Transcript It’s Good to Be Green! - Bemidji State University

It’s Good to Be
Green!
An Examination of the
Green Campus Movement
It’s Good to Be Green!
An Overview
1.
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5.
Introduction to Green Campuses:
What makes a campus green?
So now that you know what a green
campus is…why should you care?
Some great examples of effective
green campuses.
BSU turns green…sort of.
Room for improvement, but how?
What does it mean to be
green?

The campus community, -- including faculty,
staff, administration, students and trustees-work together to develop policies, attitudes
and behaviors that support environmental
sustainability.

The campus is actively trying to reduce the
impact that it has on the environment –
including resources consumed and waste
produced.

Specific examples later on…
So, why should you (and I)
care what a green campus
is?
Environmental Issues

Quick facts and statistics…
Environmental Issues: Water Usage

If the world’s water were 26 gallons, the
usable freshwater supply would be one
teaspoon.
– (Harper, Charles. Environment & Society, Human Perspectives on
Environmental Issues, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson
Education, Inc., 2004.)

People need a minimum of about 26.5
gallons per day to assure adequate
health.
– (Harper, p 90.)
Environmental Issues: Water Usage

Americans use, on average, 123 gallons
per day.
– (“Trivia.” University of Florida, Water Conservation website,
http://waterconservation.ifas.ufl.edu/trivia.htm, April 5, 2004.)

In 2000, the World Health Organization
estimated that 1.1 billion people were
not able to meet their needs for safe
water.
– (Harper, p 90.)
Environmental Issues: Water Usage

Between 1950 and 2000, global annual
freshwater availability per person has
decreased from approximately 16, 800 cubic
meters per person to approx. 7,000 m^3 /
person.
– (“Water.” Environic Foundation International website,
p://www.environicfoundation.org/issues/water.html, April 5, 2004.)

It is projected that, by the year 2025, water
use by humans will increase 40 % and that 2
out of every 3 people will live in waterstressed conditions.
– (“Water.” Environic Foundation Intl.)
Environmental Issues: Water Usage

Putting together the facts…
– American consumption
– Growing water problems
– Decreased availability, increased usage
Environmental Issues: Water Usage

Campus Connections…
– Global / local
– Our actions and what water is used for on
campus
Environmental Issues: Waste

Recycling one aluminum can saves enough
energy to power a TV for 3 hours.
– (“CU Recycling Facts.” U of Colorado at Boulder website.
http://www.colorado.edu/recycling/recycling_facts/, April 5, 2004.)

In the late 1990s, Americans threw away
enough aluminum to rebuild the country’s
entire commercial airline fleet every three
months.
–
(Harper, p 113.)
Environmental Issues: Waste

In 1999, only 30 % of municipal solid wastes
(what we commonly refer to as our garbage
or trash) were recycled or composted.
–

(Harper, p 113.)
The remaining 57 % of municipal solid waste
(MSW), the amount not burned or recycled, is
stored in landfills.
–
(“Summary of the EPA municipal solid waste program.” US EPA website.
http://www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/solidwastesummary.htm, April 5, 2004.)
Environmental Issues: Waste

In a lifetime, the average American will
generate 600 times his or her adult weight in
garbage. This means that each adult will
leave a legacy of 90, 000 lbs of garbage to
her or his children.
– (“CU Recycling Facts.”)

The per capita generation rate in America (of
MSW) in 1999 was 4.6 lbs/person/day, up
from 4.3 lbs/person/day in 1994.
–
(“Summary...” EPA website.)
Environmental Issues: Waste
Putting together the facts…
 The trash has to go somewhere…
 Campus connections…

– Reduce/reuse/recycle
Environmental Issues: Energy

One American consumes as much per capita
energy as do 3 Japanese, 14 Chinese, 38
Indians, 168 Bangladeshis, 280 Nepalis, or
531 Ethiopians.
– (Harper, p 230.)

By the turn of the 21st century, three
nonrenewable fossil fuels (natural gas, oil and
coal) supplied 75 % of the world’s
commercial energy needs.
– (Harper, p 229.)
Environmental Issues: Energy

Coal is the dirtiest, most toxic fuel to burn,
and it releases 1000s of times more
radioactive particles into the atmosphere per
unit of energy produced than does a normally
operating nuclear power plant.
– (Harper, p 232.)

Burning oil products produces carbon dioxide,
nitrous and sulfur dioxides that damage
people, crops, trees, fish, and other species.
– (Harper, p 232.)
Environmental Issues: Energy
Consider the facts…
 Campus Connections

– What sources do we get our energy from?
– How do we use this energy?
Environmental Issues

Other environmental issues to consider
that are linked to our actions on campus
include use/abuse of forests, use/abuse
of soils (agriculture), and hazardous
wastes, to name a few.
Environmental Issues

After reviewing the evidence…I still
don’t see the need for greening my
campus

Enter – the precautionary principle
Environmental Issues:
Precautionary Principle
Right
Wrong
Action

No action

thank goodness
uh-oh
/
 no losses
generally no problems,
no problems, however,
unless major costs ensued
most environmental
problems have evidence
backing them
Examples of Green
Campuses
Case Studies in
Environmental
Sustainability
Northland College
Located at Ashland, Wisconsin
 4-year private environmental liberal arts
college
 About 800 students
 Many efforts on campus to promote
environmental sustainability

Northland College

McLean Environmental Living & Learning
Center (ELLC)
 Residence hall housing up to 114 students
 “One of the most environmentally advanced
residence halls in the world.”
– (Betts, Kellyn S. “Greening the Campus.”
Environmental Science & Technology, May 1,
2001, p 198-202.)
Environmental Living &
Learning Center

Energy generated by
windmill and 3
photovoltaic solar
arrays
 High energy efficiency
fixtures and appliances
 50 % greater energy
efficiency level
compared to other
residence halls
 Low flow water saving
fixtures
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Two waterless
composting toilets
Flooring is organicbased linoleum
Furniture is made from
recycled milk jugs and
steel
Attic insulated with
recycled paper cellulose
And…
Northland College

In addition to the green dorm, Northland has
a pesticide-free landscaping policy, uses ecosafe cleaning products, and offers an organic
fare as part of food services on campus, to
name a few things.
– (“Northland Students Live in ‘Laboratory’ ” from Northland
College website,
http://www.northland.edu/studentlife/new_ellc.html, April 5,
2004.)
Sterling College
Located at Craftsbury Common,
Vermont
 4-year private college
 Student body size – small (around 100
students)
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Sterling College
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Two solar powered barns
Glass greenhouse
Acre of organic gardens, orchard,
sustainable farming practices
Local/organic food included in food service
options
Environmental curriculum
– (“Campus Facilities,” Sterling College website,
http://www.sterlingcollege.edu/campus.htm, April 5, 2004.)
U of Massachusetts-Amherst
Located at Amherst, Massachusetts
 Public land-grant institution
 About 26,000 students
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Composting Program
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Recognized by National Wildlife Federation’s
Campus Ecology Program
Composts food waste from 5 dining halls, 2
restaurants, a co-op, and farm-animal
bedding
7-10 tons of food composted a week
700 tons processed a year, of which 300
would’ve otherwise ended up in a landfill
Results in a savings of $19,250 a year
– (“Campus Ecology: Composting,” National Wildlife Federation Campus
Ecology Program website,
http://www.nwf.org/campusEcology/files/umass.pdf, April 5, 2004.)
U of Massachusetts-Amherst

In addition to the composting program,
the campus has switched to recycled,
chlorine-free paper and educates office
staff about environmentally sustainable
practices
Macalester College
Located at St. Paul, Minnesota
 4-year private liberal arts college
 About 1800 students
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Macalester College
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Installed a wind turbine on campus, and
is committed to purchasing 10 % of its
power from “green” sources

Mac Bike—the focus of this group lies in
promoting the bike as an alternate form
of transportation
Ball State University
Located at Muncie, Indiana
 4-year liberal arts university
 About 19,000 students
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Ball State University
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Added three hybrid electric vehicles to the
university’s fleet of cars in 2003
Environmental curriculum is incorporated into
other disciplines such as history and English
Made 30 % and 100 % post-consumer
recycled paper available for purchasing for
departments and 30 % recycled paper the
default purchase
Carry out composting on campus and use
products for lawn maintenance
Council on the Environment is very active is
campus policy concerning the environment
Examples of Green Campuses
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Feasibility and costs are an issue…
A Cleaner, Greener BSU
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Again, recognizing the impact…BSU’s
Environmental Policy Statement
Environmental Policy Statement

BSU…
– Enjoys a high quality natural setting…
– Is committed to excellence and leadership in
protecting the natural environment
– Affirms the belief that faculty, staff and students
are responsible to provide this leadership—
environmental stewardship/awareness, local
action and global thinking
Environmental Policy Statement
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BSU…
– Will endeavor, as far as resources allow, to
improve our stewardship roles in the areas
of
• Education
• Operations
• Communication
The Greening of BSU
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Environmental curriculum—People and the
Environment (Education/Awareness)

Motion light sensors (Energy)
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Native wildflower and grasses incorporated
into landscaping at American Indian
Resource Center (Require less water,
fertilizer, pesticides)
The Greening of BSU
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Recently switched to 30% recycled paper
(same cost as non-recycled) and offer postconsumer paper options (Waste
reduction/pollution prevention)
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Replacement of fluorescent and incandescent
lights with compact fluorescent lighting. Est.
annual savings is $8100 in addition to over
$13,000 in rebates. (Energy)
The Greening of BSU
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Water conservation devices installed. A
reduction in water use of about 2 million
gallons/year. Cost = $133,000. Savings =
$12,500/year. (Water usage)
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Lakeshore restoration
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Purchase of battery powered maintenance
vehicles to replace full-size van. Annual fuel
savings of $200-250/year, and initial savings
of $5000-$6000.
– (BSU State Agency Pollution Prevention Summary Report, FY 2003.)
The Greening of BSU
Cost/benefits
 Figure in Externalities
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The Greening of BSU:
Possibilities

What actions can be taken to continue
to decrease the impact of our campus
on the environment?
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1st need to consider 3 roles of university
The Greening of BSU: Roles of
the Campus
As a reflection of society:
1.

“Colleges and universities are microcosms of
society’s systems to house and feed people,
conduct research, and administer programs, so
their operations have many of the same
consequences and opportunities for the
environment…”

(Creighton, Sarah Hammond. Greening the Ivory Tower, MIT 2001, p 1.)
The Greening of BSU: Roles of
the Campus
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2. As a functioning part of society:
– Campuses are not institutions isolated from
the rest of society, rather they play
important roles.
– “Universities represent a ‘large economic
engine’ with an annual operating budget of
over 200 billion dollars,”
• (Betts, “Greening the Campus.”)
The Greening of BSU: Roles of
the Campus
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3. As a center for
change/innovation/progress
– High concentration of well-educated
individuals.
– Role model or leader for community.
The Greening of BSU: The Next
Step

Before we can act, we must assess…
– Individual
– Campus
The Greening of BSU:
Assessment

Actions of the individual -- as part of the
campus community
– Pop can, collective thinking…

Actions of the campus as a community
The Greening of BSU: Campus
Assessment
Campus Ecology, by April A. Smith,
useful assessment tool
 Also, Green Lives, Green Campuses,
by Jane Heinze-Fry
 Both of these assessment tools focus
on same general areas

The Greening of BSU: Areas of
Assessment
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Water Supply
Water Quality
Outdoor/indoor Air
Quality
Soil and Food
Growth Mgmt.Population and Land
Use
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Solid Wastes
 Hazardous Wastes
 Wildlife: Plants and
Animals
 Energy: Generating
Heat, Generating
Electricity, and
Transportation
The Greening of BSU: Policy

The importance of changing policy cannot
be overlooked when trying to make a
campus environmentally sustainable.
 Environmental Advisory Committee on
BSU campus
 Policy example: Talloires Declaration
The Greening of BSU: Talloires
Declaration
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The Talloires Declaration is a 10 point
action plan for incorporating
sustainability and environmental literacy
in university operations
– Signed by over 300 university presidents
and chancellors in over 40 countries
The Greening of BSU: What can
you do?

Keep your environmental impact in mind
in every day activities…walk/carpool
instead of driving, buy things with less
packaging, use water conservatively,
support companies that are
environmentally friendly, eat lower on
the food chain, turn off the lights when
you leave the room, use energy efficient
appliances, etc.
The Greening of BSU: What can
you do?

Get involved and share information with
others
– The Environmental Advisory Committee
has students on board
– Students for the Environment and Campus
Greens
The Greening of BSU: Final
Thoughts
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Tie in with keynote speaker’s address
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“Nobody made a greater mistake than
he who did nothing because he could
only do a little,”
– Edmund Burke (Smith, Campus Ecology.)