Sustainability Intern working on Green Report Card

Just a quick brief entry here to share my enthusiasm for the work being done by EcoREPS coordinator, Kristen Larson '14, for her Environmental Studies senior seminar.

Kristen is gathering data to help the College with their first Green Report Card.  We know we're in the top third nationally for recycling, but that's not nearly the whole picture.  The report card will let us know how we're performing relative to other colleges and universities on a whole range of sustainability topics.

Check back in late April to see the results!

Sustainability Intern update: EcoREPS, recyclable crafts, Earth Week planning

Hello all!

On Sunday, March 16, the night before Spring Break, I met up with the Eco-REPS. We discussed working with the R.A.s to communicate to students the recycling rules on campus. The Eco-REPS refined their speeches and made some awesome informative posters!

I am communicating with R.A.s and we will set up times the week following Spring Break for the Eco-REPS to give presentations on the residence hall floors, complete with visual aids!

 Eco-REPS were encouraged to identify some good ideas for recyclable crafting while they were on break.  Meanwhile, I am getting in contact with SMAC to organize an event around this idea.

I am also encouraging the Eco-REPS to consider assisting Kaitlyn Welzen with her hoop house project on April 5^th. She is planning a trip to Appleton to learn how to build a hoop house (similar to a greenhouse, “but with metal ‘hoops’ and plastic sheeting” as she describes it).

 We have a lot of exciting events leading up to Earth Week, so look for them!

I hope everyone had a great Spring Break!

Kristen

Sodexo Intern Update #6: Honey & local greens

The Commons is now generally serving a “minimal meat Monday” menu on the classics line and healthy choice line for dinner. It is not advertised as such, but it is part of the goal to be more sustainable by using less meat-intensive meals. There has also been an increase in vegan foods and labeling them as such, which is fantastic for individuals who prefer not to eat animal products. 

On the other side of that, the EGOR honey that was in the Commons at the beginning of the semester has been replaced with another local honey source: Henry’s Honey in Redgranite, WI. Here is a link to their Facebook page if you want more information: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Henrys-Honey-Farm/170454659631298.

 

In terms of sustainability, the Commons featured an educational campaign in the hopes of reducing straw usage as unnecessary waste in some cases. The straws are still available at the cashier’s stand, but are less accessible, and so individuals need to consciously make the decision to use a straw rather than do so out of habit. Also, Sodexo is part of the Recyclemania challenge and the campus “We proudly serve Starbucks” has a punch card program where after buying 10 drinks with a reusable mug, you get the 11^th free. You win and so does the environment! 

Projects that are currently being worked on include how to include more local produce into the menu and also considering the possibility of incorporating some seasonal foods either more or less into the offerings according to the season. In a future blog, look for the results of a 14 for ’14 grant (through the President’s Office) that I wrote to increase food sustainability on campus. This is another project that is currently being worked on; but more on that later!

Hello everyone, my name is Mamadou Toure. I am a senior Environmental Studies major. I am currently working on designing a Living Green theme floor with the Residence Life as an internship and  with support of Ripon College Sustainability. This eco-friendly floor in Anderson  Hall will focus on energy and water conservation.  Students selected will have to sign an agreement indicating their commitment to the Theme Floor and educating themselves and others about Green Living and sustainability. The members of this living group will apply a green lifestyle by applying the Reduce-Reuse-Recycle principle: managing their trash and recycling bins, creating eco-env activities (indoor & outdoor), working on designing green lifestyle for other students to follow, planting more trees and flowers, hosting an Earth Day event, helping to take care of the campus as a community…etc. My wish is that this theme floor living group will serve as an  eco-cultural living center that encourages sustainable lifestyle and also promotes it around campus. I believe that implementing  such a program in a college is an indispensable action that will help educate students in practical ways about environmental issues.  This will also reduce our environmental foot-print individually and as a community.

In today’s world, we take most things we consume for granted: electricity that comes in our power plugs, heat is produced by boilers and water heaters. Most of us do not think about the process  and the waste of our consumption. We must take into account our impact on the environment and also think about the future. This program I am working on will be bringing awareness and illustration of a green lifestyle in our campus. The Living Green theme floor will positively impact our actions and decisions around the environment and climate change. You must be the change you wish to see in the world as Mahatma Gandhi said, so let’s be it.