A guide for sustainable living for Susquehanna University...

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A guide for sustainable living for Susquehanna University and those who dare to make a difference. ~2008-09~

Transcript of A guide for sustainable living for Susquehanna University...

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A guide for sustainable living for Susquehanna University and those

who dare to make a difference.

~2008-09~

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The SUstainability Guide was created as a collaborative project by

The Center for Civic Engagement and The Department of Earth and Environmental

Sciences

Susquehanna University 514 University Avenue Selinsgrove PA 17870

Contact us at 570-372-4066 or [email protected].

Last updated September 11, 2008

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This guide is dedicated to our friend and mentor,

Emily E. Bowling

for her efforts to teach the Susquehanna University community to appreciate the environment and to

make the world a better place. Best of luck in all you do!

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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle………………..………… 6 In Your Room……….……………….…….…….. 7

General Cleaning 7 Dishwashing 7 Laundry 7 Computers 7 Heating and Cooling 8 Lighting 8 Other Appliances 9

Bathroom Habits………………………….……… 9 General Bathroom Habits 9 Showering 9

Dining..…………………………….………….……10 Food Basics 10 Eating Off Campus 10 Evert Dining Room 10 Benny’s Bistro 10 Charlie’s Coffeehouse 11 Clyde’s Café 11 Java City 11

Transportation………………………….…..…….. 11 Walking 11 Carpooling 11 General Auto Maintenance 11 Long Distances 11 Stop Speeding! 12 Public Transportation 12 Purchasing Fuel 12

Shopping………………………………...………… 12 In the Store 12 Product Research 12 Recycling……………………………...………....... 13

Why Recycle? 13 Purchasing Recycled Goods 13 Recycling Opportunities 13

In the Classroom…………….…………................ 14 Take Environmental Classes 14

Current Departmental Sustainability Measures 15

Current Sustainability Initiatives 18

Green Ideas for SU Organizations 18

Get Involved! 19

Green Businesses/Attractions 20

Green Pledges 21

Living Simply 22

Resource Items for Living Sustainably 22

Recycling at SU 29

Selinsgrove Borough Recycling 30

Selinsgrove Local Food Map 31

Local Food Directory 32

References/Contributions 33

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Susquehanna University prides itself on providing students with a quality education based upon rich and meaningful experiences, allowing students to grow academically and to challenge their pre-existing ideals. This guide was created to provide students with information on how their actions impact the environment, with the hope that they will challenge themselves and their classmates to address the environmental impact of their lifestyles. This guide will show SU students how to live more sustainable lifestyles, offering a wealth of information to help them live in a more environmentally-friendly manner, whether they are already the most ardent of environmentalists or have just started to question how their actions affect our planet. Some of the issues addressed herein are most pertinent to students at Susquehanna, such as tips on surviving residence hall living while still acting sustainably. Other sections offer more general tips to make a difference in anyone’s life. It also provides resources to help students have a positive impact on the community. Sections dedicated to “Living Simply,” “Green Ideas for SU Organizations,” and “Resource Items for Living Sustainably” give ideas to motivate further research about the environmental issues they find most important. Everyone is encouraged to read and use this guide, especially newcomers to the Susquehanna University community. Please keep in mind that attempting to incorpo-rate all ideas at once may be overwhelming. We hope that we have provided plenty of pertinent information to allow you to help make our planet a better, more sustainable place to live. The guide is printed on a very limited basis in an effort to reduce paper waste,. An electronic version is available on-line for everyone to view at www.susqu.edu/volunteer. Please share this link with anyone who is interested in learning how to make changes in their life to help reduce their impact on the planet. Think Green, Live Green, Spread the Green!

About the SUstainability Guide

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REDUCE

Paper Waste: Use both sides of paper when taking notes in class. Use the backs of old paper for drafts, notes, homework problems, brainstorming, etc. Print and photocopy only when necessary. When you must print or copy, print double sided. Use a smaller font and thinner margins for personal documents to conserve paper. Ask your

professors if this practice is acceptable for graded assignments. Edit on screen, not on paper. Use e-mail to minimize paper use. Send, circulate and store documents electronically instead of on paper. If your document does not print, check the print queue before attempting to print again. Designate a box or folder for scrap paper. Make your own note pads out of recycled paper. Use cloth napkins, handkerchiefs, and rags rather than paper napkins, tissues, and towels. Bank online. “Block” unwanted catalogues from your mail at www.cataloguechoice.org. Condense mail lists so only interested parties are included. Get rid of junk mail--everyone can do this! Send a letter to:

Mail Preference Service Direct Marketing Association PO Box 9008 Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008

REUSE

Plastic and glass containers can be reused to store food or other items.

Refill beverage bottles or invest in a good reusable plastic bottle. Envelopes can be used for personal storage or reused entirely by putting a label over the old

address. Turn file folders inside out and reuse the opposite side of the tab. Purchase refillable pens and pencils. Reuse boxes. Plastic bags can be reused many times and also double as great garbage bags. Share magazines and books with others. Look for used items when purchasing new furniture, cars, clothing, etc. Check Goodwill,

Salvation Army, Mustard Seed (located on Market Street), and www.craigslist.org.

RECYCLE

Recycling is easy; make it part of your every day life! Recycle as many disposable products as possible. Always walk to the recycling bin. Keep recyclables until you have access to a recycling bin instead of just tossing them into the

garbage. Try to buy recycled goods and items that use post-consumer waste. For further recycling instructions on campus and in the community, see the “Recycling”

and “Recycling at SU” sections.

Reduce , Reuse , Recycle

“Live simply so that others may simply live.”

Gerard Albans

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GENERAL CLEANING Keeping your living area clean will reduce the amount of cleaners

and detergents you consume. One use cleaners such as wipes and paper towels are wasteful. Use old t-shirts, towels and wash rags to clean, dust, dry dishes, etc. Use cleaners made with non-toxic chemicals. Toxic solutions can

leak into groundwater. Only buy products labeled as nontoxic, biodegradable, dye free,

chlorine free, phosphate free, nonpetroleum based, vegetable based or fragrance free.

If you need bleach, use oxygen or hydrogen based bleaches. Chlorine is harmful to the environment.

Hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and vinegar are safe, inexpensive general household cleaners.

Some commercial brands are also environmentally friendly, such as Ecover, which manufac-tures green products for all rooms of the home (www.ecover.com), Second Nature, which fea-tures products with the Green Seal, an organization dedicated to safeguarding the environment and promoting the manufacture and use of environmentally responsible products (www.secondnatureclean.com); Seventh Generation, which markets laundry and dishwashing detergents, household cleaners and paper supplies, and feminine care baby product (www.sevethgeneration.com), EcoPlus and Sun and Earth. These products are also concentrated so you use less.

Use refillable spray bottles instead of aerosol cans to reduce packaging, eliminate the possibility of explosion and stretch your budget.

DISHWASHING Only wash full loads to conserve water. If washing dishes by hand, do NOT keep the water running! Use the sink stopper or a bucket to

wash your dishes, and allow dishes to air dry. LAUNDRY Only wash full loads of laundry. Small loads waste water, energy and quarters. Only wash clothing when absolutely necessary. Most clothing, especially pants and jeans, can

be worn more than once if not stained or dirtied. Wash clothes in warm or cold water to use up to 85 percent less energy compared to hot water.

Only use hot water for oil or deep stains. Using more than one dryer sheet reduces dryer efficiency, introducing more moisture into the

load. If clothing does not dry after one full dryer cycle, hang it on a rack or line to avoid wasting addi-

tional energy. On warm days, hang clothing outside to dry naturally. Use a drying rack for delicate items such as wool, silk or

undergarments.

COMPUTERS Turn off and unplug all computers when not in use. Set your computer to sleep mode when you aren’t using

In Your Room

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"We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children."

Native American Proverb

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it. Screen savers DO NOT conserve energy. Laptops typically use 50 percent less energy than desktop

models. Turn off your printer, especially laser printers, until you

are ready to use it. Also make sure to stock your printers with recycled paper.

HEATING AND COOLING Dress for the season to regulate your body temperature. Close entrance doors, room doors and windows when us-

ing heat or air conditioning. Keep thermostats at 68 degrees or below in winter and 76

degrees or higher for air-conditioned spaces in the sum-mer.

Turn off heat/air conditioning during breaks unless Resi-dence Life/Facilities Management instructs you otherwise.

Avoid overheating or overcooling your room, then relying on opening windows to regulate the temperature. Instead, keep your room at a comfortable level and adjust clothing weight and layers accordingly.

Tips for properly heating and cooling rooms in each residence hall at Susquehanna: Aikens, Hassinger, North, Reed, Sassafras Complex, Scholars’ House, Smith, West and

West Village C and D all have adjustable heating units in the rooms, which allow students to adjust the heating/cooling through both temperature and airflow. Facilities management controls turning the heat and air-conditioning components on or off, but students are respon-sible for controlling the settings in individual rooms. For maximum efficiency, residents should identify a comfortable setting and maintain it instead of constantly changing the air-flow or amount of heat.

Avenue housing uses central heating with one or two thermostats in each house. The houses are not equipped with air-conditioning at this time. Students living on the Avenue should set thermostats to 68 degrees without exception. These residents should also be certain to turn off lights in common areas when not in use.

Liberty Alley uses electric heating with manual settings in each room. Residents should keep rooms comfortable but not too warm and keep all doors/windows shut while using the heating units.

Seibert Hall is heated and cooled with central air. Each room is equipped with a thermostat that can be set to specific temperatures. Residents should follow the general heating/cooling suggestions in the above section.

Theta Chi has air conditioning units in the windows of the rooms, allowing access to AC anytime of the year. Heating is provided by one thermostat per floor which controls the heat to each room on that floor. The heat should be set to the standards in the previous section.

Tudor House has adjustable heating units on each floor that controls the heat to each room. These units should be set to the standards in the previous section. Tudor is not equipped with air-conditioning.

West Village A and B are heated and cooled with central air, but unlike Seibert Hall, the thermostats in each room are set electronically.

LIGHTING Turn off unnecessary lights. ALWAYS turn off the lights when leaving a room, especially if you are the last to leave. Use natural lighting instead of electric whenever possible. Decorate with lighter colors to make a room appear brighter, reducing the need for electric

"However fragmented the world, however intense the national rivalries, it is an in-exorable fact that we become more interdependent every day. I believe that national sovereignties will shrink in the face of universal interde-pendence. The sea, the great unifier, is man's only hope. Now, as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: We are all in the same boat."

Jacques Cousteau, Quoted in "National Geo-graphic" [1981]

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lighting. Use fluorescent or ENERGY STAR compact fluores-

cent (CFL) bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs. They last longer and use far less electricity.

Halogen lamps are energy wasters and pose a fire safety hazard.

OTHER APPLIANCES

Unplug and turn off all appliances when not in use. Even though a device is off, it may still be using energy if it is plugged in.

Plug all appliances into one power strip and turn off the entire power strip when those appliances are not being used.

Share a refrigerator with your roommate, There is no need for each of you to have one.

Buy and use appliances with an ENERGY STAR symbol on the package. ENERGY STAR is a government program to promote energy efficiency.

Unplug and defrost your refrigerator when leaving for semester breaks. Keep the refrigerator door open so that mold does not develop while you are gone.

Vacuum the coils on your refrigerator every three months. Dust build-up reduces energy efficiency and life expectancy of the compressor. Check the door seal for gaps and replace if necessary.

GENERAL BATHROOM HABITS

Turn off the water when you brush your teeth. Use paper towels sparingly or bring your own cloth towel. Always use hands-free paper towel machines or drying machines

instead of paper towels. Use only one drying cycle to reduce energy consumption.

Take only as much toilet paper as you need. If you are last to leave the bathroom, turn off the lights. Report all leaks to your RA!

SHOWERING

Take shorter showers! Try to reduce your showering time to 5 minutes (conventional showers use up to 20 liters of water per minute).

Turn off the water when applying shampoo and/or conditioner and when lathering soap too. Do not shave in the shower with the water running. Fill a sink and dip your razor into the water

to clean the blade. Make sure to shut off the shower faucet completely when done.

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Bathroom Habits

Recycling Fact:

While recycling has grown in general, recycling of specific materials has grown even more drastically: 42 percent of all pa-per, 40 percent of all plastic soft drink bottles, 55 percent of all aluminum beer and soft drink cans, 57 percent of all steel packaging, and 52 percent of all major appliances are now recy-

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FOOD BASICS Eat lower on the food chain. Meat production can be energy, resource and pollution intensive.

Diets rich in fruits, vegetables and legumes are healthier and easier on the planet. Explore vegetarian options and consider eating a vegetarian diet once a week. Choose free-range and/or organic meat. These farms are usually smaller and use fewer antibiot-

ics and hormones. Eat locally to save transportation costs and help the local economy. Local seasonal produce may

also help you avoid some of the chemicals used to preserve foods. See the “Selinsgrove Local Foods Map” and directory in the back of this guide for locally grown crops.

Choose environmentally friendly and socially conscious “Fair Trade” coffee. To become Fair Trade certified, an importer must pay a minimum price per pound providing much needed credit to farmers, and provide technical assistance such as help transitioning to organic farming.

NEVER buy bottled water. Water bottles take a lot of energy to make and ship and create waste that is filling landfills. Use a reus-able water bottle instead.

Cover pots when cooking to reduce cooking time and energy usage. Buy groceries in bulk to reduce excess packaging. Use your own recycled or reusable bags at the store. Look for organic food produced by sustainable agriculture methods. Avoid using single-use meals and packaging. Let hot food cool before placing in your refrigerator to avoid raising

the internal temperature of the refrigerator and using more energy.

EATING OFF CAMPUS Avoid Styrofoam packaged takeout food. If you order takeout, use your own utensils, napkins and condi-

ments at home. Recycle pizza box tops if they are not contaminated by grease. A typical restaurant meal is more than 60 percent higher in calories

than the average meal made at home, so split an entrée (and the cost) with a friend. Carry your own utensils and cloth napkin for eating on the go.

EVERT DINING ROOM Take only as much as you will eat. NEVER dispose of food in the recycling bins. Use your own mug or cup for beverages instead of disposables. Take only as many plates, utensils and cups as you need to help

reduce water and energy waste. Avoid using trays. Limit yourself to one paper napkin per meal. Don’t use the straws and coffee stirrers provided in the dining room; they are not necessary and

create waste. BENNY’S BISTRO

Don’t wrap your food in aluminum foil and skip the plastic bag to carry your food to your room, and eat with your own reusable utensils.

"The packaging for a mi-crowavable "microwave" dinner is programmed for a shelf life of maybe six months, a cook time of two minutes and a landfill dead-time of centuries."

David Wann, Buzzworm, November 1990

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Dining

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Limiting your pizza and calzone consumption will it help with the “Freshman 15” and reduce waste by eliminating many Sty-rofoam plates.

If you are eating at Benny’s, skip the plastic lid and straw for your drink.

Recycle glass and plastic bottles. CHARLIE’S COFFEEHOUSE

Charlie’s uses Styrofoam lined cups, so bring your mug, re-duce waste and receive a discount for using a Charlie’s refilla-ble mug.

CLYDE’S CAFÉ

Bring your refillable water bottle or mug instead of using Sty-rofoam, and use your own reusable utensils if eating in your room.

JAVA CITY

Bring your own mug to reduce waste and receive a discount on drinks. Keep your smoothie consumption low. Other drinks at Java City are served in plastic containers,

but smoothies are served in Styrofoam.

WALKING SU is a small residential campus with all facilities easily within walking distance. Use your car

only to travel outside the downtown Selinsgrove area or during inclement weather. Walking or biking provide exercise and are just as fast as driving on our small campus.

CARPOOLING

Sharing a ride to run errands or go out to eat is a great way to make friends in your hall. It also helps to reduce traffic and carbon dioxide emissions.

GENERAL AUTO MAINTENANCE

Have your car inspected regularly and keep it in good condition.

Use a bucket or a pail instead of a hose to wash your car. Full tires are more fuel efficient. Use the air conditioning at speeds higher than 60 mph. It is

more fuel efficient to put the windows down at slower speeds. Consider running your car on alternative energy sources, even

vegetable oil! Check out a Greasecar at http://www.greasecar.com/ to learn more.

Consider buying a hybrid! LONG DISTANCES

Use cruise control to help improve your mileage. Purchase carbon off-sets! You can make-up for the carbon your travel releases into the

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Recycling Fact:

Twenty years ago, only one curbside recycling program existed in the U.S., which collected several materials at the curb. By 1998, 9,000 curbside programs and 12,000 recyclable drop-off centers had sprouted up across the nation.

Transportation

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atmosphere. Check it out at Live Neutral at http://www.liveneutral.org/. Plan your travel route before you leave. Using the travel/transportation network at your destina-

tion will help to reduce the time and gas you spend on travel. STOP SPEEDING!

Traveling at a moderate, steady speed, ideally between 55-60 mph, will help reduce emissions. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

SU offers a shuttle service loop on weekends from TRAX to the residence halls and Market Street. For all major breaks, SU also offers a shuttle service to the Harrisburg train/bus station. Rely on the Harrisburg train station for longer trips. Visit http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/

ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Station/Station_Page&code=HAR for AMTRAK hours and shuttles.

Susquehanna Trailways has local bus stations and a convenient pick-up location at the front of the Post Office on Market Street and University Avenue. Buses run to Harrisburg daily at 9:10 a.m. and 3:40 p.m. Riders can pay the driver cash for a ride to another bus location.

Visit http://www.susquehannabus.com/ for more information. Contact the local ticket office at 1-800-692-6314 for further information. Riders should notify the buses ahead of time if being picked up in front of the Post Office.

PURCHASING FUEL

Get fuel when it is cool. Refueling your car during the cooler periods of the day such as the evening or early morning can prevent gas fumes from heating and creating ozone. Do NOT top off the tank, which releases gas fumes into the air and cancels the benefits of the

pump’s anti-pollution devices.

IN THE STORE

ALWAYS shop with a list of what you NEED to avoid unnecessary and costly spur of the mo-ment purchases .

Don’t take a bag for small purchases and avoid using disposable bags by bringing your own. Look into purchasing vintage or used items. Consider reusable or refillable items. Purchase rechargeable electronics to save on batteries. Buy organic cotton, which is made with fewer pesticides and fertilizers than regular cotton. Buying higher quality items may cost more upfront, but will last longer and be cheaper overall. Consider giving to your friend’s favorite charity instead of purchasing a material gift for holi-

days, birthdays, weddings, etc. Some Web sites to consider are http://charitygiftcertificates.org, http://tisbest.org and http://www.justgive.org.

Give gifts that will actually be used. Consider gift cards. PRODUCT RESEARCH

These online tools will help you make informed purchasing decisions: Conscious Consumer Marketplace: A comprehensive information source about green products.

http://www.newdream.org/marketplace/marketplace.php Eco Labels: This site informs readers about the different labeling systems found in stores.

http://www.greenerchoices.org/eco-labels/eco-home.cfm?redirect=1 GreenChoices: Use this UK site has information about possible “green” shopping sites.

http://greenchoices.org

Shopping

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Responsible Shopper: Investigate the companies you buy from through an online directory of over 100 companies. http://www.coopamerica.org/programs/responsibleshopper/

Simplify the Holidays: A guide from the Center for a New American Dream to help consumers re-examine holiday shopping habits. http://www.newdream.org/holiday/simplify.pdf

Consider giving eCards and/or cards made from recycled paper instead of wasting paper on greeting cards. Some sites to consider: http://www.hallmark.com; http://www.123greetings.com; www.someecards.com

WHY RECYCLE? Recycling saves space by sending fewer items to landfills and creating fewer toxins through

incineration. Manufacturing recycled goods often uses much less energy than non-recycled materials. Recycling helps to save natural resources by such as trees, water and oil, and also reduces pol-

lutants. Recycling creates jobs.

PURCHASING RECYCLED GOODS Environotes Recycled Paper Products: A branch of Roar-

ing Spring Paper Products that uses recycled paper. Note-books in a variety of sizes, index cards, loose leaf paper, printing paper, folders, pens, pencils, highlighters, Post-IT notes and “Green Books” (instead of the commonly required “blue booklets”) are available in the Campus Book Store. Great White State of the Art Recycled PapersTM are pro-

duced with two kinds of recovered paper — sorted white ledger and sorted office paper. These higher brightness grades allows minimal use of bleaching chemicals. Their manufacturing processes yield more fiber, use less power and produce less waste and toxins than conventional systems.

GreenLine Paper Products is dedicated solely to the sales of quality, environmentally-sound products. It is owned and operated by environmentalists who believe that conservation of pre-cious forest resources is fundamental to a healthy planet ecology.

RECYCLING OPPORTUNITIES

The Susquehanna University Recycling Program operates the recycling on campus, including all bins in residence halls, aca-demic buildings, most of the houses and other campus build-ings on University Avenue, and at sporting events and other activities. The program is run by Dr. Katherine Straub, and util-izes student workers who can be employed on a work study or a cash basis. If you are interested in the program or have ques-tions about recycling, please contact the student recycling coor-dinator, Melissa Hartley, at [email protected].

A list of on campus recyclables is located at the end of this guide.

Recycling Fact:

The U.S. EPA’s Office of Solid Waste provides a wealth of information on source reduction, recycling, and disposal by state.

Recycling

The Recycling Process

Step 1: Collection and Processing Step 2: Manufacturing Step 3: Purchasing Recycled Products This process creates a circle that ensures the overall success and value of recycling.

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Selinsgrove Borough recycles glass (clear, brown, and blue/green), plastics (1 and 2), hi-grade

office paper, tin/steel cans, aluminum cans, corrugated cardboard, newspa-pers, magazines, batteries and yard waste. Visit http://www.selinsgrove.org/sny-selinsgrove/cwp/view.asp?A=3&Q=443642 for more information.

HandUp Recycling is located in Milton, Pa., at the old War-

show Building at 275 Mahoning Street, HandUp accepts a va-riety of recycled goods, including many that cannot be recy-cled in Selinsgrove, such as paperboard (cereal boxes), cloth-ing, cell phones, electronics, etc. Drop off hours are 8:30 a.m-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact 570-742-3600 or visit http://www.localactionpa.org/news/handup-recycling-now-operating-in-milton for a comprehen-sive list of accepted recyclable items.

TAKE ENVIRONMENTAL CLASSES It doesn’t matter what class, which professor or what your major is, just take a class to get a better

understanding of how you interact and contribute to the environment. Here are a few suggested SU courses:

ECOL-101: Introduction to Ecology EENV-101: Environmental Science EENV-102: Environmental Hazards EENV-104: Weather and Climate SOCI-200: Environmental Sociology EENV-213: Oceanography EENV-220: Water Resources EENV-242: Climate and Global Change EENV-250: Sustainable Energy Resources SOCI-333: Development, Globalization, and Society EENV-335: Environmental Laws & Regulations HIST-390: Environmental History BIOL-500: Disaster Impacts

For further information about these or other courses offered at Susquehanna University, please log onto WebSU and under the “Current Student” selection, click “Search for Sections,” and enter the course name.

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"There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed."

Mohandas K. Gandhi

In the Classroom

"The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty. The activist is the man who cleans up the river."

Ross Perot

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CAMPUS BOOKSTORE (FOLLETT COMPANY)

ENERGY: The organizational goals are to not only find the right suppliers at the right price, but to reduce total energy consumption across the organization to conserve natural resources. Currently, a 5 percent reduction in energy consumption per year is the target goal.

SHIPPING CARTONS: Shipping nearly 20 million textbooks annually uses lots of shipping cartons. Follett has addressed their use of shipping cartons by using only cartons with 35 percent post-consumer recycled content; and not only are cartons made from recycled materials, but are also recycled after their use. COMPUTERS: Follett ensures that computers are properly disposed of and pose no hazards to the environment. All unusable equipment is disposed of through Sipi, a Chicago-based company that has exceeded all governmental regulations. FLOORING: In all renovated bookstores, Follett uses Nexterra carpet backing, an industry-leading, high-performance PET backing made from 35 percent post-consumer content recycled water and soda bottles with an additional 50 percent from post-consumer recycled glass. The result? Each 24" x 24" tile saves ten 16-ounce bottles from the landfill. Even better, Nexterra tiles are themselves recycla-ble. LIGHTING: Follett has implemented T5 fluorescent lighting, which delivers up to 33 percent in energy savings versus traditional lighting, wherever applicable. Because the T5 is smaller, it requires less glass, steel and phosphor to produce. CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS: Follett uses WoodstalkTM Fiberboard, which is made from wheat straw using polyurethane resin as a binder instead of the formaldehyde typically found in similar products, cutting formaldehyde emis-sions by as much as 97 percent. The wheat straw itself is a reclaimed resource that would have likely been burned, adding greenhouse gases like carbon monoxide to the atmosphere. Woodstalk Fiber-board has received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) credits from the U.S. Green Building Council in several categories. TEXTBOOK RECYCLING : Follett buys and sells used textbooks as part of their business and to reduce the amount of natural resources used to create these books. The wholesale division buys and recycles more than 11 million books annually. Follett Educational Services, which serves grades K-12, also recycles more than 4.8 million books annually. Out-of-print or old editions are not destroyed, but sent to libraries and schools in developing countries through the Bridge to Asia program. Other corporate divisions recy-cle books through Books for Africa.

Current Departmental Sustainability Measures

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GENERAL MERCHANDISE : Customer interest has sparked the introduction of a number of new environmentally-friendly prod-ucts in Follett stores. Select writing instruments from Zebra and Environotes notebooks, filler paper, portfolios and composition notebooks from Roaring Spring were launched last year and remain an important part of the school supplies assortment. Select stores that carry art supplies can purchase Strathmore Windpower Series art paper and sketchpads from their art materials distributor. New environmentally preferable supplies for 2008 are from Zebra, Pentel and Pilot covering pens, mechanical pencils and highlighters. In their convenience department, Seventh Generation Paper and Cleaning Products are being expanded to more stores.

CENTER FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT (CCE)

The Center for Civic Engagement advocates recycling and reduced energy consumption and hopes to model energy and resource efficiency in their practices. Many changes to departmental standards and events have been made to promote this ideal. DONATION DRIVES: The Holiday Food Drive collects non-perishable food items on campus for Haven Ministry, a

local transition shelter and food pantry in Sunbury, PA. Flex for Hunger is a program that allows students to donate unused flex dollars from their meal

plans. The money collected is used to buy food for a local homeless shelter and soup kitchen. Share Our Stuff (SU SOS) is an end-of-year donation drive held the last week of spring semes-

ter. Non-perishable food, cleaning products, clothing, small appliances, furniture, etc., are col-lected and donated to the local homeless shelter and other non-profits.

REFILLABLE MUGS: The CCE partnered with Java City and Charlie’s Coffeehouse to reduce Styrofoam and paper

waste on campus by selling refillable mugs made of 100 percent corn plastic. The mugs can be purchased at the Center for Civic Engagement or Charlie’s Coffeehouse for $6.

SAVING TREES: Many of the flyers CCE uses are printed without the dates of the event or are reused with the

dates changed to reduce the number of posters printed each year. The CCE now relies on e-mail and the eNewsletter for event signups instead of paper. Agendas and evaluation forms are printed double-sided and the office has reduced the number

of evaluations given for sites during days of volunteerism.

DEPARTMENT OF RESIDENCE LIFE The Department of Residence Life has taken many measures to help reduce energy and paper waste, especially with housing and first-year student information: GO PAPERLESS: Residence Life has converted many of its documents to electronic form, including work orders,

requests to stay for breaks, floor plans, housing lottery information and applications, tripling information, and housing preference forms.

Residence Life has also reduced the number of flyers to 25 percent of what was previously dis-tributed, relying instead on the eNewsletter and e-mails for communications to residents.

CHANGES IN HOUSING: In summer 2008, Facilities Management began installing more energy efficient windows in the

houses of University Avenue to reduce the amount of heat escaping in the winter. The first

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houses to have these upgrades were 300, 309 and 401 University Avenue. Facilities Management plans to up-grade four or five houses each summer until all are com-pleted.

West Villages A and B have been equipped with geo-thermal heating, which involves a refrigerant liquid be-ing pumped through pipes in the ground, heating or cooling the liquid. This liquid then is brought back into the house, and the heat exchanged.

RAs TO THE RESCUE: Every night during last rounds, the on-duty RA will turn

off all lights in the common areas and halls to promote a quiet living community and to reduce energy consump-tion.

RAs will report all leaking water and heating units to help keep buildings working properly. Please help by reporting all problems as soon as they arise!

OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

In the past, SU purchased non-flat cathode ray tube (CRT) Dell monitors for all new computers, which consumed about 90 watts of electricity each. For the past few years, SU’s Office of Infor-mation Technology (IT) has purchased only Dell Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) flat panel moni-tors. The monitors consume about 45 watts, using half as much energy as the older models. All monitors now purchased from Dell meet the Energy Star guidelines for efficiency. IT configures all new computers to automatically turn off monitors after one hour of inactivity, so monitors are using very little electricity when they are not being used. IT also configures other compo-nents within the computer to go into a “sleep” mode during inactivity. These features increase the energy efficiency and expand the life of the equipment. In addition, labs are configured to shut down after a period of inactivity so that they are not left on over extended breaks.

In 2008, SU began purchasing Dell’s new model, the Optiplex 755 – which is about 50 percent

more energy efficient compared to the 2007 model. In addition, IT chose to use Ultra Small Form Factor (USFF) computers, which reduce energy consumption by another 25 percent com-pared to the full size model. These systems meet the Energy Star guidelines for efficiency. In addition, the popularity of notebook computers has increased among faculty, staff and students, which has been beneficial because notebook computers require only about half as much energy as desktops.

Lastly, SU has been working to reduce any IT related waste. IT worked with SAVE to establish

paper recycling bins in all of the labs. All empty toner cartridges are sent back to the manufac-ture for recycling. All obsolete equipment is donated to charitable/non-profit organizations or sent to companies who can recycle the products.

"Sustainability is a condition of existence which enables the present generation of humans and other species to enjoy so-cial well being, a vibrant econ-omy, and a healthy environ-ment, and to experience fulfill-ment, beauty and joy, without compromising the ability of future generations of humans and other species to enjoy the same."

Guy Dauncey

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AMERICAN COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS’ CLIMATE COMMITMENT

Geoclub has started to lobby President Lemons to sign the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment, a high-visibility effort to address global warming by garner-ing institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the re-search and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to stabilize the earth’s cli-mate. http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/index.php

CARBON OFFSET CAMPAIGN

Dave Richard, professor of biology at Susquehanna, has proposed that Susquehanna University offset the carbon emitted by student flights associated with the new cross-cultural requirement as a part of the new curriculum. Additionally, as part of a SU Environmental Audit, the carbon emissions were calculated for all university related trips for the 2007-08 academic year.

LEED CERTIFIED NEW SCIENCE BUILDING

A state-of-the-art science facility will transform teaching and learning in ways that have critical impact on academic quality. With an anticipated groundbreaking in fall 2010, the 75,000-square-foot facility will be prominently situated on the site of the North Hall parking lot across Univer-sity Avenue from Seibert Hall. It will be the largest academic building on campus.

Plans for the new science building demonstrate Susquehanna University’s strong commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. The building is being designed to meet or ex-ceed the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification criteria. http://development.susqu.edu/html/priorities/science.html or http://www.usgbc.org/

REFILLABLE MUG PROGRAM

The Center for Civic Engagement has partnered with Java City and Charlie’s Coffeehouse to present SU's refillable mug program. This program offers drink discounts to students at both venues for using a reusable coffee mug made from 100 percent recycled corn plastic. The mugs can be purchased at the Center for Civic Engagement or Charlie's for $6.

E-mail [email protected] for more information.

ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION (AASHE)

AASHE is a member organization of colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada working in partnership with businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies to create a sus-tainable future. Their mission is to promote sustainability in all sectors of higher education, from governance and operations to curriculum and outreach, through education, communication, re-search and professional development. http://www.aashe.org/index.php

COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY AND AFFORDABILITY ACT OF 2008 (H.R. 4137)

The first environmental education program authorized in 18 years, this grant program will pro-vide opportunities for colleges and universities to develop and implement programs around sus-tainability. The bill also calls for the Department of Education to convene a national summit of higher education sustainability experts. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-4137

Current Initiatives

Green Ideas for SU Organizations

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COLLEGE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT CARD 2008

The Report Card is the only independent sustainability evaluation of campus operations and endowment investments. Published by the Sustainable Endowments Institute, it assesses the 200 public and private universities with the largest endowments, ranging from $230 million to nearly $35 billion. http://www.endowmentinstitute.org/sustainability/

GREEN FUNDING

This is a guide authored by Macalester College students describing how to generate funding to create sustainable campuses. The idea is for the funding of environmental projects through the savings that they generate. A revolving loan fund can enable projects both amazing and ordinary that reduce environmental impacts while creating opportunities for even more projects. The model fund is oriented toward energy efficiency, conservation and renewable energy and is called the Clean Energy Revolving Fund (CERF). http://www.aashe.org/resources/pdf/CERF.pdf

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TOOLKIT

The International Institute of Sustainable Development’s (IISD) interactive toolkit helps stu-dents to learn more about sustainable development and its relevance to their institution. The Web site features declarations, a policy bank, resource links, and a partners list. http://www.iisd.org/educate/

NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION CAMPUS ECOLOGY

The Campus Ecology program of the National Wildlife Federation promotes climate leadership and sustainability among colleges and universities by providing resources and technical support, creating networking opportunities and organizing education events. http://www.nwf.org/campusecology/

SU ENVIRONMENTAL CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE Formed in fall 2007, the committee’s members include students, faculty and staff of Susque-

hanna University who are committed to initiating efforts to move SU towards a more sustainable community. Current efforts include creating a university-wide audit of resource use at SU, in-cluding a greenhouse inventory. New committee members are always welcome and student in-put is greatly appreciated. http://www.susqu.edu/sustainability

GEOLOGY CLUB Geology Club (Geoclub), uses a mix of fun and education about the environment and apprecia-

tion for the Earth and its many processes. The organization is located in the basement of Fisher Science building in their own room called the Cave. Geoclub welcomes students from any major who are interested in helping the environment and learning as they do so! Check out the links on their page to find out a little more about Geoclub and their activities. http://www.susqu.edu/geo percent5Fclub/

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Get Involved!

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SAVE: STUDENT AWARENESS FOR THE VALUE OF THE ENVIRONMENT Student Awareness for the Value of the Environment (SAVE), is an organization that spreads

awareness on and off-campus about environmental issues and lessening our impact on the envi-ronment. campus events include airing documentaries, conducting environmentally-friendly craft programs, selling corn plastic travel mugs, letter-writing campaigns. Off-campus, SAVE holds an annual “Envirofair” in April at the Susquehanna Valley Mall, which features informa-tion from outside organizations such as the Sierra Club, DCNR, The Pa. Fish and Game Com-mission and other local organizations. They also have environmentally-friendly crafts and games for kids, such as peanut butter bird feeders and making collages from old magazines. http://www.susqu.edu/save

EATERIES KIND CAFÉ, 16 North Market Street, Selinsgrove, PA 17870, 570-374-0663

Local art, paninis and fresh-roasted coffee, they recycle their plastic cups and use no Styrofoam! EMMA’S FOOD FOR LIFE, 11 South Market Street, Selinsgrove, PA 17870, 570-374-0178 The area’s first natural food restaurant, which has an emphasis on local, seasonal foods. The

menu changes seasonally, but always offers a variety of delicious vegetarian and vegan options. RECREATION MINI-GOLF AND BOUNCEPLEX, 15 Stetler Ave., Shamokin Dam, PA 17876, 570-743-0920

Get in a round of mini-golf at the challenging eighteen-hole course and then stop over at the Bounceplex for a springing good time on the 360 degree trampoline walls and court. http://www.bouncefunplex.com/

T&D CATS OF THE WORLD, Mountain Road, Penns Creek, PA 17682 570-837-3377

Visit or volunteer some time at this animal refuge specializing in exotic felines and wildlife. http://www.tdscats.com/ CLYDE PEELING’S REPTILE LAND, 18628 US Route 15, Allenwood, PA 17810, 570-538-1869 One of only eight accredited zoos in Pennsylvania, you can visit with some of nature’s

fascinating yet misunderstood creatures. http://www.reptiland.com/ PENN’S CAVE, 222 Penn’s Cave Road, Centre Hall, PA 16828, (814) 364-1664

Stalagmite, stalactite or flowstone cascade? You tell the difference on a boat tour of the country’s only all-water cavern and Wildlife Park. http://www.pennscave.com/

SUNSET SKATING RINK, ROUTES 11&15, SHAMOKIN DAM, PA 17876, 570-743-6060 Relive those middle school days as you skate around this retro rink. It would not hurt to practice

your limbo skills before you go! (http://www.geocities.com/sunsetrink/index2.html) SUNBURY ICE RINK, Memorial Drive Rec. Complex, Sunbury, PA 17801, 570-286-1441 A relaxing and enjoyable way to spend the day without consuming unneeded energy. (Provided it is not time for the SU vs. Bucknell game.) http://www.cityofsunbury.com/nor-sunbury/cwp/ view.asp?a=853&q=428242 SUNBURY SKATE PARK, North 4th Street, Sunbury, PA 17801, 570-286-7820 Get some air on these inclines or try your hand…or board…at the tri-level bar. No charge and

Green Businesses/Attractions

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only one requirement – a helmet! http://www.cityofsunbury.com/nor-sunbury/cwp/view.asp? a=853&q=428193 OUTDOOR RECREATION

NED SMITH CENTER FOR NATURE AND ART, 176 Water Co. Rd., Millersburg, PA 17061 717-692-3699 Five hundred acres and twelve miles of trails – a great place to celebrate your

love for the outdoors. Be sure to browse through the nature print and photography exhibits. http://www.nedsmithcenter.org/

SHIKELLAMY STATE PARK AND OVERLOOK, Union and Northumberland Counties, PA 1-888-727-2757 Named for the famous Iroquois chief who helped develop the area, the park has several picnic pavilions and a one-mile bike path. For spectacular views of Northumberland and Sunbury, venture up to the overlooks, 360 feet above the river. http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/ stateparks/parks/shikellamy.aspx

R.B. WINTER STATE PARK, Bald Eagle State Forest, Union County on PA 192 1-888-727-2757 Known to many in the area as Half Way Dam, the focal point of this park is

Half Way Lake and beach, but there are also opportunities for hiking, canoeing and other recrea-tion. (http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateParks/parks/rbwinter.aspx)

PINE CREEK GORGE, 4797 Rt. 660, Wellsboro, PA 16901, (1-800-VISIT-PA) Also known as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, it is 50 miles long and 1,000 feet deep, offers

incomparable views and scenery, great hiking and picnicking options, and a breathtaking fall color display. Follow the Turkey Path Trail to find the waterfall! http://www.fallinpa.com/visitpa/fallDetails.pa?id=68010

CANOE SUSQUEHANNA GUIDED KAYAK TRIPS, 1-888-524-7692 or 570-524-7692 Not sure you want to head out on the river by yourself? Grab a group of friends and go on a Susquehanna River kayak adventure with a guide. Best advice – it’s all in the hips! http://

www.paddlehappy.com/kayaktrips.asp

HISTORY OF THE GREEN PLEDGE ALLIANCE (GPA) The Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility began in the spring of 1987 at Humboldt State University (HSU) in Arcata, California, a northern coastal town with a history of pro-gressive activism toward issues that effect society, and “its environment.” A meeting was called. The result, a campus club called Student Citizens for Social Responsibility was put in motion, conceived as a campus affiliate of Citizens for Social Responsibility. At the first group meeting, it was suggested to create a pledge for graduating students and the first pledge was born. Beginning with an unenthusiastic start its first year, with only a few signers, the group sent letters explaining their idea to 3300 colleges and universities nation-wide and the idea spread from there to the creation of many pledges to include the following:

First Year Pledge of Social Justice, Economic Strength, and Environmental Responsibility: “I, ________, pledge that during my years in higher education I will explore and take into ac-

count the social, economic, and environmental consequences of my behavior and that of my institution. I will learn about issues of environmentalism, social justice, and economic strength, and will try to promote a sustainable and just society both at my institution and in the wider world.” http://www.graduationpledge.org/first_year_pledge.html

Green Pledges

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Graduation Pledge Alliance: “I, ________, pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental conse-

quences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work.” http://www.graduationpledge.org/

Susquehanna University is a flagship member of the Graduation Pledge Alliance, a national student or-ganization whose mission is to promote socially and environmentally responsible actions by graduating seniors. The above pledge reinforces Susquehanna’s mission to achieve, lead and serve, and encourages our graduating seniors to take that mission with them into their lives after SU.

A few ideas to consider to simplify your life, save money, and be green at the same time! Consume less. Support your community through service, supporting

businesses and personal interactions. Use small Tupperware containers, not Ziploc bags. Ask for leftovers after university sponsored events. Garden, grow your own foods. Plant trees. Compost. Learn how to fix things. Share. Make clothing and other household items. Buy secondhand clothing, shop at Goodwill, etc. Use natural decorations like dried leaves, flowers, etc. Buy better quality items that will last longer.

AMERICAN COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT’S CLIMATE COMMITMENT The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment is a high-visibility effort

to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate. http://ww.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/index.php

ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION (AASHE)

AASHE is a member organization of colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada working to create a sustainable future. Their mission is to promote sustainability in all sectors of higher education, from governance and operations to curriculum and outreach—through education, communication, research and professional development. They work in partnership with busi-nesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies that support our mission.

http://ww.aashe.org/index.php

Living Simply

Resource Items for Living Sustainably

“Simplicity of living, if deliberately chosen, implies a compassionate approach to life. It means that we are choosing to live our daily lives with some degree of conscious appreciation of the condition of the rest of the world.”

Duane Elgin

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BOROUGH OF SELINSGROVE Recycling in Selinsgrove includes glass (clear, brown, and blue/green), plastics (1 and 2), hi-

grade office paper, tin/steel cans, aluminum cans, corrugated cardboard, newspapers, maga-zines, batteries, and yard waste. http://www.selinsgrove.org/sny-selinsgrove/cwp/view.asp?A=3&Q=443642

CATALOG CHOICE

Catalog Choice is a free service that allows you to decide what gets in your mailbox. Use it to reduce mailbox clutter, while helping save natural resources. http://www.catalogchoice.org/

COLLEGE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT CARD 2008

The Report Card is the only independent sustainability evaluation of campus operations and endowment investments. Published by the Sustainable Endowments Institute, it assesses the 200 public and private universities with the largest endowments, ranging from $230 million to nearly $35 billion. http://www.endowmentinstitute.org/sustainability/

COOL AMERICA

The program connects communities through a common interest in reducing carbon emissions. It provides strategies and support systems to help make the necessary behavioral transition easier for individuals. http://www.empowermentinstitute.net/lcd/lcd_files/Cool_America.html

CO-OP AMERICA

The mission of Co-op America is to harness economic power, the strength of consumers, inves-tors, and businesses, to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. http://www.coopamerica.org/

ECO-JUSTICE MINISTRIES

This site targets students interested in theology and biblical interpretations based on working toward environmental sustainability. It is an independent, ecumenical agency to help churches answer the call to care for all of God’s creation, and develop ministries that are faithful, relevant and effective toward social justice and environmental sustainability. http://www.eco-justice.org/

ECOVER

Ecover is an international company active in the production of ecological cleaners. Founded in 1980 in Belgium,we have been a trendsetter from the very start: as a pioneering company, mar-keting a phosphate-free washing powder even before phosphates were branded as a problem. Since then, Ecover, under the ownership of Jørgen Philip Sørensen CBE, has developed into the world’s largest producer of ecological cleaning products. Besides its headquarters outside of Antwerp, Belgium, Ecover has sites in the U.S., the United Kingdom and Switzerland, and our products are marketed in more than 20 countries. http://www.ecover.com/us/en/

"Achieving sustainable development is perhaps one of the most difficult and one of the most pressing goals we face. It requires on the part of all of us commitment, action, partnerships and, sometimes, sacrifices of our traditional life patterns and personal in-terests.”

Mostafa Tolba, Chairman of the Commission on Sustainable Development

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EMAGAZINE The on-line home of E/The Environmental Magazine which is a bimonthly “clearinghouse” of

information, news and resources for people concerned about the environment who want to know “What can I do?” to make a difference. A 13-time Independent Press Awards winner and

nominee, E is chock full of everything environmental -- from recycling to rainforests, and from the global village to our own backyards. http://www.emagazine.com/view/?1511

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND

This organization partners with businesses, governments, and communities to find practical en-vironmental solutions to many issues including global warming, land, water, and wildlife, oceans, ad health. http://www.edf.org/home.cfm

FREE CYCLE NETWORK

The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,531 groups with 5,390,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer. Membership is free.

Web site: http://www.freecycle.org/ FOUNDATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

FSD is a non-profit organization founded in 1995 to support underserved communities in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. They provide human and financial resources to more than 200 com-munity-based organizations to build capacity and collaboratively implement solutions that ad-dress Microfinance, Health, Environment/Appropriate Technology, Youth and Education, Women's Empowerment, Human Rights, and Community Development. http://www.fsdinternational.org/

GLOBAL FOOTPRINT NETWORK

The Web site discusses an ecological footprint, which is a resource management tool that measures how much land and water area a human population requires to produce the resources it consumers and to absorb its wastes under prevailing technology. An interesting addition to the Web site it the “Personal Footprint Calculator,” which is an interactive quiz that allows the user to input data about his/her own life to see how many “planets” would be needed if everyone alive today lived with the same lifestyle. Check it out! http://www.ecofoot.org

GOOD HUMAN

This Web site was formed in the hopes to encourage people to be better humans...whether through working to clean up the environment, being active in political issues that mean a lot to you or just being more aware of your life and surroundings. Started in May 2006 there are now over 1,000 posts relating to a variety of topics, but the main focus has been the environment and how to make this world a better place. Go ahead and check out the site, and be sure to visit the “Most Popular” section near the top for the most popular posts since the site started. http://www.thegoodhuman.com/

GRADUATION PLEDGE ALLIANCE

The Graduation Pledge Alliance is an organization of national colleges and universities who provide pledges to their students to commit themselves to either explore their own institutions’ dedication to social justice, economic strength, and environmental responsibility and/or pledging to explore and take into account the consequences of any jobs attained after graduation. To sign your very own pledge or to learn more visit the website. http://www.graduationpledge.org

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GREASECAR The company sells their very own starter kits to covert oil fuel cars to run on vegetable oil as

their primary source of fuel. The system works on all cars, although you will not be entirely fuel free (some oil is needed to start the engine and the system), it will greatly cut down on your energy costs. Learn more at their website! http://www.greasecar.com/

GREENCHOICES

GreenChoices is about the choices we can make in our everyday lives to protect our environ-ment, for the benefit of all. It aims to empower people with simple, direct information on green alternatives which make a real, lasting difference. http://www.greenchoices.org/

GREEN CORPS

The one-year Green Corps program intersperses intensive classroom instruction with multiple campaign efforts. Trainees gain hands-on experience running field campaigns to win environ-mental protections and public health initiatives. Throughout the year, each trainee receives spe-cific individualized feedback on all aspects of his or her work, as well as local mentorship from environmental organizers throughout the nation. At the end of the training, the Green Corps pro-gram facilitates trainees' placement in permanent positions with leading environmental and so-cial change groups. http://www.greencorps.org/

GREEN FUNDING

This is a student authored guide by Macalester College students on how to find funding to create sustainable campuses. The idea is for the funding of environmental projects through the savings that they generate. A revolving loan fund can enable projects both amazing and ordinary that reduce environmental impacts while creating opportunities for even more projects. The model fund is oriented toward energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy and is called the Clean Energy Revolving Fund (CERF). http://www.aashe.org/resources/pdf/CERF.pdf

GREEN PEACE

Green Peace’s committed activists and supporters have come together to ban commercial whal-ing, convince the world’s leaders to stop nuclear testing, protect Antarctica, and so much more. Today, they have grown from a small group of dedicated activists to an international organiza-tion with offices in more than 30 countries. Their spirit and our mission remain the same. Their fight to save the planet has grown more serious – the threat of global warming, destruction of ancient forests, deterioration of our oceans, and the threat of a nuclear disaster loom large. Greenpeace is actively working to address these and other threats. http://www.greenpeace.org

GRIST

Grist is an on-line environmental news site that offers news about green issues and sustainable living in a humorous and easily accessible manner. As the site describes itself, “Grist: it’s gloom and doom with a sense of humor. So laugh now—or the planet gets it.” http://www. grist.org

HANDUP RECYCLING

Located in Milton, PA at the old Warshow Building at 275 Mahoning Street, HandUp accepts a large variety of recycled goods to include many items that cannot be recycled in Selinsgrove, such as, paperboard (cereal boxes) as well as clothes, cell phones, electronics, etc. The drop-off hours are 8:30am-4pm Monday through Friday and the contact phone number is (570)742-3600. Visit their website for a comprehensive list of accepted recyclables.

http://www.localactionpa.org/news/handup-recycling-now-operating-in-milton

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KIVA Kiva is an organization that allows specific donors to lend to a specific entrepreneur in the de-

veloping world, empowering them to lift themselves out of poverty. To learn more about the program visit their Web site! http://www.kiva.org

NATIONAL GREEN PAGES

The National Green Pages™ is a directory listing nearly 3,000 businesses that have made firm commitments to sustainable, socially just principles, including the support of sweatshop-free labor, organic farms, fair trade, and cruelty-free products. For every category of conventional consumer goods and services, there are green businesses that can meet your needs. The National Green Pages™ lists baby care products, organic, fair trade, flavored teas, and fuel-efficient cars for rent among the thousands of products. With each purchase you make through the National Green Pages™, you know you’re supporting truly green businesses. http://www.coopamerica.org/pubs/greenpages/about.cfm

LIVE NEUTRAL

LiveNeutral was created to foster education and action around the imminent problems of greenhouse gas emissions. It helps make it easy for individuals and organizations to reduce their greenhouse gas emis-sions directly and through participating in innovative market-based solutions to global climate change. The website also has a carbon emissions calculator, to find out the amount of emissions for any trip.

http://www.liveneutral.org/

NATIONAL GREEN PAGES The National Green Pages™ is a directory listing nearly 3,000 businesses that have made firm

commitments to sustainable, socially just principles, including the support of sweatshop-free labor, organic farms, fair trade, and cruelty-free products. For every category of conventional consumer goods and services, there are green businesses that can meet your needs. The National Green Pages™ lists baby care products, organic, fair trade, flavored teas, and fuel-efficient cars for rent among the thousands of products. With each purchase you make through the National Green Pages™, you know you’re supporting truly green businesses.

http://www.coopamerica.org/pubs/greenpages/about.cfm

NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION CAMPUS ECOLOGY The Campus Ecology program of the National Wildlife Federation promotes climate leadership

and sustainability among colleges and universities by providing resources and technical support, creating networking opportunities and organizing education events. http://www.nwf.org/campusecology/

NEW AMERICAN DREAM

Their mission is to help Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life, and promote social justice. The Center for a New American Dream is a non-profit organization located in Takoma Park, Md., just over the border from Washington, D.C. The

“To waste, to destroy our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of us-ing it so as to increase its usefulness, will result in undermining in the days of our chil-dren the very prosperity which we ought by right to hand down to them amplified and developed."

Theodore Roosevelt, Seventh Annual Message, Dec. 3, 1907

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organization works with individuals, institutions, communities, and businesses to conserve natural resources, counter the commercialization of our culture, and promote positive changes in the way goods are produced and consumed. http://www.newdream.org/

NEW LEAF COMMUNITY MARKETS

The market hopes to “nourish and sustain their community.” New Leaf firmly believes in the importance of choosing food grown and processed according to certified organic standards. They stock as many organic products as possible, as well as a variety of free trade coffee. http://newleaf.com

OXFAM INTERNATIONAL

A great resource for recent news which concentrates on lasting change. It also covers many popular topics that concerns many people today including HIV and AIDS, education as well as trade and natural resources. It makes a point as to how these issues affect those living in poverty around the world. http://www.oxfam.org/

POPULATION ACTION INTERNATIONAL

Covers topics that everyone can relate to and benefit from further knowledge. Since population is the single biggest factor affecting the world's natural resources, this Web site is a great place to start for those interested in the sustainability of the world. http://www.populationaction.org/

SIERRA CLUB

The Sierra Club's members and supporters are more than 1.3 million of your friends and neighbors. Inspired by nature, they work together to protect their communities and the planet. The Club is America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organiza-tion. The site also features many resources and publications for the environmentally-minded. http://www.sierraclub.org/

ROCK THE EARTH

Rock the Earth works closely with the music industry and its fans, many of whom are concerned with the fate of our public lands, air and water. It acts as advocates to ensure the existence of a sustainable and healthy environment for all. Further, it aims to represent those individuals and communities whose environment or natural surroundings are directly and adversely affected by the actions of others. Rock the Earth, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, national public interest environ-mental advocacy organization, is committed to protecting and defending America's natural

resources through partnerships with the music industry and the world-wide environmental community. http://www.rocktheearth.org/joomla/

SEVENTH GENERATION A brand of environmentally-friendly products to include laundry, dishwashing, and household

cleaners as well as household paper supplies, feminine care, and products for babies. The com-pany chose their name based upon the following quote from the Great Law of the Iroquois Con-federacy, “In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions upon the next seven generations.” http://www.seventhgeneration.com/

SIERRA CLUB

The Sierra Club's members and supporters are more than 1.3 million of your friends and neighbors. Inspired by nature, they work together to protect their communities and the planet. The Club is America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organiza-tion. The site also features many resources and publications for anyone who is environmentally-minded. http://www.sierraclub.org/

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Have any additions to the resource items? Let us know!

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS Provides great news site for up-to-date information; updated daily. Great resource for those in-

terested in the business aspect of sustainability, including investment decisions. http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TOOLKIT

The International Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD)’s interactive tool kit for greening your campus! The tools will help you to learn more about sustainable development and its relevance to your institution. The website features declarations, a policy bank, resource links, and a partners list. http://www.iisd.org/educate/

TREEHUGGER

TreeHugger is the leading media outlet dedicated to driving sustainability mainstream. Partial to a modern aesthetic, they strive to be a one-stop shop for green news, solutions, and product in-formation. TreeHugger knows that variety is the spice of life, so readers can find all you need to go green in an up to the minute blog, weekly and daily newsletters, weekly video segments, weekly radio show and a user-generated blog, Hugg. Advice is also offered to companies look-ing for a little green guidance. http://www.treehugger.com/

VEGETARIAN STARTER KIT

This Web site answers common questions about vegetarianism with “Vegetarian 101,” discusses animal cruelty in the meat industry, and has resources for current vegetarians such as meat-free recipes. The Web site also offers PETA’s “Free Vegetarian Starter Kit” which discusses the benefits of going vegetarian. A great resource for anyone considering or living vegetarian or vegan lifestyles. http://www.goveg.com

WORLD WILDLIFE FUND

For more than 45 years, WWF has been protecting the future of nature. The largest multinational conservation organization in the world, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.2 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally. WWF's unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at every level from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both peo-ple and nature. http://www.worldwildlife.org/

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 Recycling at Susquehanna University   Item  What to Recycle  What not to Recycle 

Plastic

‐ #1 (clear) and #2 (opaque) plastic bottles 

‐ Please remove caps and empty liquid. 

‐ Plastics #3 ‐ #7 ‐ Styrofoam, plastic bags or any plastic not in a bottle shape 

Glass

‐ Clear, green or brown glass ‐ Please remove caps and empty liquid. 

‐ Drinking glasses, light bulbs or anything not in a bottle shape 

  

Aluminum 

 

‐ All aluminum cans ‐ Please empty liquid. 

‐ Steel or tin cans (soup cans, etc.) can only be recycled in the campus center in the box above the recycling bins. 

Newspaper

‐ Newspapers ‐ Glossy inserts from newspa‐pers 

‐ Any other kind of paper (please put this in the paper bin instead) 

Paper

‐ Office and notebook paper ‐ Magazines, catalogs ‐ Books, phone books ‐ Construction paper ‐ Plain envelopes 

‐ Envelopes with a plastic win‐dow 

‐ Napkins or paper towels ‐ Paperboard (cereal boxes) 

Cardboard

‐ Corrugated cardboard only ‐ Please set next to a trash can 

‐ Paperboard (cereal boxes) 

Batteries 

 

‐ Recycle batteries in the campus center, in the box above the recycling bins to the right of the dining hall 

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"U.S. consumers and industry dispose of enough aluminum to rebuild the commercial air fleet every three months; enough iron and steel to continuously supply all auto-makers; enough glass to fill New York's World Trade Center every two weeks.”

Environmental Defense Fund Advertisement, Christian Science Monitor, 1990

Recycling at SU

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Recycling Information and SchedulesRecycling Information and Schedules

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Bates College. (2004). Go Green: A Bates Guide to Campus Ecology. Retrieved June 11, 2008, from http://www.bates.edu/Prebuilt/Bates percent20Little percent20Green percent20Book.pdf

Connecticut College. (Revised 2006). Green Living at Connecticut College: An Environmental Sustain ability Handbook for the Connecticut College Community. Retrieved June 9, 2008, from http://greenliving.conncoll.edu/GreenLivingHandbook06.pdf

Drury University. (2005). 10 Simple Sustainable Transportation Hints, Sustainability Quotes, Sustainability References. Retrieved June 11, 2008, from http://www.drury.edu/section/section.cfm?sid=259

Elder, Jim. (2008). “Congress Votes to Fund the Sustainability Movement in Higher Education.” Retrieved July 31, 2008, from http://www.FundEE.org

Franklin & Marshall. (2004). “Think Green” Booklet.. Retrieved June 6, 2008, from http://edisk.fandm.edu/ sustain/Think percent20Green.pdf

Hellmich, Nancy. (10/21/2006). Survey: Restaurants Dishing Out Extra-Large Portions. Retrieved June 9, 2008, from http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-10-21-portions-restaurants_x.htm

Mount Allison University. (2005). Tips for Sustainable Living at Mount Allison: A Student Guide. Retrieved June 12, 2008, from http://www.mta.ca/environment/you.html

Muhlenberg College. (2007). Muhlenberg College Guide to Sustainable Living. Retrieved June 2, 2008, from http://www.muhlenberg.edu/committees/greening/greenguide.pdf

Sustainable Campus. (2006). University Programs. Retrieved June 12, 2008, from http://www.sustainable campus.org/universities.html

Sustainable Cornell University. (2006). Cornell Sustainable Campus. Retrieved June 11, 2008, from http:// www.sustainablecampus.cornell.edu/

University of Alberta. (2004). The Guide for Sustainable Living and Learning. Retrieved June 17, 2008, from http://www.ualberta.ca/~ersc/Handbook/intro.htm

University of Florida. (2007). Think Green: A Gator’s Guide to Sustainable Living. Retrieved June 10, 2008, from http://www.sustainability.ufl.edu/reports/4700 percent20GreenGuide.pdf University of New York at Buffalo. (1999). Think Green. Retrieved June 11, 2008, from http://wings.buffalo. edu/ubgreen/content/programs/other/thinkgreen.html

University of Vermont. (2005). Green is Good: The Guide to Green Living at UVM. Retrieved June 10, 2008, from http://www.uvm.edu/~ecoreps/Green percent20Guide percent20Web percent20Version.pdf

Faculty/Staff: Students: Editors: Contributing Photographers: Emily E. Bowling Brittany Bunting Brittany Bunting Amanda Aulicino Jenna Lee Fredericks Melissa Hartley Emily E. Bowling Helen Bieber D. eric Lassahn Cassie Klinger Francesca Camp Emily Bowling Kevin McCarty Stephen Maganzini Claire Polcrack Marykatelyn Cochran Erica Stephenson Amy Markowsk Dr. Kathy Straub Jenna Fredericks Dr. Kathy Straub Claire Polcrack Brian Gilbert Jacqui Yalango Melissa Goodrich Andy Kilmer Abbi Mull Claire Polcrack Tina Statkevicz

References

Contributors

Booklet Design: Content Research: Guide Initiative: Stephen Maganzini Claire Polcrack Emily E. Bowling

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The beauty of Susquehanna University

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Check and check. What about

BEING GREEN?

Think Green. Live Green.

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