 At Luther, we hold ourselves to a high standard when it comes to sustainability- in fact, we consider it part of our mission. We recognize that sustainability goes hand in hand with a just, equitable, and prosperous society. We work hard not only to green our campus practices but also to teach students through academic courses and campus life that creating a sustainable society is a responsibility that falls to each of us. As we dive in to the new academic year, we will continue to tackle issues ranging from renewable energy to sustainable food systems to land management, and many more! The Center for Sustainable Communities invites you to engage in these issues with us as we continue to make Luther a more sustainable place and serve as a leader in campus sustainability nationwide.
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Spring and Summer Updates
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 Carbon reduction goals. Luther College has reached a major milestone in our efforts to become carbon neutral by 2030. As of May 2016, the school has attained a 50% reduction in carbon production since the peak year in 2003 through energy efficiency updates, increased renewable energy projects, and waste reduction strategies. The Center for Sustainable Communities' next goal is to reduce carbon emissions by 70% by 2020. Read more about our goals in the Climate Act Plan.
 Electric Vehicle Charging Station. In May, Luther College installed a Chargepoint Electric Vehicle Charging Station behind Olin for student, faculty and staff use. Drivers of electric vehicles can pay the nominal $0.50 hook-up fee to charge their vehicle. The user also has the option to receive a text when the vehicle is done charging.
 Immersion Trips. Before the majority of campus returned to school, nearly 70 first year students and 20 upperclassmen leaders embarked on First Year Immersion Experiences. Designed to give new students the opportunity to engage in experiential learning, explore the natural environment, and ease their transition to college, small groups paddled the Boundary Waters, canoed the Upper Iowa River, climbed and backpacked throughout the Driftless Region and kayaked the Yellow River. Read student testimonials and check out pictures from the trips on the Immersion Program webpage. |
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Sustainability Scavenger Hunt providing students with Klean Kanteen water bottles
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All
 Luther students are invited to participate in the Sustainability Scavenger Hunt to get acquainted with the sustainable features of campus. Students begin by picking up clues from the Sustainability Suite in Valders 372C, and document their answers with selfies. Once complete, students can return their scavenger hunt to the office and claim their Klean Kanteen water bottle.The scavenger hunt will be open until September 31st. Visit the
Sustainability Scavenger Hunt webpage to download the list of clues and to read more!
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| Edible Gardens open to students and faculty for fall harvesting |
 The majority of students may have left for the summer break, but our gardeners stayed on campus to make sure that the Edible Landscapes stayed in top condition! In front of Valders Hall of Science and behind Ylvisaker Hall, the edible landscapes are full of tomatoes, cucumbers, kale, chard, herbs, mixed greens and more! Anybody is welcome to take what they would like- just be sure to close the gate to keep out the critters! Read more about the history and evolution of the Edible Gardens on the Campus and Community Gardens webpage.
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The return to school can always bring big and small stress. While it is still warm out, take care of yourself by spending quality time in green spaces every day. Researchers from the University of Edinborough found
people tend to respond better to disruptive events, either by not getting as stressed in the first place or by coping better, when exposed to green spaces on a regular basis. Take advantage of Luther's trail system to explore the local environment and keep yourself mentally healthy this fall.
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The Center for Sustainable Communities is always looking for ways to improve our publications and incorporate more information for our stakeholders. If you have any questions, concerns, general comments, or story ideas for future newsletters, please email sustainability@luther.edu at any time. Thank you!
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This newsletter is provided by the Center for Sustainable Communities, which coordinates all sustainability initiatives at Luther College. 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 sustainability initiatives at Luther and the outreach work of the Center for Sustainable Communities, please visit:
www.luther.edu/sustainability.
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Saturday, Sunday, September 17th, 18th
Taste of Northeast Iowa Local Food and Farm Crawl
Twelve independent food and farm businesses, all within an easy drive of each other in beautiful northeast Iowa, are jointly hosting free open houses where local foods can be sampled.
Learn more
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Wednesday, September 21st
Shopping Shuttle
7:30pm Student Organizational Suite
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Friday, September 23rd
Alley Cat Bike Ride
8:00-9:30pm Luther College Bell
Luther's nighttime bicycle scavenger hunt is back again! Join SPOKES, Luther's biking club, for an evening of biking and prizes! Learn more
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Saturday, September 24th
Upper Iowa River Clean Up
8:00am-6:00pm
This annual event is a fun and rewarding opportunity to give back to the river that supports life and provides entertainment
for all ages in the Northeast Iowa region.
Learn more
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| Dr. John Moeller
Interim Director of Center for Sustainable Communities
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The Center for Sustainable Communities is pleased to welcome Dr. John Moeller as its Interim Director for the fall semester. Dr. Moeller has been a professor of Political Science at Luther since 1981, teaching courses in law, political theory, and environmental politics. In addition, Dr. Moeller has served as the Political Science Department head, Environmental Studies department chair, and director of the
Center for Ethics and Public Engagement. This semester, he will be teaching Environmental Philosophy and facilitating staff with ongoing projects and initiatives. Read more about Dr. Moeller.
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Executive Director- Iowa Conservation Education Coalition
ICEC is seeking an individual with passion for conservation and environmental education and the ability to build relationships through networking with Iowa conservation and natural resources educators.
Read more
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