Sustainable Res Life
November 21st, 2017
Program Ideas
Need funding for an event? Fill out the Sustainability Program Funding application.  The Center for Sustainable Communities will be reviewing applications frequently, but it is best to apply at least two weeks in advance of your program.
Kill-a-watt meters to track electricity consumption. Wondering how much electricity you consume in your dorm? Now you can find out! Kill-a-watt meters are available for checkout at the circulation desk at Preus Library. Meters can be plugged into personal electronic devices to track how much electricity is being used. Once you figure out how much electricity you use, see if there are easy ways that you can lessen your usage. Can you unplug gaming systems when not in use? What would it look like to use a power strip for electronics under your desk? What's the impact of changing settings so your screen goes black when in sleep mode rather than a screen saver cycling through? The possibilities are endless, and every little bit saves both carbon and pennies. 
Indoor Farmer's Market trip. Do you miss weekly trips to the Farmer's Market for fresh produce, meat, eggs, baked goods, and crafts? Are you longing for a reason to walk downtown and experience community and visit with local vendors? You're in luck! The popular Winneshiek County Farmers Market is hosting a special Indoor Market for 2 days only! Visit the Danan Lansing Building at the Decorah Fairgrounds from 8:30-11:30AM on December 2nd and December 16th. Take a short chilly hike or carpool over with your floor. Hope to see you there!
Features and Updates
Sustainability House: 61% reduction in electricity usage and 100% powered by the sun
Sustainability House residents were interested in learning about their personal electricity consumption and what could be done to minimize their carbon footprint as a house. A unique feature of the Sustainability House is that it hosts a 4kW solar pv array that was installed in 2011. This sustainable energy feature provides the opportunity for residents to learn more about electricity generation and how it varies by season and time of day. Though this array is fairly small compared to many household arrays (especially considering that ten students live in the Sustainability House), residents took it as a challenge to consume within the means of what their solar panels could produce. Over the 2016-2017 school year, Sustainability House residents, led by two student Energy Educators, monitored the electricity production and consumption for the house through devices that were installed on house meters. 

Electricity information is available  online and accessible to all house members, but a low tech solution to sharing data seemed to be most effective. Energy Educators tracked production and consumption information daily using a dry erase marker on a window in a common space. Their theory was that residents would be more likely to engage with this information if it was placed in a highly visible location. Results of a survey conducted at the end of the year demonstrate that every member of the house reported positive change in their behavior due to having more information available to them. Energy Educators empowered housemates to learn and make adjustments to their own lifestyle to minimize their personal consumption but made it a point to never impose behavior changes upon their peers.

As it turns out, this increased education, knowledge and awareness of usage paid off! Over the 2016-17 academic year, Sustainability House residents consumed 61% less electricity than the previous year. Given that they consumed 2626 kwh from September 2016-May 2017 and their 4kW solar array produced 2849 kwh, the students impressively were able to keep their electricity consumption within the limits of their fairly small solar PV system. Last year Sustainability House electricity came 100% from the sun. Good work, Sustainability House!
Tips for a Greener Residence Hall
#optoutside this Black  Friday! Grab some friends and family members and take a hike before coming home to gobble up some delicious Thanksgiving leftovers. 

Saturday, November 25, 2017 is Small Business  Saturday - a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. Please join the SBA and organizations across the country in supporting your local small business by shopping locally this holiday season. Small businesses keep your tax dollars local, create sustaining jobs for community residents, and give back to the community at large. See the map on US Small Business Association's  website to find stores participating in your hometown!
This newsletter is provided by the Center for Sustainable Communities . The mission of the Center is to promote sustainability and be a catalyst for change on campus and in the region. For more information on initiatives at Luther and the outreach work of the Center for Sustainable Communities please visit:   www.luther.edu/sustainability 
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, November 21st
Cover Crop and No-till Field Day
12:30pm-2:30pm Winneshiek County NRCS Office, Decorah
Iowa Learning Farms, along with Upper Iowa Watershed Management Authority, Winneshiek County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), will host a cover crop field day. The event is free and open to the public and includes a complementary meal. Reservations are encouraged.
All are welcome to attend.
Student Spotlight
Sam Tollefson '18










Sam is a senior Environmental Policy and Political Science double major from Burnsville, Minnesota. She got her start working for the Center for Sustainable Communities two years ago as a Recycling and Composting team member. Sam currently works as a student gardener. Her favorite part about her job is having access to delicious fresh food that she helped to grow!
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