New Solar Light in town

In case you haven’t noticed, there is a giant solar driven light down in front of Pflueger and Tinglestad.  This previously dark corner has been troublesome for years; it’s in an awkward location that makes it difficult to run wires out to any light.  For years, PLU staff has been trying to fix the problem, with only dim flickering results.

But over the summer, a brilliant thought!  Solar power is a reliable, and cheaper way to get light to this dark corner.  And now that it’s up, PLU will never have to pay an electric bill on this light.  Sol Lamps in Florida was the company that provided us this light, and the have guaranteed the product for 20 years.  That’s a pretty long lasting source of power.  Not even dams can go 20 years without servicing.

Three panels charge a battery throughout the day, and at night a photocell senses the darkness and flicks on the highly efficient LED bulb.  It’s bright, and and it’s here!  Our fist solar at PLU!  The first 3 of many.

King Corn Film Showing December 8th in the Cave, 8pm

Behind America’s dollar hamburgers and 72-ounce sodas is a key ingredient that quietly fuels our fast-food nation: corn. In KING CORN , recent college graduates Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis leave the east coast for rural Iowa, where they decide to grow an acre of the nation’s most powerful crop.

I was shocked when I first watched this documentary, and scared straight into eating more responsibly.  I can’t believe the crap I put into my body without knowing it!  The social and environmental benefits are astounding.  Anyone would benefit from watching this film, and I highly recommend watching it during this facilitated conversation.  This is a movie you will want to talk about.

Request for Research Proposal

NEW GRANT OPPORTUNITY

This is an amazing opportunity that really blew me away.  Any student that takes this on will get a major feather in their cap, a paid stipend and a guaranteed way to impact PLU forever.  Take a look at plu.edu/sustainability, but here is the basic rundown:

Request for Research Proposal

AY 2009-2010 through 2010-2011

Topic - “Energy Efficiency and Conservation”

Maximum Budget – $10,000; one grant of $10,000 will be awarded in this cycle

Project Completion Date - On or before March 31, 2011

Eligible Institutions -Pacific Lutheran University, Saint Martin’s College, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University, University of Puget Sound

Deadline for receipt of proposals –March 26, 2010

Sponsor – Funding provided by Puget Sound Energy, Inc., through a grant awarded to Independent Colleges of Washington (ICW)

Application Information

Research Topic – “Energy Efficiency and Conservation”   Proposals should focus on research that would help a utility, business or individual customer become more energy efficient.

Award Level – One award of $10,000 will be distributed beginning in 2009/10 and ends one year later in the 2010/11 academic year .  Funds can be used for any expense related to the research project, including equipment, travel, stipends, scholarships, materials, printing, etc.  Please attach a separate budget sheet detailing how grant funds will be spent.   Any unspent project funds will be retained by the recipient institution at the end of the project period.  The chief academic officer will determine how the remaining funds shall be spent.

Recognition   – Final results of the project, in whatever form presented (written, verbal, electronic, etc)  must include the following statement:  This project was funded by Puget Sound Energy (PSE), Inc of Bellevue, WA  through a grant awarded to the Independent  Colleges of Washington .  PSE and its representatives had no influence in the final selection of the institution receiving the award.

Application Guidelines

• Research must be conducted by students (graduate or undergraduate), with faculty oversight, enrolled at applying institution.  Please note:  Project will span two academic years
• Research may focus on any individual or interdisciplinary academic subject(s) relevant to the topic (see sample list of selected topics below)

Application Content

• The proposal should include the following information (weight of response on final selection):

• • A clear statement of the need(s), issue(s), or problem(s) to be addressed (30%)
  • Strategy and description of research process (20%)
  • Results you expect from your project (25%)
  • Timeline (10%)
  • How you will determine if your project is successful (10%)
  • Project budget (5%)
  • Academic status (class year, major, minor, etc.) of research individual or team members

Results – A written report, including results and conclusions of the project, will be provided to Independent Colleges of Washington by March31, 2010.  A one-page progress report sent to ICW is requested at the half-way point – September 30, 2010.  At the conclusion of the project, final results will be disseminated to Puget Sound Energy.  No requirement is made by the donor to see the research and no control over the research or results may be exercised by the donor or by Independent Colleges of Washington. Results remain the intellectual property of the researchers and their institution for publication or other dissemination.

Applications must be received by March 26^th, 2010.  Mail or email proposals to:

Anne Cassidy

Independent Colleges of Washington

600 Stewart Street, Suite 600

Seattle, WA  98101

Anne@ICWashington.org

Sustainability Committee 12/2/09 minutes

Sustainability Committee

12/2/09

Updates

• GREAN- held last meeting of fall semester, guest speaker from Food and Water Watch.  Expressed interest in more lobby activities
• Dining- donating reusable bags for Christmas Luncheon, waiting for TBTT results
• RHA- Lids Off had mixed success, still sorting through
• ASPLU- King Corn film showing Dec. 8^th at 8 in the Cave
• Environmental Services-  RecycleMania starts Jan. 17^th. There will be a conference in Portland Dec. 4^th open to anyone who would like to get involved
• Facilities- Solar project underway.  Looking to apply for $2,000,000 grant process in January.  Over 400 kW system
• Development- Fellowship mini-PSE grants are due!!!  Another PSE grant proposal is due March 26^th.  Students are asked to submit a research project centered around energy conservation.  Application at plu.edu/sustainability
• Admissions- just finished transportation survey with mixed results.  Looking to purchase reusable totes for orientation.
• Brian- 2020 is having their first meeting next week.  Also, future fellows for the sustainability fellowships can be applying now.
• Sustainability Coordinator- unplug bracket 2 is coming up quick in February.  Need input for promoting it.  The South Sound Sustainability Summit and Expo is running on schedule, check on the website for more info.

Climate Action Plan

McKinstry is the consultant helping with this Climate Action Plan/Sustainability Plan

This is a comprehensive plan, and your input and unique perspective is vital.

Please send comments by Dec. 10^th

This will be submitted to ACUPCC on Jan. 15^th.  Implementation will begin immediately

2010 Spring Semester Visioning for the Sustainability Committee

Meeting structure

Every other meeting will be brief ½ hour updates, networking.  Opposite meeting will be longer working groups based on specific topics.  Still meeting every other week.

Timing

A doodle link is attached to this email asking you to submit your availability for a typical week in spring semester

Possible Working Group Topics (ranked by most to least votes)

Sustainability in Orientation (both student and staff)

Marketing for Sustainability Projects

Fellowships

Student Green Fee allocations

Computer Shut Down

Reducing Transportation

Composting around Campus

Oh Green Christmas Tree, Oh Green Christmas Tree

If you attended the annual Tree Lighting last night in Red Square, you may have noticed a few green practices.  First, all the string lights on Red Square are the most efficient lighting possible, LED lights.  Only the tree itself is not LED lights, and it’s due to the fact that all of last year’s lights were reused on the Christmas tree.  The gold trim, and some decorations are also reused.  And, after Christmas, the tree is composted, not landfilled.

Christmas Trees are one of the greatest aid to sustainable forestry.  It may seem counter-intuitive that cutting a tree down is good for the environment, but it spurs replanting, and contact care for the land (and local farmers) who grow the trees.

Chill Out!

COMPETE AND WIN TO TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT!
Chill Out: Campus Solutions to Global Warming is the nation’s premier competition recognizing colleges and universities for their efforts to reduce global warming pollution. And we’re looking for the best campus-based projects in:

FOUR CATEGORIES:

Campus Actions in Administration, Operations, and Planning

Green Jobs and Education

Cutting Edge Research, Design, and Technology

Students in Action

HOW TO ENTER:
1.  Create a 2 minute video about your initiative
2.  Fill out the entry form at http://www.campuschillout.org/ with info about your project
3.  Upload your video to http://www.gogreentube.com/

Entries are due by December 31 for your chance to win:

• Grant Money
• Prizes
• National Publicity

Students, faculty and staff are eligible to win!

For contest rules and entry form, go to http://www.campuschillout.org/

NWF’s mission is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future.

Kristy Jones – Manager, Campus Climate Education & Action, Campus Ecology
Phone: 703-438-6262  |  Fax: 703-438-6468  |  jonesk@nwf.org
National Wildlife Federation
11100 Wildlife Center Drive
Reston, VA 20190-5362
www.nwf.org

PLU featured as a case study by the National Wildlife Foundation

http://www.nwf.org/campusEcology/resources/yearbook/dspYearbookbySchool.cfm?SchoolCode=381#381

Water – Take Back the Tap
SCHOOL

Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) is a private 4-year university with 3,650 students in Tacoma, Washington.
ABSTRACT
In this project, the student group GREAN distributed 1,008 Nalgene® BPA-free water bottles throughout their campus in an effort to discourage the use and sales of bottled water. Washington State has some of the best tap water in the nation, and bottled water is expensive, wasteful and unsustainable in comparison.  Grass Roots Environment Action Now (GREAN) was supported by the administration at Pacific Lutheran University. The over $7,000 used to purchase the Nalgene® bottles was sourced from a portion of a campus green fee. Nalgenes® were designed with the Take Back the Tap logo and sold to students for a nominal fee of $1. The fee was enforced as a way to increase ownership in bottle purchasers and therefore increase their usage. Those who purchased a bottle were asked to sign a pledge to give up bottled water as part of their purchase. Facilities Management complemented the program by installing 8 Gooseneck faucets onto drinking fountains. The project reduced the number of disposable water bottles on campus that needed to be recycled and produced using manufacturing or remanufacturing energy usage, and campus dining reported a 30 percent decrease in sales from previous months.

GOALS AND OUTCOMES
Goals
The students hoped to reduce the amount of plastic bottles that went to recycling centers, or worse, landfills. By providing students with a reusable bottle so they could do this without burdening their own wallets even though reusable water bottles are cheaper in the long run. Two measurements were used to gauge success of the program: 1) counting water bottles from recycling and garbage bins, 2) counting the number of water bottles sold in vending machines and the number sold in the on-campus markets. Eventually, GREAN envisions a bottled water free campus, but is concerned with the readily available alternative being soda. Each year we would like to sell more water bottles to new students to keep the
campaign going.  New buildings will be required to have gooseneck faucets installed on fountains for easy refilling, with current buildings being retrofitted as possible.

Accomplishments and Outcomes

Environmental Services collected recycled water bottles and weighed them for one week before and after the project was launched. While there was not a significant weight difference from before to after the kick  off, there were contributing facts to alter the after weight facts. There were many events that included many people from off campus for seminars and athletic games that were not present during the pre take back the tap event.
However, the University Commons sales report from our water bottles and soft drink provider showed a significant reduction of 30 percent purchased bottled water. It is also noteworthy to mention the lack of Take Back the Tap Nalgenes® in the end of the year Residential Hall move out recycling collection and trash containers. This suggests that students kept their Nalgenes® for long-term use.  Infrastructure changes were made to 7 water fountains on campus with an 8th one in progress.  The changes included adding water filters and gooseneck faucets to make them into “filtered water, bottle refill stations.”

Challenges and Responses
It was difficult to recruit enough volunteers to sell the bottles for an extended period of time of campus.  Another challenge was accounting for all of the bottles sold. GREAN had people sign a pledge to reduce disposable bottle use, increase reusable water use, and be more conscious of the water they use. It was difficult to monitor that every person who signed the pledge only received one bottle.  Campus Climate Action: Your School’s Carbon Footprint  We indirectly addressed climate change through fact sheets that were given to people who bought bottles.  Some facts showed that reusable bottles reduced waste going to landfills and CO2 emissions from making the bottles.

Commentary and Reflection
The student body was hesitant at first to fully embrace the added green fee to their tuition dollars. The Take Back the Tap project was framed as a way for them to save money.  By refilling their Take Back the Tap Nalgene® bottle 16 times, they could save the cost of their bottle and green energy initiative fees.

ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT
Leaders and Supporters
GREAN worked to implement the student green fees. The PLU Sustainability Committee oversees the green fee money. Student leaders on the Sustainability Committee executed the project:
Eric Pfaff – Sustainability Fellow
Kristi Riedel – ASPLU Sustainability Director
Emily Tollefson – RHA Sustainability and Diversity Director
Monika Maier – GREAN Co-President
Becca Krzmarzick – GREAN Co-President/Sustainability Fellow
Brian Naasz – Professor of Chemistry/ Chair of Sustainability Committee
Lyle Kendall – Project Coordinator, Facilities Management

Funding and Resources
GREAN had previously circulated a petition to increase tuition by $20 to pay for a renewable energy source in the halls. When over 1,100 signatures were gathered the resolution was then introduced to ASPLU and accepted. From there it went to the board of Regents and passed in 2008. The money was to be used to purchase “green tags” also known as “renewable energy credits” and energy conservation implementation projects on campus with 80 percent of the fund. The remaining 20 percent was to be distributed to student projects that enhanced sustainability on campus.  This year the students on the Sustainability Committee put together a conservation-related project, using a portion of the remaining 20 percent green fee funds. The bottles cost $7 apiece, $7056 in total. Time and poster supplies were donated by GREAN.

Education and Community Outreach
Students put up posters with water bottle and water usage facts. Every person that bought a bottle also got a fact sheet. This project targeted the campus community.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Dave Kohler – Director of Facilities Management – kohlerdl@plu.edu
Christine Cooley – Sustainability Resources Coordinator – cooleycs@plu.edu
Brian Naasz – Professor of Chemistry/ Chair of Sustainability Committee – naaszbm@plu.edu
Becca Krzmarzick – GREAN Co-President/Sustainability Fellow – krzmarrc@plu.edu

Case study submitted by:

Barbara McConathy
Environmental Services/SurPLUs Coordinator
Phone: 253-535-7385
mcconabj@plu.edu

Christine Cooley
Sustainability Resources Coordinator
Direct Phone: 253- 535- 6060
cooleycs@plu.edu

MORE ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL
Campus Sustainability History
The most visible, but certainly not the first, sign of PLU’s leadership came when President Loren Anderson signed the Talloires Declaration on Earth Day 2004. “The sustainability movement had been gaining ground at PLU for years, and it was time we committed to promoting sustainability on campus,” Anderson said. Some of the prime examples of the ground gained has been PLU’s outstanding 71 percent diversion rate of waste to be land-filled, including composting as a waste stream. Faculty and staff are given 1 liter trash cans to discourage waste as part of “Can the Can”. PLU’s last 2 buildings have been LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold and LEED Silver. Cleaning Services uses
only Green Seal cleaning products, and other green products are integrated through campus operations.  Environmental Health and Safety offers a transit pass benefit to encourage employees and students to use mass transit, like the bus or train, instead of driving their own car. Benefits are also available to those who carpool, ride a bike or simply arrange to work from home periodically – anything that will reduce the number of cars on the road. PLU is working towards a carbon neutral way of life, a full listing of efforts can be found at: http://www.plu.edu/~sustain/.

PSE mini-grants available

Puget Sound Energy has graciously awarded PLU grant money for student-led sustainability research projects on campus.  The research should result in an actionable item that would lower PLU’s carbon footprint.  PLEASE, if you are interested contact Chrissy Cooley at cooleycs@plu.edu.

###

PLU is working to be a local and national leader in environmental sustainability, not only for its urban campus, but also for the planet.  Recognizing that students with an interest in the environment often need a small amount of funding to carry out their ideas for sustainability initiatives, the University applied for and received funding from the Puget Sound Energy Foundation for a Sustainability Mini-Grant Program.  The aim of the grant is to encourage student creativity, initiative and ownership of campus environmental efforts.

A subcommittee of the PLU Sustainability Committee will award two or more grants for student projects.  Grants are likely range from about $500 to $1000 and are intended to cover expenses associated with conducting and creating the project(s). Students may request a stipend of up to $400 (which, unlike expenses, would be subject to income tax).  Faculty advisors will be eligible to receive a stipend of $200 (in addition to the budget of the selected projects).  The funds will be awarded based on

-        creativity

-        potential environmental benefit

-        educational opportunities

-        impact of the project (to the campus or beyond)

The grant is designed to focus on environmental education and conservation.  Possible projects might be an educational green office, novel energy conservation campaigns, computerized energy management, or research projects.

Time Frame

Applications accepted through Friday, December 4, 2009

Decision: within two weeks

Reports due January 1 – July 31, 2010 Each awarded project will submit a final report to PLU’s Office of Development, commenting on the successes and/or challenges of the project. These reports will be forwarded to the Puget Sound Energy Foundation

Payments: As billed, last payment on receipt of final report.

Job Opening at yp4.org

I am a big fan of Young People For.  From the bottom of my heart, I thank them for all they have taught me and the opportunities they entrusted in me.  I hope that other young leaders will take advantage of this resource.

Fellowship Associate
Washington, DC

People For the American Way Foundation conducts research, legal, and education work on behalf of First Amendment freedoms and democratic values; monitors, exposes, and challenges the Religious Right movement and its political allies; identifies, trains, and supports the next generation of progressive leaders through its Young People For youth leadership programs and its Young Elected Officials Network; and carries out nonpartisan voter education, registration, civic participation, and election protection activities.

Young People For (YP4) is a progressive leadership development program focused on identifying, engaging, and empowering the next generation of progressive leaders. YP4 is dedicated to identifying young campus and community leaders, engaging them, and supporting them with the skills and resources they need to create change. Together, People For and YP4 are building a long-term network of emerging leaders committed to protecting our nation’s fundamental rights and freedoms.

YP4 has three overarching priorities: 1) to diversity leadership in the progressive movement; 2) to support young leaders to effect change in their communities now; and 3) to ensure that young leaders are sustained in their leadership over the long term. The core of YP4 is our one-year fellowship for progressive college students, which supports and empowers them to create change now on their campuses and in their communities. The 2009 fellowship class is comprised of 150 fellows from 86 campuses in 29 states and is the next generation of YP4’s growing network of over 650 alumni across the nation.

The position is located in Washington, DC and reports to the Fellowship Program Manager.

Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with the Fellowship Manager, develop quarterly, annual, and individual goals to ensure that deliverables are met.
• Manage Fellowship interns.
• Work closely with Fellowship staff to coordinate day-to-day communication with fellows.
• Support and maintain substantive relationships with fellows through regular communication including in-person meetings, phone calls, and e-mail exchanges and  provide support and coaching for fellows as they engage in individualized leadership development activities, short- and long-term planning, and goal-setting.
• Support fellows’ social justice work on their campuses or in their communities and work with them to plan and execute sustainable, community-driven projects.
• Develop and manage strong relationships with professors, administrators and campus activists at state universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI’s), Tribal Colleges, liberal arts universities and community colleges.
• Support the Young People For team at local, state, regional, and national conferences and events.
• Support the development of relationships with local, state, regional, and national progressive organizations.
• Participate in annual Fellowship recruitment and selection process by creating and implementing innovative outreach strategies including phone, e-mail, and social media, reviewing fellowship applications, and interviewing candidates.
• In collaboration with the Young People For team, plan and execute regional trainings and the annual National Summit.

Qualifications:

• 1-3 years related experience including grassroots, political, student or youth organizing and/or leadership development work.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment; must be well organized, detail-oriented and able to effectively manage competing priorities and frequent deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including ability to work effectively with a variety of people.
• Strong commitment to professional development.
• Excellent written communications skills.
• Previous experience in staff recruitment and/or job placement desirable.
• Ability to analyze and synthesize complex information and present in a usable format.
• Ability to work independently, with supervision, and as part as a team.
• Ability and willingness to travel occasionally and to work additional hours when needed.
• Familiarity with MS Office applications; experience with online communities and interest in web-based tools to advance progressive causes.
• Familiarity with the progressive community and a commitment to the issues of Young People For (campus diversity, civic engagement, civil rights, economic justice, education, environmental conservation and justice, healthcare, immigration, international human rights, worker’s right, Native American issues, traditions, and empowerment, and progressive coalition and alliance building).

To apply: Send resume and statement of interest to Human Resources, People For the American Way Foundation, 2000 M Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036. Email hr@pfaw.org.

People For the American Way Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Lids Off!

RHA is hosting a resident hall competition to encourage recycling efforts during America Recycles Week.  For the next 2 weeks, save your bottle lids to keep track of the number of bottles you recycled this week.