About Us
The Center was started in 1970 by the
students who organized the first Earth Day at CU. It has grown to
be the largest student run environmental center in the country. Eight permanent staff support the work of the student board, volunteers,
and employees. This section of our website further explores who we
are and what we do at the Center.
Mission Statement
Diversity and Social Justice Plan
Services and Programs
Environmental Board
EC Green Office
Maps and Directions
Budgets and Annual Reports
Job Opportunities
Awards & Achievements
History & Timeline
Staff photos, bios, and e-mail
Mission
Statement
Established in 1970, the CU Environmental
Center assists with the educational mission of the University by
providing information on environmental issues to students, faculty,
staff, and the broader community. The Environmental Center gives
students applied experience in interdisciplinary environmental problem
solving. In addition, the Environmental Center assesses the environmental
performance of the university and works with other parts of campus
to improve our environmental performance. The Center provides direct
services to the University community, including the recycling
program, the student bus pass and bicycle programs, and energy conservation and renewable energy programs. The Center engages in the community with the environmental justice and earth education programs, and by sponsoring educational events.
Diversity and Social Justice Plan
The Environmental Center, recognizing that diversity and broader social justice initiatives are key components of sustainability, strives for diversity, inclusivity, and social justice in our staff, all programs and activities.
Download the full plan, which includes goals, strategy and objectives.
Services
and Programs
The Environmental Center provides
the following major services to the campus:
The Center is also involved in off campus service efforts, funded
by off campus sources
- Performs sponsored research for the Boulder County Recycling
and Composting Authority
- Provides transportation research and outreach programs
- "Green Teams" provide peer education on proper recycling
techniques to students living off campus
Many of these efforts are nationally recognized, and have received
awards from entities including the US Environmental Protection Agency,
the National Recycling Coalition, Renew America, Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education, Colorado Environmental Leadership Program, and the Colorado Governor's Office.
CU
Recycling
CU Recycling is a partnership between the Environmental Center,
Facilities Management, and Housing. Started in 1976, it has since
grown to become one of the nation's largest and most successful
campus recycling programs, with numerous awards from the Governor's
Office of Energy Conservation, the United States Environmental Protection
Agency, Renew America, and other organizations. Recently, the National
Recycling Coalition declared CU Recycling the "outstanding
campus recycling program" in the nation, and the Federal Environmental
Executive Office declared CU recycling the model program for campuses
around the country. Over 70% of the University community participates.
More than 20 students process 3-5 tons of recyclables each day at
CU's own recycling facility—thus keeping 40% of campus waste
out of the landfill. CU Recycling staff and interns also conduct
a variety of educational projects throughout campus as well as research
on how to further improve recycling at CU, in Colorado, and throughout
the nation.
For more inforamtion:
Call: (303) 492-8307
E-mail: cure@stripe.colorado.edu
or Visit: www.colorado.edu/curecycling
Sustainable Transportation
The Environmental Center's transportation program promotes the use
of bicycles, mass transit, and other alternatives to single passenger
cars in an effort to save energy and reduce CU's contribution to
air pollution. The Sustainable Transportation program administers the Student
Bus Pass Program, which allows CU students to use the HOP, SKIP,
JUMP, LEAP, BOUND, and RTD regional and city buses. CU students
use the bus over 1.5 millions times per year—preventing hundreds
of thousands of car trips. Get involved and help shape the future
of transit!
For more information call (303) 492-6486 or visit the Transportation section of our website and the Student
Bus Pass Program's website.
Clean Energy
In the largest student voter turnout in University of Colorado history,
students voted by a 5 to 1 margin to purchase
wind power. This clean, renewable source of energy will lower
campus emissions of C02 by 2.8 million pounds
each year. The purchase equals the output of an entire wind turbine,
(2 million kWh per year) which will partially power 3 campus buildings
(the UMC, Wardenburg Health Center, and the Recreational Center).
CU Boulder is now the largest university purchaser of wind power
in the nation! Get involved in projects to increase campus energy
efficiency.
Blueprint for a Green
Campus
In celebration of Eath Day 2000, the Environmental Center issued
the Blueprint
for a Green Campus, which is an environmental action plan to
green CU Boulder's operations. The Blueprint proposes that CU:
- Create a Climate-Friendly Campus
- Grow without Increasing Traffic
- Create a Safe and Healthy Campus
- Green Campus Consumption and Disposal Habits
The Environmental Center will work to help the campus' environmental
performance. Academic opportunities abound when it comes to greening
our own backyard. Also, look forward to the Campus Earth Summit
in the spring.
Earth Education
Tomorrow's future lies in the hands of today's youth. Earth
Education volunteers help Kindergarten through 8th grade students
gain a better understanding of environmental problems and solutions.
Volunteers coordinate outdoor programs, classroom projects, and
planning and discussion sessions. Please visit our Earth
Education section.
Environmental
Center Green Office
The
Environmental Center received approval from the University of Colorado
Student Union and worked with the state procurement office to obtain "green" furniture and office equipment for its offices in room 355 of the new
wing of the University Memorial Center, at a cost savings compared to
buying conventional furniture through the state contract.
The furniture purchased includes desk tops made from compressed agricultural
waste, table legs made from recycled cardboard tubes, screens made from
recycled aluminum, a conference table with a certified sustainably harvested
wood veneer top, partitions made from compressed post-consumer newsprint
and old tires, benches and seating made from old plastic milk-jugs, and
chairs with recycled plastic seats and backs and 100% recycled polyester
upholstery. To learn more about "green furniture" check out
the online Eco Furniture
Directory. The desks that we purchased can be found online at ecowork.
Energy efficient office equipment, such as Energy-Star copier, printer,
and fax machines, and flat-screen computer monitors were selected. Recycled-content
paper and supplies are specified when making purchases.
When the office was built, recycled content carpeting was installed and
green building features such as motion sensor lighting, low VOC paint,
and operable windows bring other environmental benefits.
The E-Center hopes that other campus offices will consider green options
when making similar purchases.
Read more about the Environmental Center's
new Green Office
Budgets
and Annual Reports
These are Environmental Center Planning Documents:
Environmental Center annual
budget request:
2009-10 Budget Request Package 
(212k) includes overview of programs, accomplishments and funding requests
2009-10 Budget Request Supplemental Narrative (35MB) provides detailed review of programs, accomplishments and goals.
Awards & Achievements
| 1986 |
CU Recycling wins the "State Recycler of the Year" award from Colorado Recycles! |
| 1990 |
CU wins national campus recycling contest sponsored by MTV |
| 1992 |
UCSU receives EPA Administrator's Award for its CUPPS mug Program |
| 1992 |
CU Recycling receives the Governor's Pollution Prevention award |
| 1993 |
CU recycling earns PLAN Boulder County award |
| 1995 |
Outstanding School Recycling Program award by the National Recycling Coalition |
| 1997 |
EPA Way to Go Award for student bus pass |
| 1999 |
Model Campus Recycling Program Award, White House Task Force on Recycling |
| 2000 |
EPA Climate Protection Award for Blueprint for a Green Campus |
| 2001 |
Wirth Chair Community Leadership Award |
| 2001 |
Green Power Leadership Award |
| 2002 |
Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education Award |
| 2004 |
Colorado Environmental Leadership Award |
