PSU Campus Sustainability Guide 3rd edition (2015)

Campus Sustainability Guide Helpful ways to reduce our environmental footprint.

Plymouth State University Here at PSU we have a strong commitment to fostering sustainable behavior, within our institution and beyond. The University’s Climate Action Plan outlines PSU’s plan to become carbon neutral by 2050, however to achieve our campus goals and create a more sustainable society we must work together to improve our everyday choices both on and off campus.

When deciding to live more sustainably one must make conscious, thoughtful decisions about a wide variety of choices and behaviors, but knowing the “right choice” can be challenging. This guidebook was created to be a resource to assist members of the greater PSU community in living a more sus-tainable lifestyle by providing a “quick reference” source in order to assist in making daily sustainable choices in our community.

This guide is useful when considering environmentally friendly choices: - In your home - In your work space - In your commmunity - For yourself.....

INDEX 1. Recycling 2. Energy 3. Transportation 4. Cleaning 5. Composting 6. Consignment 7. Food 8. Wellness 9. Getting Involved 10. Climate Action Plan OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Website: http://www.plymouth.edu/sustainability Contact: Brian Eisenhauer bweisenhauer@plymouth.edu

1. RECYCLING

While PSU departments collectively discard tons of material each year, our campus is committed to handling the material in a responsible way by reducing and recycling waste whenever possible. By recycling the materials are kept out of landfills, which conserves energy and natural resources, reduces pollution, and supports the market for secondary materials , which reduces waste disposal costs for PSU.

Here’s how recycling works on campus: Paper: - Newspapers & magazines - Office, fax & copy paper -Junk mail & envelopes -Brown paper bags Containers: - Glass bottles & jars - Aluminum cans - Clean foil - All Plastics #1-#7 Cardboard: - Brown corrugated boxes - Gray boxboard– cereal boxes - Clean pizza boxes

DO NOT

RECYCLE -Tissues - Paper towels - Food/candy wrappers - Snack bags (chips) - Paper cups/plates - 6/12 pack cardboard - Styrofoam - Milk/juice boxes - Paper drink cartons - Plastic cups/plates - Frozen food boxes - Ice cream cartons - Laminated paper - Food stained cardboard - Wax-coated boxes - Packing peanuts - Take out containers - Plate glass - Light bulbs - Pyrex containers - Plastic bags - Yogurt/cheese tubs

2. ENERGY

Energy to us, is the life-blood of modern society. Our dependence on fossil fuels as our main source of energy is a leading cause of climate change and affects other environmental concerns. At Plymouth State University we encourage energy conservation, and the university continues to explore alternative energy sources to meet the goals of the PSU climate action plan President Sara Jayne Steen has signed to make PSU carbon neutral by 2050.

Tips to Conserve Energy!

- Turn off lights when not in use!

- Turn off & unplug electronics when not in use– computer, TV, toaster, ect.

- Place your electronics and other devices strategically, so you can put them on a power strip– making it easier to turn them all off at once!

- Change power management features on computers to an energy efficient setting - Unplug phone & battery chargers when fully charged - Use task lighting, desk lamps, when possible, and shut off overheads - Don’t use decorations that require electricity - Use compact fluorescent lights, or LED bulbs in light fixtures - Place work space near windows to take advantage of natural light - When purchasing, choose energy efficient models like Energy Star.

Conserve Heat & Water Wear clothing appropriate for the season.

Keep the thermostat at 68 in the winter & 76 in the summer .

Lower thermostats at night and when leaving the home for long periods.

Keep curtains open during sunny winter days to allow natural warming.

Conserve water by turning off faucet while brushing teeth & washing dishes.

Showers use 2 gallons of water a minute- 20 minute showers use 40 gallons of water!

Install water-conserving showerhead, they are inexpensive.

Seal leaky drafts in windows and doors. Insulated doorstoppers make a difference.

When purchasing new products, choose energy efficient models like Energy Star.

Here are some ways to cut back on our reliance on cars!

Public Transportation

PSU Shuttle Service: the PE Center, Ice Rink, Langdon Woods, Centre Lodge, Lamson Library and Prospect Hall & Weekend trips to Wal-Mart.

Concord Coach: provide bus trips from Plymouth to Concord, Manchester, Boston, South Station and Logan Airport.

Bicycling: Rhino Bike Works-next to the Common Man, has an extensive line-up of bikes and cycling gear, as well as rentals!

Plymouth Ski and Sport- sells new bikes and cycling gear!

Hartman Union Building has cruiser bikes for a free day rentals- just bring your school ID! They also have bikes for rent for a week, month or semester.

Additional Resources: - White Mountain Cycling - Propel Yourself to PSU

Walking:

Sidewalks run from Highland St all the way to the Hatch Plaza, where you can find Hanna-ford, Marshalls, Family Dollar, Olympia Sports, and Radio Shack.

Next door is Burger King, and opening soon is CVS! You can also get to the Hatch Plaza by ventur-ing through the woods behind the Langdon Woods Res Hall.

All shops downtown are walking accessible.

Sidewalks run Main St from the rotary down to Rite Aid.

3. TRANSPORTATION

One of the most common forms of transportation puts a tremendous burden on our environment; driving. While walking and biking are great environmentally friendly alternatives to driving a car, they are not always reasonable.

What a difference WE could make.

4. CLEANING

When cleaning it is very important to use sustainable cleaning products. Simply switching chemical-based products with renewable resource-based products is an easy step towards a more sustainable way of life. “Green� products have a bio-based content, opposed to harsh chemicals. These green products decompose much quicker.

All Natural Benefits: Cleaning Products - As efficient as chemically based products - Non-toxic & biodegradable - Made of recycled plastics - Prevent contamination of water sources - Prevent release of chemicals & harsh fumes into living area - Good for skin - Multi-purpose uses Laundry Detergents - Prevent contamination of water sources - Less detergent needed per load - Cost efficient - Prolongs lifespan of clothing Organic Soaps - Prevent contamination of water sources - Made from all-natural, chemical free materials - Packaged in recycled/post-consumer paper & plastics

GREEN Clean @ PSU For the past five years, Physical Plant staff have taken steps to help make cleaning techniques and products green at PSU. There was a revamp to the waste and recycle system, and now all cleaning products come from Genesan; they have a balanced pH, are biodegradable, made from all natural ingredients and are safe for people’s health. Reusable microfiber appliances and better water filtration have also been implemented to ensure a more enviromentally friendly campus.

How to make your own cleaning supplies.

Combine ingredients in a spray bottle & use!

Multi-Purpose Cleaner 2 tbsp. baking soda 1 tbsp. white vinegar 1 pint warm water Window Cleaner ¼ to ½ tsp. liquid detergent 3 tbsp. vinegar 2 cups water Oven Cleaner 1 + cups baking soda Squirt of liquid detergent Water Furniture Polish ½ tsp. olive oil ¼ cup vinegar OR fresh lemon juice Mold Killer 2 tsp. tea tree oil 2 cups water OR white distilled vinegar Creamy Soft Scrubber ½ cup baking soda Enough liquid detergent to make frosting-like texture

How to Compost: - Choose a location or container to compost organic material in.

Containers are a popular choice because they retain moisture and keep out animals.

- Containers should have plenty of aeration space.

Can be wooden, plastic, or wire mesh with sufficient ventilation.

- Choose a location away from living quarters that receives a fair amount of shade so the compost does not dry out.

- To begin composting: mix an equal amount of nutrient rich, fresh (green) nat-ural waste with carbon rich (brown) natu-ral waste.

This can be as simple as fresh lawn cuttings and old leaves.

- Occasionally turn over material with fork or shovel for aeration.

Keep compost moist, add water when nec-essary if it appears to be drying out.

- When individual items can no longer be recognized and compost has transitioned into rich, dark soil it is ready to be used!

5. COMPOSTING

Composting allows us to reuse organic matter, as well as limit the amount of landfill waste. Composting produces nutrient rich soil which is great for gardening

PSU currently composts lawn, leaf and garden waste. Each is composted separately and reused on a 1 or 2 year cycle. PSU does not compost kitchen waste, but will accept all other organic compostable materials. For more info contact Sherri Covell, PSU’s Horticulturist.

6. CONSIGNMENT

Donating old goods is a great way to recycle these materials, and purchas-ing donated items is a great way to help eliminate over consumptive be-havior. Items should be in good enough condition to still be usable; if you would give it to a friend, it can be donated. If you’re not sure if the dona-tion center will take, don’t be afraid to ask!

Suggested Items that can be Consigned: - Clothing & Accessories: belts, hats, jewelry, shoes - Furniture & Home Accessories: chairs, tables, lamps, rugs - Kitchen Ware: utensils, dishes, pots, pans, coffee makers - Books, Movies, CD’s, School Supplies - Outdoor Equipment: Bikes, roller blades, helmets, skis

Where to Bring Donations Locally Boomerang Used Furniture (5 Main St ) Off the Hanger (103 Main St ) plymouth Ski & Sport ( 97 Main St ) Etcetera Shoppe ( 65 NH-25, Meredith)

A much more affordable and SUSTAINABLE option...

7. FOOD

Food is important when considering one’s carbon footprint. The average American use carbpn foot print for food is within the range of that for personal vehicle transportation. By choosing fruits vegetables and grains over other foods you can significantly lighten carbon footprints.

Why Buy Local ?

Health Benefits -It’s more nutritious! Food purchased at a local farmer’s market or other venue has been picked in the last 24 hours so it has not lost any nu-tritional value - Shopping locally means you’ll buy less processed food, which contains more refined carbohydrates, sugar, fat and preservatives - This also means you’ll be eating more fruits and vegetables!

Less transportation of food = less fossil fuels being emitted = less pollution for us!

- Interacting with your farmer means you can ask about how they raise their animals and what they use to treat their fields.

Financial Benefits -Buying local may cost more up front, but the food will last longer once you bring it home so it won’t go to waste.

- Supermarket produce generally travels about 1500 miles.

- When you buy produce at the supermarket, on average only 18% of your dollar goes to the grower, and 82% goes to the middlemen - When you purchase locally, 80-90% of each dollar goes back to the farmer Local Foods Plymouth, D Acers & Valley Food/ Farm are all great sources to obtain localy grown food.

Tips for Eating Sustainably: -Eat less meat, especially beef. For each unit of protein, beef requires 6-17 times as much land as soy.

-Eat more grains, fresh vegetables, and fresh fruit, but be mindful of the season and point of origin for each item purchased. Strawberries in the winter have been transported thousands of miles to get to food markets in the Northeast, they do not make a low-footprint choice in New England after summer harvest.

-Buy as local as possible. A substantial component to carbon footprint of any item is the cost in CO2 of transportation.

-Choose organic when possible. It is generally the more expensive option, but or-ganic food production utilizes fewer fossil fuel-based pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.

-Eat as low on the food chain within each food group as you can adjust to. For ex-ample, a vegan diet is the lowest on the food chain but vegetarian diet may be more accomplishable.

-Support local community-supported agriculture (CSA’s) as much as possible. This concept involves an arrangement in which people buy a share in the food produc-tion of a local farm in exchange for regular fresh produce during growing season. CSA’s are now in operation in most urban and suburban areas.

-Grow your own! People in urban and suburban areas often do this with potted vegetables, which can be grown on their deck or by growing indoors using hydroponics.

In 2002 food production accounted for 10.5% of the total energy used & 17% of the fossil fuel used in the United States.

“Wellness is a connection of paths: knowledge & action.”

Joshua Welch.

PSU Activities: -The HUB offers free group exercise programs to students, faculty, and staff; and for non PSU members they are reasonably priced.

- Intramural sports teams! PSU has a variety of different intramural sports that happen year round.

- Wellness Work’s Committee for PSU was created to promote, educate, support and the wellness for students, faculty and staff at PSU. - Outdoor Center for all sorts of rental equipment. Free for students and low rates for everyone else! They have Nordic Skis, Tele Skis, snowshoes and more- it’s a great way to be sustainable by sharing resources.

The Outdoor Center is located at #31 of PSU’S

White Mountain Apartment Complex.

8. WELLNESS

Recently, there has been an increasing trend between well-ness and healthy lifestyles and sustainability. Here are some resources and activities at PSU, as well as the sur-rounding community that help to promote wellness and healthy lifestyles.

Plymouth Area Activities: - Walk the Heritage Trail! On this trail you can learn about the history of Plymouth. In total, the trail is 230 miles long, and stretches across the state of New Hamp-shire, Plymouth’s portion is about a 5.6 mile loop. Start the walk at the Plymouth Regional Senior Center.

- Squam Lake Association offers great opportunities for ecological and recreational programs, including camping, boating, and hiking.

- Visit Fox Park year round! In the winter, they host an outdoor skating rink, and in the spring, summer and fall they have numerous trails for exploring.

- Experience Rainbow Falls- located in Walter Newton Natural Area, a nature pre-serve of 163 acres. The trail is a 3.5 mile loop, which will bring you past Rainbow Falls. Find more information at the Plymouth Area Welcome Center!

- Pemi-Baker River Adventures is a great resource for water sports. They offer kay-ak and canoe trips, moonlight rafting and tubing. Kayaks, canoes, rafts, tubes and paddle boards are all available for rentals.

9. GET INVOLVED

Interested in the environment, but don’t know much about it? Interested in helping green efforts, but don’t know how? Here are some ways you can get involved at PSU! For more information contact the following organizations.

Office of Enviromental Sustanibility

PSU’S OES works with students, the university and community organizations to help make envi-ronmental goals become a reality. The office is composed of faculty, staff, and students who develop projects and work to help make the campus more sustainable.

Contact: Brian Eisenhauer Email: bweisenhauer@plymouth.edu Website: http://www.plymouth.edu/sustainability/

Local Resorces Appendix l

Center for Active Living and Healthy Communities

The Center for Active Living and Healthy Communities aims to enhance active living, health and wellness in New Hampshire’s North Country and Lakes Region through educa-tion, research & community partnerships.

Contact: Barbara J. McCahan bmccahan@plymouth.edu Website: Center for Active Living & Healthy Communities

“Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community. ” - Anthony J. D’Angelo

Local Resorces Appendix ll

Center For Rural Partnership

The center for Rural Partnerships is aimed at connecting the needs and goals of rural communities with insightful research and productive partnerships. The Center works with diverse local populations and community leaders, includ-ing elected officials, community groups, schools, developers and others to pro-mote a high quality of life in rural New Hampshire Contact: psu-cfrp@plymouth.edu Phone: 603-535-3275 Website: http://www.plymouth.edu/center-for-rural-partnerships/

CommonGround

Common Ground is the environmental and social justice organization at PSU. Common Ground is involved with the student body and host interactive events such as Earth Jam, Water Week and Food for Thought. Their main objec-tive is to turn PSU into a more sustainable campus.

Eco House

The Eco House is an office and residential building. It houses the Office of Environmental Sustainability, Common Ground, and the Sustainability Fellows. The Eco House is a classroom for students, and it also hosts workshops for the public to learn how to be more sustainable.

Contact: Brian Eisenhauer bweisenhauer@plymouth.edu Website: http://www.plymouth.edu/sustainability/ecohouse/

President’s Commission on Environmental Sustainability

The President’s Commission on Environmental Sustainability’s main goal is to help bring down PSU’s greenhouse gas emissions in order to address global warm-ing.

The Climate Action Plan has been developed and they are working to fulfill goals to create carbon neutrality by 2050, and act as a liaison between administra-tion and the PSU community for greening the campus.

Contact: Brian Eisenhauer bweisenhauer@plymouth.edu Website: http://www.plymouth.edu/office/president/commissions-initiatives/commission-on-environment-sustainability/

Local Resorces Appendix lll

S.A.G.E Center

The SAGE Center stands for Sexuality, Anti-Violence, Gender and Equality. The center provides support and resources to the students who need them. The Center works both on campus and with outside organizations to help support human rights and make sure PSU’s campus is a safe and comfortable environment for LGBTQ students.

Website:http://www.plymouth.edu/office/sage

Sustainanility Fellows

Sustainability Fellows are students at PSU who work with Residential Life to help bring awareness to the sustainable efforts made here on cam-pus and in on campus housing. The fellows promote environmentally con-scious choices in everyday life and teach how you can be green on a college budget.

Contact: Brian Eisenhauer bweisenhauer@plymouth.edu Website: http://www.plymouth.edu/reslife/reslife-staff/sustainability-fellow.html

Universites Enviromental Committee

University Environment Committee The University Environment Committee works alongside the Office of Environmental Sustainability and President’s Commission on Environmental Sustainability to help Plymouth meet it’s carbon neutral goal by 2050.

Contact: Brian Eisenhauer bweisenhauer@plymouth.edu Phone: 603-535-2260

D Acers of New Hampshire

D Acres stands for Developmental Aimed at Creating Rural Eco-logical Society. Their main goal is to do research and educate people on how to live sustainably and be able to have small scale organic farms in the area. The farm is used as an example for anyone who would like to learn how to do their part in the green effort. D Acres works to develop systems and skills that they can teach others to help them live healthy by growing their own organic food and increase people’s overall awareness.

Contact: info@dacres.org Phone: 603-786-2366 Website: http://www.dacres.org/

Local Resorces Appendix lV

Center for the Environment

The Center for the Environment addresses the science, policies, culture and economics of the natural environment in northern New England through research, education and col-laboration. CFE engages on and off campus partners to define, acquire and provide sci-ence-based knowledge to make informed decisions. It is home to the Master’s of Science in Environmental Science and Policy degree program at PSU. Contact: psu-cfe@plymouth.edu Phone: 603-535-3179 Website: Center for the Environment

Local Foods Plymouth

Local Foods Plymouth is an online marketplace that helps people in the Plymouth area to buy locally grown food. They allow their buyers to browse online to find out more information and place orders to local farm-ers. The provide a general place for buyers to be able to pick up all of their locally grown food.

Contact: localfoodsplymouth@gmail.com Phone: 603-536-5030 Website: http://www.localfoodsplymouth.org

Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Iniciative

The Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI) is an organiza-tion that encourages the conservation of energy and the use of renewable energy in the Plymouth region. They help to educate and guide people to the right information and services needed in order to save as much energy as possible and eventually turn to renewable sources. They work to help ease a transition in the Plymouth region from regular energy to renewable energy working with one family at a time.

Contact: Sandra Jones Sandra@plymouthenergy.org Phone: 603-536-5030 Website: http://www.plymouthenergy.org/

10.

Plymouth State University Climate Action Plan

Concern over the relationship between humans and the environment has grown in re-cent years as the issues of resource depletion, energy dependence, and climate change have become acknowledged as some of the biggest challenges facing current and future generations. To address these challenges changes are needed at the individual and insti-tutional levels, with innovation and cooperation as essential parts of successful efforts to decrease human impacts on the environment.

Plymouth State University has joined other institutions of higher learning in recognizing their important leadership role in efforts to address environmental issues. It strives to serve as an example of the ways institutions can work with their constituents to reduce environmental impacts. The university is trying to achieve these goals in many ways, in-cluding making a formal commitment to reduce the effects of its operations on climate change.

In 2007 with strong support from across campus President Sara Jayne Steen joined lead-ers from institutions of higher learning throughout the United States in signing the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. The commitment pledges that PSU will achieve carbon neutrality in its operations by 2050 and will serve as a leader in climate change adaptation. A presidential Commission for Environmental Sustainability was formed to develop the PSU Climate Action plan (CAP), which reports our Green House Gas (GHG) emissions and provides the campus with a road map for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The plan also identified means for increasing the focus on sustainability across the curriculum and enhancing research and community interaction on environmental issues.

The CAP is available on the Plymouth State University Office of Environmental Sustaina-bility webpage, and we look forward to working with you to achieve our sustainability goals.

THANK YOU!! for helping us make PSU more sustainable.

If you have further questions please contact Office of Enviromental Sustainability PSU’S OES works with students, the university and community organizations to help make envi-ronmental goals become a reality. The office is composed of faculty, staff, and students who develop projects and work to help make the campus more sustainable.

Website: http://www.plymouth.edu/sustainability Contact: Brian Eisenhauer bweisenhauer@plymouth.edu