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Monthly Newsletter
September 2016
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Director's Update
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Please Catch Up With CU Athletics!
By Dave Newport, LEED AP
Director, CU Environmental Center
This is not a competition CU Athletics really wants to win. But so far, our college sports program is the most sustainable department on campus, and the most sustainable sports
program probably on the planet.
Even the White House is noticing.
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FLOWS: Conserving Water and Empowering Communities
By Meagan Webber, CU Environmental Center alumna and Communications Intern for CO Foundation for Water Education
According to the
Citizen's Guide for Colorado Water Conservation
, upgrading your toilets, showerheads, and faucets to WaterSense-labeled models can save a boatload of water and a nice chunk of change on your water bill. However, for people who have trouble affording rent and other necessities, upgrading to more efficient water fixtures can be cost-prohibitive, even if it would save money in the long run. There are many water conservation audit and assistance programs around the state that can help, including the CU Environmental Center's new FLOWS program. The Foundation for Leaders Organizing for Water and Sustainability or
FLOWS
seeks to partner with low-income communities in the City of Boulder to conserve water, energy, and money.
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CU Boulder Awarded the 'Way to Go' Employer Award
The University of Colorado Boulder recently received the "Way to Go Employer Champion Award" from the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). The 60th anniversary and awards celebration was held at the Denver Performing Arts Center. CU Boulder was nominated for Parking and Transportation Services' recent work in developing and implementing a creative new employee vanpooling initiative.
For more info on setting up a vanpool and how it works visit:
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Composting 101
by Pamela Sena
A lot of people are confused about what composting actually is and what it entails. In this blog post we will discuss the importance of composting and what everyday items can be composted.
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Eco-Tip: Waste Reduction and Pre-Cycling
Did you know?
On average, tap water is 560 times less expensive than bottled water. When you use a reusable water bottle, you help reduce the production of bottled beverages and therefore, the landfill and recycling burden of the bottles. In the United States in 2006, only 24.7 percent of plastic beverage bottles were recycled, according to the Container Recycling Institute, representing only 1.11 million tons recycled of the 4.47 million tons of bottles sold.
The average coffee drinker throws away 250 cups per year, resulting in the throw away of 58 billion cups per year. It takes 20 million trees and 12 billion gallons of water to produce the paper for these 58 billion cups cups.
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SCORE Program Sign Up
$CORE is a free service for students living off-campus who want to save energy, water, and MONEY! The main goal of our program is to help student renters save money on their energy bills while reducing their ecological footprint. We make it easy and even fun by providing them with the tools and information they need in a free energy assessment.
Each assessment, which takes around an hour and is scheduled at your convenience, will be performed by two trained CU student technicians. In this hour we install energy saving devices such as energy efficient CFL light bulbs, weather-stripping, sink aerators, window film, pipe insulation and water-smart showerheads - all making your home more comfortable, completely free of charge. While one technician is busy doing quick installs, the other will sit down and discuss targeted ways you and your roommate(s) can save money on your energy bills.
*Additionally, if over half of your roommates are present, you will receive a free Cosmo's Pizza on us!
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Sustainable CU: A Call for Proposals
CUSG Environmental Board funds on-campus projects incorporating renewable energy, energy efficiency, recycling and waste reduction, and other innovative projects to reduce the University of Colorado Boulder campus¹ impact on climate and environment. Applications are accepted monthly for small scale projects requesting $2,500 or less. Large grant proposals are due October 30th, 2016 and February 23, 2017.
More info
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Volunteer with Ralphie's Green Stampede
Join Ralphie's Green Stampede at home football games and help us keep Folsom a zero-waste stadium. Volunteers get free entrance to the game, a meal and a T-Shirt for staffing zero-waste stations throughout the stadium to educate football fans about the importance and impact of composting and recycling. Volunteers are on the front line to divert waste from the landfill, helping us get to our goal of 90 percent diversion. Come as an individual, with friends or as an organization and check out what the zero-waste excitement is all about.
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Help Shape Campus Transportation Options
This brief survey about your daily commute is used to help make future decisions on transportation projects on campus and throughout the rest of the community. For your time, you'll be entered to win one of 15 gift cards for local restaurants.
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Fall Semester Event Preview
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Eco-Engage Series
When:
Saturday's from 10 am - 4pm / 5pm
September 24:
Waste, Compost and Soil
Fertility
October 8: Renewable Energy
October 22: Eco-Building Design
November 5: Eco-conscious Consumption
The Eco-Engage Events program is a new program of the Environmental Center aimed at first and second year students (although all CU students are welcome). Each day-long, free event focuses on a sustainability topic or theme and introduces students to sustainability innovations and leaders both on campus and in communities along the Front Range with attention to career paths, internships and volunteer opportunities. Themes for Fall semester's field-trip like events are Local and Sustainable Food, Waste Farming and Compost, Renewable and Sustainable Energy, Sustainable Building Design and Eco-Conscious Consumption. Transportation is provided. More information and registration is available at
www.CUEco-Engage.com
. Registration is required.
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iLaunch series
This is a positive impact collective using entrepreneurship as a tool for sustainability. Join us for workshops, networking events with campus and community entrepreneurs, and meet mentors, many of which are CU Boulder alumni! Plug in and find resources to help your ideas take flight!
Most events take place Wednesdays 6pm-7pm at Idea Forge in Fleming. See full details on our website http://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/ilaunch and and facebook page @CUiLaunch
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Weekly Campus Green Tours
When: Every Thursday at 4pm
Where: UMC 353 (the Environmental Center) to start.
Did you know that CU-Boulder is one of the nation's leading green schools? Find out how on a tour of main campus with the CU Environmental Center. We will explore a sampling of LEED green buildings, chemical-free landscapes, pollinator sanctuaries, zero waste and recycling programs, bike stations, renewable energy, sustainable food, and more initiatives that are helping CU-Boulder to achieve its sustainability goals.
*Wear comfortable walking shoes, weather appropriate clothing and bring a water bottle!
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Pedal-Powered Movie Nights
When:
September 17: "Up" @Family Housing, Newton Court
September 23: "Old School" @Folsom Bike Station
Like going to a drive-in, only better! Party starts at dusk, movie starts at dark. Free food and beverages, Loads of prizes. More info:
www.cubikestation.com
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Bike Clinics
Where: Folsom Bike Station
When:
Each clinic will be two parts. The first part, the "focused Clinic", will be held from 5:30pm-6:30pm, then the second part, the "Basic Bike Clinic", will be held from 6:30pm-7:30pm.
Focused Clinic Schedule:
September 20: Brake Systems
October 4: Derailleur Systems
October 18: Drive Train
November 1: Hubs
November 15: Replacing Broken Spokes and Wheel Truing
November 29: Open Workshop Bike Clinic
All Bike Maintenance Clinics are FREE to all students and affiliates of the University. Pre-registration is required. Anyone hoping to register can do so at
cubikestation.com or at either of the stations.
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Weekly Sustainability Meet-Up
When: Wednesdays, 4:00pm
September 21: Campus Sustainability Overview
September 28: Campus Green Tour
October 5: Environmental Justice
October 12: Zero Waste
Where: Hellems 267
These public meetups will cover a campus sustainability topic with a guest presenter and time for discussion and networking.
Other tours and topics in process of being scheduled: energy, food, green buildings, climate, healthy buildings and grounds.
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Movie Premier: Before the Flood
When:
September 28 at 6 pm
Where:
Humanities 150
Energy Outreach Team presents a very special PRE-PREMIER screening of Fisher Steven's (director of the Cove) and
Leonardo DiCaprio
's in collaboration with
National Geographic
, new documentary Before the Flood. Free and open to the public. The screening will be followed by a brief panel discussion. Light refreshments will be provided.
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Dakota Pipeline: Indigenous History and Resistance with the Assembly for Sustainability & Equity
When: September 29 at 6pm
Indigenous Panel discussion: details forthcoming.
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StoryEarth
When: Wednesday, November 9, 7pm
Where: University of Colorado, Sustainability, Energy and Environment Complex Auditorium
4001 Discovery Drive, Boulder, CO
A live performance bringing Story and Science of Earth Alive!
Featuring internationally known
storyteller, Odds Bodkin, and Naturalist/Earth
Scientist, Martin Ogle.
CU Environmental Center's sponsorship allows CU Students to purchase half-price tickets. For more information and to purchase tickets,
visit
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Campus Sustainability Summit
When: November 10, 9am-1pm
Where: UMC 235
This meeting will provide an opportunity for goal updates and key action items as well as launch the process for CU's STARS filing in 2017-18. Sign up to attend at https://goo.gl/forms/zUPnXnteHQ52KTEt1
by November 4th.
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Save the Date:
Front Range Eco-Social Solutions: A Bioneers Network Event
When: February 3-4, 2017
Where: CU Boulder, Sustainability, Energy and Environment Complex (SEEC)
Bioneers is the preeminent international gathering of leading innovators and visionaries who offer practical solutions to the most pressing environmental and social issues of our time. In its 26th year, Bioneers continues to uniquely and authentically articulate the relationships between environment, health, social justice and spirit. In its 14th year, Front Range Eco-Social Solutions Conference is a Bioneers Resilient Communities Network Event which offers a weekend of sharing, learning and action and is a uniquely affordable community event that brings together the progressive thinkers of this colorful region.
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