Sustainable Solutions

Sustainability on Campus Effort for sustainability must be individual household community nation worldwide

cont. government, corporations and organizations must encourage and pursue sustainable practices colleges and universities must do so too $200 billion are spent yearly in products and services (labs, infrastructure, dorms, food establishments, sports arena, etc.) represents a substantial ecological footprint

How to begin audit your home sets priorities and goals heating/cooling, transportation, electricity consumption, waste, food, water usage

Most Common Efforts recycling waste reduction – competitions – trash audits – book reuse – composting $ per ton of trash

Green Buildings Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum LEED is the best new Science building

Sabine Hall (LEED Platinum) Walls made of concrete which acts as insulator Orientation is essential to have less need of energy to keep it cool in summer Biggest windows face north Panels obstructing south During summer Front side facing North

South side Fewer windows and those are shaded while the hottest time of the day during summer Corridors have natural light Greenery will eventually help protect the building From the hottest days during summer

West side Small area so sun heating it doesn’t have a great effect on the building’s air temperature Will be covered by grasses in summer so the heat from the light is not that harsh.

Atrium Skylight throughout the building Light colors to reflect light local/recycled material

Classrooms Light color surfaces Windows that allow natural light

bathrooms Natural light during the day There is a shower near the South entrance for those that come biking or walking More efficient system to dry your hands Urinals with little or no need of water

greenery Plants that will survive the climate and eventually shade the building are also found on the southern sector Plants growing on the roof prevent overheating it. It also helps clean the air.

Water Use Efficiency rain water reduction of water use in urinals reduction of duration of shower (athletes) usage of brown water

Energy Conservation thermostats sleep-mode settings for computers shut off unused lights lower the temperature of hot water

Renewable Energy 2nd Solar Decathlon (October 2005) – 18 universities competed – National Mall- Washington D.C. livestock manure used for energy and recovery of nutrients and water solar and wind power already present in many campuses carbon offsets can be obtained buying "green tags"

Carbon-neutrality top priority American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment over 350 colleges/universities as of fall 2007

Dining Services campus gardens local produce biodegradable soaps kitchen scraps used to make compost compostable dinnerware

Institutional Purchasing same idea for any other purchases the institution does recycled paper certified sustainable wood energy efficient appliances goods with less packaging less toxic detergents and paints

Transportation less polluting alternative fuel Rice University in Houston is producing its own biodiesel alternative means of transportation inside campus (bikes, bus, shuttle)

Restoration – camp's natural environment – native plants – removal of invasive species – rooftop gardens Curricular Changes – integration of sustainability in traditional courses – green initiative awards for faculty – innovative green curriculum in some institutions

Sustainability and Sustainable Development avoid or mitigate environmental degradation investing in environmental assets and management of them reaching environmental goals

Economy vs. Environment common view that we cannot protect the environment and provide for human needs. command-and-control policies = excessive costs for the industry command-and-control policies = restriction of rights increase of human impact over environment due to population density

Human Relation with the Environment

Strategies for Sustainability

Time attitude of 1961 to reach the moon society collapse – Collapse by Jared Diamond view earth as an island The End