Table of Contents Introduction ………………………………………………………………………. 2 What Is Sustainability and How Does Your Room Fit In? ………………….. 2 What is the Sustainable Living Certification Program? …………………….. 2 Levels of Certification …………………………………………………………………….. 3 How to Apply ………………………………………………………………………………… 3 Sustainable Living Certification Checklist …………………………… 4 Mandatory Practices (Must Do So to Apply) …………………………………….. 4 Recycling, Waste Reduction and Management ……………………………..….. 5 Purchasing and Consumption …………………………………………………………. 7 Energy and Water ………………………………………………………………………….. 8 Transportation ……………………………………………………………………………... 10 Other ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 10 Innovations …………………………………………………………………………………... 11
Sustainable Living Certification Manual This document provides information regarding how to complete the tasks listed on the Sustainable Living Certification Application. Please contact
[email protected] if you have questions or comments.
Introduction What Is Sustainability and How Does Your Room Fit In? Sustainability encompasses many different things from conservation and environmental protection to social and environmental justice. Currently, economic concerns are also fueling the push towards sustainability – conserving energy and water can save you money and help our economy! How you live in your dorm room impacts our campus sustainability goals and the wider Wellesley community. Without your commitment to turning off your lights and using less water we will never achieve the reductions we need to lessen our impact on the environment. By changing your habits, even a little bit, you can have a positive impact. We hope that earning your Sustainable Living Certification is just your first step towards living a sustainable lifestyle.
What is the Sustainable Living Certification Program? The Sustainable Living Certification Program is a way to inspire the Wellesley students to have sustainable living practices and contribute to the college’s commitment to the environment, as sustainability is one of our college core values. Through gaining the different levels of certification, room residents will collect prizes and show off their achievements and their own commitment to the environment. Each student is certified individually and will be rewarded individually. However, for those living with roommates, we strongly encourage roommates to apply for audits at the same time. Interested students/residents will participate in a simple audit process in which they will have to comply with a list of sustainable standards. Your building’s Eco-‐Rep or a Wellesley Sustainability staff member, a resource for environmental knowledge and provide helpful advice in achieving your goals, will give your audit. This manual/package will also be a useful resource in answering most if not all of your questions on how to be more sustainable in your daily living habits.
The audit itself will be based on your everyday habits. The idea is to reduce the amount of energy used, waste created, and chemicals put into the environment through these sustainable habits. While each action seems small, collectively, they make a significant difference.
The levels of certification are: ≥ 23 points
≥ 40 points
≥ 54 points
≥ 65 points
≥ 75 points
One-Leaf
Two-Leaf
Three-Leaf
Four-Leaf
Five-Leaf
How to apply for certification 1. Go over the checklist and make sure you have fulfilled the mandatory tasks. 2. Contact your Eco-‐Rep to arrange a time for an audit. 3. Your Eco-‐Rep or a staff member from the Office will go through the checklist with you and share what level of certification you have reached. 4. Choose your prize and wait for the certificate and prize to arrive. 5. Keep working on sustainable living, persuade your friends to also get certified, and try to apply for a higher level (unless you are already Five Leaf certified).
Appointment Availability Maggie Sowder: Mon. 10:00am-‐11:00am, Tue. 10:00am-‐11:00am Leila Shaban: Sun. 7:00pm-‐8:00pm, Wed. 7:00pm-‐8:00pm Xi Xi: Tue. 4:00pm-‐5:00pm, Wed. 4:00pm-‐5:00pm Ginger Simms: Thu. 7:00pm-‐8:00pm, Fri. 2:00pm-‐3:00pm Olivia Joslin: Sun. 4:00pm-‐5:00pm, Wed. 1:00pm-‐2:00pm Hope Parker: Wed. 10:00am-‐11:00am, Fri. 11:00am-‐12:00pm Sarah Koenig: Sun. 1:00pm-‐2:00pm, Wed. 2:00pm-‐3:00pm
Prizes and Certificates Everyone successfully certified will receive a certificate with your name and your certification level on it. You will also receive a sticker from the Sustainability Office to put on your laptop, water bottle, etc. to show off to all of your friends how sustainable you are. As a reward, you will receive a selection of prizes based on the list above. Note that these are your options for prizes when you are first certified. If you apply for an upgrade, you will receive the additional prizes. For example, the first time you apply, you are two-‐leaf certified. Then you would receive 2 prizes from the list. Then you apply for an upgrade and become four-‐leaf certified, you will receive 4-‐2=2 prizes from the list.
List of Prizes
One-leaf: Choose one from Pens, toothbrushes, Sporks, water bottles
Two-leaf: Choose two from Pens, toothbrushes, Sporks, water bottles, Taza chocolate, smart power strips
Three-leaf: Choose three from Pens, toothbrushes, Sporks, water bottles, Taza chocolate, smart power strips, Charlie cards (4 rides), Divacups
Four-leaf: Choose four from Pens, toothbrushes, Sporks, water bottles, Taza chocolate, smart power strips, Charlie cards (4 rides), $10 to Whole Foods, Divacups, rechargeable batteries and charger (double A and triple A batteries included)
Five-leaf: Choose five from Pens, toothbrushes, Sporks, water bottles, Taza chocolate, smart power strips, Charlie cards ($8.40 each, 4 rides), $10 to Whole Foods, Divacups, compost bin and liners, rechargeable batteries and charger (double A and triple A batteries included), Peter Pan punchpasses
SUSTAINABLE LIVING CHECKLIST Yes
No
In 6 mo.
N/A
MANDATORY PRACTICES (Must Do So to Apply) ▢
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1. I have designated recycling bins in my room and can locate the big recycling bins on my floor. (2 points) Recycling bins should be located next to a regular trashcan, whether it is in your room or in a public area. Placing recycling bins next to trash bins maximizes the likelihood that a person will properly dispose of their waste items. Contact
[email protected] for missing recycling bins.
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2. I recycle bottles, paper, cans, cardboards, etc. whenever possible and know the proper recycling practices. (2 points) There are many things that are recyclable, but are instead thrown in the landfill. Of the garbage Americans throw out, half could be recycled, which is enough to fill a football stadium from top to bottom every day. Of these recyclables, Americans throw away enough aluminum to rebuild the entire commercial air fleet every three months, enough steel to reconstruct Manhattan, and enough wood to heat 5 million homes for 200 years.1 See www.wellesley.edu/sustainability for detailed instruction.
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3. I turn off lights when I’m the last one to leave a room, whether it be my own room or public area such as common rooms and the bathrooms, and/or have acquired switch plate reminder stickers from my Eco-‐Reps (or HP if not applicable). (2 points) Turning lights off before leaving a room is an easy way to reduce energy consumption and electricity bills. If 100 40-‐watt light bulbs were left on for an additional 100 hours over the course of a year, that would result in an extra $40 electricity bill charge.2 Please contact
[email protected] for switch plate stickers.
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4. I know my Eco-‐Rep and I reach out to them regarding my concerns and ideas about sustainability. If I do not have an eco-‐rep, I communicate with the HPs regarding issues with sustainability and I have considered serving as an Eco-‐Rep. (2 points) The Eco-‐Reps serve as the liaisons between the student body, HoCo, and the Sustainability Office. We hope to increase the awareness of sustainability on campus and make sustainable lifestyle more convenient. The Eco-‐Reps in your residential hall are convenient source of information you have .You may also contact
[email protected] for concerns and ideas.
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5. I make sure to turn off taps and faucets when finished using, and I report any leakages as soon as I discover the problem. (2 points) For every minute you have the faucet on, up to 2 gallons of water runs through the faucet. That is enough water for one regular person to drink for almost 4 days. According to the EPA, “A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. That's the amount of water needed to take more than 180 showers!”3.
Yes
No
In 6 mo.
N/A
RECYCLING, WASTE MINIMIZATION AND MANAGEMENT ▢
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6. I compost everything that is compostable in the dining hall (e.g. food, napkins, tea bags, paper cups, etc.) (2 points) Here are some benefits of composting: Reduces or eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers. Promotes higher yields of agricultural crops. Facilitates reforestation, wetlands restoration, and habitat revitalization efforts by amending contaminated, compacted, and marginal soils. Cost-‐effectively remediates soils contaminated by hazardous waste. Captures and destroys 99.6 percent of industrial volatile
1
http://students.arch.utah.edu/courses/Arch4011/Recycling%20Facts1.pdf
2
Emily Grandjean’s calculations in Sustainable Office Certification, assuming $0.10/KWh
3
EPA, WaterSense, http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/pubs/fixleak.html
organic chemicals (VOCs) in contaminated air. Provides cost savings of at least 50 percent over conventional soil, water, and air pollution remediation technologies, where applicable. Reduces the need for water, fertilizers, and pesticides. Serves as a marketable commodity and is a low-‐cost alternative to standard landfill cover and artificial soil amendments. Extends municipal landfill life by diverting organic materials from landfills.4 ▢
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7. I only print when necessary, and I print and copy double-‐sided when possible. (1 point) Printing only as necessary substantially reduces not only your overall consumption of paper but also ink, which is often very expensive. Agreeing to print only as necessary will require participants to determine what kinds of documents are “necessary” or “unnecessary” to print. It may be helpful to have a conversation about substitutes for printed documents, such as computer applications that allow participants to highlight text on the screen instead of using an actual printed document. Printing double-‐sided automatically halves your total consumption of paper. Please contact the Computing Help Desk (x3333) for information about enabling double-‐sided printing.
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8. I reduce margin and font size when printing to use less paper when possible. (1 point) Wellesley has around 2,500 students. Suppose each student used 1 less sheet of paper for each class per week and that each student took 4 classes every semester, in a whole school year of around 30 weeks of classes, we can save 60 trees, which will provide enough oxygen for 120 people for their life-‐time and have a net cooling effect equivalent to 1200 room-‐size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day. This can happen in the 10 seconds you use to adjust margin and font.5
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9. For paper printed only on one side, I save them, use them as scratch paper, and know where to locate/put them in the library. (2 points) Tips: Ask library front desk for waste paper. Using clean waste paper as scratch paper reduces the overall rate of paper consumption while increasing the productive use of paper.
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10. I offer usable but unwanted items (e.g. clothing) to sustainability move-‐out and/or on Free & For Sale (and/or donation box in the dorm if there is any). (2 points) Reusing items allows them to fulfill their productive potential while reducing our overall consumption of new items.
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11. I will properly dispose of small electronic waste (e-‐waste). (1 point) According to EPA estimates,6 only 15-‐20% of e-‐waste is recycled each year, which means that tens of millions of small electronic devices end up in landfills every year when they could have been reused to make new products. Let’s help change that! These are the locations at which you can dispose of College-‐owned e-‐waste: Knapp Media Center: batteries, CFLs, handheld electronics Physical Plant (1st floor): batteries, handheld electronics Observatory Entrance: batteries, CFLs, handheld electronics Jewett Arts Center (Art Department Main Office): batteries, handheld electronics Trades Building (Universal Waste Room): CFLs, handheld electronics For more information, see http://web.wellesley.edu/Safety/waste.html
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12. I use reusable water bottles and avoid bottled water when possible. (2 points) Ordering a water station at org events or using reusable bottles and mugs not only substantially reduces or eliminates your consumption of plastic and/or glass, but also reduces or eliminates the number of waste items and the carbon footprint associated with the production and transportation of bottled beverages.
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13. I have conducted a waste audit to make sure everything is disposed of in the
4
http://www.epa.gov/composting/basic.htm
5
http://www.americanforests.org/discover-forests/tree-facts/
6
EPA, Fact Sheet: Management of Electronic Waste in the United States, http://1.usa.gov/1ukGwIr
correct bins, know what makes up the most of my waste, and how I can reduce my waste. (3 points) Knowing what you throw away and recycle can be enlightening. You will see what items are being disposed of and which you have the most of. After your waste audit, you can adjust your purchasing and disposal habits to reduce waste, increase recycling, and minimize improper sorting.
Total: Yes
No
In 6 mo. N/A
PURCHASING AND CONSUMPTION ▢
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14. I use reusable utensils, plates, and cups instead of disposable ones, whenever possible. When reusable utensils are not available, I use recyclable or compostable ones and avoid Styrofoam (or delivery services using Styrofoam). This also applies to buying drinks from different places. (2 points) By using a reusable travel mug instead of disposable paper or plastic cups, you can save trees, water, and energy – plus, many cafes (such as El Table: eltable.org) offer discounts for bringing a reusable thermos. Low recycling rates and long decomposition times mean that plastics can take centuries to biodegrade, leaching chemicals into groundwater and posing threats on wildlife. Using reusable dishware helps avoid environmental problems associated with one-‐time use plastic ware. Styrofoam never biodegrades.
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15. I follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, which typically has a lower environmental impact. (2 points) Or I make an effort to consume less meat. (1 point) Recent studies have shown that meat-‐based diets are more carbon-‐intensive than vegetarian diets, due to the substantial amount of energy required to raise livestock. In particular, one study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that switching from a meat-‐based diet to a vegetarian diet reduces carbon emissions by about 30%. Not only that, vegetarian meals tend to be cheaper than meat-‐based meals! If you do not want to follow a strict vegetarian or vegan diet, here is a Meat Eater’s Guide （http://www.ewg.org/meateatersguide/helpful-‐tips-‐for-‐meat-‐eaters/）for a smaller carbon footprint.
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16. I look for second hand options on mycampuswall.com before I purchase room furnishings such as storage units, chairs, and appliances. (2 points) Buying second-‐hand products helps eliminate waste going to landfills and reduces the need to manufacture new products requiring extraction and virgin materials. Consider purchasing used products from local second-‐hand or thrift stores or going to sustainability and yard sales.
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17. I buy things in bulk to reduce waste from packaging. (1 point) Packaged products often create large amounts of waste. Buying items that come in one large package or container instead of individual packages and buying large-‐volume beverages instead small bottles or cans serve to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills. Additionally, buying products in bulk often decreases the price for each individual product. It is easy to buy in bulk at Costco, BJ’s, Sam’s Club.
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18. I use reusable bags when shopping or buying take-‐out. (2 points) Plastic bags are non-‐biodegradable by-‐products of the petroleum industry and contaminate water, land, and air during production and disposal. Paper bags actually require more energy than plastic bags to produce and recycle, and they contribute to forest degradation.
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19. If I must use plastic and/or paper bags, I recycle them properly. (1 point) You can now find recycling bins for plastic bags in the Lulu, Pendleton Atrium, and the Science Center loading dock.
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20. I purchase items with high recycled-‐content (e.g. tissues, notebooks, paper, etc.) (2 points) By purchasing recycled-‐content products, you can help reduce the demand for virgin materials. Items ranging from paper to t-‐shirts to furniture often have widely available alternatives with high percentages of recycled-‐content.
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21. I purchase environmentally friendly cleaning products, toiletries, and detergent to reduce the use of toxic materials. (2 points)
Seventh Generation, Ecos, Honest, and Method are great for organic/eco-‐friendly products.
Total: Yes E
No
In 6 mo.
N/A
ENERGY AND WATER ▢
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22. I use CFL or LED light bulbs in my room. (2 points)
CFL
regular
LED
CFL
Contact
[email protected] for free LED light bulbs. ▢
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23. I have enabled energy-‐saving settings on my computers. (1 point for 3 out of 5; 0.5 point for each additional practice) ! Display goes to sleep after 5 min ! Computer goes to sleep after 15 min ! No screen saver ! Monitor brightness turned down ! Total shut down when not used >1 day Energy-‐saving settings not only reduce your overall electricity consumption, but also help lower energy costs by up to $50 per computer each year, according to Energy Star.7 Directions for enabling energy-‐saving settings: Macintosh Computers: System Preferences > Energy Saver > check the boxes for “Automatic Graphics Switching,” “Put hard disks to sleep when possible,” and “Wake for network access” Windows Computers: Start > Control Panel > Power options > Select the “Balanced” button
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24. I completely shut off and unplug computers, lamps and other appliances (e.g. blow-‐dryer, water boiler) when not in use, especially during holidays. (2 points) Many appliances and chargers still draw power even when turned off or not charging. This “vampire electricity” accounts for 5-‐10% of residential electricity use in developed countries. Many residents forget to take these simple steps before leaving campus, resulting in an unnecessary waste of energy for days or weeks at a time. Use a smart power strip that allows you to turn off certain plugs completely while leaving others on.
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25. I use a drying rack to dry clothes (1 point). When I use a dryer, I clean the lint trap. (1 point) If you neglect to clean the lint filter between dryings, or something else occludes the filter, moist air cannot be vented from the dryer as easily. The result will be that your dryer will work less efficiently: you will have to run your dryer longer to dry a load of clothes, which means higher electricity and gas charges and a potentially shorter lifespan for the dryer.8
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26. I use the cold water (aka “Bright Colors” or “Delicates”) setting on the washing machine. (1 point) Cold water cleans clothes as efficiently and uses less energy to heat up the water.
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27. I close the windows in the winter when the heat is on and I do not use a personal space heater. (1 point) In the winter, I open the shades during the day and close them at night. (1 point) This will reduce the amount of energy the central heating unit needs to do its job. Opening shades during the day allows sunlight to help radiators to warm up the room. Closing windows and shades at night insulates the room from the cold air outside, reducing heat loss and thus reduces burden on the central heating unit.
7
Energy Star, Activate Power Management On Your Computer, http://1.usa.gov/1wVKMys
8
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/dryer.asp
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28. I make sure the heating vent is not blocked. (1 point) When heaters, radiators, and air vents are blocked, the central heating unit has to work extra hard (i.e. waste energy) to get the room to reach the desired temperature.
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29. I do not have a mini fridge in my room. (2 points) Sharing a communal fridge instead of each having an individual fridge can significantly reduce overall energy consumption.
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30. I only take stairs and avoid the elevator as much as possible. (2 points) Avoiding elevators reduces energy consumption and taking stairs is a good workout.
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31. I minimize my water use. (Must have 3 to receive 2 points. 0.5 point for each additional practice.) ! ! ! ! ! !
I shower for less than 10 minutes. I turn off the faucet completely after showering and report any leakage a.s.a.p. (Use shower timers in the bathroom!) I use a cup to hold water for brushing my teeth I have a water jug or pitcher to get water from the water fountain I do not leave the water running when shampooing and conditioning my hair I do not leave the water running when washing my face I only do full loads of laundry
Total: Yes
No
In 6 mo.
N/A
TRANSPORTATION ▢
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32. I agree to use public transportation, whenever possible. (2 points) Local public transportation options include the MBTA system, Peter Pan Bus, and other shuttle buses. Get a Charlie Card to receive a discount for taking the T and public buses. Use Nuride to redeem awards for sustainable transportation.
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33. I carpool with other people when private transportation is necessary. (1 point) Carpooling will reduce carbon footprint per capita. Carpooling also allows people to share gas fee or any other costs, and thus lowers the price of private transportation. Use Wellesley College Ride Facebook page to find on campus carpooling options. Use Nuride.com to find carpooling buddies outside of campus.
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34. I am registered for and utilize the Bike Share Program. (2 points) All members of the Wellesley community are eligible to sign up for the Wellesley Bike Share at http://tinyurl.com/wellesleybikeshare.
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35. I do not own a car on campus. (1 point) If a car is necessary, Zipcar is a good option. You can get $10 off if you sign up for an account now. Zipcar also offers 3 hybrid vehicles on Wellesley Campus. Visit http://www.zipcar.com/wellesley for more information.
Total: Yes
No
In 6 mo.
N/A
OTHER ▢
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36. I have encouraged at least three other people to apply to be Sustainable Living Certified. (2 points) Person’s name and class year: _________________________________________________________________________ Residential Hall: ________________________________________________________________________________________ Room number: __________________________________________________________________________________________
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37. At least one person that I encouraged to be certified has been Sustainable Living Certified (at any level). (2 points) Person’s name and class year: _________________________________________________________________________ Residential Hall: ________________________________________________________________________________________ Room number: __________________________________________________________________________________________
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38. I have taken at least one class from the ES department or related to sustainability and/or the environment. (2 points)
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39. Organization ! I am an active member of a Green Umbrella Org (2 points) ! and/or have participated in activities organized by these orgs or the ES Department (1 point) ! and/or have been promoting sustainability in other communities on campus (1 point).
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40. I consult the Sustainability Office website often regarding sustainability issues and questions on campus. (2 points)
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41. I follow/like Sustainability Wellesley’s Twitter and Facebook. (1 point)
Total: Yes
No
In 6 mo.
N/A
INNOVATIONS (1 POINT EACH) ▢
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42. I have other sustainable practices in my dorm room: _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ For example:
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43. I use undated or electronic calendars.
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44. I cancel junk mail and duplicated mailings. Call or visit the websites to cancel junk mail
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45. I order from local (≤ 5 miles) caterers, when delivery is necessary.
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46. I buy locally by shopping at farmers’ markets or choosing locally grown foods at the grocery store.
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47. I prefer organic and/or local food in the supermarkets and/or in restaurants using organic and/or local ingredients.
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48. I do not use commercial air fresheners.
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49. My bedding is made from organic cotton, bamboo, or other sustainable materials.
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50. I consider ‘sustainable’ lodging options when travelling.
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51. I offset emissions from air travel by purchasing emissions offsets through a third party. Terrapass is a good option.
Total:
