The Orion Online

Issue date: 5/21/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Jordan Pollard Ryan Sobkowiak sorts through plastic, aluminum, and glass at the A.S. Recycling Donation Center. Associated Students is working to become more sustainable by evaluating the Bell Memorial Union for ways to save energy and water. [Click to enlarge]

Students are in no hurry to put the red light to the campus efforts to go green, as many organizations are kicking off the summer with new ways to increase sustainability.

Students dump old items

The ninth annual Diversion Excursion is a move-out program Thursday and Friday that allows students to donate their reusable and recyclable goods, said Robyn DiFalco, A.S. Recycling coordinator. Last year they collected about 17,000 pounds of items.

Freshman Noah Snyder thinks Diversion Excursion is a good way to get rid of items he won't use again, he said.

"Anything I can't sell on Craigslist or use again, I'll get rid of," Snyder said.

Freshman Erin Miller is planning to donate her sheets, comforter and lamps.

"I don't have room for it all," Miller said.

Students and volunteers will have to walk around construction near Whitney Hall, causing some inconveniences, DiFalco said.

About 160 volunteers help out with the program, she said. This includes students, resident hall advisers, faculty, staff and community members.

Even though the event is meant to help charities, some students still plan on packing their room into one car, freshman Julia Doty said.

"I'm keeping everything," she said. "It all came from my room at home, so I will use it all again."

Bikes will be donated to Adventure Outings, lumber will go to Habitat for Humanity, clothes, shoes, nonperishable food and household items will go to the Esplanade House and all electronics will go to Computers for Classrooms, DiFalco said.

The University Housing and Food Service Grounds Department and A.S. Recycling are coordinating the event, she said.

PG&E grants power

Associated Students is attempting to become more sustainable by evaluating the Bell Memorial Union for ways to save energy, said James Newman, A.S. vice president of facilities and services.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company provided A.S. with a $35,000 grant. The grant will help A.S. make the BMU more sustainable by evaluating lighting, the sprinkler system and the air conditioner. A.S. will only have to pay back PG&E if it saves at least 25 percent on the BMU's yearly energy bill, Newman said.

A.S. plans to make the under-construction Wildcat Recreation Center sustainable by adding heating panels for the pool, which will save A.S. $700 a day, Newman said. There will also be waterless urinals, furniture made from recycled wood and fountains to easily refill water bottles.

Green spreads efficiency

The Green Campus program is collaborating with A.S. Sustainability, A.S. Recycling, Net Impact and the Institute for Sustainable Development for the Sustainable Consultation Project, said senior Amelia Gulling, director of Green Campus.

Representatives of the project evaluate offices and housing on campus to see how much energy is wasted and give recommendations about how to become more sustainable, Gulling said.

Green Campus focuses only on energy, efficiency and conservation.

In January, Green Campus placed The Energy Detectives in Lassen and Shasta halls to monitor energy use, Gulling said.

The halls have competitions to see which one can be the most sustainable, Snyder said. Shasta is winning and gave residents pizza as an award.

"If it's a weekend, Shasta is less efficient," Snyder said. "During the week they're more. Tells you what we're doing."

Renee Calder can be reached at
rcalder@theorion.com


Related links
Green Campus Web site
Diversion Excursion Web site
Our sustainable future
Drinking fountains get makeovers
Worms teach kids sustainability

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