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Sustainability on Campus Sustainability on Campus

Sustainability is a word you have probably heard before, but you may not know exactly what it means. It is something that you will hear often at Cal Poly over the next few years, as it is becoming a way of life.

Sustainability: meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

So…Think Green when coming to Cal Poly this September!

WOW's Latest Green Tips:

SOAR has come and gone, and it's time to get ready for fall at Cal Poly. Did you read over that "Think Green" flyer handed out in your transitions panel? As you may have seen on the SOAR site, sustainability is a word you have probably heard before, but may not know exactly what it means. It is something that you will hear often at Cal Poly over the next few years, as it is becoming a way of life.

Sustainability is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Before you come to Cal Poly, buy smarter!
 

Don't forget to bring your bike! Save $450 by not buying a resident parking pass and get that bike you've been eying. It's a great way to get around school! You can also join in the San Luis Obispo Bike Coalition's Bike Night festivities on the first Thursday of every month!


Back-to-school supplies

Laptop - If you're in the market for a new computer, first look to buy refurbished or used. Also look for energy-efficient models and eco-friendly companies. Toshiba has five sustainable models and received a Gold rating on EPEAT's sustainability index
(check out this laptop!). HP, Apple,
and Dell have also received recognition.

Check out this fun laptop. Made by Asus, it is constructed out of completely recycled plastic as well as a bamboo casing!


Backpack - Check out the newest backpack technology! Not only can you listen to music in a backpack these days, but you can charge all of your electronics with this Solar Powered Backpack! See it here!



Pens & Pencils — Avoid pencils and pens used from virgin materials. Buy mechanical pencils or buy pencils made from sustainably harvested wood.

White-out - Use white-out tape instead of liquid.



Paper - Look for 100% post consumer waste (PCW) or recycled paper. The higher the percentage, the better.






Binders & Notebooks - There are now notebooks made from banana tree leaves, as well as bamboo, recycled plastic, and even elephant waste!



Residence Hall furnishings


Sheets & Towels - Be sure to look for 100% organic cotton, hemp, or bamboo sheets and towels. Although it may seem weird at first, bamboo bedding and towels are some of the softest on the market today! Search for a retailer near you, or see what Amazon offers here!



Laundry Detergent - Buying a biodegradable, all natural soap will keep harmful chemicals out of the drains and will be non-toxic to aquatic species.


Mini-fridge - Energy Star will not only save energy, but it could help your residence hall win the dorm energy competition!
Reusable Water Bottle - Don't forget to buy your reusable water bottle, and maybe even a Brita water filter to stick in the fridge. See www.Nalgene.com, www.KleanKanteen.com, or any local sports store.
 

No matter where you buy your back to school supplies this year, be sure to buy sustainable! See www.Staples.com for their product line with the Eco Easy seal of sustainability; at www.OfficeDepot.com, type in "green" and click Your Greener Office Featured Store.


Before you register for fall classes, check out www.suscat.calpoly.edu for a list of classes that have an emphasis in sustainability.

Once you're here, check out www.empower.calpoly.edu for a list of green clubs on campus!

For more information, see the following websites:

Fun GREEN Facts!

  • The energy we use in our homes causes more greenhouse gas emissions than driving our cars.
  • If every household in the U.S. replaced one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), it would prevent enough pollution equal to removing one million cars from the road. ENERGY STAR CFLs use 66% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and last 10 times longer!
  • Besides saving trees, making paper from recycled paper uses 30 to 50% less energy than making paper from trees, and reduces air pollution involved in the paper making process by 95%.
  • It takes 25% less energy to make glass from recycled materials than from virgin sand and limestone. Recycle those bottles!
  • Composting is nature's way of recycling. When you compost, you convert vegetable scraps, leaves, grass clippings and other materials into a useful soil builder. You can use finished compost in your garden and around shrubs or other plants. Composting also reduces the amount of materials that enter the waste stream. Prefabricated compost bins are available in most home & garden, department and hardware stores or you can build your own. Learn more about how Cal Poly composts.
  • To make one ton of paper, it takes 1,600 lbs. of wood pulp, 400 lbs. of inorganic fillers (like clay), 25 lbs. of dyes, 30 lbs. of miscellaneous organic chemicals, 80 lbs. of starch coating, and 8,000 gallons of water.


10 things you can do to be more sustainable (from NU, Illinois):

1) Multiple Uses:
Reuse as many things in your home as you can. Plastic bottles can be used as funnels. Empty coffee containers can be used for storage. Fabric softener sheets can even be used as dusters. Be creative!

2) Change a light:
Replacing one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

3) Drive less:
Walk, bike, carpool or take mass transit. You'll save one pound of carbon dioxide for every mile you don't drive!

4) Recycle more:
You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide per year by recycling just half of your household waste.

5) Check your tires:
Keeping your tires inflated properly can improve your gas mileage by more than 3%. Every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

6) Use less hot water:
It takes a lot of energy to heat water. Use less hot water by taking shorter, cooler showers and washing your clothes in cold or warm water (more than 500 lbs. of CO2 will be saved per year).

7) Avoid products with a lot of packaging:
You can save 1,200 lbs. of carbon dioxide if you reduce your garbage by 10%.

8) Adjust your thermostat:
Moving your thermostat down 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in summer could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

9) Plant a tree:
A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.

10) Turn off electronic devices:
Simply turning off your television, DVD player, stereo and computer when you're not using them will save thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide a year.