Keep Your Dorm Sustainable Over Break!

Are you leaving your dorm room? Whether it’s a weekend mini-vacation or a tropical week-long getaway remember to do a few things to save energy and keep your room sustainable while you’re away!

• ¨   Close and lock your windows. Don’t make your thermostat work in overdrive while you’re gone, even if you think the weather might be nice while you’re away.
• ¨   Remove the trash from your room and recycle what you can! Don’t have your room smell of whatever you ate last Thursday (those smells can attract vermin)!
• ¨   Unplug everything you can! Remember to unplug your alarm clock (those loud beeping noises might distress your neighbor), your printer, your power strip bars, your desk lights, your coffee maker­­­­­­­­—anything that you won’t be using while you’re away can be unplugged. Remember that even when you aren’t using something, it still uses power.
• ¨   Remember to think about your plants and your pets! Make sure they have enough food and water before you leave.
• ¨   Make sure you look at your building’s thermostat settings before you leave. Most buildings require you to leave the thermostat at a medium heat so pipes don’t freeze.
• ¨   Report any problems, such as leaky faucets, to maintenance so they can be taken care of over break . 

Why You Should Attend the 2013 Symposium on Sustainability and Sustainapalooza- Guest Post!

Events you can’t miss!!!  - Sustainapalooza and the Symposium on Sustainability.  Mark your calendars, register, and attend whatever you can.  You won’t be sorry!!!

My freshman year at Iowa State I attended the Symposium on Sustainability and learned all about sustainability efforts on and off campus, and also learned about the missions and outreach of different green oriented ISU student organizations. One of the reasons I attended the event was to obtain extra credit for a class on globalization and sustainability, and after taking this class and learning about the new ISU minor program in sustainability, I looked for different ways to become involved. I joined the Green Umbrella at the beginning of my sophomore year and had the opportunity to help plan and volunteer at Sustainapalooza in 2012.

Sustainapalooza is in its second year as an annual spring event hosted by the Iowa State University Live Green initiative and The Green Umbrella student organization. The highlights from last year’s event included opening remarks by President Steven Leath, Empowerment Centers, and a Live Green! carpet (made by The Green Umbrella from reused Astroturf discarded from renovations of the indoor football practice facility). The event was fantastic with over 300 students attending.  Walking down the green carpet at Sustainapalooza was something I will remember for a long time… not just the walk itself, but all that it symbolized… students committed to a sustainable future and making a difference and knowing I had helped make such a successful and memorable campus event happen.

This year’s events are sure to prove no different; the Symposium on Sustainability has combined with Sustainapalooza to offer several key events throughout two days, February 25^th and February 26^th.

Sustainapalooza (February 25^th) features the opportunity to walk down the green carpet for the second year in a row, as well as student research poster presentations, and “Green it Yourself” centers (to learn about Urban Gardening, Green Cleaning, Slow Fashion, and Food Labels).  All this is followed by an evening lecture from award-winning journalist, Charles Fishman - The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water.

The Symposium on Sustainability (February 26^th) features a keynote panel presentation from sustainability leaders from Iowa-based corporations including Becker Underwood/BASF, Kum and Go, Hy-Vee, and WebFilings. The symposium also includes additional presentations from university leaders on sustainable energy initiatives on campus, sustainability in curriculum as well as the presentation of the Live Green Awards for Excellence in Sustainability.

I would encourage everyone to attend this event… learn from students, faculty, business leaders and the community about specific projects, events, and initiatives that are taking place to make Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, and the world a better and more sustainable place to live and take your walk down the green carpet.

Check out the Live Green! website for more information about both Sustainapalooza and the Symposium on Sustainability www.livegreen.iastate.edu.

See you next week!!

Dylan Gaudineer

Junior, Technical Communication, Minor Sustainability

American Packaging Corporation Intern

Green Your Valentine's Day!

Valentine’s Day is a holiday that elicits dread in some, happiness in others, anger in a few, and panic in many.  With all of this worrying about what you’ll do on the most lovey-dovey holiday of the year, it can be easy to forget about keeping your celebration sustainable!

Send a Paperless Card!

Don’t waste paper by sending a paper Valentine that will get lost in the shuffle, send an e-card! You can brighten your loved one’s day by dropping them an unexpected note online. There are also some e-cards, like the ones from the National Resources Defense Council that donate money to charities as well!  Or pick a unique card that will keep on giving by selecting a card that can be planted!

Think Before You Buy Your Flowers

While it is tempting to go the traditional Valentine’s Day route of buying flowers, think sustainably! Make sure you look at where you are purchasing your flowers if you do buy them. If you receive a glorious bouquet, don’t toss it in the garbage! Try drying your flowers as a memento that will last much longer!

Escape the Crowds

Valentine’s Day is a busy day for dates at restaurants. Escape the crowd by making dinner at your own home. Put a little local love in your meal by incorporating local and seasonal produce! Use this link to find local restaurants and where to buy local foods!

Make Sure Your Sweet Tooth Keeps Sweet

Keep your feelings of love flowing by thinking about where the chocolate comes from that you want to buy. Many large companies focus on cocoa sustainability in the products they sell, so look to buy locally and see if any Ames’ stores have products that support cocoa sustainability!

Think Green and Save Some Green!

Remember to be economically sustainable when making your Valentine’s Day plans. Be financially responsible and don’t stretch your budget on gifts that will be forgotten in a month. Plan an experience around campus or participate in any of Iowa State’s activities to spend time together without spending a lot of money.

Consider giving a gift that keeps on giving! You and your significant other could volunteer together. Whether it’s at a food pantry or animal shelter, demonstrate social sustainability and share the love!

Remember there are many ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day by being socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable! A sustainable Valentine’s Day is sure to be one that is long lasting in memories!

For more Valentine’s Day ideas, be sure to check out our latest newsletter!

Green Your Textbooks (and Your Wallet)

There are always so many noises you hear around campus at the beginning of the year. The buzz of people coming back to campus and the groan of students when they hear about how much their new books are going to cost. Each semester seems like it will begin with the same terrifyingly long receipt for new books. But there are a lot of options that are sustainable for you and for your wallet!

 

Books Age Well

Don’t buy the latest edition. Ask your professor if you can get by with buying an older copy of the book. These are often a lot cheaper than the latest editions.  

 

Buy a Well-Loved Book!

Buy a book that has been pre-owned. These might have a few marks and a little bit of wear and tear, but are still perfectly usable and much cheaper! You can find these at the campus bookstore and online!

 

Swap with a Friend

Do you know a friend who took a class you are taking this semester? Was a course recommendation you gave so glowing a pal just had to take a course you were in? Swap books! This is a great way to reuse books. You won’t have to deal with the worries about shipping like if you decided to resell the book online and you can get something back you will actually use!

 

Try the Library

The library has many of the textbooks you need for class. Look on the library’s website to see if your textbook is there. The reservations are limited, so think ahead of time and don’t cram right before the exam in case the book is checked out. If your textbook is in the library and you plan, you might not even have to buy your book!

 

Look at an Electronic Book

Electronic books are often cheaper and use less resources than traditional books. Many textbooks are now offered as e-books through the bookstore. You can see if the textbooks you need are offered as an e-book on their website.

 

Ask your Professor

Use your professor as a resource. Some professors are willing to loan out their copies of the course textbooks. Other professors might inform you that you might not really need the textbook. Some professor will tell you that you can’t get by without the textbook, but you’ll never know until you ask!

Local Produce Available This Month!

Do you want to buy local, seasonal products?
Even though it is winter, you still have some options!
Here is a list of some local produce that are currently for sale at Wheatsfield Co-op.

Local Produce in January:

Living basil and fresh herbs
Cabbage
Chard
Garlic
Ginger
Living Lettuce
Bell Peppers
Potatoes
Pumpkins
Radishes
Squashes
Turnips

These products come from Mariposa Farms in Grinnell, Iowa, Hassevoort Farms in Leon, Iowa, and The Berry Patch in Nevada, Iowa.

Green Your Resolutions

Make your green resolutions!

It's a new year and everyone is making their resolutions! You might have already made a list of personal resolutions, but have you made a list of sustainable resolutions? Try to better yourself and your community by making a few green goals this year!

It can be hard to stick to any resolution, so manage your green goals by taking them month by month. Stumped as to where to start? Check out this calendar for a monthly guide!

January- Green your New Year!
Commit to reducing your consumption. Work to not to shop for things you don't need. When you do go to buy something, make a list before you shop so you don't buy things that you don't need. This will help you be both economically and environmentally sustainable!

February- Embrace Fair Trade
February is a month of love so extend your warm, fuzzy, sustainable feelings toward your Valentine! Many big companies now focus on cocoa sustainability with the products they sell. Research Ames grocery stores to see if you can find products that promote cocoa sustainability!

March- Green your Diet
March is National Nutrition Month!  Improve your diet by incorporating local produce into your meals. Check out Wheatsfield here in Ames for fresh and local produce.

April- Make Earth Day Last All Month Long!
Focus on your community during April. Celebrate your community through improvement projects like clean-ups and fundraisers. Don't know where to start? VEISHEA's Day of Service is on April 6th. This day will have a ton of community service projects both on and off campus and is a fun way to help out the Iowa State and Ames communities!

May- Green your Spring Cleaning
May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month! Freshen your dwelling by cleaning up with supplies that don't contain toxins. Make your own cleaning products with everyday items to spend less money and to decrease the amount of chemicals in your home. Clean with items such as baking soda, white distilled vinegar, tea tree oil, and corn starch. Learn how at greenamerican.org/go/greencleaners.

June- Green Your Green
Support your community and consider moving your accounts to a community investing bank or credit union. Make sure that your investments align with your values and are socially and environmentally responsible.

July- Try Composting
Summer is a great time to start composting. Recycle your organic materials by composting them instead of tossing them. Think you can't compost because you live in an apartment? Try composting with a red-worm bin!

August-  Celebrate Nature!
While you're enjoying your time outside before classes start consider helping preserve the trees that help keep summer shady and lovely. Work on reducing your paper waste before classes start or if you need paper, purchase products with a high post-consumer recycled content.

September- Green your School Supplies
When you shop for class materials, consider the environment. Buy green school supplies. There are many sustainable products available including folders, notebooks, refillable pens, and nontoxic supplies. Do you have school supplies leftover from last semester? Don't toss them out! Reuse them to save some money and resources!

October- Energize Your Sustainable Habits
October is Energy Awareness Month! Make your home more energy efficient by using LED lights. When buying new products, purchase those with the highest-rated energy start energy- efficient models. You can also reduce your energy consumption by unplugging your appliances when they aren't in use and by not leaving charging devices  plugged in when they no longer need to be charged.

November- Recycle!
November has America Recycles Day! Celebrate by holding a clothing or book swap with your friends so you can clear out the items you are no longer using, give them a good home, and replace them with items you want! Reduce your waste by using products that have more than a single use. Replace these items with reusable items like reusable bags, water bottles and takeout containers.

December - Have a Green Holiday!
Save resources during your celebrations by making handmade items. Make sure to wrap your gifts in items that can either be reused or with items that are recycled. If you do buy gifts, consider buying products locally to support your community. There are tons of locally owned shops in Ames where you can find gifts for anyone on your list.

Set a few of these goals throughout each month to help green your life! Post reminders for yourself to ensure sticking to these habits so you can make a difference!