Dark Monday, October
19th 7PM
CC 375
Tom Porter, Mohawk Leader Wednesday, October 7th 7PM CC 375
USGBC Speaker Series: Eco Machine – Living without Wasting Tuesday, October 13th 5:30PM BB 217
Farm to Table Dinner Thursday, October 15th 6:30PM Interfaith Center
For a full event calendar, go here.
With climate change already affecting the
world, the University at Albany is
attempting to make a difference.
UAlbany introduced the Energy Campaign
in 2007 as an electricity-saving competition
among six uptown residence halls. No in its
ninth year, the campaign has been
expanded to include the Academic Podium
and residential living areas.
Mary Ellen Mallia, the Director for
Environmental Sustainability, and Mary
Alexis Leciejewski, the Program Assistant
for the Office of Environmental
Sustainability, hope to reduce electricity
use in the buildings the campaign is
monitoring by 10 percent compared to a
previous year’s baseline.
While Mallia did admit that the goal is
aggressive, she also said it is “completely
realistic.” Last year, the Energy Campaign
attained an 8 percent reduction on campus.
Eight percent might not sound like much,
but each year the Energy Campaign saves
around a million kilowatt-hours, or
between $70,00 and $100,000 in electricity
costs per year.
This year the Energy Campaign is pushing
for a joint action of students and staff to
foster a more sustainable community at
UAlbany Residential Life has been
increasing awareness of electrical waste,
and it’s showing in the data. For example,
Empire Commons and Freedom
Apartments have show 30 percent
reductions in electricity use over recent
years.
“It really is a focus on collective action,”
Leciejewski said. “If you have faculty and
staff setting the right example, the students
who are working will carrying those
conservation habits with them for the rest
of their life.”
Developing partnerships on the Academic
Podium has proven more difficult, but it is
important.
“We thought two things: First of all, we’re
all in this together as a campus, so that
doesn’t mean just harass the students and
the residence halls. And only a third of our
electricity is used there– most of our
electricity is used on the Academic
Podium,” Mallia said.
This year, the Energy Campaign hopes to
increase competitiveness among the
academic buildings.
Nin
th A
nn
ual
En
ergy
Cam
pai
gn
Purple Danes Going Green Campaign aims for decrease of electricity use across campus
By Grant Zelin, originally printed in the Albany Student Press on 9/1/15
Continued on page 6
To kick off the Energy Campaign, the
Office of Environmental Sustainability
teamed up with the Campus
Programming Board for a specialty
Podium Series on September 2nd. Over
300 students stopped by the small
fountain and pledged a specific action
that they would integrate into their
daily habits during the ten-week
challenge. Students then signed an
eight-foot lightning bolt made from
recycled cardboard that will be
displayed on campus as a visual
reminder about our campus
conservation efforts.
“It is true that the residents earn back a portion and we do try to fund green different amenities,”
Mallia said. “We want to try to make it something that can be purchased fairly quickly and can be used
by students in the spring, because they’re the students in the fall who did the saving.”
The Office of Environmental Sustainability also takes a portion of the savings to fund their annual
programs, like the Give and Go Program, the Bike Share Program, and Document Shredding Day, Mallia
said.
There are many ways to get involved in the Energy Campaign. Starting September 2, every two weeks
the Energy Campaign will sponsor a new theme focusing on specific energy actions. One is “Think
Outside the Bulb,” which students and staff can join in by replacing their old light bulbs with energy
efficient bulbs or by using daylight rather than flipping on a switch. Another theme is “Pledge to
Conserve,” where students and staff can sign a lightning bolt containing a method of energy saving
that they pledge to practice this fall.
Any student who posts a picture engaging in something related to the Energy Campaign with the
hashtag #UAlbanyEnergy will be entered into a lottery for a $100 gift card. Every picture posted with
the hashtag will count as an entry. For more information about the Energy Campaign, or to report a
misuse of energy on campus, email [email protected].
Join in the Conversation on
Social Media
Staff and faculty can upload photos of
their energy saving habits in the
workplace to Facebook, Twitter, or
Instagram with the hashtag
#UAlbanyEnergy to enter to win a free
breakfast for the entire office. One
winner will be chosen every two weeks.
Students can also upload photos of their
energy saving habits on campus to
Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram with the
hashtag #UAlbanyEnergy to enter to win
a $100 gift card during the campaign.
Energy Campaign Themes
Pledge to Conserve
September 2-September 15 Students, staff, and faculty choose one energy saving habit to adopt
during the 10 week Campaign.
Think Outside the Bulb
September 16– September 29 Students switch out incandescent bulbs for energy efficient CFLs. Staff
and faculty practice daylighting in their offices.
Give it a Rest
September 30– October 13 Student, staff, and faculty change the sleep settings on their electronics.
Watts on? Turn it off!
October 14– October 27 Everyone turns off electronics when not in use.
Slay Energy Vampires
October 28– November 8 Everyone unplugs electronics, which still draw energy even when
turned off.
From August 3rd through the 5th, UAlbany hosted the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students’ (NAGPS) 4th annual Leadership Summit. This year’s focus was Sustainable Leadership and included speakers from the Capital District and UAlbany, informative and interactive breakout sessions, group activities, and enjoyable networking and receptions. Students from all over the nation attended, as well as many of the NAGPS national board members, who are graduate students themselves. All those who attended participate in graduate student government at their own colleges and universities. These student leaders came to Albany to learn about the three pillars of sustainability and how that ideology could be used within their own organizations to create effective leadership, stable organizations, and smooth
transitions in student government.
The speakers from the Capital District included Will Malcolm of Capital Roots in Troy, Joe Citek of Tierra Farm in Albany, Carmen Rau of Holding Our Own in Albany, Kay Olan a Mohawk Storyteller, Laura Ten Eyck of American Farmland Trust in Saratoga, and Sandy Steubing of People of Albany United for Safe Energy (PAUSE). Each speaker recalled their leadership experiences through the lens of sustainability. For example, Will Malcolm discussed the importance of taking a holistic approach to visions and goals by considering all the various aspects involved in that mission. In Capital Roots, this holistic approach means not only considering the location of community gardens and prices for vegetables, but how to better serve and engage the
community around them by making a lasting impact.
The keynote address was given by our very own Dr. Mary Ellen Mallia, Director of the Office of Environmental Sustainability, who spoke about the varying nature of sustainability and the impact our actions can have on the world around us. Dr. Mallia also spoke with Dr. John Gowdy of R.P.I. about the intersection of market forces and sustainability. To illustrate the main point of the talk, that individual skills do not matter as much as the composition of a group, Dr. Mallia led the group in the Marshmallow Challenge. Groups of four attempted to build the
highest tower that withstands the weight of 1
marshmallow, out of spaghetti, tape, and string.
Other speakers from UAlbany included Dr. Bret Benjamin and Dr. Aaron Major, both from United University Professions, who spoke about justice, equity, and economic stability. Dr. Gary Kleppel of the Biology Department here at UAlbany gave a very informative and dynamic talk entitled “56 Men in a Room, and other stories of determined underdogs”. Dr. Kleppel’s talk illustrated the main points any movement needs to succeed, including those that occur at the University level. President Jones also gave a very interesting talk at the summit highlighting the importance of the University’s role in public engagement, Collective Impact and coalition
building.
Two receptions allowed attendees to network and enjoy some down time with colleagues and newfound friends. Mohawk Storyteller, Kay Olan, opened the reception by performing a traditional greeting. The summit ended with a breakout session that allowed each attendee to identify tools that are already available to them that they can use in their organization to create sustainability, a Graduate Student Toolbox for Change. One of the attendees, Tara Salehpour from Arizona State University said after the summit, “This was such a great opportunity to connect, learn and grow! The knowledge and tools I acquired during the Sustainable Leadership Summit have already been extremely useful. It was great to connect with fellow leaders and engage in collaborative learning! It has been a catalyst for group cohesion and a national knowledge-sharing
network.”
The summit was envisioned by Caitlin Janiszewski, former UAlbany GSA president and NAGPS Employment Concerns chair, and was put into motion by The Summit Director Cassidy Drasser, and the help of the planning committee formed by UAlbany Students Lisa Cassidy, Robin Brennan, Kat Slye, Erin Sanderson and the Sustainability Office
staff assistant Mary Alexis Leciejewski.
Sustainable Leadership Summit
By Erin Sanderson
Sustainable Leadership Summit Photos!
Faith and the Environment Series
This June, Pope Francis issued a groundbreaking encyclical On Care for Our
Common Home, in which he warns of ‘serious consequences’ if the world does not
act on climate change. An encyclical is an authoritative Catholic document, though
the vision he has laid out is global, interfaith, and intergenerational. As a response
to this profound moment, The Office of Environmental Sustainability and the
Interfaith Center has teamed up to bring a three part series on Faith and the
Environment.
We invite members of our community to take part in one or more of the events.
The Albany community is invited to the events on September 17th and October
7th (free parking in the State Student lot).
Panelists
Buddhist: Monshin Paul Naamon, Abbot of Tendai
Buddhist Institute and Secretary General of Tendai-
shu North America Division
Catholic: Bishop Howard Hubbard, Bishop
Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Hindu: Dr . Jyoti Swaminathan, Hindu Philosophy
Lecturer/Teacher
Jewish: Rabbi Nomi Manon, Pres. Capital Distr ict
Bd. of Rabbis and Ex. Dir. UAlbany Hillel
Muslim: Imam Rahman Yaki, Imam at the
Islamic Center of the Capital District
September 17 at 7:00 PM in PAC Recital Hall
Caring for the Earth: Faith Communities Respond to the Pope’s
Encyclical
Following Pope Francis’ recent
encyclical, On Care for Our Common
Home, the interfaith community has
been energized to confront the
reality of climate change from the
standpoint of faith. Join us as five
local faith leaders share from their
own traditions the relationship
between people, their communities,
and the environment. The event is
free and open to the public. Parking
is free in State Quad Student Lot.
Reception with light refreshments to
follow.
October 7th at 7:00 PM in Campus Center 375
Tom Porter on Native Spirituality and
Environmental Justice
Tom Porter (Sakokwenionkwas) is a spiritual
leader of the Mohawk Bear Clan and the director
of the traditional Mohawk Community of
Kanatsiohareke. He is the recipient of numerous
awards for his dedication to educating Native and
non-Native people about the true history, culture
and spirituality of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois).
His book And Grandma Said . . . Iroquois
Teachings: as passed down through the oral
tradition will be on sale for $24 after the talk, cash
and check only. The event is free and open to the
public.
October 15th at 6:30 PM at the Interfaith Center
Student Farm to Table Dinner
All UAlbany students, staff,
and faulty are welcome to a
fall Farm to Table dinner.
We’ll share a meal of
seasonal items, some
harvested from the Heritage
Garden. All those with
dietary restrictions will be
able to enjoy the supper.
In order to make an impact on society and project the ideologies of what sustainability is and how to do it, a group of those who want the community to participate is needed. I applied to the Sustainability Council as a sophomore because I
wanted to be part of a group of people who care enough to make a difference in the community, directly and indirectly. I applied for the Recycling Chair position—a position that requires the
coordination of student engagement in university wide recycling events and programs. Such events include organizing student recycling ambassadors at the home football and basketball games. I served as team captain which involved recruiting student volunteers from campus organizations. I also set up activities for America Recycles Day during Sustainability Week, provided input on promotional events surrounding Recyclemania, took a leadership role in organizing and running Trashion Fashion, and created any additional educational awareness events to promote the 3R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).
Waste Not
By Nadia Rodriguez
The co-Recycling Chair, Nia Sanders, and I,
Nadia Rodriguez, felt we still needed to do more. We wanted to start with an enclosed location that is used often by students at the university—the University Library. The increase of garbage in the library concerned us As Recycling Chairs for the Sustainability Council at the University at Albany, we predicted the increase in waste was partially due to the lack of recycling bins in the library. In response to this crisis, we initiated a recycling audit to understand how effective our current recycling program in the University Library is in terms of actual waste recapture.
In total, we conducted four recycling audits
from November 2014 to April 2015. Each audit took place between 6PM to 9PM. This time period was chosen because it is when many students occupied the library, according to our observations. It is important to note that the first and third floors were under construction during this time period. In the audits, we recorded where recycling bins and trash bins were placed on each floor, and counted the amount of items that were misplaced into a trash or recycling bins.
Nia and I came up with three ways to make
recycling more accessible in the main library: Educate everyone about recycling. This included
creating a guidance document for janitorial staff and discussing waste disposal procedures with the library personnel. The bins that were chosen to inhabit the first floor of the library included improved signage so users would better understand what items could go in what bin.
Install distinct bins in designated locations that
are easy for students and janitors to locate and identify on each floor. This would make recycling accessible, keep waste disposal constricted, and help students sort their waste properly. Key spots were identified and waste and recycling bins were paired together.
Keep communication open between the janitorial
and library staff and the sustainability council to make sure the new recycling plan is executed effectively. The staff should feel free to express their views to the council regarding the program’s efficiency based on their participation in observing, collecting and disposing library waste. Likewise, the council will monitor the effectiveness of the program through future recycling audits and periodic meetings with staff.
With these changes, along with the outreach that we plan to execute, we can help students become aware of recycling and increase their participation in making the library a sustainable place—and eventually the rest of the University at Albany.
Summer Intern Summary
Audubon Dinner and a Movie
Meet the Executive Producer of the “Ordinary
Extraordinary Junco”, Distinguished Professor at
Indiana University Ellen Ketterson, Ph.D , and
the producer, writer, researcher, and the film’s
director Jonathan Atwell, Ph.D. Also on hand for
the post-movie discussion is the Huyck
Preserve’s Executive Director, Dawn O’Neal, Ph.D.
Begin the evening sharing in some delicious
food from Jake Moon Restaurant and Café
starting promptly at 5:30 pm on Saturday,
September 26th before taking in a film on the
junco! Take a journey from the boreal forests
of Canada, down to the Rockies, through the
deserts of the Southwest and to the year
round junco residents of Guatemala and Costa
Rica. Register here!
Prescription Takeback
The federal Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) will conduct
a nationwide prescription drug
collection on Saturday,
September 26, 2015 from
10:00AM – 2:00PM. Collections
will be held at many locations
around New York and are the
best way to dispose of unused
and unwanted prescription
drugs. Collection locations in
New York can be found on
DEA’s National Take Back
Initiative webpage.
Bike Share
NY Solar Energy Society Meeting
Wondering about the technology behind
renewable energy? Please join us at the monthly
noontime Capital Region meeting of the New
York Solar Energy Society. They tackle solar
cooking, solar heating, solar hot water, wind,
ground source heat transfer (“geothermal”) and
tidal and wave technology. And, they’ll discuss
the deep energy retrofits for homes and the
importance of mass transportation and electric
vehicles. On Friday, September 18th, Kevin Bailey
of High Peaks Solar will give a tour of the Solar
Store and talk about commercial, residential solar
and the benefits of owning vs leasing. Meet at
noon at 180 Main Avenue , Wynantskill, NY
12198. For more information:
Birds Take Flight
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! Meet at the Albany Pine
Bush on Saturday, September 19th
at 7:30AM. 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.
Register online here.
Being on campus without a car isn’t always convenient. You can grab
a bus, ride your bike, or get a lift from a friend. But sometimes you
just need access to a car. That’s why we’ve brought Zipcar to cam-
pus.
Zipcar is an 18+ service that gives students access to shared cars –
gas and insurance included! To celebrate the new school year, you
can now join Zipcar for $25, and get $35 in free driving credit. Sign
up today at Zipcar.com to take advantage of this great deal in 2015.
This semester is all about you