Sustainability @ Mac
In the spring of 2007, President Rosenberg signed the Presidents Climate Commitment, a national initiative engaging institutions in developing concrete solutions to global warming. Student engagement in these solutions is essential to ensure this commitment is honored. Today the College is developing its Climate Action Plan to achieve Carbon Neutrality.
As you gather your belongings for life at Macalester, please demonstrate your individual commitment to an efficient and sustainable campus community by considering these tips:
- Carefully consider if you can live without a mini fridge. They can account for 50% of electricity use in dorm rooms! Most students find them unnecessary, thanks to the comprehensive meal plan at Cafe Mac.
- Subsidized bus passes are available to all students at the information desk in the campus center. Bus passes are sold at 50% off retail. This is a new program that started as part of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.
- Buy compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) instead of incandescent—they last about 10 times longer, use 1/3 of the energy, and give off the same quality of light.
- Bring reusable cups and silverware to avoid using disposables. Use Tupperware instead of Styrofoam for your restaurant leftovers.
- Use rechargeable batteries and a charger. An initial investment that saves money and reduces waste in the long run.
- Use a power-strip or surge protector to easily turn off your idle appliances. FYI: Even when the power is turned off, plugged-in appliances still use energy!
- Plan on ‘insulating, not regulating,’ or in other words, use sweaters and blankets to keep warm in your room instead of turning up the heat. It’s cozier!
- Bring a clothesline or drying rack to dry your clothes instead of using the clothes dryers. You’ll save money, energy and wear on your clothes.
- Buy biodegradable detergents such as Restore, Seventh Generation, Earth Friendly, or Method.
- The Twin Cities are very bike friendly! Bring a bike, a strong lock, and a helmet or get one once you get to Macalester. It is easy to buy or borrow a bike on or around campus.
- Do not bring unnecessary electrical equipment such as toothbrushes, pencil sharpeners, and hairdryers. Also, there is no need to bring your own television or printer because they are readily available around campus.
- The Environmental Studies Department sends used ink jet cartridges off for recycling.
- The Sustainability Office website has a list of research topics and ideas if you are unsure of what to write your first papers or projects about.
- On move-in day (and every day thereafter), remember that elevators use lots of energy, while stairs fight off the freshmen fifteen!
Interested in sustainability & climate issues?
Here are some of the projects and organizations at Mac that might interest YOU!
Bon Appetit - Macalester's food service provider started the "Low Carbon Diet" as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from food. Check out the greenhouse gas emissions associated with food choices here: http://www.eatlowcarbon.org/#
CERF - CERF stands for the Clean Energy Revolving Fund. It is an independent fund that is administered by “CERF board” members from all parts of the Macalester community and designed to promote projects that demonstrate both environmental leadership and economic benefit. The money saved by a CERF project goes back into fund, thus providing for future innovations and improvements. www.macalester.edu/cerf/
Eco-House - Eco house is a new theme housing option! Check out www.macalester.edu/ecohouse/ to learn more about this amazing and other ongoing eco-renovation projects in which students have served as researchers, grant writers and consultants.
Environmental Studies Department - Whether or not you’re thinking about majoring in ES, check out what the department has to offer. They sponsor events, bring in speakers for “Enviro Thursday” and act as a huge support and resource for student activism.
HOURCAR is at Macalester! - HOURCAR is the Twin Cities’ car sharing program. With two cars at Macalester (and dozens more throughout the Twin Cities), HOURCAR serves the Macalester community and is available to students as young as 18. Cars are available for as little as $6 per hour, and gas and insurance are included in the price. With a reserved parking spot on campus, it’s a lot cheaper and easier than bringing your own car.
If you sign up between now and the end of September with a college email address, put in the promo code MAC09 and save half off of the application fee (a $25 savings!). You can find out more, or apply now, at www.HOURCAR.org. Also, you can keep up to date with HOURCAR goings-on at the HOURCAR blog (http://hourcar.blogspot.com) and make sure to become our Facebook Fan (http://facebook.com/hourcar).
Mac Bike - Providing free repairs, bike loans and group rides around the Twin Cities is what Mac Bike does best! In this way, they promote the idea that “bikes are traffic” and encourage less reliance on fossil-fueled transportation.
MacCARES - Macalester Conservation and Renewable Energy Society is a group of students committed to working for a sustainable future both on campus and beyond. Projects have ranged from renewable energy rallies to a Minnesota Citizens Conference to green-roofing on campus. www.macalester.edu/maccares/
MPIRG - The Minnesota Public Interest Research Group is a statewide, student-run non-profit organization that works toward change in areas of social justice, environmental preservation, corporate accountability, and good government. Recent efforts have included organizing Campus Wars, an energy-saving competition between several Minnesota colleges. www.mpirg.org/macalester
MULCH - Macalester Urban Land and Community Health is a group dedicated to caring for the organic community garden, getting dirty and spreading the word about sustainable agriculture. www.macalester.edu/mulch
Sustainability Advisory Committee - The mission of the Sustainability Advisory Committee is to oversee the implementation of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment and the Talloires Declaration. The committee will also recommend policies and practices which best reflect College’s commitment to an environmentally sustainable world and will function as a conduit for information exchange about campus sustainability initiatives.
Sustainability Office – The Sustainability Office is always working on new initiatives from student projects to achieving carbon neutrality. Check them out for great resources or ideas.
Sustainability Student Workers – These student worker positions are focused specifically on sustainability and are scattered throughout 10 different departments on campus. Or, you can work with your current supervisor to change some of your duties to involve sustainability for your department.
Zero Waste – The Zero Waste Committee meets on a monthly basis to monitor and discuss waste, recycling and composting on campus and works to reduce waste production on campus to Zero! They also work on various projects such as Zero Waste events and Move-out at the end of the year.
For more information visit Sustainablility at Macalester