University of Minnesota Duluth and A Greener Read

The University of Minnesota, Duluth Office of Sustainability recently participated in a very successful partnership with book re-use company A Greener Read. A Greener Read collects books to be reused (i.e.; given to organizations that can still use them) instead of recycling them right away; they only recycle the most damaged and unusable copies. UMD was able to donate several thousand pounds of books!
We interviewed Jason Burbul of A Greener Read, and Bryan French of the UMD Office of Sustainability. Here’s what they had to say about the partnership:

Jason Burbul:

Tell us about A Greener Read; how did it get started? Who do you provide books for? 

A Greener Read is a book and used media reuse/recycling company.  We started the business because we are book and culture nuts - we love the stuff that comes through our 24/7/365 recycling bins and warehouse!  We saw that books and things like DVDs, video games, and CDs were being recycled through thrift stores and that they were being treated as a way to make money rather than a great form of art. Their "shelf life" was literally too short due to the thrift stores limited sales market. Once they sat on the thrift store shelf for a couple of weeks they were either recycled or added to the waste stream.
We saw an opportunity to bring recycled books to a larger market and to efficiently and ecologically recycle when necessary.  We also observed that the recycling process could be improved for the individual looking to get their books moved along to the next person through 24/7/365 bins rather than retail hours in a Thrift Store.

Are you brick & mortar or online or both? 

Once we made the decision to offer the 24/7/365 recycling bins we began to network with other green companies and quickly joined REUSE MN.org.

How did your partnership with UMD begin? 

People in the reuse/recycle community let us know that there is a real need for a recycling company to focus on the reuse of books.  We were put in contact with The University of MN at Duluth's Bryan French about the potential of having the Math Departments "old" books recycled. We were asked to come collect the books. Bryan was able to promote the idea to the faculty to the tune of 6,000 lbs. of books!

Where will the books from UMD go? 

The books will be donated to Books For Africa and the Women's Prison Book Program. Books that the publishers require be recycled will be recycled. Some will be sold to offset the cost of collecting and sorting the items. Any books that fall outside of these categories will be given to Goodwill.

What else do you want the readers of this article to know about A Greener Read?

Reusing books is the greenest way to recycle unwanted books because it is using them for their intended purpose without adding any energy to recycling them. Our business is to get as many books as possible from people that no longer need them into the hands of the next person that can enjoy them.

Bryan French:

How did you link up with A Greener Read? 

This is the first time we've done something like this. I was introduced to Jason from A Greener Read through the UMN Sustainability Services.

Where did all the books come from? 

Staff and faculty from throughout the University of Minnesota Duluth campus donated the books.

What types of books are you donating?

We were only seeking textbooks, although a few people did donate their personal fiction and nonfiction books.

What's the quantity or weight of all the books? 

The quantity actually ended up being 4,216 pounds. We based our original estimate of 6,000 lbs. on weighing a single stack, and then extrapolating for the rest. 

Can the public also donate?

Although we didn't purposely limit donation to only from within UMD, we didn't spread the word farther, off campus. But yes, the public can donate.

What do you want people to know about this partnership or program?

As far as 'what I want people to know,' it's hard to say - this is the first time we've done this, and so we don't exactly have a long track record. And since this is the first time we've done something like this (that I've heard about), I don't think we'd be able to do it annually: some of the books we collected were decades old. I know that A Greener Read has a 'mailbox' style collection bin, which might be a better long-term strategy. I think putting the bin in place somewhere on campus is a good idea - we just haven't found that location yet.


Learn more and get involved with A Greener Read at http://www.agreenerread.com

Living Lab Update: Native Grasses

How does your Living Lab relate to sustainability?

Our Living Lab project is the restoration of a native prairie planting. Once established, this planting will require less care than a typical lawn area. In addition, it is sustainable in that it will have diverse native grass and wildflower species that will support native pollinators and butterflies.

How has your Living Lab changed since its beginning? What has been successful/unsuccessful?

We are still undergoing site preparation which involves the intensive management of 2 invasive species that dominated the site. The first round of herbicide treatment has been implemented and follow-up applications are planned.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to start a Living Lab?

Reach out to people because you never know what kind of expertise they may have to offer that will complement your own strengths.

What has been the most rewarding part about the Living Lab program?

Because we are still in development phase, we don't have the satisfaction of a completed project yet, so I would say the most rewarding part to date has been making new partnerships that we hadn't foreseen.

Living Lab Update: Native Pollinators (Bee Garden)

How does your Living Lab relate to sustainability?

Our living lab project related to sustainability in two ways. First, the native plants represented in the pollinator garden are important members of Minnesota's native landscape. By informing the public about native flowers and encouraging their propagation, we are aiding all the animals that have co-evolved with and depend on them. This includes everything from soil dwelling microbes to insects and birds. By supporting these relationships and interactions we help to create a more resilient and productive ecosystem.
This leads to our second point, pollinators. The plants selected and planted are all known to be exceptional forage resources for pollinating insects. Pollination is a critical ecosystem service that not only indispensable to natural ecosystems, but is important to the sustainability of our agricultural food production systems as well. Given the current declines in pollinator species as well as the challenges faced by honeybee keepers, cultivating plants that provide nutrition for bees is especially important. By informing people about the value of these particular plants to pollinators we hope to encourage people to take an active roll in preserving this important group of animals.
How has your Living Lab changed since its beginning? What has been successful/unsuccessful?
Currently, our pollinator display is thriving! The plants are establishing especially well and have even begun to bloom, something that wasn't expected until year two. Thus far we have provided temporary labels to inform the public of the name of the plants in lieu of more permanent and informative labels. Deciding the best type of label and the information to be provided on them has thus far been our biggest challenge.  
What advice would you give to someone wanting to start a Living Lab?
It is important to walk a line between creativity and thinking outside the box, while also selecting a project that is appropriate for your site. For instance, creating a rain garden demonstration in an area of campus that is naturally very dry and elevated would not be appropriate. In addition, be sure that you have a plan in place to communicate to the public as well as provide long term maintenance to the site. These two considerations go hand-in-hand, as a poorly maintained site will lose its functionality and purpose over time, thus providing limited or inaccurate information to the public.
What has been the most rewarding part about the Living Lab program?
Ian: For me it has been watching the plants flower, and the various species of bees start to forage in our garden. It will make an excellent site for future extension and educational activities regarding pollinators and native plants.
Madeline: It has been exciting to see how successful our plants have been in the site we selected. Some of the species are plants I have never personally grown before, and being able to view them in a natural setting where they are thriving is a great and educational experience. It is also very helpful to have an area that is part of the Display and Trail garden devoted to native pollinator-friendly plants, as interested garden visitors can easily be directed there.

Living Lab Update: Low Maintenance Turfgrass

Low maintenance turfgrass requires less water, pesticides, and labor to maintain, thereby creating a more sustainable landscape on campus. Sam Bauer, a Turfgrass Extension Educator, has implemented low maintenance turfgrass as part of his living lab on the St. Paul campus. We're checking in with Sam this week to learn the status of his living lab and advice to future living lab participants.

How does your Living Lab relate to sustainability?

​

Lawn and grounds areas established with traditional​ turfgrass species require a significant amount of resources and labor to maintain.  Low maintenance turfgrasses have proven to provide acceptable appearance and function, while requiring fewer inputs of labor, irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides. We've established three separate areas of low maintenance turfgrass on the St. Paul campus with specific goals of sustainability. The species of tall fescue has been established across from the display and trial garden. In this area we are mainly looking at a reduction in water usage. Between Alderman Hall and the Soil Science building we have established a mixture of fine fescue species that require minimal irrigation, mowing, and fertility. This mixture was chosen because of the sloped landscape that is difficult to mow, which causes safety issues for the landcare team. The third area was established with salt-tolerant sod on a boulevard that receives heavy loading from deicing salts. Every year many boulevards on campus need to be renovated because of the damage from salt. Salt-tolerant sod is more sustainable in this environment.             

How has your Living Lab changed since its beginning? What has been successful/unsuccessful?

​Conversion of the traditional turfgrass species in the Living Lab areas has been a successful process. In many cases, we've been able to completely change the species from start to finish in about six weeks. As the turfgrasses matured, we started to reduce maintenance accordingly. Currently all of our low maintenance turfgrass areas are performing as planned. ​

What advice would you give to someone wanting to start a Living Lab?

​A greater benefit from the Living Lab program can be achieved by collaborating with colleagues and other departments on campus. We've been successful mainly through the support of Landcare and the Department of Horticultural Science.   ​

What has been the most rewarding part about the Living Lab program?

​

The opportunity to "practice what we preach". The main goal of our turfgrass extension program is to educate consumers and turfgrass managers on low maintenance grasses and environmentally responsible turfgrass maintenance practices. It is only fitting that we approach the maintenance of campus grounds with the same goals.  ​

Living Lab Update: Community Connections Garden

The Community Connections Garden next to Skok Hall on the St. Paul campus provides a serene pocket of nature for students and faculty to relax and enjoy the outdoors. The Living Lab experience has been a rewarding one for any student or faculty that has participated, so let's check in with Kelly Nail, a Conservation Biology Graduate Student, on the status of her project.

Kelly Nail - Community Connections Garden

How does your Living Lab relate to sustainability?

Our pollinator garden shows that areas on campus can not only be beautiful, but also sustain populations of native plants and pollinators and facilitate informal education of those on campus. Additionally, while there is some work that must be done to maintain this beautiful and educational space, a majority of the work occurred at the outset, making this a very sustainable garden.

How has your Living Lab changed since its beginning? What has been successful/unsuccessful?

Last year, our garden was just getting off the ground and didn't have a chance to bloom to it's full potential. This year, the garden has really taken hold and at any given time has many different flowers in bloom and many different pollinators present. As far as surprises, I don't think we anticipated quite how popular a gathering spot this would be!

What advice would you give to someone wanting to start a Living Lab?

The best advice I can give is to be ambitious and to form partnerships to make it sustainable. The Monarch Lab worked hard to design this garden, with our own Wendy Caldwell and Karen Oberhauser partnering with master gardeners to successfully design the garden, partnering with facilities to successfully start up the garden, and with people in the Monarch Lab to help maintain the garden.

What has been the most rewarding part about the Living Lab program?

The most rewarding thing about our Living Lab garden for me has been to see it being so fully used, not just by pollinators, but by the whole spectrum of university staff, students, and visitors. Seeing this garden used as both a gathering space, a place to relax and communicate, and a place to learn about native plants and pollinators has been extremely rewarding. Also, the proliferation of butterflies, bees, and other insects now present daily in the garden has been so fulfilling to see!

Spark-Y Youth Actions Lab will host Open House Showcasing Sustainability Projects

What have you done with your summer? The youth interns at Spark-Y Youth Actions Lab will have some pretty impressive answers to that question.

Spark-Y is a Twin Cities non-profit that provides educational programs about sustainability for high school, college, and alumni students. Over the course of the summer, interns work in teams to learn how to create sustainable food and plant systems. The six teams include a Sustainable Education (SEL) Team, Vermicompost Team, the Food Lab Team, the Mushroom Team, Curriculum Team, and the School of Environmental Studies (SES) Team.

University of Minnesota student and Minnesota Student Association Sustainability Representative, Justin Halverson, participated as a team leader to the Sustainable Education Team who worked on redesigning one of four Aquaponics systems at Spark-Y.

"What we focus on most at Spark-Y is that there is no such thing as "waste" in nature. Everything is usable!" said Halverson. "In aquaponics systems, there are plants and fish that live in symbiosis with each other. Essentially, the plants use fish waste as nutrients to grow."

Other projects include partnering with the Turtle Bread Company to provide produce to their business in exchange for compostable food waste, creating technology that tests if food is genetically modified, and building an aquaponics system at the School of Environmental Studies at the Minnesota Zoo.

"Our Curriculum Team is also providing the education for our upcoming generations to know what "sustainability" could mean and what our connection and role is within nature, because we are a part of it," he said.

The Spark-Y internship program occurs every summer and Halverson recommends the program to any students interested in doing work with science, plants, fish and replicating nature in a controlled environment.

The Open House will allow patrons to learn how Aquaponics and Vermicompost works, as well as learning about the rest of the sustainability projects worked on by the teams this summer.

Halverson said that it's extremely important to educate the youth about sustainability because we are the future. "If we are not pushing ourselves and the people around us to move into a period where we can thrive in sustainability, who will?"

Spark-Y 2014 Interns

Photo courtesy of Spark-Y Youth Action Labs

Learn more about Spark-Y Youth Action Labs here.

Spark-Y 4th Annual Open House
August 20, 2014
3 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Spark-Y
4432 Chicago Ave
Minneapolis, MN

Facebook Event Page

Organic Recycling Stations in Minneapolis

Are you a resident of Minneapolis or St. Paul looking for a place to dispose of your organic waste? The City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board have opened two Residential Organics Drop-Offs at Pearl Park (414 E Diamond Lake Road) and South Transfer Station (2850 20th Ave S). The South Transfer Station requires that you bring an ID to drop off organic waste and Pearl Park requires a code for the locks, accessible once you sign up at the City's organics website.

3 SIMPLE Steps for Organics Waste Recycling

1. Collect organics in compostable bags (paper or plastic) from your kitchen, bathroom and laundry room.
2. Bring your bagged organics to the drop-off site.
3. Place the bagged organics into the organic carts during hours of operation.
South Transfer Station: Tuesday 2 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
                                    Wednesday-Friday 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
                                    Saturday 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Pearl Park: Open 24/7

Organics include:

• Food Scraps
• Fruits and vegetables
• Meat, fish and bones
• Bread, pasta and baked goods
• Egg shells
• Dairy products

• Food-Soiled Paper
• All paper, non-plastic lined plates, cups, bowls
• Paper towels, napkins, facials tissues, tissue paper, paper egg cartons, pizza boxes
• Boxes from refrigerator or freezer not lined with plastic
• Wax, parchment paper and containers

• Other
• Coffee grounds, filters and tea bags
• Tissues, cotton swabs and Q-tips (paper stem only)
• Wood chopsticks, popsicle sticks and toothpicks
• Dryer lint and vacuum cleaner contents
• Floral trimmings and house plants
• Animal, human hair and nail clippings

Information courtesy of City of Minneapolis Solid Waste & Recycling.

Sustainably Reducing Weeds and Pests from your Lawn

During the summer months, your lawn needs more attention than any other time of the year.  With cool-season grasses, like Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescue, the heat of the summer can be very stressful and weeds will often encroach in this situation.  For most homeowners, the tendency is to search for the right jug of herbicide to control the problem.  This is a reactionary approach and only a short term solution. Taking some time to learn more about the source of weeds could lessen the amount of chemicals needed for your lawn in the future.

“Good turf is your best sustainable defense against weeds,” said Sam Bauer, University of Minnesota Extension Educator in Turfgrass Science. “It’s all about the right species, in the right place, with the right conditions.”

Properly maintaining a healthy lawn will reduce the likelihood of weeds, diseases and insects entering the environment. Bauer said that compacted soils, moist shade, and flooded soils with the recent onslaught of rain have been the most common problems with lawns in Minnesota. Lawns grown on compacted soils typically become invaded with weeds like annual bluegrass, chickweeds, knotweed, and prostate spurge.

Aerating compacted lawns can help reduce the encroachment weeds that thrive in compacted soils and will also benefit the overall health of the lawn. Aeration will allow the soil to drain more effectively and grass plants will better utilize water and nutrients.

Moist shade is another common lawn problem in Minnesota being the possible source of weeds such as wild violet and ground ivy (i.e. creeping Charlie).

Using Herbicides

In an ideal world, all our lawns would be under perfect conditions to prevent the spread of weeds, but sometimes an herbicide is necessary to keep weeds at a minimum. There are several options to treat your lawn in the most environmentally-friendly manner.

The first step to using herbicides is to always follow the directions on the label exactly as they are printed.  It’s important to protect yourself and the environment by following the proper safety procedures when applying the herbicide.

For those looking for organic perennial grassy weed control options, for control of weeds like quackgrass or smooth brome, Bauer recommends using a vinegar acetic acid or pelargonic acid-based herbicides. It should be noted that these organic acid-based herbicides are non-selective and will kill most green plants in your lawn, so it is best to spot treat weeds and not overuse the herbicide.  These herbicides are burn down products and will only kill the foliage, not the roots, so the weeds will continue to grow back every so often.

Bauer said in his new Living Lab, Alternative Turfgrass Maintenance, he is planning to investigate biological and natural alternatives to synthetic herbicides and pesticides. One of those natural herbicides is available for purchase in garden stores. The Fiesta Turf Weed Killer is a selective broadleaf herbicide based on the micronutrient Iron.  This product has shown to be very effective.

Another herbicide Bauer is investigating in his new living lab is composed of live fungi.  Bauer notes that we will start to see more biological products on the marketplace in the future.

Overall, the less pesticide we can use on our lawns, the better. Some chemicals can also have a dangerous effect on pollinators, including honey bees, so it is best to not overuse pesticides in our lawns and gardens because it could contribute to their decline.

Remember, starting with a healthy lawn will reduce our need to use herbicides in our lawns.

Using Insecticides

Japanese beetle grubs are the most common insect pests of lawns in the Twin Cities area. They are usually attracted to moist soil and eat the roots of plants in gardens and lawns.

One natural alternative pesticide for killing Japanese beetles is the nematode. Nematode sprays are usually available for order through garden catalogs. Watering them down into the soil and keeping it moist for at least a week can  reduce the amount of Japanese beetle grubs.

The synthetic insecticides will do the best job of controlling Japanese beetle grubs, and chlorantraniliprole (Scott’s GrubEx) is a very effective option with low toxicity.

Energy Showcases

Building recommissioning is an aggressive program led by the University of Minnesota’s Energy Management group with the goal of improving mechanical system performance and reducing energy consumption. Prior to a recommissiong project, necessary information is gather to further understand the use of a particular space, as well as performance in order to fine-tune the building’s system.

The energy showcase is a two-hour information fair hosted by the University of Minnesota’s Energy Management to highlight building recommissioning projects. The showcase gives an opportunity for building occupants; like faculty and staff, to understand and see the process of recommissioning  the building they work in. It truly is an unmatched partnership. The Energy Showcase also serves as a medium through which the public can submit comments and suggestions to improve a building’s comfort level and energy efficiency. The most recent showcase was done at Gortner Laboratory on the St. Paul campus. City of St. Paul Energy Coordinator, Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) - A program of the Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, Minnesota GreenCorps Members, MPCA  - GreenCorps coordinator, Minnesota Army National Guard Sustainability Analyst were in attendance.

Most buildings use more energy than necessary to provide a safe and comfortable environment. Over time, systems typically become less efficient as components wear out and building usage changes. By incorporating simple and low cost measures into the recomissioning project, energy consumption can be reduced while improving the performance of the facility. A typical recommissioning project yields between 5% and 15% energy savings, depending on the type of building. New technology and different operating methods are also installed and utilized to further improve the efficiency.

There are 45 completed projects and 8 ongoing projects at the University of Minnesota. Since 1988, faculty, students, and staff have been successful in stabilizing university CO₂ emissions despite campus growth of 15%. Since 2009, the building recommissioning program has saved the university $5.6 million in annual energy costs and reduced over 50,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions. Comments, suggestions, and input are welcome at usustain@umn.edu.

Gear up for Earth Week 2014!

If you don't know already, Earth Week 2014 is from April 21st - 25th and Earth Day 2014 is on April 22nd. That means, there are tons of events lining up for you next week! Free food, free entertainment, free education!

Below are all events that will take place during Earth Week. A calendar is also added for your convenience! Simply add it to your calendar so you won't miss out on these amazing events!

Monday, April 21

Energy Awareness Day-Active Energy Club (part of CSE Week 2014)

April 21 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Lind Hall Courtyard Booths and demos on sustainability topics and energy saving tips. Pick up a FREE CFL bulb!
Geological Society of Minnesota Lecture Series
An Earth Day "party for the planet" with liquid nitrogen ice cream.

Decay of Polar Ice and its Environmental Impact

Michelle A. LaRue, Research Fellow, Polar Geospatial Center, University of Minnesota, will present "Decay of Polar Ice and its Environmental Impact."

This event is free and open to the public.

________________________________

Tuesday, April 22

Kickstart Your Earth Day 2014 (at Rec Center) #UMNEarthDay

7:30 am - 9:30 am at UMN Rec Center, 1906 University Ave

Enjoy giveaways like: granola bars, coffee, t-shirts, sunglasses, bags, free hydro massages.... A LOT OF FREE STUFF!! 

From Nice Ride, HUB Bike Center, University Dining Services, Flamenco Coffee Co, and more!

Earth Day 2014 at Northrop Auditorium and Northrop Mall

Tables 11 am - 3:30 pm, Music 12-1 pm, Food 1 pm

Come celebrate Earth Day at the newly renovated Northrop Auditorium on Tuesday, April 22nd from 11am-3:30pm. An outdoor concert will take place from12-1pm featuring Grand Dynasty, DJ CFANS, and Center Coast. Inside, there will be FREE food at 1pm as well as student groups and outside organizations sharing their work and how they have been serving our community and the environment.

Presented by Students for Sustainability, U Students Like Good Food, Environmental Student Alliance and Fossil Free Minnesota, with ESPM Student Association, MPIRG and other student groups co-sponsoring and attending.

Earth Day Clean Energy and Jobs Rally at the Capitol (student groups are attending)

Answer Governor Dayton's call to build a sustainable energy future for our state. With bold action, our state legislators can keep Minnesota on the cutting edge of clean energy development, but they need to see that Minnesotans want it!Join other Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) supporters as we call for a bright renewable energy future in Minnesota!

Earth Day "Do the Math Showing" at Coffman Union Theater

6:30-8:30 pm

Concerned about climate? Want to be part of the solution? Come join Fossil Free Minnesota for an Earth Day showing of "Do the Math," the movie that sparked the largest youth climate movement in history. Learn about the growing fossil fuel divestment campaign and how you can be a part of this powerful call to action. The 40-minute movie will begin at 6:30 PM and discussion will follow. Free admission; bring a friend!

Sponsored by Fossil Free Minnesota, Students for Sustainability & MPIRG

Bayer Lecture in Sustainability - Renewable Plastics: Step One in Breaking Our Oil Addiction

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM at Bell Museum of Natural History Theater

In this year's Bayer Lecture in Sustainability, leading bioenergy scientist George Huber will discuss the growth and the market drivers for the renewable plastics industry, as well as some of the current market successes and products that are near commercialization.

Registration required at:

https://events.umn.edu/Bayer-Lecture-in-Sustainability---Renewable-Plastics-Step-One-in-Breaking-O.htm

We Are Going Meatless. One Meal. One BIG Impact.

ALL DAY, meatless lunch, brought you campus by University Dining Services (UDS) 

#MeatlessMeal

We're counting down the days until Earth Day! To celebrate the Earth on April 22, we are going MEATLESS at Topio's, Greens to Go, Cranberry Farms, Bistro West and in all residential restaurants (for lunch). Plus, we'll be hosting events around campus with prizes, trivia, chef demos and more!

Earth Day at the Arboretum: Protect the Pollinators

http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/2014EarthDay.aspx

Green Chemistry and Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream-ACS-UMN

6-7 p.m., Smith Hall, Rooms 117/119 

University of Minnesota participated in Campus Conservation Nationals

    The University of Minnesota has held energy competitions, but for the first time ever the students participated in Campus Conservation Nationals, an energy and water saving competition between residence halls nationwide. CCN serves as a common voice to motivate thousands of students to work together in conserving limited resources. CCN is also about having fun with conservation, they have a poster contest in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation awarding large cash prizes to the top 3 contestants and they set up some great pages for interaction between students in all corners of the US. Participants of CCN have until April 25th to submit their data, check back for the national winners in a few weeks!

    University of Minnesota competed in the energy sector because we do not have an accurate means of tracking our water usage. To track energy use, a two week baseline sample was taken before any residents became aware of the competition.  After the baseline was complete on-campus residents were notified of our enrollment in CCN 2014 and explained the purpose of our participation- to reduce environmental impact and mitigate the effects of climate change. The residence halls were encouraged to be mindful and conservative of energy during the two week competition, Feb 23nd through March 15th,  The residents participating could keep track of each individual halls energy saving progress with the UMN Dashboard, depicting a red or green arrow explaining the amount of energy your hall is either saving or consuming. Students could also read ideas on the dashboard site that would help them conserve energy called "commitments".  These commitments are formulated to fit into the everyday lifestyle of a student, they are small tweaks to a daily routine to make a conservation impact. Examples of these commitments are, "adjust your computers power setting so it goes to standby after 5 min of inactivity", "unplug appliances not being used to eliminate "vampire power", "combine the contents of your mini fridge with your roommate and use only one", or "take the stairs instead of the elevator".

    A total of 116 students made commitments, the most popular commitment made by residents was to "turn off the lights in common spaces at night".The top three residence halls, Yudof, Bailey, and Frontier, saved a total of 9,306 kWh.

• Yudof had a 5.2% reduction which saved 7,774 kWh
• Bailey had a 1.6% reduction which saved 862 kWh
• Frontier had a 1.0% reduction which saved 670 kWh.

    Combined, CCN has resulted in a total savings of $92,222.46 (based on our rate of $0.83/kWh). Just goes to show how a little effort goes a long way. It is too often assumed that small conservation efforts don't make a difference, we are here to remind you that It All Adds Up!

Earth Hour 2014

Mark your calendar! Earth Hour is from 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm on March 29th, 2014!

What is Earth Hour?
Earth Hour is a worldwide grassroots movement uniting people to protect the planet, and is organised by WWF. Engaging a massive mainstream community on a broad range of environmental issues, Earth Hour was famously started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Since then it has grown to engage more than 7000 cities and towns worldwide, and the one-hour event continues to remain the key driver of the now larger movement.

Earth Hour aims to encourage an interconnected global community to share the opportunities and challenges of creating a sustainable world.

How can I become a part of the Earth Day Campaign?
The first thing anyone can do to get involved is to turn off their lights on Saturday, March 29, 2014, from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. But there's much, much more. But our full ambition is for people to take action beyond the hour. Whether it's supporting a crowdfunding or crowdsroucing campaign on www.earthhour.org or getting involved in Earth Hour campaigns in their own country, or starting the movement in their own community. The vision is always to do more, so make the light switch the beginning of your journey.

Dining Hall Renovation

The University of Minnesota has had numerous renovation on multiple buildings to enhance energy efficiency, as well as urging and pushing the campus towards a more sustainable lifestyles. One of the most recent renovations was done on Comstock Residence Hall dining room.

Diners returning to the Comstock Hall Restaurant after the winter break are witnessing an "extreme dining room make-over" with a total transformation of the dining room spaces. Carpet, tables and chairs have been updated with environmentally friendly products. The furnishings are not only made from recycled materials, but the products are made from materials that are also easily recycled when it comes time to renovate again.The new tables also boast laminates and wear layers made of 100% natural corn and soy product which are adhered to the substrate using a vacuum process and water-based adhesive. Complementing the tables are equally bio-friendly wood chairs.As an added bonus, seating is manufactured from reusable/recyclable materials using processes that seek to minimize waste of natural resources. This endeavor started as a "green" project long before the new furniture and carpeting arrived. Comstock Hall residents were involved from the very beginning with choices of carpeting and furniture. The old furnishings were, when possible, repurposed to other residence halls, other university buildngs and to the general public through the University's ReUse Center. The project strived to reduce the amount of material that would eventually end up in landfills - seeking to recycle and repurpose as much material as possible.

Similarly, the new residential Restaurant located in the University's new 17th Avenue Residence Hall also features biofriendly furnishings.

The decor incorporates natural materials. All tables and chairs were made by a local company from sustainable materials. Frosted glasses serves to divide the space but also allows light into any part of the facility. In addition, high windows were also incorporated to reach MN B3 building standards. In order to make the facility as efficient as possible, the hoods feature demand control ventilation and an energy-efficient dishwasher. Other sustainable features include high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, a vegetated roof, rainwater reclamaion system and other heat recovery mechanical systems.

Living Lab

You probably have seen a few signs that say "Living Lab" all across campus at various locations. Have you ever wonder

What is Living Lab?
The concept of a living laboratory is acutally quite simple. The University aspires to create a "living laboratory" in which the campus grounds are not only a backdrop of campus life, but an integral component of teaching, research, and outreach. As such, the campus grounds will be a medium for innovation, testing, demonstration, and learning. Check out some of our past Living Lab projects below

TurfGrass Living Lab Project

Community Connections Garden 

How can I be part of Living Lab?
If you have an innovative idea or project that you want to experiment with, Living Lab is a great choice. Below is the process and deadlines to apply for Living Lab 2014. The Twin Cities Sustainability Committee has developed a process to facilitate identification and implementation of living laboratory projects. The Committee invites proposals from the University community to utilize campus grounds as a living laboratory. Selected proposals will be provided space on the campus grounds and assistance facilitating project implementation. Living Lab is open for Spring 2014 request for proposals now through March 28, 2014. Click here for more information.

Electric Vehicle Stations

Are you an environment lover who has been using environment-friendly electric vehicles? Kudos to you! We applaud you for your sustainable effort and we also understand how inconvenient it can be when your vehicle runs low on electricity. No more worries, the University has seen through your concern!

With the help of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), Parking and Transportation Sevices received a grant for the purchase and installation of six Level II(*) Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS). Each station has the capacity to charge two vehicles simultaneously, and will be installed on the Twin Cities campus in facilities open to the public.They will be located across East Bank, West Bank and St. Paul. Below is a more detailed location list

East Bank:

• Lot 37 - space adjacent to entrance lane at parking booth
• Oak Street Ramp - ground floor adjacent to west ramp exit
• Washington Ave Ramp - level 2 down ramp to exit booths next to Hourcar spaces

West Bank:

• 21st Ave. Ramp - level 2 east end next to elevator lobby and Hourcar spaces
• Lot 86 - adjacent to entrance lane north side of lot

Saint Paul:

• Gortner Ave. Ramp - level 1 across from exit booths

There will be no charge to the user of the stations, other than the parking facility fee.

The stations are still in the process of testing prior to opening to public and should be ready to use within the next few months!


(*) Level II charging station: Level 2 supplies 240V, like what an electric dryer or oven uses. It goes through a box and a cord that improves safety by waiting to send power to the plug until it's plugged into an EV. Level 2 allows for a wide range of charging speeds, all the way up to 19.2 kilowatts (kW), or about 70 miles of range per hour of charging.

Food Day Recap

  

Food Day 2013 celebrated the everlasting partnership between humans and food- not just food in general, but healthy, affordable, and sustainable food. Food Day is a nationwide celebration and grass roots movement to encourage populations to buy local, fresh foods instead of processed or packaged food. The Food Day coordinators explain it simply; "Food Day envisions shorter lines at fast-food drive-throughs--and bigger crowds at farmers markets." The mission of Food Day is too: - Increase awareness of the good work that the University of Minnesota and Twin Cities community do for food, nutrition, and health. - Educate on practical and affordable ways to incorporate healthy foods into our diets. - Increase understanding of and appreciation for the complex relationship between people and their food while educating about food's ties with health and the environment. - Celebrate the diversity of foods and food cultures in Minnesota.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS!!! We couldn't "Eat Real" without your support. Coffee- Peace Coffee Dried Fruit - Bare Snacks Jelly Mellon - Cornercopia Student Organic Farm at the University of Minnesota Boxed Lunches - Common Roots Catering Almond Crisps - Blue Diamond Almonds Gluten Free Cookies - Mary's Gone Crackers Peanut Butter - PB Crave Apple "Honey"- Bee Free Honee Spiced Lentils - Dice 'N Spice Gluten Free Brownies and Bars - Down in the Valley Bakehouse Almonds & Antioxidant Mix - Bergin Fruit and Nut Company Spices- Minnesota Nice Spice Quinoa Salad - Whole Foods Market, Lake Calhoun Pumpkin Scones - Breadsmith MN Whole Grain Bars - Thuro Bread Chocolate - Endangered Species Chocolate Lunds and Byerly's

Food Day!

Come join us this Thursday, October 24th from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, in Great Hall of Coffman Memorial Union to celebrate National Food Day! 

What is Food Day you ask?Food Day is a nationwide celebration of healthy, affordable, and sustainably produced food and a grassroots campaign for better food policies. It builds all year long and culminates on October 24. Food Day aims to help people Eat Real. That means cutting back on sugar drinks, overly salted packaged foods, and fatty, factory-farmed meats in favor of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and sustainably raised protein. 

Food Day envisions shorter lines at fast-food drive-throughs--and bigger crowds at farmers markets. This annual event involves some of the country's most prominent food activists, united by a vision of food that is healthy, affordable, and produced with care for the environment, farm animals, and the people who grow, harvest, and serve it. With Food Day, we can celebrate our food system when it works and fix it when it's broken. Across the country, 3,200 events took place in 2012 and 2,300 in 2011, from community festivals in Denver, Savannah, and New York City, to a national conference in Washington, DC, to thousands of school activities in Portland, Minneapolis, and elsewhere. 

 So swing by Great Hall and grab free catered lunch from Common Roots Catering! There are tons of free samples and prizes. More information about the event can be found here. Have nothing planned for Thursday? Volunteer at for Food Day! More details can be found here. Want more information about Food Day? Check out UMN Food Day on Facebook.