March 2009

News from the CU Environmental Center, 2009 March

Green Living Tip

Did you know that More than 100 million trees' worth of bulk mail arrive in American mail boxes each year - that's the equivalent of deforesting the
entire Rocky Mountain National Park every four months, according to New American Dream. Join the Do Not Mail Campaign, or find other ways to cut
back on your junk mail.

Director's Update-March

Whoever named the “Powershift” conference nailed it.
Powershift just happened in DC—over 12,000 students rallied on the Mall for sustainability, climate action, economic change, social justice, and political progress. There were 6,000 students last year. CU sent over 14 students this time.  Go Buffs!
From several accounts I have heard it was an amazing event. Students that were jazzed and high energy when they arrived in DC have been transformed to off-the-chart energized. Look out world.
And it’s not a once a year thing. It is the shift in power now underway 365 days a year that counts. It started a few years ago in the ‘06 elections. And last year’s Obama victory was in significant part due to the shift in power from the old guard to the new voices of America, the students and emerging generations.
Thank goodness. My generation pretty much screwed this place up. The result is the economic death throes we are going through now. The old paradigm is going down and a new paradigm is emerging. It will be tough and lots of good people will be hurt unfortunately. On the other side, we have a shot at a sustainable new energy economy.
That’s the power shift we need. Already, Colorado is reaping the benefits of the power shift. With the change in the state’s political leadership in ’06, we have seen the New Energy Economy take quick root here. So, Colorado is already faring better than most other states in the economic crash.
With the change in leadership in DC—fostered by the power shifters—we are seeing an unprecedented shift in emphasis nationally towards a sustainable future. The recent ‘stim’ bill put money where it is needed—developing a sustainable economy. Colorado will be a benefactor of that too.
Unfortunately, our graduating seniors face a pretty tough job market right now. The good news is that a bad job market is motivating them and fellow powershifters to work all the more to drag the old guard into a sustainable future. That won’t be easy. The entrenched don’t want to give up power. And our new President will make mistakes and/or be forced into bailing out some of the old guard institutions that helped engineer the economic crash to begin with. Nobody said this would be pretty. This will be a tough change.
But our graduates with knowledge and training is sustainability, energy, and climate action will have the skills, vision, and motivation to create a sustainable future. They will out-compete less dialed in peers for jobs and opportunities in the transition to a sustainable economy.
Tom Freidman was here last month and nailed it too: “He who invests in and wins the race to the clean energy economy will own the future,” he said. And Colorado and our nation are poised to meet that challenge because the powershifters are in power.
This is the power shift we need. This is the change we need. This is our time.
“Change has come to America.”
Powershift nailed it.

CU Administration Teams up with Live Green Program

The University of Colorado Environmental Center, and the CU administration are teaming up to promote sustainability on campus through the Live Green program.  Live Green supports environmentally friendly habits.  Participants sign a pledge indicating areas where they will change their lifestyle to become more sustainable.

From now until Earth Day, April 22nd, the effect of signing a Live Green Pledge will be doubly impactful.  For every person who pledges to live green the University will donate $5 towards sustainability programs on campus.  Each signature will be twice as important, because it will impact the person who signs it, as well as the larger community.  Any member of the CU community can sign a Live Green Pledge. Moe Tabrizi the school’s energy conservation officer, wants to make sure that faculty and staff get involved as well as students.

Live Green is designed to encourage and educate members of the community about changes they can make to their life.  After signing the pledge, and indicating three areas where they can become more green, participants receive a monthly newsletter with tips and idea about what they can do in their everyday life.  Topics range from transportation to shopping, and focus on small changes that have large impacts.

CU is already know for it’s continual work to lessen it’s impact on the planet.  The money donated in association with the Live Green Campaign will go towards projects that promote energy efficiency and reduce the school’s carbon footprint.

This joint effort towards sustainability, from both the school and the community, becomes more and more effective as more people sign the pledge.  You can sign it online at http://ecenter.colorado.edu/livegreen, or find the Environmental Center’s promotions team who will be helping people sign the pledge from now until Earth Day.   Do your part to help CU.

Community Energy Connections Performs 200th Audit

The CU Community Energy Connections Tier 1 Audit program, a program of the Environmental Center of the University of Colorado, has completed it 200th audit since June 2008 in Boulder County. Tier 1 audits are a basic home energy assessment sponsored for LEAP-assisted (Low Income Energy Assistance Program) Colorado residents by the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office. CU Community Energy Connections (CUCEC) provides Tier 1 audits for all of Boulder County. Auditors install compact fluorescent light bulbs, efficient showerheads, programmable thermostats, clotheslines, and carbon monoxide/smoke detectors as well as assess insulation levels in the wall and ceiling, evaluate efficiency of major appliances, and talk with clients about their energy use habits.
On Saturday, February 21 CUCEC student auditors completed their 200th audit in Boulder County. The program began in June 2008 with six student auditors completing about 10 audits per week and now employs 18 trained student auditors who complete an average of 20 audits per week between classes and other university activities. The student-auditors enjoy the chance to get off campus and into the community helping clients to take simple actions to reduce their energy bills and carbon footprints.
    The measures installed in each Tier 1 visit save each client an estimated average total of $140 in energy bills during the first year. In all Boulder County, residents served will save roughly $28,000 from their aggregate energy use reduction savings after one year. Energy savings for each home are estimated to reduce related CO2 emissions by an average 1824 tons after the first year. That’s a savings of over 52,000 pounds of CO2 in Boulder County after the first year and 263,000 pounds of CO2 after 5 years.
After their completion, Tier 1 assessments are passed on to Longs Peak Energy Conservation (LPEC), Boulder County’s Weatherization Agency, which also serves Larimer, Broomfield and Gilpin Counties. LPEC then provides further weatherization services to all qualifying Tier 1 clients; about 60% of CUCEC clients receive these services which include appliance replacement, improved insulation and weather stripping.

University of Colorado recycles 500th cell phone through on campus recycling program

BOULDER, Colorado-Students at the University of Colorado are used to reaching environmental milestones.  The first student-supported windpower program, first student-built biodiesel refining equipment, and the first student-run recycling program are just a few of CU’s national achievements. CU has just reached an important internal milestone however, by recovering the 500th cell phone from its collection program sponsored by the Wireless Alliance.

While this is a significant accomplishment, Jack DeBell of CU Recycling believes there are a lot more phones to be recovered.  College students in particular generate a lot of phones because their coverage plan often changes when they move to Boulder.  They also demand the latest technologies.  If students absolutely need that new phone, then they also need to be the best recyclers in the country©˜
 
Numerous reports have been released about the lack of cell phone recycling that is really taking place.  Some estimate that only a small percentage of cell phones are recycled in the US.  According to CTIA, (Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association) the largest wireless trade association in North America, there are currently over 270,000,000 active cell phone plans in the United States.  Yes, that©ˆs 270 million, and there are currently just over 306 million people living in the United States.  Looking at these numbers, it seems that everyone carries a cell phone today.

The University of Colorado Environmental Center has several locations to recycle cell phones: in the Alfred Packer Grill at the University Memorial Center, in the Darley Commons at Williams Village.  Cell phones can also be taken to the Environmental Center, room 355 of the UMC.

"We are proud to partner with The University of Colorado to help create a cleaner environment at the school," said Jon Newman, Owner of The Wireless  Alliance. "Every cell phone reused or recycled is one less created or thrown  away which also reduces environmentally destructive metals mining practices," said Newman.

 Cell Phone manufacturing companies are now releasing phones made with recycled materials.  Earlier this month, Motorola released the W233 Renew, the world’s first carbon neutral cell phone.  The casing of the cell phone is made from recycled plastic bottles.
 
About CU Recycling - Established in 1976, the mission of the University of Colorado’s Recycling Services is to cost- effectively reduce and recover  resources from the waste stream while promoting the environmental and social benefits of recycling and providing opportunities for meaningful student  involvement.  The program is nationally recognized for its innovative and successful operations for waste reduction, recycling, and composting.  Contact CU Recycling at (303) 492-8307 or visit http://recycling.colorado.edu/
About The Wireless Alliance - Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, The Wireless Alliance works with recyclers, wireless carriers, and non-profit organizations to collect, reuse and recycle cellular equipment. All equipment is repurposed in a zero waste manner. The Wireless Alliance has reclaimed over 500 tons of wireless equipment from landfills, contributing to a cleaner and safer environment. For more information on The Wireless Alliance call us at (303) 543-7477 or visit us at www.thewirelessalliance.com.

Bike Station Opens for the Season

Warm up your cycling legs because the CU Bike Station opens for the season March 2nd. Spring hours are M: 9 - 4:30 and T-F: 9 - 5. During winter, it's typical for a bicycle tire to go flat or for a chain to get a little rusty. Register your bike for $10 at the Bike Station, then you can fill your tires, get assistance with minor repairs and receive information about cycling around Boulder.

This spring the CU Bike Station has sixty brand new buff bikes for rent. Buff bike rentals are valid for two days and come with a u-lock and optional helmet. Perfect for around campus and town, the buff bikes are easy-riding single speed cruisers with coaster brakes. Buff bike rentals are free for students, faculty and staff.

Spotlight On: Lilly Justman And CU Going Local

Lilly Justman is gearing up for gardening season, and she's hoping that she isn't alone. Justman, who is the founder of CU Going Local, is passionate about food relocalization. Her organization is promoting a move back to local food, and along the way they are providing as many skills, and as much information as possible.

Justman founded CU Going Local last February. Influenced by a Geography class on Food, Environment and People, she 'wanted to provide awareness about people's food choices," and show making small changes in what you eat or purchase can make a huge difference.

RMSS Recap

The 2009 Rocky Mountain Sustainability Summit  was a resounding success.  More than 500 participants from over 30 schools across the region attended.  Much was learned, experienced and shared by all.  Check the E Center Website soon for videos from the conference

What Happened at Powershift? By Andrea Zaragoza-Ballesteros

Over 11,000 student activists and leaders were gathered at this event.  They Came from every corner of the US, representing their future and the change they want and need. Looking at the sessions offered there was a great variety, from policy to dismantling oppression to international issues. Several of the sessions were very general,  for those who wanted to learn the basics.  Others were more focused.  I was surprised to see so many topics focused on oppression and environmental justice issues. This is the first event  I’ve attended in which there was an equal amount of the social as the economic and environmental-otherwise known as the three legs of  sustainability.

Young people, GET IT!, we must include the social  aspects, put a human face to the issue, and this is such a great time  to be doing so. With so much change waiting to happen with this new administration, it is the time to stand up and represent what it is we want and need as the younger generation who will be dealing with the  greater repercussions of climate change.

The energy was intense. Everyone was pumped, psyched and ready to start a revolution. The streets of DC were filled with Powershift attendees.  It’s especially important to notice the fact that this movement has such a fresh young face. The youth is usually thought of as the ones that never take action or do anything, but over and over we have proven to be driving force to get things done. Despite the snow, cold weather and rain, we were there, getting trained and prepared to represent our futures.

The workshops and panels that I attended were all quite informational. Not only did I feel more knowledgeable, I also felt inspired, empowered, and armed with a plan. I intentionally decided to focus more on the environmental justice and dismantling oppression workshops and panels since this is where I feel more attached to the issues. Being a Latina, I feel like I can connect more with the people and the issues on the social aspects. One of the workshops focused on racism, and how we must learn to understand racism in order to be effective at being anti-racism and furthering the “Green” movement. Another session I attended was a panel of Environmental Justice advocates, including Dr. Robert Bullard. This panel was especially interesting, we got to hear some true ongoing stories of environmental injustices and I believe the audience was deeply moved by these personal stories.

Overall, the Powershift experience was amazing, and I cannot stress how proud I am a the fact that we are taking matters into out own hands and with this taking Jerome Ringo’s words into practice, “The environmental movement will not be furthered until it looks like and represents America.”

Recycle Mania Update

We are now through 6 weeks of Recycle Mania and still going strong with recycling on the CU campus!  With a 31.5% diversion rate so far, CU is placing 58th among over 500 other schools across the nation.  As this ranking puts CU in the top 12% of all schools participating, we still have a lot of work to do to improve recycling on campus and reach the top ten schools who are boasting over 50% in their diversion rates…

To help improve recycling on the CU campus, we would highly value your input in our “Get in the Habit… Recycling Question Contest”  By answering our recycling questions, you will be giving valuable feedback as to how you think recycling can be improved on campus.  Plus, you could also win great prizes from our Recycle Mania sponsors.  Enter the contest at: http://recycling.colorado.edu/recyclemania/contest

Also, here are few events/instillations you can stop by to join in the Recycle Mania excitement:
o Disposable Cup Wall
o UMC Fountain
o March 2 through March 6, all day
o Recycled Art Instillation featuring 2500 disposable cups.  This is the amount of disposable cups used in the UMC in one day.  The goal of this instillation is to raise awareness around the “Disposable Mentality” that currently plagues the United States.
o Remember…. YOU have the power to make change!  Choose to Reuse
o Recycling X Games
o Tuesday, March 17th
o UMC Fountain, 10-4
o Participate in these “extreme” recycling games to win prizes and help raise awareness of recycling
o Games such as The Dumpster Dive, The Phone Book Shot Put, and Recycle Pong will test your recycling prowess…

As YOUR actions add up to make a difference, realize that you can make a positive impact on the world around us.

Get in the Habit… Buffs Recycle!