Live Green! Newsletters 2010-11 by ISU Live Green!

LIVE GREEN! October 2010

What’s Inside:

Sustainability-

• We Did It!

Wondering what the Live Green Initiative has accomplished? Check out page 2.

• Win

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Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

”

A Prize!

Plus, get inspired and be more energy efficient today with our challenge. pg. 2

-United Nations Brundtland Commission, 1987

• One Student Group

Everyone Should Know

Check out page 3 to read the Live Green! Spotlight and learn about a sustainable organization.

•

What’s Going On?

Check out the Live Green! Calender on page 4.

Did you know... October Is Energy Awareness Month! See inside for more information and tips on how to conserve energy!

Have a sustainable story, idea or comment? Contact us! livegreen@iastate.edu

elcome to the first Live Green! newsletter! The purpose of the newsletter is to keep the ISU community informed about Live Green! intitatives on campus and throughout the community, provide tips on how to live more sustainably and give a heads up on upcoming events. The newsletter also has a spotlight to highlight people who are already making an effort to Live Green! AND, look for our challenges each month to win a fabulous prize! Make sure to keep a look-out for the Live Green! newsletter each month in your inbox and on the Live Green! website.

What is Live Green?

Live Green! is Iowa State University’s campus-wide sustainability initiative personally declared by President Geoffroy in 2008. Live Green! encourages all faculty, staff, and students to be fully committed to and engaged in making our campus, its operations, and initiatives as “green” and sustainable as possible. Although having an initial focus on energy efficiency and conservation opportunities, the Live Green! Initiative encourages and supports all efforts that support a sustainable future at Iowa State University. The initiative strives to minimize our impact on global climate change and ensure a tradition among future generations of Iowa Staters.

Learn more about the Live Green! at www.livegreen.iastate.edu

Live Green!

Accomplishments

Remember 100 degree weather and

anything-you-could-imagine on a stick at the Iowa State Fair? Did you see the amazing Live Green! booth? If you missed it or just need a reminder - here are a select few of Live Green! accomplishment highlights of 2009-2010:

Energy Conservation Through energy saving measures like energy efficient lighting, temperature adjustments, occupancy sensors, computer power down, and energy onservation education, the university reduced its energy consumption by 8% last year, resulting in over $3 million in savings and reduced coal usage by 15,000 tons. Vending Misers, sensors that turn 168 campus soda machine lights on and off, are saving over $13,000 annually in electrical costs. A project to replace 26 current campus road lights with energy efficient LED’s will save energy equivalent to operating 51 refrigerators for one year.

Iowa State goes TRAYLESS! Through incorporation of trayless dining, food waste at Iowa State University has decreased by 50%, equivalent of 53,256 meals, nearly the amount needed to feed State Fair attendees for one day. Our Efforts Win Awards! Our departments of dining and residence, facilities planning and management, and the student GreenHouse Group received Iowa’s highest honor of environmental performance. The 2010 Governor’s Iowa Environmental Excellence Award and Water Quality Special Recognition Award are awarded for exemplary efforts in waste reduction, recycling, and supporting local business. For more info click here!

Be Part of the Solution! L

Take Our Live Green Challenge!

iving sustainably is everyone’s responsibility. In honor of Energy Awareness Month, take our challenge and see how you can reduce energy consumption. Give these three tips a try then email us your experiences. Look for challenges in future newsletters for a chance to win a prize just by participating!

1. De-Illuminate Ever walked into a room and thought it had too many lights? Or maybe you're thinking that right now as you read this from your office, dorm room, or home. Chances are you're right. Indoor lighting is one of the single largest consumers of energy (kilowatthours) in a commercial building, representing about a third of electricity use.

Take control! Turn off the lights you don't really need. If you have a lot of natural lighting, you may not need any lights on. Don't use what you don't need. Use a task light or lamp instead of overhead lights (and choose compact fluorescent bulbs that give the same amount of light, but save up to 75 percent in electricity use). This week, take a walk through your office space, classrooms and home to see how you're using lighting. The opportunities to de-illuminate could be illuminating.

2. Unplug the Unused Look around your office and home this week to see how many of your electronic items aren’t used 24 hours a day. Some items, like refrigerators, must be on all the time. But others, like computers, lamps, coffee makers and various chargers (camera, cell phone, etc.), only get a few hours of

use every now and again. How many of your "now and again" items are always plugged in? Small appliances can equal 40% of your electricy bill.

Unplug! items that aren’t in use. If this seems like a lot of crawling around furniture, try using a power strip. Plugging multiple electronics into a single power strip allows you to turn everything on the power strip off in one easy motion. This works really well for electronics that are used together, like home entertainment items, work station items andmeal items. Yes, this might mean your microwave clock isn’t always on. But I’ll bet you have plenty of other clocks.

3. Simplify and Save

Take a minute over the next week and do a little inventory of your office and home. Make a note of the number of duplicate electronic items you have. For example, how many refrigerators, coffee makers, clock radios, printers and copiers are there? Next, consult with your colleagues and/or housemates to see if you can reduce some of the duplications. This might mean you’ll have to leave your desk, room or work area every now and again. It might require a little more organization. But that’s not a bad thing, is it? Especially if you’re saving money. For a quick idea of how much you might save by pulling a few plugs, check these appliances and electronics charts.

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The Live Green! Team

LIVE GREEN!

Spotlight

Merry Rankin Director of Sustainability Welcome to the first EVER Live Green Monthly newsletter! Ashley, Pantelis, and I are excited to offer you new informational tools and involvement opportunities for the 20102011 academic year! You’ll read more about the specific projects Ashley and Pantelis are taking on in their Live Green! intern roles. Please contact them with your ideas, questions, and if you are interested in helping make ISU a GREAT place to Live Green! And you can definitely contact me as well!! Enjoy the October Edition of Live Green Monthly!! I hope you learn something you didn’t already know and that you challenge yourself to try something new. I look forward to your feedback and involvement to make this newsletter a valuable resource and an interesting read.

Ashley Loneman Marketing and Communications Intern 2010-2011 Senior; Journalism and Mass Communication Bio: I was born and raised right here in Iowa. I want to be a voice for advocacy, and this position combines my passion for writing and advocating for an important initiative. Through the newsletter, I can assist you or your organization by bringing awareness to your cause. You will also see me, with my camera in tow, covering various Live Green! events. Please check out our Facebook and Twitter pages to stay up to date on current issues and events. Contact me at aloneman@iastate.edu with any PR details, or with questions, concerns or comments about the Live Green! Initiative!

Pantelis Korovilas Campus and Community Engagement Intern 2010 -2011 Senior; Liberal Studies Bio: I am Greek, but raised in Clinton and Davenport, IA. I have been in and out of the national environmental movement since the summer 2008 and this position is a reflection of my efforts. I can assist your organization through publicity, access to resources, and event planning and assistance, among others; I am also available to attend group meetings. My success this year will be dependent upon open doors of communication with you! So, email me your thoughts, events, and ideas at pantelis@iastate. edu and don’t forget to enter your events onto the Live Green! website’s “Green Events Calendar.”

The Green Umbrella

President: Chandra Peterson

AL: What is the Green Umbrella group all about? CP: The Green Umbrella is an umbrella organization to all of the sustainability devoted student organizations on campus. The mission of The Green Umbrella is to bring together different student sustainability organizations to make Iowa State students more aware of sustainable efforts around them.

AL: What kinds of events has the group been a part of? CP: We held two events in the past and plan on continuing each one of these every year. The fall event is National Campus Sustainability Day. The spring event is Earth Day/Earth Week. For Sustainability day, we do a mini clubfest for sustainability groups or ISU departments focused on sustainability. We also invite businesses who focus on sustainability. There are a lot of events during Earth Week by different groups, so we act as a PR agent for any group celebrating Earth Week.

To get involved thegreenumbrella@iastate.edu chandrap@iastate.edu

There are many committees, programs, and student organizations to get involved in! Visit http://www.livegreen.iastate.edu/involved/

LIVE GREEN! Calender Homecoming ReCYcling Challenge!

October Opportunities There are many ways to get involved around campus. Attend lectures and take action to live more sustainably today!

Now- Act: Towards Sustainable Nov. Cities: Exhibition 4 27

Act: Spoon Jewelry with

Act: Homecoming ReCYcling

Jonathan Eimer Challenge (Click for more opportunities.)

Help promote social sustainability - VOTE November 2! Click here for voter information. One item you may not be aware of up for vote: Iowa’s Water and Land Legacy Act Do you know you can add your sustainability event to the Live Green Calendar? It’s a simple and useful tool for getting your information out. 1. Go to the Live Green! Webpage 2. Click “Green Events Calendar” on the navigation to the left. 3. Click Submit your events on the dropdown menu 4. Add information about your events.

Looking for a fun and sustainable way to get involved in this weekend’s home football game? Recycle and help ISU win big on and off the field. The Game Day Challenge is a friendly competition for colleges and universities to promote waste reduction at their football games. This Challenge is an initiative of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Waste-

Wise program. During the month of October, colleges and universities will implement waste reduction programs during a home football game. Schools will track and report recycling and waste data that will then be used to rank the schools. EPA will announce the winning schools in November! So look for the recycling bins in and around the stadium. Interested in volunteering? Contact Merry Rankin.

National Campus Sustainability Day On October 20, 2010 campuses around the nation took part in National Campus Sustainability Day. In celebration, Iowa State featured sustainability-minded campus organizations outside Parks Library from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants enjoyed exploring the electic car and solar car and talking to a variety of student organizations including: Sustainable Agriculture Student Association, Slow Food ISU, Sierra Student Coalition, Green House Group, Entech, ISU Dining, LAS Green Team and Engineers for a Sustainable World. Everyone who talked to five or more groups had the opportunity to receive a limited edition “Stay Dry, Live Green!” umbrella courtesy of the

Live Green Scavenger Hunt! The Live Green! initiative wants to get more involved with YOU! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to be involved with our scavenger hunts. Guess our place of the month to win a prize!

Green Umbrella group. Participants could also register their bikes and free bike tune-ups were provided thanks to the Outdoor Rec Program. The celebration was topped off with cookies from ISU Dining. Thanks to everyone who made this year’s Campus Sustainability Day a success. Check out pictures from the day on our Facebook page and see if you’re in it!

3 Things You Didn’t Know Until You Read This Issue: • October is Energy Awareness Month. • Food waste at Iowa State University has decreased by 50%. • Small appliances can equal 40% of your electricity bill.

LIVE GREEN! November 2010

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Issue 1 - Volume 2

What’s Inside: • Great Gift Ideas..and so much more on page 2.

Party Time! Find tips on how to • ‘green’ your holiday party on page 3. • We Need You! A committee on campus wants your help! See page 4.

•

What’s Going On? Check out the Live Green! Calender on page 5. Know Your R’s

How Green is Our Campus? Third Annual Sustainability Symposium Feb. 21-22 2011 Save the Date!

Did you know... Nov. 15 is America Recycles Day!

Have a sustainable story, idea or comment? Contact us! livegreen@iastate.edu

From a young age, most of us were taught the 3 R’s - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. But, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, between 1960 and 2008 the amount of waste each person creates has almost doubled from 2.7 to 4.5 pounds per day. So let’s add a fourth R to that list - Rethink. Are you conscious of the things you throw in the trash? •

Approximately 1 billion trees worth of paper are thrown away every year in the U.S.

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Every month, we throw out enough glass bottles and jars to fill a skyscraper. All of these jars are recyclable!

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Americans also use 2.5 million plastic- non-biodegradable- bottles every hour and most are thrown away.

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Every year, each American throws out about 1,200 pounds of organic garbage that can be composted.

Think you can’t make a difference? Think again. If every American recycled just onetenth of their newspapers, we would save about 25 million trees a year. Better yet, RETHINK your overall consumption. Rethinking small things - such as recycling your newspaper or junk mail, using a reusable water bottle or coffee mug, or composting your uneaten food - can make a large impact and keep the earth preserved for future generations. Take action today. Make a personal goal to be conscious of the food and materials you use and throw away this holiday season and year round. Find more tips inside on how to ‘go green!’ this holiday season. Learn more about the 4 R’s, waste reduction and the EPA here.

Learn more about the Live Green! at www.livegreen.iastate.edu

Holiday Green-ings !

‘Tis the season to be green! The holiday season is quickly approaching,

and for most this means shopping, driving hurriedly all over town and travelling to see loved ones. This year, make a personal challenge to be generous to your friends and the environment. Send us you ‘green holiday’ stories and you could be featured in our next newsletter!

Gifts

Trying to find the perfect gift? Try these ideas. Not only do they provide a personal touch, but they are guaranteed not to end up in the back of someone’s closet. • Give the gift of experience. Try theater or concert tickets, spa treatments, cooking lessons, or even sky diving or stock car racing lessons! These memories will be treasured forever and not pile up in the landfill. • Look for organic and Fair Trade items, such as coffee or chocolate. When you choose organic, you help reduce the negative costs to the environment from artificial fertilizers and pesticides, as well as the potential health effects to your loved ones. • Give the gift of giving back. Consider donating to a non-profit in someone’s name. With websites such as World Vision, you can donate items such as soccer balls or even a goat to those in need. • Give friends a $20 subscription to Tonic mail stopper to nearly eliminate junk mail. Plus, they plant five trees for every member. Or try 41lbs.org. Less junk mail! Who wouldn’t love that? • Give gifts that encourage sustainable living such as a vegetarian cookbook, reusable water bottle or plant seeds. • Are you handy around the house? Give a gift to make a friend’s home more eco-friendly. Install low-flow shower heads, install power strips, help winterize, build a compost bin or recycling area, or swap incandescent light bulbs with CFLs. • If you are giving any electronic gift, remember to include reusable batteries. • Looking for a sustainable gift for a child? Stimulate their curiosity about the natural world by giving aquarium, Science Center or zoo memberships or day passes.

•

While your out shopping, remember to support your local economy. How about fresh foods delivery? Or a healthy meal by a local chef? Shop locally for vintage or handmade items. Local artisans appreciate the support and your recipient will appreciate the artistry of the work. Found that perfect gift? Now, remember to wrap it with newspaper, recycled wrapping paper or a reusable gift bag.

If every American family wrapped just 3 presents in re-used materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields! Also, choose your shipping carrier wisely. Try ClimateCounts.org to find a sustainable carrier around you. Did you know UPS stores reuse packing peanuts over and over? So remember to save and return yours.

Travelling

Think you can’t go green when flying? Think again! Flying non-stop reduces fuel use and lowers emissions. Add to that, fewer flight delays and missed connections and lower risk of losing checked bags. Treat your hotel room as if you were paying the electric bill. Remember to turn off lights and unplug unused appliances. Most hotels also let you opt-out of daily towel and linen changes. Not flying? You might be tempted to take extra baggage, but even in a car extra weight reduces fuel economy. Although you might not be as bad as people in Hoarders, there may be a few things that can be tossed from your backseat or trunk. Travel light to save money on fuel and reduce strain on your engine. P.S. Don’t forget your reusable water bottle or coffee mug! Slow down and enjoy the scenery! BlastE-mail us! livegreen@iastate.edu

ing off at green lights can lower your fuel economy by 30 to 40 percent. Remember your cruise control to maintain a steady rate of speed and keep your gas tank fuller longer. Stop-and-go traffic also lowers gas mileage and wears on your engine, transmission and brakes. Combine holiday errands into one trip, or even better take Cyride! Consider purchasing carbon offsets if you, or someone you know, is planning a long trip. Find out how this works here. While you’re away for the holidays, remember to unplug and power down appliances such as your TV, computer, coffee maker and other items that drain power even when they’re turned off.

Decorations

New LED lights use just 10 percent of the energy of older incandescent bulbs. They also run cooler so are a bit safer. Try soy or beeswax candles. These help conserve natural resources and are healthier for your lungs than regular paraffin candles. Many other decorations, from Christmas tree ornaments to plastic wreaths, contain heavy metals and most are shipped from overseas. Make garland from popcorn and cranberries; when the holidays are over, simply toss outside for animals to enjoy. Keep your holidays healthy and local by making decorations yourself or buying them in your community. Remember to mulch your tree and garlands. Check your city’s website to find times for tree pick-up or compost locations.

Green Your Party

It’s the time of year when the weather is cooling down, but the party season is heating up. Thinking about hosting your own party? If so, here are some tips on how to keep the earth happy, as well as your guests.

Party Favors

Green Themes

Try free e-cards, such as www.evite.com. You’ll save time, postage and the cost of paper invites. If you want to send out paper invitations, recycle the front of last year’s greeting cards as postcards. Or brighten spirits with plantable invites! When you plant the paper in a pot of soil, the seeds will grow into colorful wildflowers. You can also donate old cards and invites to St. Jude’s Ranch Recycled Card Program.

Make your party memorable by giving guests items they can reuse throughout the year. Give each guest their own mug or glass to use for their drinks that night and to take home. Use etching cream to write their name or a personal message. Feeling creative? You could also bake a favorite dessert, attach a recipe card, and send home with your guests for a memorable and lasting party favor.

Nobody likes throwing food away, so consider themes such as dessert or hors d’oeuvres and wine, instead of a multicourse meal. Another new and fun tradition - a take-out party! Have everyone bring their favorite take-out food in reusable containers. This saves you the stress of a big meal, and there will be plenty of choices even for the pickiest of eaters. Simply send guests home with their leftovers - or guests can trade!

Decorations

Food

Clean-up

Invites

Not only will creative decorations make you the most talked-about host of the year, they can also be great conversation starters! Bring the outside in. Scour your yard for branches, pinecones and pine branches. Add in color from cranberries, apples and lemons. Find festive pots and plant herbs such as lavender, rosemary or sage. Not only are these items beautiful, inexpensive and less waste, they will make your home smell wonderful. Dim the lights. This creates a warm and cozy atmosphere will save electricity. Also, remember to turn down your thermostat. Body heat will raise the room temperature, even if guests are standing still. Keeping things on the chilly side may encourage people to move, mingle and even dance! Rethink and reuse. Take your half-burned candles, melt and re-pour into old jars to create new, one-of-a-kind candles. Transform fresh, local produce such as apples, pears, gourds and pumpkins into versatile vases. Simply core out the center and place candles or flowers inside. On the flip side, find ideas to reuse holiday items for everyday décor here.

Of course, a party wouldn’t be complete You no longer have to dread cleaning without delicious food! Keep bellies full up at the end of your fantastic party with and trash cans empty with these helpful these tips. tips. Buy in bulk- it reduces waste and cost. Think fresh. Plan your meal around locally Remember to look for items with minimal grown, seasonal fruits and vegetables. The and/or recycled packaging. average plate of food travels 1500 miles To help keep cleanup simple, set up a from producers to dinner table! Buying recycling center in your kitchen- one conlocally not only supports your commu- tainer for aluminum, one for glass, and nity and reduces packaging waste, but the one for compost. Also, try placing smaller taste of fresh produce will set your dinner containers in different rooms to keep reapart from all others. cycling within guests’ reach. Recycling Consider a pot-luck where people bring preserves natural resources, cuts down on one dish (in reusable containers) and you the piles of waste in landfills, and reduces provide beverages and desserts. This cuts the amount of energy and pollution used down on clean-up and waste because peo- in the manufacturing of new products. ple can simply bring their leftovers home! For the waste you could not recycle or Reuse and recycle. Compost your trim- compost, consider using biodegradable mings on your own or bring to a drop-off trash bags to put it in. site. Use washable table linens, napkins Organic is not simply reserved for and dinnerware. Disposables a must? food. Consider organic supplies when Consider eco-friendly cleaning, now and year round. Between Thanksgivoptions such as sugar Natural cleaning products keep ing and New Year’s cane plates or bamtoxic chemicals off your surEve, Americans proboo veneerware. faces and clothes, while leaving duce 25% more trash When out grocery your home sparkling clean. You – about 5 million shopping, don’t forget can even make your own with inextra tons – than at your reusable bags! gredients your may already have. any other time of the year.

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ISU Surplus

LIVE GREEN!

Spotlight

Office Equipment For Sale

ISU Surplus Warehouse

Looking for a cheap TV or Laptop? There is a hidden gem most people don’t know about - ISU Surplus located at 1102 Southern Hills Drive, Suite 105. For over 25 years, ISU Surplus, a division of the Central Stores Department, has provided an outlet for departmental reuse/resale of excess equipment. ISU Surplus conducts a departmental sale every Tuesday from 10 a.m. until noon. This sale allows for redistribution of equipment and furniture within university departments. A second sale is held every Wednesday from noon to 3 p.m. and is open to the general public. “You can find a nice, working computer for $150,” said Norm Hill, Manager of Central Stores. “It’s a great place for students to get stuff - we’ve had over 300 people come during a Wednesday sale.” Over $250,000 in reused items are back in service. Some are abandoned items, such as clothing and bikes, left by students in University Apartments. Other items, such as computer monitors, come from University departments. So this holiday season, consider choosing used items from ISU Surplus. This is an economical and eco-friendly way to purchase gifts this holiday season!

Computers For Sale

FPM employees and ISU Recycling Committee members Sue Mallas (left) and Kelly McCool sort through cardboard boxes.

Items For Sale Weekly Metal desks

$5 - $50

Wood desks

$50 - $200

Tables

$5 - $50

Chairs

$1 - $25

Cabinets / Bookcases

$10 - $50

Printers

$1 - $100

Monitors

$1 - $50

Specialty Items For Sale: Bikes Books Toshiba TV/DVD/VCR combo Samsung mini refrigerator Nikon F-2 camera with DW-2 finder and lenses Vintage gooseneck desktop lamps TI-84 Plus Silver Edition calculator RCA SA-155 Integrated stereo amplifier There are many great items to purchase for gifts (or yourself). Check out the ISU Surplus website for a complete list, or head on out this Wednesday!

Happy Reuse Shopping!

Photo by Bob Elbert

ISU Recycling Committee

When you slip your white paper into those blue recycling bins, do you even wonder who takes care of it? Probably not. But a behind-the-scenes, hardworking group called the ISU Recycling Committee knows. The recycling program on campus started back in 1992 with white paper recycling. Now, there are three major recycling programs on campus - white paper, newspaper and cardboard. The ISU Recycling Committee also coordinates a phone book recycling program each year. With the help of building liaisons, the ISU Recycling Committee has spread its recycling efforts to over 100 buildings on campus. However, the Committee is hoping to get more involved with students. “We want to work with student groups to help initiative recycling programs on campus, as well as expand with student support,” said Sue Mallas, Facilities Planning & Management committee member. So are you looking for a way to become involved with sustainable activities on campus? Or does your group have a recycling program in mind? If so, e-mail recycling@ iastate.edu to join the ISU Recycling Committee today. Wondering what or where recycling efforts are taking place in your building? Check out their website.

There are many committees, programs, and student organizations to get involved in! Visit http://www.livegreen.iastate.edu/involved/

LIVE GREEN! Events America Recycles Day Nov. 15

November Opportunities Globe Crafts 13 Snow Annihka Murray 1:00 p.m. @ the Workspace

Forum: Okay We’re Recycling, Now What’s Next? 6:00 p.m. @ Cardinal Room, Memorial Union

America Recycles Day Change: Culture 17 Climate Change Frances Whitehead 7:00 p.m. @ Kocimski Auditorium, College of Design

Human Viruses in Deep Groundwater in Wisconsin Dr. Ken Bradbury 4:10 p.m. @ 102 Science

Since 1997, communities across the country have come together on November 15 to celebrate America Recycles Day. More than a celebration, America Recycles Day is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to the promotion of recycling programs in the United States. If you’re on campus, stop by Union Drive Community Center Dining Hall

EPA Game Day Challenge Update During the month of October, campuses around the nation went head to head in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Game Day Challenge. Iowa State, the only University competing in Iowa besides Loras, took on the challenge during the homecoming game on Oct. 30. With the support of volunteers, tailgaters, Athletics and the Live Green! Initiative, Iowa State removed 28 percent of tailgating materials from the waste stream. From tent row alone, 360 pounds of cardboard and 600 pounds of glass was recycled. The suites in Jack Trice Stadium composted 710 pounds of food. Overall, over 8 thousand pounds of material was recycled or composted during the game.

Dec. Recycled Wrapping Betsy Eness

11 10:00 a.m. @ Reiman Gardens (Click for more opportunities.) Merry Rankin Director of Sustainability 515-294-5052, mrankin@iastate.edu Ashley Loneman Marketing and Communications Intern; Writer/Designer of Newsletter aloneman@iastate.edu Pantelis Korovilas Campus and Community Engagement Intern pantelis@iastate.edu

or Seasons Market Place Dining Hall where GreenHouse Group members will be on hand to answer questions about recycling and other stainability efforts taking place in campus residence halls. To see how you can participate in America Recycles Day, visit their website!

Live Green Scavenger Hunt!

A small portion of materials that were recycled during the challenge!

Diligent volunteers and tailgaters made the EPA Game Day Challenge a success. Check out pictures from the day on our Facebook page to see if you or someone you know got ‘caught’ recycling! Keep on the lookout for the results announced in November!

3 Things You Didn’t Know Until You Read This Issue:

The Live Green! Initiative wants to get more involved with YOU! Check out our Facebook and Twitter to get involved with our scavenger hunts. During the month of November, we will help you discover the 4 R’s around • November 15 is America Recycles campus. Guess our place of the month Day. to win a prize! • You can donate your old holiday cards or invitations to a good cause. • You can buy cheap, sustainable gifts at Central Stores!

LIVE GREEN! Sp

Working Toward a Sustainable Future

December 2010

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Issue 1 - Volume 3

What’s Inside: A Huge Thanks!

Check out this semester’s highlights on the front page to see how all of you made a difference!

Look at this!

...pictures from the past semester on page 2.

Thanks For a GREAT, Green Semester!

Sneak Peak!

As we all finish up the 2010 Fall Semes-

See page 2 to find out what’s coming up next semester

10 Ways to Live Green

... and teach your family and friends about sustainability over break! pg. 3

Energizing our Sustainable Commitment: Our Collective and Collaborative Roles Third Annual Sustainability Symposium Feb. 21-22 2011 Register Now!

ter, we wanted to offer a special edition of the Live Green! Monthly to highlight all the accomplishments of this semester and give a preview of what’s “greening” on campus for next semester.

Click the bolded links for more information. Fall 2010, brought (just to name a few): • Tray-less dining (and reduced foodwaste) to all of the residential diningcenters • Eleven additional solar trash compactors • Green to-go containers • TreeCycle furniture • The opening of two new green buildings – the Bio-renewables Laboratory and Hach Hall • LED Street Lights • Online Ridesharing • Homecoming reCYcling • Students building a sustainable future – in food, water, housing , cities , cultures, and communities • Sustainable breakthroughs – in cereal, asphalt, gum , and disaster recovery

• A “B” Sustainability Grade • Celebration of the 40th annual Campus Sustainability Day • Cybrids come to campus! As you can see, it’s been a busy semester of living, working, and studying green at Iowa State. Each and every one of you has some connection (if not many) to this impressive list of accomplishments. Congratulations! What a GREAT red, gold, and green Cyclone team we have!! And remember - a new edition of Live Green Monthly will be posted on the Live Green! website each month. Thanks again for all that you have done to support the Live Green! Initiative and ISU’s journey toward a sustainable future. Good luck with finals and all that you need to complete before break! And happiest of holidays!! See you next semester! Ashley, Pantelis, and I look forward to working with you. In greenness,

Merry Rankin

Drector of Sustainability

But Don’t Think That’s All...

Here are some things to make note of in your last few days of the semester:

• The Central Campus Holiday Tree Lights – over 5,000 lights adorn our tree during the holiday season. In 2003, Facilities Planning and Management saw an opportunity to decrease our cost of merriment and made the switch from incandescent lights ($260/lighting season) to LED ($4.00/lighting season). • Fredricksen Court Recycled Holiday Decorations – if you have some time, check out the creative and fun “green” trimmings that you can recreate for your holidays! Pop bottle holiday trees, T-shirt stockings, paper mache Santa Clauses, plastic bag wreaths and more are decking the halls. • Book Donation – even if you aren’t able to sell back some of your old textbooks, they are still very valuable. Look for Pages for Promise book donation drop-offs in the MU, sponsored by Acacia Fraternity, and Bridge to Asia drop-off at UBS. • Phone Book Recycling – reduce your trashprint by ensuring that you recycle all your old phone books before you leave for the semester. Drop-off locations are available across campus. • BYOM – Bring Your Own Mug and enjoy FREE coffee offered by ISU Dining in the MU Commons through December 16th

Some things we can’t fully share yet… BUT here are some that we can:

• The Third Annual Symposium on Sustainability takes place February 21 and 22, 2011. This year’s theme is: Energizing our Sustainable Commitment: Our Collective and Collaborative Roles. The keynote speakers include Jerome Ringo, former chair of the National Wildlife Federation and Kim Johnson, CEO and co-founder of New Belgium Brewery. A FREE local, sustainable lunch is provided. Register today! • Electronic textbooks are offered by University Bookstore starting with the 2011 Spring Semester. Look for the “e” option when picking up your textbooks. • 2011 Live Green Sustainability Lecture Series. • A student-run, on-campus food pantry for ISU students will open in January. • The Biobus student organization will “brew” biodiesel from ISU Dining waste cooking oil. • Stash the Trash and a number of community “give back” opportunities need volunteers as part of VEISHEA Service Day, Saturday, March 26, 2011. Mark your calendar! • Celebration of the 41st anniversary of Earth Day takes place April 22, 2011 and includes the Green Umbrella student group’s annual Book Swap. • The Browsing Library’s annual Used Magazine Sale takes place during Earth Week, April 18-22. • Recycled and Reuse art classes will take place throughout the semester at the Workspace. • The MU – Adopt a Beverage Recycling Container Fundraising Opportunity (for student organizations), has adopt-ees available.

BEFORE YOU GO Don’t Forget To -

Unplug. Whatever does not absolutely need to be plugged into an outlet in your office, room, or home (such as a refrigerator) can be unplugged while you are out of town and save you money and decrease our electrical demand. Set-back. Setting back your thermostat by just one degree can make an incredible difference to our energy use and your heating costs. Donate. If you have food or other items that you can’t use and need to clear out – look for a donation or reuse option before you put it in the trash. If you need ideas of where to donate – contact us livegreen@iastate.edu . Register. The Sustainability Symposium takes place February 21 and 22. Click here to register!

Next Semester- Lots of ‘Green’ is in the Air!

Merry Rankin Director of Sustainability 515-294-5052, mrankin@iastate.edu Ashley Loneman Marketing and Communications Inter n; Newsletter Writer/Designer aloneman@iastate.edu Pantelis Korovilas Campus and Community Engagement Intern pantelis@iastate.edu

Learn more about Live Green! at www.livegreen.iastate.edu

10 Ways to Start Living Green!

Green Your Ride

Purchase With Purpose

FACTS icipal waste. • Packaging makes up 30-50% of mun traveled 400 miles. • On average, food on the dinner table

WHAT CAN I DO? 1) Walk or ride your bike. 2) Carpool. Take a look at ISU’s Rideshare program. http://sws.gsb.iastate.edu/rideshare/rideshare.php 3) Ride Cyride.

WHAT CAN I DO? panies. 1) Learn about green products and com ers. Cent 2) Look for local food in the Dining 3) Shop locally. FOR MORE INFORMATION http://www.treehugger.com/buygreen/ http://tinyurl.com/yjtanhq

FOR MORE INFORMATION http://tinyurl.com/ybptusy http://www.cyride.com

w Low Make Your Flo

Unplug the Unused

FACTS • Electronics use 75% of their electricity in stand-by or sleep. • Small appliances can equal 40% of your electricity bill. WHAT CAN I DO? 1) Unplug small appliances after use. 2) Unplug chargers when devices are ﬁnished charging. 3) Plug electronics into a power strip and turn the strip oﬀ when not in use. FOR MORE INFORMATION http://tinyurl.com/yedujj3 http://tinyurl.com/yc8muj7

FACTS • Burning 1 gallon of gas puts 20 gallons of CO2 into the atmosphere. • Cars consume about 8.2 billion barrels of oil daily.

FACTS • Reducing your shower by 1 minute saves 4 gallons of water. • Fixing a leaky toilet can save up to 1,000 gallons of water a month (About 16 loads of laundry). WHAT CAN I DO? Reduce your water demand: 1) Don’t let the water run for teeth brushing or shaving. 2) Get cold water from the refrigerator. 3) Save dish washing and laundry for full loads. FOR MORE INFORMATION http://tinyurl.com/4exljm http://tinyurl.com/y8p2exh

Power Down

Facts: • Sleep mode saves $25-$75 per computer annually. • Gaming consoles (Xbox, PlayStation, Wii) can cost $250 a year. WHAT CAN I DO? 1) When not using your computer or game console, turn it oﬀ. 2) When you do need these items in “stand-by” mode, make sure you enable the low power modes. Here is a step-by-step guide: http://www.nrdc.org/energy/consoles/contents.asp 3) Avoid using the DVD player on your game console. A stand-alone DVD player uses 24 times less energy. FOR MORE INFORMATION http://tinyurl.com/6ubn73 http://tinyurl.com/nbek79

3 www.livegreen.iastate.edu

Not Around, Turn It Down

FACTS • Adjusting your thermostat at night can save 5-10% of your heating bill. • Ceiling fans use 90% less energy than a cooling system, and lower room temperature 7-10 degrees.

Green Bag It

WHAT CAN I DO? 1) Turn your thermostat down when you are gone. 2) Get a programmable thermostat that automatically adjusts the temperature throughout the day. 3) Choose fans or blankets before changing your thermostat.

WHAT CAN I DO? 1) Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB) to reduce personal disposable bag demand. 2) Don’t use a bag at all, if you don’t need one. 3) if you need a bag, reuse it. Ideas at http://tinyurl.com/cyvr6g.

FOR MORE INFORMATION http://tinyurl.com/yasjze9 http://tinyurl.com/ya8foub

FOR MORE INFORMATION http://tinyurl.com/29qkkm2 http://www.myownbag.com/activism.html

Twist Your Lights

FACTS • Worldwide, over 500 billion plastic bags are used each year, and only about 1-3% are recycled. • The annual plastic bag consumption cost could send nearly 75,000 students to college for 4 years.

FACTS • Compact ﬂuorescent lights (CFLs) use 75% less energy, last 10 times longer, and pay for themselves in 6 months. • Lights account for 5-10% of energy use. WHAT CAN I DO? 1) Replace incandescent light bulbs for CFLs. 2) If you live in Frederiksen Court, take advantage of the light bulb exchange program. 3) Live oﬀ-campus? Look into city rebates. http://www.cityofames.org/SmartEnergy FOR MORE INFORMATION http://tinyurl.com/257omj http://tinyurl.com/ylompmf

Bring Your Own Bottle (or Mug or Cup or…)

FACTS • The oil used to supply the American’s demand for bottled water could fuel 100,000 cars for the year. • Each disposable cup you replace with a personal mug saves 1.25 pounds of CO2 emissions. WHAT CAN I DO? 1) Bring your own water bottle or canteen to refill. 2) Bring your own mug or cup for to-go drinks, like coffee. 3) Stores often discount for bringing your own mug. ISU Dining offers a $0.35 discount at all their retail locations. FOR MORE INFORMATION http://www.reusablebags.com/Facts.php?id=18 http://www.newdream.org/water/reasons.php

Remember the 4 Rs

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink

FACTS • Energy saved recycling 1 aluminum can powers a TV for 3 hours. • Recycling 1 plastic bottle conserves enough energy to light a 60-watt light bulb up to 6 hours. WHAT CAN I DO? 1) Make use of local recycling programs. For exact locations to recycle, visit earth911.com. 2) Consider a reuse opportunity such as Goodwill. 3) Before throwing away, ask yourself: Can it be used again or recycled? FOR MORE INFORMATION http://tinyurl.com/d9n63g http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/index.htm

4 www.livegreen.iastate.edu www.livegreen.iastate.edu

LIVE GREEN! February 2011

y l h t Mon

What’s Inside:

Issue 1 - Volume 4

Join us for the 3rd Annual

Lunch!

2011 Symposium

• 500 Cans of Spam?

Sustainability

• Free

Plus, so much more during the Symposium on Sustainability! Check out page 2 for highlights and schedule.

A student groups received 500 cans of Spam! See page 4 for more details.

Feb. 21 and 22

• Let Your Voice Be

Learn More...

Heard! During the interactive Visioning Sessions at the Symposium. See page 3.

• What’s Going On

Around Campus? Check out the Live Green! Calender on page 5. Did you know... This year’s Symposium Keynote speaker took part in the 1998 Kyoto Treaty negotiations? Read his story on page 2.

Have you registered for the Symposium? You’re in luck, there’s still time! Click here!

Live Green! Initiative Continues to Grow Thanks to Strong Roots Welcome to the February issue of Live Green Monthly! This month’s edition is all about roots. Nothing in the world is really sustainable without roots. Certainly this applies to the tree that appears on our cover and plants in general; however it also applies to projects, organizations, communities, and initiatives. Roots provide foundation from which to grow, expand, diversify, and be sustainable. In 2008 President Geoffroy established the roots for Iowa State University’s Live Green! initiative. In the years since, each one of you - students, faculty, and staff have worked individually and collectively to build, reinforce, transform, and multiply these roots through projects, initiatives, events, and day-to-day behavior and operations. The results have been impressive and noticed! We have been recognized for our commitment and dedication at the Iowa State Fair, by Governor

Culver, on television, radio, and newspaper, and through national publications… to name just a few. Each February, the President’s Office hosts the opportunity for the university community to take some time and collectively celebrate our Live Green! accomplishments. It’s an opportunity to look back and congratulate ourselves on how we have strengthened and multiplied our roots over the past year and also a time to look toward opportunities in the years ahead. Ashley, Pantelis, and I look forward to seeing you at the Symposium on Sustainability February 21 and 22 and continuing our work together as we set new and deeper roots. In greenness,

Merry Rankin

Director of Sustainability

Learn more about the Live Green! at www.livegreen.iastate.edu

Symposium on Sustainability Monday, 21 Feb. 2011 • 1 p.m.

Registration and Poster set-up

• 2 p.m.

Sustainability Interactive Visioning Sessions for students, faculty and staff. Read more on page 3.

• 6:30 p.m. Poster Session and Reception • 8 p.m.

At A Glance

Opening Public Lecture: Jerome Ringo- Diversity in the Environmental Movement: Our Collaborative Opportunities

Tuesday, 22 Feb. 2011

• 7:30 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast • 8 a.m. Welcome by President Geoffrey • 8:10 a.m. Keynote Address, Jerome Ringo The New Color of Green: A Collective Voice Towards Change • 9:10 a.m. Sustainable Innovation for Today and Tomorrow - A Multidisciplinary Approach Larry Johnson, Director Center for Crop Utilization and Research Carolyn Cutrona, Chair Department of Psychology David Miller, Associate VP Facilities Planning and Mgmt. • 10:30 a.m.

Break & Poster Session

• 10:45 a.m.

Highlighting our 2010 Live Green Adventure - Celebrations and Inspirations Merry Rankin, Director Office of Sustainability The Future Sustainability of Iowa State as envisioned by ISU’s Student, Faculty and Staff

• 11:15 a.m. • 12:15 p.m. • 1:30 p.m.

Live Green Awards for Excellence in Sustainability Luncheon Closing Remarks from President Geoffroy

For more information and to register, click here!

2011 Symposium

y t i l i b a n i a t s u S on

2011 kicks off the third year of President Geoffroy’s Live Green! initiative. In 2008, a call to action was given to all students, faculty, and staff to be fully committed to and engaged in ensuring a sustainable future through our actions and decisions regarding our campus, its operations, and initiatives. This year’s Symposium

on Sustainability challenges us all to “raise the bar” both individually and collectively.

at Iowa State

University

Energizing our Sustainable Commitment: Our Collective and Collaborative Roles February 21-22, 2011 Memorial Union

Keynote Speaker Jerome Ringo spent more than 20 years working in Louisiana’s petrochemical industry, at times finding himself having the role of “turning the valve” that released a facility’s pollutants into the environment. In 1989, he decided enough is enough and started his journey toward being a dedicated champion of environmental justice and a vocal advocate of clean energy. Milestones of his journey have included serving as board chair for the National Wildlife Federation, representative at the United Nation’s 1999 Sustainable Devel-

Did You Know...

opment Conference, taking part in the 1998 Kyoto Treaty negotiations, and appearing in the Academy award-winning documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. Ringo currently serves on the board of directors at Apollo Alliance, focused on an American economy centered on clean energy and good jobs and is the Senior Executive for Global Strategies with Green Port.

A FREE sustainably designed and Here locally sourced lunch is provided? is a special sneak peak at the menu: hroom • Entree - Roasted Beef with a mus etal herb sauce, made with organic vari ng’s mushrooms and herbs from ISU Dini very own indoor herb garden. illa Ice • Dessert - Apple Pear Crisp with Van Cream, delicious apples straight from ISU Horticulture Farm and Center Grove, Cambridge IA.

Visioning Sessions Awards Luncheon

Free Public Lectures

2011 Symposium on Sustainability Visioning Sessions

This year’s Symposium on Sustainability provides a unique opportunity for individuals to get hands-on with sustainability issues at Iowa State University. Interactive Visioning Sessions offer the platform for students, faculty, and staff to take ownership in determining their specific interests, opportunities, and commitment to a sustainable future for Iowa State University.

Informing, Engaging, and Energizing Our Operations and Initiatives

Chair: Cinzia Cervato Geological & Atmospheric Sciences

Chair: Kerry Dixon-Fox Facilities Planning and Management

Q: What do you think is going to be the most exciting part of the visioning session? MS: We’re really excited for the unique opportunity for participants to brainstorm and communicate with students as well as faculty and staff. This will really provide a collaborative environment for all participants. We can’t wait to see what creative and thoughtful ideas come out of the session! Q: What is your role during the visioning session? MS: To serve as facilitators and, most importantly, provide an atmosphere which all participants feel comfortable in sharing their thoughts and opinions. Not to mention, make it fun and exciting!

Q: How are these visioning sessions different than past Symposium discussions? CC: We will adopt the PechaKucha (Japanese: chit-chat) approach to give everybody the opportunity to share what they have done or are doing in a very short amount of time. This will allow us all to learn what others are doing in a collegial environment rather than focusing the discussion on 2-3 predetermined projects or topics. Q: Why should people attend the visioning session? CC: The visioning session will give faculty the opportunity to network with colleagues at ISU, to find out what others are doing in teaching and research, and to possibly initiate research and/or teaching collaborations. In a university the size of ISU, it is very hard to learn all what goes on and faculty often don’t have time to interact with colleagues from other disciplines. This session will give them this opportunity. Q: What do you think is going to be the most exciting part of the visioning session? CC: Faculty enjoy sharing their work and ideas, and the sessions will give everybody the opportunity to share and learn about what others at ISU are doing. One session will focus on teaching and one on research. The goal of the sessions is to be as inclusive and open as possible. Faculty will also have the opportunity to identify needs and wishes for teaching and research opportunities related to sustainability.

Q: What do committee members hope to accomplish during the visioning session? KDF: We are at a point in our sustainability journey where we can find out ideas that have been successfully initiated in departments, but are not necessarily known outside that unit. Finding new ideas we could build upon for the campus is exciting. We’re hoping to find things that can help us connect with each other and with the community. I would love to see a top 10 list of things we want to pursue in the next year to support our desires to be a more sustainable campus. Q: Why should people attend the visioning session? It is a great opportunity to share what might be happening in your department, or that great idea you have that you’d like to see developed. It is also a way to get reenergized about what we are trying to do at Iowa State. It isn’t often that we have a chance to sit down and make suggestions for improvements and be heard. I’m really excited to see what comes from these sessions! Q: How are these visioning sessions different than past Symposium discussions? KDF: We hope to come out of these sessions with some concrete suggestions for implementation of both short and long term initiatives at ISU. The first Symposium had a large brainstorming session, but we were just getting started. It was hard to have discussion on some of the ideas with such a large group. By having smaller groups it will be easier to build upon many of the ideas.

For more information about the Student Session, click here!

For more information about the Faculty Session, click here!

Co-Chair: Chandra Peterson Senior, Political Science Co-Chair: Matthew Santee Junior, Civil Engineering

Faculty Session

Student Session

Q: Why should people attend the visioning session? CP: Because it is going to be FUN! Here, you won’t be just sitting in a chair listening to people talk! The student panel has created a fun, interactive, candy-filled session that provides creative ways for students to think about their vision for Iowa State’s sustainability efforts. The session includes games and real-life project models to explore different ideas. Q: What are the benefits of participating in the visioning session? CP: Give your two cents and be part of the change on campus. Meet other students who want to be a part of the vision for ISU and learn a little about what ISU does now and ideas that have been discussed. Come one, come all!

Staff Session

Integrating Sustainability into Research and Teaching

Charting Our Sustainable Vision

For more information about the Staff Session, click here!

You know all about environmental sustainability, but did you know that to truly be sustainable, there are two other pieces of sustainability? Social sustainability focuses on building strong and viable communities. It encompasses human rights, labor rights, and corporate governance. In common with environmental sustainSustainable Development. Author : Johann Dréo, 2006. From Wikimedia. ability, social sustainability is the idea • Sustainability - The needs of this that future generations should have the generation must be met without same or greater access to resources as the compromising the right of future current generations to be free of poverty generation. and deprivation and to exercise their basic capabilities. Members of society, particularly the dis• Security - Particularly the security of advantaged and vulnerable, are the center livelihood. People need to be freed of this area of sustainability. By empowerfrom threats, such as disease or reing individuals and communities and adpression and from sudden harmful dressing their needs and concerns, we can disruptions in their lives. help prevent the many conflicts based on povIn order to proerty, discrimination Learn more about social mote social susand exclusion (social, sustainability during Jerome tainability, it is economic and environRingo’s public lecture Feb. 21 the role and duty mental) that continue at 8 p.m. and Keynote address of each member to plague humanity Feb. 22 at 8 a.m. of society to be and destroy decades of actively involved sustainability efforts. in promoting human rights and building strong comThere are five aspects to sustainable humunities. man development - all affecting the lives of the disadvantaged and vulnerable: Being informed and participating in • Empowerment - The expansion of men community events is also an imporand women’s capabilities and choices tant part of social sustainability. The increases their ability to exercise those upcoming Symposium on Sustainchoices free of hunger, want and depriability is a great opportunity to get vation. It also increases their opportuniinvolved, voice your thoughts and ty to participate in, or endorse, decisionmake a difference. Also, joining and making affecting their lives. supporting organizations such as The • Cooperation - With a sense of belongSHOP (in this month’s Spotlight) and ing important for personal fulfillment, any number of student groups, and well-being and a sense of purpose and campus and community organizations meaning, human development is conpromotes community and individual cerned with the ways in which people well-being. work together and interact. • Equity - The expansion of capabilities By being considerate of each member and opportunities means more than inof our society, we not only empower come - it also means equity, such as an those individuals, we also ensure true educational system to which everybody sustainability for future generations. should have access.

LIVE GREEN!

Spotlight The SHOP Photo by Ashley Loneman

A Different Look: Social Sustainability

The SHOP (Students Helping Our Peers), a student-run food-bank, officially opened its doors Thursday, January 27. A group of ISU students wanting to provide sustainability to their peers created The SHOP to help other students in need of food assistance. “Our goal is to serve students in need whether it is the same students or new students every week. We would also like to provide nutritious food so students that receive food from us will also be healthy,” Hailey Boudreau, co-president of The SHOP, said. Over 250 people attended The SHOP’s grand opening and the organization collected between 900 and 1000 non-perishable items. Five hundred SPAM cans were also donated thanks to the groups who participated in the SPAM competition in the Memorial Union the day before. Students in need of assistance can simply show their ID card and receive food without record at 2616 Food Science Building every Tuesday from 3 to 6 p.m. The SHOP hopes to extend its hours as need increases. “We will serve any and every ISU student. Just come in and show your ID and take as much food as you can carry,” Boudreau said. Anyone can donate to the SHOP by dropping off items during open hours. Donations boxes are also located on campus in Food Science Building and MacKay and at the Ames Hy-Vee locations. For more information, contact Hailey Boudreau haileyb@iastate.edu or Sara Schwanebeck sarahs@iastate.edu.

There are many committees, programs, and student organizations to get involved in! Visit http://www.livegreen.iastate.edu/involved/

LIVE GREEN! Events February Opportunities 16, 19, 20

Recycled Art classes in the Workspace

21-22

Symposium on Sustainability

Live Green! Sustainability Lecture Series: CEO and co-founder New Belgium Brewing, Kim Jordan 8 p.m., Sun Room, MU 7th Annual Symposium on Wildness, Wilderness & the Creative Imagination

Feb. 6 April 2

Recylemania

26-27

(Click for more opportunities.)

Merry Rankin Director of Sustainability 515-294-5052, mrankin@iastate.edu Ashley Loneman Marketing and Communications Intern; Newsletter Writer/Designer 515-294-0335, aloneman@iastate.edu Pantelis Korovilas Campus and Community Engagement Intern 515-294-0335, pantelis@iastate.edu

Every month, you can find us, the Live Green! initiative staff, at the Memorial Union! Stop by and find out what’s new in sustainability on campus, what events are going on during that month, meet members of various groups who are living green, and get an opportunity to meet the faces behind the many Live Green! projects taking place across campus. Dates will vary so keep your eyes on the Live Green! Twitter, Facebook, and Calendar for updates!

Photo by Ashley Loneman

The Live Green! Initiative is Ex-CY-ted to be in the MU!

Check out more photos on page six and our Facebook page!

Recylemania

ISU will be joining nearly 600 schools around the world, (7 in Iowa) in competing in the 2011 Recyclemania Challenge! Never heard of it? Well, Recyclemania is an international recycling competition where the best sustainable colleges compete to show their stuff. The Iowa State Department of Residence, along with the GreenHouse Group, will be putting our ‘green’ on the line to see where our campus housing recycling stacks up against some of the best schools in the world! Help support us by participating and spreading the word to everyone you know who lives on campus. What do you need to do? Make sure that you separate and clean out all recy-

clable materials that you have and place in the appropriate bins where you live. The 2011 Tournament will officially extend for eight weeks between February 6 and April 2, 2011. Schools are ranked according to who collects the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita, and the overall highest recycling rate. ISU is only competing in recycling for campus housing this year, but the competition is hoping to expand to more of campus in the future. Contact the GreenHouseGroup@iastate. edu or check out their website for more information!

Live Green Scavenger Hunt!

3 Things You Didn’t Know

The Live Green! Initiative wants to get more involved with YOU! During the month of February, we will hide prizes around campus. Guess where they are hidden, and you will win that prize! Check out our Facebook and Twitter for pictures and clues.

Until You Read This Issue: • Live Green! will be in the MU each month for a meet and greet. • You can help build a sustainable future during Interactive Visioning Sessions at this year’s Symposium on Sustainability. • Social Sustainability is a vital part of true sustainability and this year’s Symposium keynote speaker is a renowned leader in this area.

Strike a Pose! Be on the look out for the Live Green Team and

Cy in the Memorial Union

Check out our Facebook page for more photos!

LIVE GREEN! March 2011

y l h t Mon

WE NEVER KNOW THE WORTH OF

What’s Inside: • Thirsty Pavement Read

WATER

about pavement that soaks up water and more water conservation initiatives all over campus..page 2.

UNTIL THE WELL IS DRY.

• Earth Hour! Join in on a global environmental movement. See page 3.

• What’s Cy Doing? Check out what Cy is dunking and other Live Green! Events on page 4.

-Thomas Fuller

• Symposium in Pictures

See page 5 for highlights from this year’s Symposium on Sustainability.

Did you know... One in three people lack access to clean water? See page 2 for ways you can do your part to conserve water.

Congratulations and Thank You to all who attended and assisted in this year’s Symposium on Sustainability held on February 21 and 22. Over 300 Iowa Staters took part in this event! See more on page 5.

Issue 1 - Volume 5

Welcome to the March issue of Live Green! Monthly! This month’s newsletter focuses around the topic of water. Water is one of our most precious resources the world over. It makes no difference of race, religion, social class, or political affiliation – we all equally require water to survive. Here at Iowa State University, it is sometimes easy to take for granted how fortunate we are when considering water. We can count on safe and clean water coming out of our faucets every day to fulfill our demand. Certainly, we felt the impacts of the power of water this past summer during the floods of 2011 and experienced firsthand what it would mean to not have a readily available supply of water. But it was a blink in time compared to what many communities face every day around the world, and even here in the United States. It’s a very privileged existence we have to live each day with enough water. And we realize this privilege. From designing and maintaining our buildings, to managing our grounds, to campus living, Iowa

State University has a history and a tradition of being considerate of how we use and demand our natural resources – water is a perfect example. Though we still have plenty of opportunities ahead of us, it is exciting to see the thoughtful and diverse approaches that we take toward increasing our campus sustainability. Our students are equally impressive in their creativity and engagement – as you will find in reading about Engineers for a Sustainable World’s local and international commitment to water and sustainability, and the events that students have planned for Earth Hour, an international event focused on energy consumption. As spring showers start falling around us, I encourage you to keep in mind the many ways ISU ensures the thoughtful and beneficial use of water. Enjoy this month’s issue and have a GREAT spring break!

In greeness, Merry Rankin Director of Sustainability

Learn more about the Live Green! Initiative at www.livegreen.iastate.edu

Water Conservation on ISU Campus

Green Your Water

King Pavilion Green Roof

Permeable Pavement

Though many water conserving techniques may be familiar to you, did you realize water conservation is at work across our entire campus? Read on to find out more..

Custodial

Architecture

New buildings on the ISU campus are designed to use significantly less water than a standard code designed building of the same use. This is in part due to low flow urinals, dual flush valve toilets and motion sensors on hand washing sinks to reduce water use daily. Low flow restroom fixtures use significantly less water than standard fixtures. For example, urinals use one pint of water to flush instead of the standard one gallon per flush. There is an additional unique feature in Hach Hall, Biorenewables Laboratory, and the State Gym Addition - storm water is used to flush toilets and urinals. Here’s how it works: rain water is collected from the roof and held in 70,000 gallon tanks. It is then filtered, dyed blue and piped back to the restrooms. This system saves almost 400,000 gallons of potable water annually. The construction of the College of Design King Pavilion included the installation of underground detention cells that capture storm water and then slowly release it into the existing storm system. This helps prevent water surge and all the impacts that come with it. Thanks to the help of this system, the applied arts studios on the north side of the Design College, which usually flood, did not during the floods of August 2010. The green roof also on the King Pavilion is designed to retain 80% of standard rainfall. Green roofs also filter storm water, increasing its quality, and decrease the storm runoff rate. The green roofs on sections of Biorenewables Laboratory Building and the new State Gym Addition will provide the same benefits.

Landscape

• Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when full. If you use a laundromat, do large loads instead of a bunch of small ones. • Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving. • Report any leaky faucets to your building supervisor or community advisor. A dripping faucet can waste 20 gallons of water a day. A leaking toilet can use 90,000 gallons of water in a month. Keeping existing equipment well maintained is much less expensive than purchasing new equipment! • Take shorter showers. Get more information about how to save water in the bathroom here. • For planters, pots or hanging baskets, place ice cubes in the dirt to water your plants and prevent water overflow. • Choose locally appropriate plants and flowers for your lawn that don’t need a lot of water. If you have to water, do it at night to minimize evaporation. • Harvest rainwater - Put a rain barrel on your downspouts, or any container that can catch water, and use this water for watering your plants or garden. • Do you thaw your frozen food with hot water? Try thawing food by leaving it out in advance or thawing it in the refrigerator overnight instead. • Find out even more ways to conserve water here.

Prairie Flowers

Residence

Water is an essential resource for life and good health. Today, one in three people around the world lack clean water to meet daily needs and this problem will only continue to get worse as the population grows. Even in areas where there is plenty of rainfall or freshwater, water scarcity and contamination occurs. According to the EPA, at least 36 states will face water shortages by 2013. The need to conserve water is becoming more and more critical. It’s just as important to be aware of what you are dumping down the drain. Don’t pour chemicals or other hazardous materials down the drain; they are harmful to the environment and could end up back in your drinking water. Remember, just because something has gone down the drain, doesn’t mean it is gone forever. Here a few tips to get you started on conserving water today:

Last year, the Custodial Services Department began using new equipment for floor finish removal, which provides a cleaner environment and saves water. This new efficient technology results in water savings of 50 percent to 70 percent over traditional equipment. This savings in clean water also translates into a 50 percent to 70 percent reduction in waste water. Campus Services is working on incorporating natural prairies back onto campus. Because these plants have deeper roots, prairie areas prevent runoff, reduces soil erosion on slopes and improves storm water infiltration. Because prairie plants are native to Iowa, they are also more resistant to local weather conditions and pests. Mulching - An idea as simple as mulching is conserving water all around campus. Campus Services spreads its own mulch under trees and shrubbery. Mulch provides an additional layer, protecting the underlying soil from being exposed to air and wind. This protective layer ensures soil does not dry out and retains more water. Limited Irrigation - Iowa State University is very selective in the application of irrigation systems with non-irrigation being the common practice for campus lawns, residential areas and recreational areas. Permeable Pavement - Compared to conventional pavement, these pavements are designed to infiltrate stormwater runoff instead of shedding it off the surface. Permeable pavement, concrete and asphalt systems reduce the amount of runoff by allowing water to pass through surfaces that would otherwise be impervious. Permeable paving has been installed at the College of Design King Pavilion and Parking Lots 121 and 122. Not only is water conservation something you can experience at work and classes at ISU, if you live in campus housing – you can experience it at home too. Showerheads, toilets, and faucets are all chosen and maintained to use water efficiently. Department of Residence staff also provide education and awareness resources and opportunities to encourage residents to consider things they can do individually to increase conservation efforts. One example is a shower timer provided to residents to help them gain an understanding of water conservation through reducing daily shower time.

Earth Hour

LIVE GREEN!

Spotlight

8:30 p.m. Saturday 26 March 2011

arth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change. Only a year later, Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Global landmarks, such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, CN Tower in Toronto, Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour. Earth Hour 2010 became the biggest Earth Hour ever with a record 128 countries and territories joining the global display of climate action. Iconic landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge, switched off. People across the world from all walks of life turned off their lights and came together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet. Earth Hour 2011 will take place on Saturday, March 26, at 8.30 p.m. (local time). Earth Hour has done a lot to raise awareness of sustainability issues, but there’s more to it than switching off lights for one hour once a year. Your impact can extend far beyond one hour. After the lights go back on think about what else you can do to make a difference. Together our actions add up. Earth Hour is organized by the World Wildlife Fund. ISU Earth Hour is a collaboration of the GreenHouse Group, Department of Residence, IRHA and Fredericksen Court Community Council. Click here for more information on this year’s Earth Hour.

Get Involved At 8:25 p.m. on March 26, it’s time to start shutting off room by room for Earth Hour. What else can you do?

• Play On Central Campus- The GreenHouse Group is planning GLOW Capture the Flag on Central Campus. Game starts at 8:30 p.m., but arrive as early as 8 p.m. to fill out waivers and get registered. E-mail earthhour@iastate.edu to sign up for a team. • Witness a Central Campus Landmark switch off! • Watch A Movie In the MU- Watch Wall-E in the South Ballroom at 8:30 p.m. • Candle Light Dinner- Get together for a nice candle-lit dinner. Put out some candles and lay out food on washable containers. Get into the spirit even more by choosing a dinner with local or organic foods with minimum waste. Use all reusable containers and napkins. Make sure to recycle anything you can. • Play Board Games by Candle Light- Get out those old games and be a child again! • Acoustic Music Night- Dig out your guitar. Singing is optional, even if you sing out of tune, nobody will know it’s you. • Make Recycled Crafts- Create unique and easy recycled crafts by candle light and make Earth Hour even better for the environment! • Go Outside- and look at the stars. Or go for a walk around Lake Laverne! • Make S’mores- on the grill, or by a campfire, and tell scary stories. • More Power- Save power not only by turning off lights, but shut off computers and printers and unplug chargers. • Extend Earth Hour All Day- Challenge yourself to go without electricity for an entire day.

Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW) is a national organization that promotes sustainability both internationally and locally. Iowa State has had a chapter for many years, focusing on many diverse projects abroad and locally. Internationally, ESW has worked on rainwater harvesting projects in Thailand, Uganda, India and Nicaragua. The group’s connection to water has always been of special significance as noted by ESW’s President, Pavel Beresnev, “One of our main focus areas has always been water sustainability abroad. Rainwater harvesting is probably one of the most sustainable ways to use water, since it essentially is a way of collecting water that would otherwise fall onto the ground and run off to another location, i.e. it would be wasted!” Locally, ESW is involved in a diversity of sustainability initiatives, ranging from organizing an annual “Drive not to Drive,” where people pledged not to drive for a week, to energy audits, battery recycling, and solar lighting on campus, but water is always in the spotlight. “We are also planning to look into ways of conserving water in our upcoming energy audit of Zaffarano Hall at ISU.” Beresnev said. In celebration of World Water Day on March 22, ESW is encouraging Iowa Staters to ‘fast’ a meal and donate money not spent on the meal to a national water project through Global Fast. ESW will be at the Memorial Union, Seasons, UDCC, and Conversations Dining Centers on March 31 to have students sign up to participate. ESW is also planning to show a documentary related to world water issues and a “Water Walk.” Be on the lookout for more details. Visit ESW’s website, or e-mail Pavel Beresnev, pashab@iastate.edu, for more information.

There are many committees, programs, and student organizations to get involved in! Visit http://www.livegreen.iastate.edu/involved/

LIVE GREEN!

Events

World Water Day - March 22

March Opportunities 22

World Water Day

VEISHEA Service Day Stash the Trash Earth Hour 8:30 p.m. Ames Eco Fair

Making Poverty History: Lessons from Farming Families in Mali 7 p.m. Sun Room Memorial Union

Silence of the Songbirds 6 p.m. Gerdin Business Building Auditorium Recyclemania continues until April 2 (Click for more events) Merry Rankin Director of Sustainability 515-294-5052, mrankin@iastate.edu Ashley Loneman Marketing and Communications Intern; Newsletter Writer/Designer 515-294-0335, aloneman@iastate.edu

Pantelis Korovilas Campus and Community Engagement Intern 515-294-0335, pantelis@iastate.edu

Water is a basic requirement for all life, yet water resources are facing increasing demands from, and competition among, users. In 1992, the UN General Assembly designated March 22 of each year as the World Day for Water. From the World Water Day Celebration in Ethiopia to Singing for Water in London, countries around the world will participate in events to raise awareness of water issues. Water and sanitation are critical factors to alleviate poverty and hunger, for sustainable development, for environmental

integrity and for health. On March 22, take a moment to think of others who are without clean water. Becoming the individual difference can make an important step in the journey toward a sustainable future. See page 2 for ways you can conserve water, not just for one day, but throughout the year. Also, consider taking part in one of ESW’s events featured in this month’s Live Green! Spotlight on page 3.

Stash the Trash - March 26 Stash the Trash, part of VEISHEA Service Day and supporting Keep Iowa State Beautiful, brings together volunteers from Iowa State University and the Ames community. Stash the Trash is a communitywide beautification project. Local residents and ISU students work together to remove litter and other debris from neighborhoods, roadways, and parks. It is a great project for organizations, groups, and families. Together, we can create a cleaner and greener community. This year’s Stash the Trash event is Saturday, March 26, from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.. Click here to register! The registration form will include streets and parks to sign up for. Pick your neighborhood or

We Need Your Old Books and Magazines! The Green Umbrella is sponsoring a book swap during Earth Week in April. Anything from children’s books to romance novels are accepted. Choose to exchange your book for a new one, or donate your used books to others. Grab your old magazines too! The Browsing Library in the Memorial Union is collecting them now for their 25-cent Magazine Sale during Earth Week. So, while you’re home over break remember to grab some old books and magazines to swap and recycle!

your favorite spot in Ames. A free lunch will also be provided to volunteers, as well as free admission to Reiman Gardens! VEISHEA Service Day provides many other opportunities besides Stash the Trash to provide a number of ways to participate in a variety of service projects throughout the City of Ames and help out the community. Click here for more information, and for questions contact veisheaservice@ gmail.com

3 Things You Didn’t Know Until You Read This Issue: • Over 128 countries participated in Earth Hour last year- you can join in this year by simply turning off your lights for one hour on March 26 at 8:30 p.m. • ISU utilizes permeable pavement, which allows rain water to pass through into the ground, not pool on top. • 36 states are expected to face water shortages by 2013, so it’s important to conserve water now!

Congratulations and Thank You to all who attended and assisted in the planning and completion of this year’s Symposium on Sustainability February 21 and 22!

Over 300 Iowa State students, faculty and staff took part in this event- sharing their work in sustainability, celebrating our accomplishments, learning from each other and national sustainability experts and planning our ongoing journey toward a sustainable future. Video of the Symposium can be found on the Live Green! website in the next few days. Pictures from the Symposium (courtesy of Live Green! interns Pantelis Korovilas and Ashley Loneman), a listing of all poster presenters, summaries of the student, staff and faculty visioning sessions, and all other information about this year’s event can also be found on the Live Green! website. Thanks again for your great work that extends across our campus, throughout the state, and across the world and gives us reason to reflect, celebrate and envision our sustainable future.

Special recognition to this year’s Live Green Awards for Excellence in Sustainability winners and nominees. Pictured above (from left to write) Bill Diesslin (Awards Committee Chair), Tonia McCarley (representing the Biorenewables Research Laboratory Visioning Team - award nominee), President Gregory Geoffroy, Dean Morton (representing the University Architect’s Office - award nominee), Tom Lindsley (award nominee), Rebecca Shivvers 5 (award winner) and Nadia Anderson (award winner).

LIVE GREEN!

y l h t Mon

April 2011

Issue 1 - Volume 6

What’s Inside: • Go Local! See why buying local is all the rage on page 2.

• Day in the Life Ever wonder

who provides all those local products in the grocery store and in our campus cafes? Meet one of Ames’ local farmers on page 3.

• Eating by Example ISU Din-

ing is buying local and organic produce for campus. Learn more about their Farm to ISU efforts on page 4.

• VEISHEA Festivities See page 5 for ways you can Live Green! at VEISHEA.

• Live Green! Photo

Gallery... page 6.

April 22 is Earth Day! Check out page 4 for events taking place on campus and in the Ames community to celebrate the 41st anniversary of this international, Live Green holiday.

Happy Earth Month! This year marks the 41st celebration of Earth Day. Although this event began as one day, it has systematically grown into an entire month of activities focused on ensuring our collective home’s health and well-being for all the generations that will follow us. This is certainly true at Iowa State University. Just take a look at the Live Green! homepage and check out the Earth Week Calendar that Pantelis Korovilas (Live Green! Campus and Community Engagement Intern) has put together. As you will quickly see, there is something for everyone taking place during Earth week, April 18-22. Here are a few highlights:

• Take part in numerous activities involving eating, growing, biking and MUCH more at Wheatsfield Cooperative; • Sell and trade your outdoor gear at Jax Outdoor’s Gear Swap; • Take advantage of FREE days from the City of Ames for garbage and yard waste; • Join the BioBus Launch Party; And the list goes on and on. ISU and the Ames community are hosting events the whole month of April (at VEISHEA too!) – Earth Day has come a long way in 41 years. April is also a month when visions of fresh fruits and vegetables start dancing in our heads. This issue of Live Green! Monthly celebrates this time of the year by highlighting local food efforts at Iowa State as well as one of Ames’ local producers. Take some time this month to enjoy the season and to find your own unique way to celebrate Earth Day. Remember, it doesn’t have to stop with one day or even one month. Earth Day can be any day and every day.

• Get your bike tuned up, courtesy of Outdoor Recreation Services, on the Library Lawn during Earth Day; • Enjoy GREAT Earth Week specials from ISU Dining; • Bring in your old books and swap them for new ones at the annual Green Umbrella Book Swap; • Meet sustainability leaders from student organizations, campus departments and In greenness, the community during the Earth Day Sus- Merry Rankin Director of Sustainability tainability Fair;

Learn more about the Live Green! Initiative at www.livegreen.iastate.edu

Buying Local

Why YOU should be doing it today!

o you ever wonder where that tomato you’re slicing came from? If you’re like most people, probably not. With the U.S. importing about one third of its tomato consumption, odds are that tomato you’re holding has travelled over 2,000 miles to get to you. Let’s follow a lifecycle of a typical tomato: In a warm climate region, such as California, Florida or Mexico, the seeds of your tomatoes are planted. Your tomatoes are then sprayed with chemicals to control weeds and stave off insects. While your tomatoes are still green, they are picked and packaged. Your tomatoes are then loaded into trucks and hauled to your local grocery store. If that tomato you’re holding now seems a little less sustainable, consider buying locally grown produce where the time from garden to market is in a matter of hours, rather than days, provides added nutritional benefits, fuller flavor, is more sustainable and keeps the local economy running. What exactly is ‘buying local’? While the definition is flexible and may mean different things to different people, typically buying local means buying foods that have been produced within a 100-mile radius and are in season in your area. Whether you are concerned about eating healthy, environmental sustainability or simply buying delicious and fresh produce, there are many benefits in buying local. One of the biggest benefits to buying food locally is the relationship you can build with local farmers. You can ask them what sustainable farming methods they incorporate and what kinds of pesticides or chemicals they use. Knowing exactly what is in your food will help improve your health and nutrition as you are able to choose products raised without pesticides, chemicals or added hormones. Another significant reason to buy local is to reduce “food miles.” “Food miles” refers to the distance a food item travels from the farm to your home. Think about the fact that a typical carrot travels almost 2,000 miles to reach your dinner table! Our food is trucked, hauled in freighter ships, and flown

By Ashley Loneman around the world, burning fossil fuels and has handy signs that tell you exactly how releasing carbon dioxide and other pollut- far your food has travelled and even a little ants along the way. Large amounts of pa- bio about the local farmer. Look for the per and plastic packaging is also needed in ‘Buy Local’ sign at various dining centers order to keep fresh food from spoiling as it on campus, such as the food court in the is transported and stored for long periods Memorial Union, to indicate that food is of time. This packaging piles up in landfills grown locally. Click here to find local farms, and waterways as it is difficult or impos- farmers’ market and restaurants that serve sible to reuse or recycle. Buying local prod- local foods near you. ucts reduces CO2 emissions, cuts down on Another way to buy local products is packaging and reduces your environmen- through a Community Supported Agricultal footprint. ture (CSA) program. CSA has recently beAnother benefit when you buy local is knowing where your money is going – straight into the local economy! On average, 90 cents From field to of every dollar you spend on fork, an average local products goes directly to miles dinner travels the farmer, ensuring they can keep on providing you cents of each dollar spent by with fresh and sustainable the consumer on local foods food. Plus, locally-owned goes back to the farmer. businesses support social sustainability by bringing together members of the Consuming just ten percent community. By buying from local more local produce in Iowa businesses, you are also ensuring could reduce annual CO2 local jobs stay secure. million pounds emissions by Now that you are bursting with food knowledge, where do you begin your local food journey? You can start come a popular way for consumers to buy small by choosing one food item to focus local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. on, such as seasonal fruits or vegetables. Here’s how it works: a farmer offers a cerExplore your local farmers’ market and tain number of “shares” to the public. The look for or request local produce at your share can consist of a box of vegetables or grocery store. Wheatsfield Cooperative fruits and even meat. Members of the local community can then purchase a share and receive a box of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season. This is a wonderful way to meet local farmers and know directly where your food is coming from. Click here to see a list of Iowa CSA programs and find one near you. Ready to dig in? There are many guides to buying local including Sustainable Table, a website devoted to choosing healthy foods, and books titled The 100-Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating and Plenty: Eating Locally on the 100-Mile Diet to help get you started on your local food journey.

Did you know

8090

1,500

A Day in the Life of a Local Farmer

by Caitlin Jones

earing a white and green baseball cap and layers of clothing protecting him from the early spring chill, Chris Corbin dons the practical attire of a man ready to spend a long day on an Iowa farm. “See those five acres down there? That field will be vegetables next year,” Corbin says, pointing toward a field covered in barren corn stalks. “We will grow 40 different kinds of vegetables.” That kind of variety, and the fact that they will all be grown organically, is enough to set Corbin apart from many farmers. Corbin is a 2009 graduate from Iowa State where he earned his degree in Community and Regional Planning. Growing up in Pella, Iowa, he had no experience with farming. It was not until a school trip to India that he was exposed to agricultural practices, and after graduation became involved in gardening and continued to work on various farms. One year ago, Corbin and his business partner Sally Gran, along with help from their spouses Kim Corbin and Luke Gran, established Tabletop Farm, a farming business with the goal of providing local communities with organic produce. They participate in a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) sharing program and with Farm to Folk, an organization that connects sustainable farmers with local consumers at a central location where they can drop off their weekly CSA shares. One fact Corbin can attest to is that sustainable farming can be rewarding, as well as a lot of hard work. “Right now, my days are filled with tractor and farm equipment maintenance, as well as emailing, scheduling when to plant and figuring out how much seed is needed,” Corbin says. While taking care of emails and scheduling takes up this farmer’s early morning hours now, it will not always be this way. Once the planting begins, especially as the Iowa summer creeps closer and the temperatures rise, Corbin’s day will begin with the sun. “Planting, usually transplanting, is either done in the evening or in the morning. You don’t want to put plants out when its 80 degrees, 90 degrees,” Corbin states. He also must always keep an eye on the weather. If a storm is on the way and field work is pending, then that will take priority. While planting will consume most of his

days from mid-April to mid-June, Corbin says they will be planting crops almost year round and thinks his busiest time is the month of August. “A lot of crops are ready to harvest in August. If we’re harvesting salad mix, we’re up as soon as the sun is up and harvesting until we are finished, or until we have to deliver to our CSA members in the afternoon.” Corbin says. They only work with a couple of tractors, one of them being from the 1950s, and they harvest all crops by hand. While much of the produce that Tabletop Farm grows will go to its CSA members, some will also find its way to local farmers’ markets, the Iowa Food Co-op, local restaurants like Vesuvius, and even to the farmers’ own dinner tables. When asked about his role as a farmer, Corbin says that the hardest part of his job is balancing the business relationship with friends and the stress of the farm, while

the most rewarding aspect is feeding people and having that connection with the community. “We would like to be seen as a place that’s well known in the community and provides a good service to people, where they can come out and feel comfortable and connect with other families.” Corbin says. No two days in the life of Chris Corbin are the same. The jobs change with the seasons, with the weather and with the needs of his crops. “A day in the life of a beginning farmer is much different than a day in the life of an established farmer,” he says. “I’m confident in most things, that I can produce it, but there’s always that fear that crops will fail. You build that confidence over a couple of years of experience.” After a long days work, whether it be fixing a tractor, scheduling, planting or harvesting, it is evident that Chris Corbin thoroughly enjoys what he does.

Celebrate Earth Day April 22

by Tyler Pals and Ashley Loneman

970 marks the year that the ‘living green’ lifestyle really started with the creation of Earth Day. “What was the purpose of Earth Day? How did it start? These are the questions I am most frequently asked,” Senator Gaylord Nelson, Founder of Earth Day, noted reflecting of a time 41 years ago. “Actually, the idea for Earth Day evolved over a period of seven years starting in 1962. For several years, it had been troubling me that the state of our environment was simply a non-issue in the politics of the country,” Nelson commented. “At a conference in Seattle in September 1969, I announced that in the spring of 1970 there would be a nationwide grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment and invited everyone to participate. The wire services carried the story from coast to coast. The response was electric. It took off like gangbusters. Telegrams, letters and telephone inquiries poured in from all across the country. The American people finally had a forum to express its concern about what was happening to the land, rivers, lakes and air - and they did so with spectacular exuberance. It was obvious that we were headed for a spectacular success on Earth Day. Earth Day worked because of the spontaneous response at the grassroots level. We had neither the time nor resources to organize 20 million demonstrators and the thousands of schools and local communities that participated. That was the remarkable thing about Earth Day. It organized itself.” April 22, universally recognized as Earth Day, allows everyone from students to professors, politicians to the general public, to impact the world we leave for future generations. Earth Day is vital in reminding us of our collective impact. With 6.5 billion people inhabiting the Earth, bringing awareness to the difference even one person can make is important. ISU students recognize this. Chandra Peterson, President of the Green Umbrella group at Iowa State University, believes living green is very practical and comes, in most cases, with a cheaper price tag. “I think every student should think about how they live their life and how this impacts the entire world,” Peterson said. Although Earth Day is April 22, ISU and the

Ames community is hosting events all week. A number of campus events have been planned, including a sustainability fair sponsored by the Green Umbrella. The fair will feature campus and community organizations that support sustainability. The fair will take place in front of Parks Library allowing students and staff to interact and learn more about these groups. Another event is a book swap in the Memorial Union. People can bring in used books and choose to either trade them in for another book or donate books to others. The Browsing Library in the Memorial Union is also accepting magazine donations for a 25-cent Magazine Sale during Earth week (April 18-22). “I feel like there are more activities and more people recognizing the efforts going on during this week. I think that ever since Iowa State went green, ISU has really committed. Merry Rankin’s position [as Director of Sustainability] enables ISU to grow and make strides in the area of sustainability,” Peterson said. Additional events taking place during Earth Week on campus include Keep Iowa State Beautiful. Join an Earth Day campus cleanup, in conjunction with University Museums staff and the Keep Iowa State Beautiful initiative, as they pick up litter around exterior campus sculptures on the south side of Morrill Hall in the Anderson Sculpture Garden. The ISU Council on Sustainability will also be giving away free compact fluorescent light bulbs in front of the Parks Library. “The significance of our collective awareness and involvement in living green makes an impact to future generations, greater than we will ever know,” Merry Rankin notes. More than one billion people participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. Click here for many more events taking place during Earth Week, and fill your calendar today!

LIVE GREEN!

Spotlight

Did you know you can find local and organic produce on the ISU campus thanks to a program called Farm to ISU? Live Green’s Ashley Loneman sat down with Farm to ISU’s Marketing Intern, Kevin Marquardt to get the inside scoop. AL: How did Farm to ISU begin? KM: In 2007, Iowa State University’s Dining Services initiated the Farm to ISU program to increase its purchases of local, organic and alternatively produced agricultural products. Since then, ISU Dining staff has built relationships with many farmers and agricultural organizations in order to fulfill the overall mission of the Farm to ISU program, which is to strengthen Iowa’s agricultural economy. AL: How do you select farmers, or how do farmers get involved with Farm to ISU? KM: ISU Dining has a set list of requirements for producers/farmers to be able to sell for insurance and safety reasons. Once producers/farmers have passed the necessary requirements, they are able to sell their products as long as they continue to meet standards. Producers/ farmers photographs are used for promotional materials to help educate the ISU community about whose products we purchase. To learn more about the farmers involved with Farm to ISU, click here. AL: What is the biggest benefit you have seen in working with Farm to ISU? KM: Increasing the amount of product purchased from local farmers, and receiving a grant in 2009 from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture to support the training and education of ISU staff and students on the benefits of local foods. Marquardt can be found promoting the program to the ISU community through informational booths and presentations. Marquardt’s aim is to find new ways to educate the community on the importance of the program. Look for the Farm to ISU signs at various locations around campus, such as the food court in the Memorial Union and MU Market & Cafe. Click here for more information on Farm to ISU.

There are many committees, programs, and student organizations to get involved in! Visit http://www.livegreen.iastate.edu/involved/

LIVE GREEN! Events

Iowa Renewable Energy Association Symposium and Exposition

April Opportunities 1116

VEISHEA

Power Shift Washington D.C.

1822

Earth Week: Browsing Library Magazine Sale Green Umbrella’s Book Swap and Sustainability Fair Keep Iowa State Beautiful Litter Removal ISU Council on Sustainability CFL Light Bulb Giveaway ActivUs 5K Run Beyond Coal

28- Iowa Renewable Energy May Association Symposium 1 and Exposition Merry Rankin Director of Sustainability 515-294-5052, mrankin@iastate.edu Ashley Loneman Marketing and Communications Intern; Newsletter Writer/Designer 515-294-0335, aloneman@iastate.edu Pantelis Korovilas Campus and Community Engagement Intern 515-294-0335, pantelis@iastate.edu

The 2011 Iowa Renewable Energy Association Symposium and Exposition is the only event of its kind in Iowa hosted by the Iowa Renewable Energy Association (I-Renew). This year’s Expo will be held April 28-May 1 at the Iowa Memorial Union at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. The Symposium will feature seminars, speakers and workshops covering renewable energy (wind, solar & more), sustainable living, green building, energy efficient technology, renewable fuels, alternative transportation and advocacy. This year they will have a strong focus on Bright Green Business. Keynote speakers include: Lilia Abron,

founder and CEO of PEER Consultants, PC, an environmental consulting firm headquartered in Washington DC and Lou Licht, founder and president of Ecolotree®, Inc. Also, Mason Jennings will perform! All volunteers get in FREE! The exhibition still has display space available and are offering FREE space for student organizations! Click here for more information. Interested in carpooling? Contact Merry Rankin, mrankin@iastate.edu

Go Green during VEISHEA! One of ISU’s oldest traditions is quickly approaching! VEISHEA 2011 will take place April 11-16 and has a variety of events to keep everyone from children to adults entertained. While you are out sampling the Taste of VEISHEA, jamming out to various musicians, strolling through VEISHEA Village and grabbing goodies at the parade, keep in mind these ‘green’ events: Leaders for a Sustainable Community will host ‘green tours’ around the ISU campus. The student-led tours are approximately 30 minutes long and will start every hour, on the hour while VEISHEA Village is taking place. The group is still working on the tour

format, but they will highlight the new LEED Buildings on the northwest side of campus and other sustainable ventures here at ISU. The start location is in Tent 40 at the Leaders for a Sustainable Community table. Also, be on the look-out for these sustainable groups: BioBus, a student-run organization that recycles waste vegetable grease from ISU dining facilities into biodiesel fuel for CyRide buses. Team PrISUm, ISU’s own solar car team. Other student groups that will be around campus include ActivUs, The GreenHouse Group and numerous Green Teams.

Special Thanks...

3 Things You Didn’t Know

To our featured writers: Caitlin Jones, senior in Journalism and Mass Communication and Tyler Pals, senior in Journalism and Mass Communication, who volunteered their writing talents to this addition of the Live Green! Monthly and helped make this issue a success!

Until You Read This Issue:

• ISU Dining purchases local foods from 18 Iowa Farmers. • On April 22 you can swap books, meet ISU and Ames sustainability leaders, and get a free energy efficient light bulb all without leaving campus. • VEISHEA 2011 will offer some great Live Green! opportunities!

At a Glance: Stash the Trash and Earth Hour

Iowa Staters and Ames residents bundled up and came out 1,000 strong to “Stash the Trash” on March 26. Together, they collected over four tons of trash!

After they were done “stashing,” ISUers took part in Earth Hour activities (focused on reducing energy use by turning off their lights) including glow-in-the-dark capture the flag on Central Campus. Thanks to everyone who helped make ISU and Ames cleaner and greener.

LIVE GREEN! May 2011

What’s Inside: • Student Achievements.. see page 2 for ways ISU students have been supporting sustainability on campus!

• Sustainable Campus

.. Iowa State has been leading the way in ‘green’ achievements. Check out page 3 for more!

• Summer Time Celebrations! Stay cool and green this summer with our tips! Page 4.

3 Things You’ll Learn in This Issue: •

There are currently 42 Big Bellys around ISU campus.

•

BioBus has unveiled its new biodiesel made from something right here on campus!

•

There is all natural sunscreen and bug repellent that is not only good for your health, but also the environment.

y l h t Mon

Issue 1 - Volume 7

Highlights of Our 2010-2011 Journey Toward a Sustainable Future

Welcome to the last Live Green Monthly issue for the 2010-2011 academic year. Wow! What a year it has been. You know that feeling you get when you type the last word for a 20 page, take your last final, or finish a big project and you take a minute to look back over all that you’ve accomplished to get there? Well, that’s the feeling I get when I look over this newsletter and am reminded of all of our accomplishments this past year. It’s quite impressive and so diverse. And I’m particularly excited about the diversity of ways we are living green. If you remember from one of our earlier issues (February 2011), the topic of social sustainability was discussed and a diagram was included that illustrated that sustainability is not simply about taking care of the environment. This diagram showed that to be truly sustainable, a balanced approach of environment, community, and the economy was required. As you look through this “year in review” issue, you will see that Iowa State

University is taking that approach. This past year, we have most definitely saved money (and invested in sustainability), strengthened and empowered communities both on and off-campus, and lightened our footprint on the planet. No doubt about it, it was a good year. Our Live Green Journey is far from over, however. As all of you are already looking toward next year – what your classes will be, what projects you will start tackling, and what initiatives you’d like to get started, I’m doing the same exact thing. Plans are already being made and meetings set to start on next year’s Live Green Adventure! I look forward to our continued work together and all the accomplishments we’ll make in 20112012! Congratulations! Have a GREAT (and green) summer! See you soon! In Greenness, Merry Rankin Director of Sustainability

Learn more about the Live Green! Initiative at www.livegreen.iastate.edu

The SHOP (Students Helping Our Peers) Created by a group of ISU students to support social sustainability, The SHOP is a student run food bank where students in need of assistance can simply show their ISU ID card and receive food without record. The SHOP is located at 2616 Food Science Building and is open every Tuesday from 3 to 6 p.m. Anyone can donate to the SHOP by dropping off items during open hours. Donation boxes are also located on campus in Food Science Building and MacKay and at the Ames Hy-Vee locations. For more information, contact Hailey Boudreau haileyb@iastate.edu or Sarah Schwanebeck sarahs@iastate. edu.

Achievements

Campus Sustainability Day

Bike tune ups -Campus Sustainability Day

On October 20, 2010, campuses around the nation took part in National Campus Sustainability Day. In celebration, Iowa State featured sustainability-minded campus organizations outside Parks Library. Participants enjoyed exploring the electric car and solar car, getting their bikes tuned up and talking to ‘green’ student organizations.

Recyclemania ISU campus housing competed against nearly 600 schools around the world, (7 in Iowa) in the 2011 Recyclemania Challenge. Recyclemania is a friendly competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities. Iowa State ranked 95 out of the 145 schools that participated in the benchmark division. Congratulations to SUV who had the highest pounds recycled with an average of 9.07 lb./person!

Closets Collide Created by Kelsey Leighton as an English project, Closets Collide is a student organization that organizes clothing swap events. Closets Collide promotes sustainability in fashion and retail, as well as provides participants the opportunity to engage in free workshops about reducing, reusing and recycling. For more information contact Closets Collide members at closetscollide@gmail.com.

Earth Hour Closets Collide members

On March 26, 2011, ISUers joined over 128 countries in participating in Earth Hour- a global environmental event dedicated to raising awareness about climate change by turning off lights for one hour. The GreenHouse Group planned glow-in-the-dark capture the flag on Central Campus and other participants watched Wall-E in the South Ballroom.

ISU BioBus Working for over two years, BioBus has unveiled its biodiesel made from used vegetable oil from ISU Dining operations! Founded to produce biodiesel to fuel CyRide buses on campus, ISU BioBus is a completely student-run organization at Iowa State.

Earth Week April 22, 2011 marked the 41st anniversary of Earth Day. Earth Day was celebrated throughout April on campus- especially during Earth Week. Events included a book swap sponsored by the Green Umbrella, a Freecycle event for students, a 5K Run Beyond Coal hosted by ActivUs and ISU Running Club and an Earth Day Sustainability Fair showcasing ‘green’ organizations from the campus and community. This is only a small amount of what ISU students have achieved in the 2010-2011 year. Click here to see much more!

BioBus- CyRide ran on vegetable oil biodiesel

The SHOP open house

Student

EPA Game Day Challenge

Recycling during the EPA Game Day Challenge

During the month of October, campuses around the nation went head to head in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Game Day Challenge- a competition for universities to promote waste reduction at their football games. Iowa State, the only Regents University competing in Iowa, competed during the homecoming game on Oct. 30. With the support of volunteers, tailgaters, Athletics and the Live Green! Initiative, over eight thousand pounds of material was recycled or composted during the game!

Campus

Achievements Made the List!

ISU Campus has been named one of 311 Green Colleges by the Princeton Review and featured in U.S. News and World Report’s list of “10 College Campuses Getting Creative for Earth Day.”

Big Bellys

Big Belly and Wall-E together during VEISHEA

After a successful pilot program in 2009, the number of Big Belly trash compactors on campus has grown from one to 42! Big Bellys reduce CO2 emissions and save money by cutting the number of trash pick-ups from once a day to once a week. These eco-friendly trash compactors are also powered by solar panels on top of the units.

Intelligent Use of Water Award After four months of voting, Rain Bird Corporation has announced that Reiman Gardens’ rain garden is a $5,000 winner in the 20102011 Intelligent Use of Water Awards program. Reiman Gardens’ rain garden is designed to reduce the Gardens’ water consumption while demonstrating how surface water can be reused in landscaped environments.

3rd Annual Symposium on Sustainability

Green Buildings ISU campus leads the way on campus sustainability with four buildings achieving LEED certification. This year, Hach Hall achieved LEED Gold. The Biorenewables Research Laboratory is awaiting its official Gold announcement. These buildings join ISU’s King Pavilion addition to the College of Design, the first education building in Iowa to earn LEED Platinum certification, and Morrill Hall that has LEED Silver. The Recreation Facilities Expansion is also being built toward LEED Gold.

ISU Dining ISU Dining promotes sustainability on campus through numerous programs. The Farm to ISU program promotes the purchase of local foods, while trayless dining reduces food waste and saves water, energy and cleaning supplies. By sending food waste, napkins and containers to the ISU composting facility, ISU Dining diverts waste from ending up in landfills or waterways. Its new to-go system even features silverware made from biodegradable sugarcane! This is only a small amount of what ISU has achieved in the 2010-2011 year. Click here to see much more!

ISU Dining’s eco-friendly to-go containers

Jerome Ringo at Symposium on Sustainability

The 2011 Symposium on Sustainability included a public and keynote lecture by Jerome Ringo, an international leader in sustainability. A poster session of sustainability initiatives, the announcement of the President’s Live Green Awards for Excellence in Sustainability winners, interactive visioning sessions, updates of 2010 accomplishments, and a sustainable luncheon rounded out this year’s exciting and sustainably-designed event.

HowTo GreenYour n Your Home

SUMMER

Be a fan-atic. Instead of reaching for the AC, consider the much underrated ceiling fan. Electric fans use 90 percent less energy than centralized air conditioning. And there’s always the simple window fan or the classic hand fan made out of the nearest newspaper or magazine laying around. Power down. Switch off your computer and lights when not in use- this not only saves energy but also reduces the heat emitted by such objects. Eat cool. Forget your hot indoor stove. Save energy and stay cool by making sandwiches, salads or anything that doesn’t require heat. Check out these tasty ‘cool’ recipes! Circulate air by opening windows, especially those on the north and south of your house or apartment. Enhance the cooling effect by adding some white window shades (to deflect the sun) or bamboo blinds. If you must use the air conditioner, remember to keep doors and windows closed to maximize cooling. Also, make sure you’re using an energy-efficient Energy Star model, and clean the filter every so often so as to improve air flow. In addition, consider using an electric fan to supplement the AC, allowing you to raise the thermostat 9 degrees Fahrenheit higher to get the same resulting temperature--and saving up to 30% of your energy consumption.

uring Your Barbecue Burn green. Choose a cleaner-burning propane or electric grill over one powered by charcoal, which contributes more to poor air quality. Or, try a solar oven or stove that avoids emissions altogether. If you do use charcoal, look for lump brands (briquettes may contain coal dust or other additives as binders) made from invasive tree species or harvested from sustainably managed forests. Switch from lighter fluid, which releases smog-forming VOCs, to a chimney starter. Eat local. Grill up delicious locally grown veggies, fruit and meat. Set your picnic table with reusable dishware and silverware and cloth napkins. If that’s not feasible, look for biodegradable or recycled-paper dinnerware, unbleached cups, and recycled-paper napkins. Clean green. Clean up with a natural cleaner like Orange Plus (made with orange oil) or SoyClean. Fight off insect invaders without chemicals. Bug sprays containing DEET are bad for your health and the earth. Opt instead for a natural repellent like lemon eucalyptus.

t Your Campsite Stay inside the lines. This may seem like a no-brainer, but make sure to camp only in designated camping areas. By camping in designated areas, you can be sure you are not damaging fragile ecosystems you may not know are there. In addition, if dangerous weather is coming, campground officials can ensure you are warned and get you to shelter if necessary. Leave no trace. Whatever you bring into the campsite, make sure to take with you. Remember to not burn waste in the fire, as the debris can pollute the air. Light a flame. Ready for a campfire sing-a-long? Make sure to burn only fallen wood and not to cut down branches from a living tree. Most campgrounds provide you with a place to build a fire, but if not, keep an eye out for previously cleared places. Reuse those if possible and only clear a new spot if absolutely necessary and with permission.

or Your Skin Sunscreen is important, especially during those long summer days spent outside. But the chemicals in some sunscreens can damage your skin and the environment. After investigating nearly 1,000 products, the Environmental Working Group put together a special report scoring sunscreens on a scale from zero (no hazard) to 10 (high hazard). Check out the top three: • Badger Sunscreen, SPF 30 • Trukid Sunny Days Facestick Mineral Sunscreen UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum, SPF 30+ • Purple Prairie Botanicals Sun Stuff, SPF 30 Bug repellent- along with the warm weather, summer time also brings mosquitoes! Keep the pesky things at bay with products that contain plant-derived ingredients. Repellents containing the chemical DEET can give you headaches, cause severe long-term health problems and is harmful to the environment. If you have to, use DEET products sparingly and choose the lowest DEET level necessary. Au naturel. Boost your natural repellent with simple clothing choices. Mosquitoes are attracted to darker colors and can bite through tight-fitting fabrics. So wear light colors and looser-fitting clothes. Going somewhere really buggy? Outdoor retailers sell mosquito-net clothing and Sawyer Permethrin- an insect repellent you can wash into your hiking clothes.

n the Water or On a Picnic Reuse and reduce. When planning your trip out to the beach, a day of canoeing or for a picnic, remember to use reusable containers such as water bottles, coolers and food containers. Try not to bring pre-packaged snacks, as this will cut down on waste not only in the garbage container, but also debris that can end up in waterways and natural areas. Did you know, there is a garbage patch off the coast of California that is twice the size of Texas and it’s estimated that 90 percent of the debris are plastics! You could also go one step further by bringing a litter bag and picking up any trash you find. Think and swim. If you are in the water remember what you put on your skin, clothing and hair ends up in the water— some ingredients in sunscreens, hair and skin products are known to harm corals, which are vital to world-wide ocean health and other water dwellers in fresh as well as salt water. Another good reason to remember your natural sunscreen and bug repellent! Check out more tips here.

Live Green! Throughout the Summer Remember to check in with the Live Green! Initiative over the summer! Stay up-to-date on ‘green’ activities and events at the Live Green! website and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for even more green tips. And keep an eye out in the fall for the return of the Live Green! newsletter! Here are some dates to keep in mind while you’re out and about this summer: May 8 Iowa Wildlife Center ‘Year of the Turtle’ Celebration Merry Rankin Director of Sustainability 515-294-5052, mrankin@iastate.edu Ashley Loneman Marketing and Communications Intern; Newsletter Writer/Designer 515-294-0335, aloneman@iastate.edu Pantelis Korovilas Campus and Community Engagement Intern 515-294-0335, pantelis@iastate.edu

June 11 Summerfest in Campustown

May 7 Master Gardeners Plant Sale Iowa School for the Deaf Campus, Council Bluffs

Reiman Gardens also host various events throughout the summer including Insect Origami, Garden Photography Collage, Rose Festival and Midsummer Wine Fest, just to name a few!

May 14 World Fair Trade Day Sale Wheatsfield Cooperative

Wheatsfield also has Community Classes and hosts other various events throughout the summer.

2010-2011 Live Green! Adventures in Photos:

3rd Annual Symposium on Sustainability

Cy and Live Green! at the MU

The SHOP Grand Opening

Congrads and Good Luck to Live Green Interns Ashley and Pantelis!! They are graduating and starting their next adventure. They have definitely left their “greenprint” at ISU!!

EPA Game Day Challenge

Live Green! at VEISHEA Parade