I just received the following email and wanted to pass it along! It's a great opportunity as a green team member to help out and make a difference!
_____________
Hey Folks!
This year Pride NW set a goal to reduce their waste output by 60% and
for the first time Pride NW is composting on site. For this to be a
successful initiative, we need Green Team volunteers to staff waste
stations throughout the festival. Green Team volunteers will be asked
to assist festival guests with proper disposal of trash via compost
and recycling.
There will be a quick training Saturday morning for volunteers from
10-11, and then we are asking volunteers to work the stations in four
hour shifts. If you are interested, please visit the following link
and sign up for a shift and write GREEN TEAM in comment box.
http://www.pridenw.org/vol_registration.asp
Even if you are not volunteering, please join us on June 13th and 14th
at the Portland Pride Festival, held at the water front. See website
for more details www.prdienw.org
______________________________________
Robert Nathan
Community Environmental Services - PSU
Metro Recycle at Schools
Urban Center Building, Suite 350
PO Box 751 - CUS
Portland, OR 97207
503.725.9022 CES MRAS
503.725.8480 fax
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Getting Recycle Works Certified
Hello, Green Team!
So I know I mentioned in the past that I thought we should look into getting Recycle Works Certified-- I began some preliminary inquiries into figuring out how to do so. I would love to talk next meeting about recruiting help for this.
To begin, I wrote to Christina in HR who has headed up their certification in the past and I wanted to include all the information she gave me. I have copied & pasted the specifics of her email below. Perhaps people can take a look and start brainstorming or thinking of ways to help aid this process?
From Christina...
In getting started there a steps you can take in your office as well as practices to maintain such as:
-Making sure each individual work station as well as communal work stations have a receptacle for recycling
-Create a Purchasing Policy if your office does not already have one
-Make sure all employees fully log out and turn off computers, calculators, speakers, etc when leaving for the day
-Make sure lights are turned off when room is not in use
-Are your printers/copiers set to duplex (as confidentiality needs permit)
-Communicating through phone, e-mail, white boards for meeting agendas, etc to reduce paper use
-Reusing office supplies and using PSU Recycles Office BEFORE purchasing new supplies
-Using durable dishware instead of paper products
-Consider ordering durable PSU name tags instead of using sticker name tags for any events held and/or attended by your office staff.
These are just some practices that we have had in place for years that go along with being as green as possible while being a very paper heavy department. PSU also has the benefit of providing subsidy to employees who walk, bike, carpool, or take public transit to/from work. We as HR also wrote a Living Green Policy for our office which includes what we do now and what our future goals are. All of the information above will help make the application process smooth and easy.
After compiling information of what your office already does and working on things that could be added, you will need to complete and submit the RecycleWorks Award Application. Go to www.portlandonline.com/osd to complete an application. Your direct contact will be with Pete Chism who is the Business Recycling Specialist. (pchism@ci.portland.or.us). If you have any questions, he is your contact.
___________
Any thoughts about this?! Thanks, everyone!
So I know I mentioned in the past that I thought we should look into getting Recycle Works Certified-- I began some preliminary inquiries into figuring out how to do so. I would love to talk next meeting about recruiting help for this.
To begin, I wrote to Christina in HR who has headed up their certification in the past and I wanted to include all the information she gave me. I have copied & pasted the specifics of her email below. Perhaps people can take a look and start brainstorming or thinking of ways to help aid this process?
From Christina...
In getting started there a steps you can take in your office as well as practices to maintain such as:
-Making sure each individual work station as well as communal work stations have a receptacle for recycling
-Create a Purchasing Policy if your office does not already have one
-Make sure all employees fully log out and turn off computers, calculators, speakers, etc when leaving for the day
-Make sure lights are turned off when room is not in use
-Are your printers/copiers set to duplex (as confidentiality needs permit)
-Communicating through phone, e-mail, white boards for meeting agendas, etc to reduce paper use
-Reusing office supplies and using PSU Recycles Office BEFORE purchasing new supplies
-Using durable dishware instead of paper products
-Consider ordering durable PSU name tags instead of using sticker name tags for any events held and/or attended by your office staff.
These are just some practices that we have had in place for years that go along with being as green as possible while being a very paper heavy department. PSU also has the benefit of providing subsidy to employees who walk, bike, carpool, or take public transit to/from work. We as HR also wrote a Living Green Policy for our office which includes what we do now and what our future goals are. All of the information above will help make the application process smooth and easy.
After compiling information of what your office already does and working on things that could be added, you will need to complete and submit the RecycleWorks Award Application. Go to www.portlandonline.com/osd to complete an application. Your direct contact will be with Pete Chism who is the Business Recycling Specialist. (pchism@ci.portland.or.us). If you have any questions, he is your contact.
___________
Any thoughts about this?! Thanks, everyone!
Is using the elevator hurting our cause?
So one topic that has come up recently has been whether we, as green team members, should be promoting using the stairs instead of the elevator.
I have been attempting to looking into this and come up with some concrete numbers about how much energy we save by using the stairs instead.
Of course, this is something that is extremely difficult to measure.
However, overall, I believe there is definitely a case that taking the stairs can have a significant impact on energy conservation. This is something I will also discuss with Kelly, the energy conservation specialist on campus as well.
In the meantime, the most significant stats I can find on this come from 2 articles I found online:
http://www.slate.com/id/2215513/
http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/commercial.html
The best stat I found was this:
According to figures provided by elevator manufacturer Kone, a typical hydraulic elevator in a three-story office building uses 3,800 kilowatt-hours per year, or about as much as the average American home uses in four months. A traction elevator in a 10-story building might use about five-and-a-half times as much energy.
So if anyone is interested in pursuing a campaign around this, feel free! :) Just thought I'd share my thoughts and research!
Rachel
I have been attempting to looking into this and come up with some concrete numbers about how much energy we save by using the stairs instead.
Of course, this is something that is extremely difficult to measure.
However, overall, I believe there is definitely a case that taking the stairs can have a significant impact on energy conservation. This is something I will also discuss with Kelly, the energy conservation specialist on campus as well.
In the meantime, the most significant stats I can find on this come from 2 articles I found online:
http://www.slate.com/id/2215513/
http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/commercial.html
The best stat I found was this:
According to figures provided by elevator manufacturer Kone, a typical hydraulic elevator in a three-story office building uses 3,800 kilowatt-hours per year, or about as much as the average American home uses in four months. A traction elevator in a 10-story building might use about five-and-a-half times as much energy.
So if anyone is interested in pursuing a campaign around this, feel free! :) Just thought I'd share my thoughts and research!
Rachel
SBA Green Team Tip of the Week (5/26/09)
Eco-Friendly Water Bottles
Consider an eco friendly water bottle. Lots of us buy plastic water bottles over and over and over again.... just type "eco friendly water bottles" in the search engine and you'll find stainless steel and plastic water bottles that don't leach unwanted stuff into your water. Then fill them from your tap or water dispenser over and over and over again.
Questions? Want to join the SBA Green Team? Email: greenteam@sba.pdx.edu for more information.
Consider an eco friendly water bottle. Lots of us buy plastic water bottles over and over and over again.... just type "eco friendly water bottles" in the search engine and you'll find stainless steel and plastic water bottles that don't leach unwanted stuff into your water. Then fill them from your tap or water dispenser over and over and over again.
Questions? Want to join the SBA Green Team? Email: greenteam@sba.pdx.edu for more information.
SBA Green Team Tip of the Week (5/19/09)
Reducing Personal and Business Junk Mail
This site lists some ways to get off of mailing lists. It gives details on how to find out how to contact companies, etc. Here are some of the ideas in abbreviated form, for more details on how to reduce personal and business junk mail, visit their website: http://www.globalstewards.org/junkmail.htm
Contact the Direct Marketing Association:
Every loose-leaf bundle of business or supermarket fliers must be delivered along with an address postcard. Locate this address card - the cards usually have an advertisement and a photograph of a missing child (ADVO is the most common). Mail the address card to the address printed on the card and ask to be removed from their mailing list.
To stop receiving unsolicited credit card and other credit related offers, gather your current address, other addresses from the last two years, and social security number(s). Call the credit reporting industry's toll-free number, 1-888-567-8688 (24 hours a day).
Your credit card company probably sells your name the most often. Call and ask them to stop. Also make the same request of your bank and any other companies from which you purchase products or services on a regular basis (for example, companies who sell you magazines, phone service, and gas & electric services).
Create a place to store all unwanted mail. Once a month, call the local or toll-free numbers on the mailings and ask to be removed from their mailing lists (toll-free area codes are 800, 888, 877, or 866). This is the most effective way to get off mailing lists.
Questions? Want to join the SBA Green Team? Email: greenteam@sba.pdx.edu for more information.
This site lists some ways to get off of mailing lists. It gives details on how to find out how to contact companies, etc. Here are some of the ideas in abbreviated form, for more details on how to reduce personal and business junk mail, visit their website: http://www.globalstewards.org/junkmail.htm
Contact the Direct Marketing Association:
Every loose-leaf bundle of business or supermarket fliers must be delivered along with an address postcard. Locate this address card - the cards usually have an advertisement and a photograph of a missing child (ADVO is the most common). Mail the address card to the address printed on the card and ask to be removed from their mailing list.
To stop receiving unsolicited credit card and other credit related offers, gather your current address, other addresses from the last two years, and social security number(s). Call the credit reporting industry's toll-free number, 1-888-567-8688 (24 hours a day).
Your credit card company probably sells your name the most often. Call and ask them to stop. Also make the same request of your bank and any other companies from which you purchase products or services on a regular basis (for example, companies who sell you magazines, phone service, and gas & electric services).
Create a place to store all unwanted mail. Once a month, call the local or toll-free numbers on the mailings and ask to be removed from their mailing lists (toll-free area codes are 800, 888, 877, or 866). This is the most effective way to get off mailing lists.
Questions? Want to join the SBA Green Team? Email: greenteam@sba.pdx.edu for more information.
SBA Green Team Tip of the Week (5/4/09)
Who says we get too much rain?
Rainwater harvesting is the accumulation and storage of rainwater. Traditionally, rainwater harvesting has been practiced most in areas where water exists in plenty, and that is definitely the case here in Oregon. The average 1000 square foot home in Oregon “sheds” approximately 22,500 gallons of rain water per year. Rooftop rainwater harvesting systems such as rain barrels (generally 55 gallons) or totes (275 to 325 gallons) are relatively easy and inexpensive to install. Just look on Craig’s List to find many types of rain collection systems and equipment for sale.
The City of Portland has a Clean River Rewards website that outlines how to build a rain barrel system as well as other information on how to make your impact on the watershed more green and sustainable. http://www.portlandonline.com/BES/index.cfm?c=41976
Rainwater harvesting in urban areas has manifold reasons:
• To provide supplemental water for the city's requirement, it increases soil moisture levels for urban greenery
• To increase the ground water table through artificial recharge
• To mitigate urban flooding and to improve the quality of groundwater
• To decrease the use of potable water you pay for to rain water you get for free
In urban areas of the developed world, at a household level, harvested rainwater can be used for flushing toilets and washing laundry. Indeed in hard water areas it is superior to mains water for this. It can also be used for showering or bathing. As rainwater may be contaminated, it is often not considered suitable for drinking without treatment. However, there are many examples of rainwater being used for all purposes — including drinking — following suitable treatment.
• In New Zealand, many houses away from the larger towns and cities routinely rely on rainwater collected from roofs as the only source of water for all household activities.
• Currently in China and Brazil, rooftop rainwater harvesting is being practiced for providing drinking water, domestic water, water for livestock, water for small irrigation and a way to replenish ground water levels.
• In Bermuda, the law requires all new construction to include rainwater harvesting adequate for the residents. The U.S. Virgin Islands have a similar law.
• In Indus Valley Civilization, Elephanta Caves and Kanheri Caves in Mumbai rainwater harvesting alone has been used to supply in their water requirements.
• In Senegal/Guinea-Bissau, the houses of the Diola-people are frequently equipped with home brew rainwater harvesters made from local, organic material.
• In the United Kingdom water is collected in domestic gardens to collect rainwater which is then used to water the garden.
HOWEVER:
• In Colorado, where water is more scarce, water rights laws severely restrict rainwater harvesting -- a property owner who captures rainwater is effectively stealing it from those who have rights to take water from the watershed.
Questions? Want to join the SBA Green Team? Email: greenteam@sba.pdx.edu for more information.
Rainwater harvesting is the accumulation and storage of rainwater. Traditionally, rainwater harvesting has been practiced most in areas where water exists in plenty, and that is definitely the case here in Oregon. The average 1000 square foot home in Oregon “sheds” approximately 22,500 gallons of rain water per year. Rooftop rainwater harvesting systems such as rain barrels (generally 55 gallons) or totes (275 to 325 gallons) are relatively easy and inexpensive to install. Just look on Craig’s List to find many types of rain collection systems and equipment for sale.
The City of Portland has a Clean River Rewards website that outlines how to build a rain barrel system as well as other information on how to make your impact on the watershed more green and sustainable. http://www.portlandonline.com/BES/index.cfm?c=41976
Rainwater harvesting in urban areas has manifold reasons:
• To provide supplemental water for the city's requirement, it increases soil moisture levels for urban greenery
• To increase the ground water table through artificial recharge
• To mitigate urban flooding and to improve the quality of groundwater
• To decrease the use of potable water you pay for to rain water you get for free
In urban areas of the developed world, at a household level, harvested rainwater can be used for flushing toilets and washing laundry. Indeed in hard water areas it is superior to mains water for this. It can also be used for showering or bathing. As rainwater may be contaminated, it is often not considered suitable for drinking without treatment. However, there are many examples of rainwater being used for all purposes — including drinking — following suitable treatment.
• In New Zealand, many houses away from the larger towns and cities routinely rely on rainwater collected from roofs as the only source of water for all household activities.
• Currently in China and Brazil, rooftop rainwater harvesting is being practiced for providing drinking water, domestic water, water for livestock, water for small irrigation and a way to replenish ground water levels.
• In Bermuda, the law requires all new construction to include rainwater harvesting adequate for the residents. The U.S. Virgin Islands have a similar law.
• In Indus Valley Civilization, Elephanta Caves and Kanheri Caves in Mumbai rainwater harvesting alone has been used to supply in their water requirements.
• In Senegal/Guinea-Bissau, the houses of the Diola-people are frequently equipped with home brew rainwater harvesters made from local, organic material.
• In the United Kingdom water is collected in domestic gardens to collect rainwater which is then used to water the garden.
HOWEVER:
• In Colorado, where water is more scarce, water rights laws severely restrict rainwater harvesting -- a property owner who captures rainwater is effectively stealing it from those who have rights to take water from the watershed.
Questions? Want to join the SBA Green Team? Email: greenteam@sba.pdx.edu for more information.
SBA Green Team Tip of the Week (4/27/09)
Water Conservation in Portland
Did you know there are many water conservation resources offered free of charge through the City of Portland?
The City of Portland provides brochures and water conservation devices that can be requested online at
http://www.portlandonline.com/water/index.cfm?c=29618#cid_33920
Items you can request online include; Water Audit Kit, Leak Detection Tablets, Toilet Fill Cycle Diverter, Toilet Displacement Bag, 1.0 Bathroom faucet aerator, 1.5 gpm Kitchen Faucet Aerator, 1.5 gpm Shower head, 5-minute Shower Timer, Watering Gauge and Guidebook: Water-Efficient Plants for the Willamette Valley.
There are also several brochures available to help you learn more about water conservation in the City of Portland. These brochures are:
*Financial Assistance: Describes the City’s financial assistance program for helping with water and sewer bills. Available in English, Spanish, Russian and Vietnamese.
*Indoor and Outdoor Water Savings Tips: Tips on saving water inside and outside the home as well as instructions on fixing minor leaks around the home.
*7 Basic Steps for Creating Water Efficient Landscapes: The seven steps in this brochure can help you create a water-efficient landscape that is colorful and easy to maintain. It includes recommendations of plants appropriate for the Pacific Northwest.
*Selecting a Landscape Contractor & The Irrigation Bill of Rights: This set of two brochures provides tips for selecting a landscape contractor for designing and maintaining a landscape, and installing an irrigation system.
*Planning and Maintaining a Lawn: This brochure provides detailed information on how to design and maintain a lawn to reduce water consumption and maintain a healthy look.
Questions? Want to join the SBA Green Team? Email: greenteam@sba.pdx.edu for more information.
Did you know there are many water conservation resources offered free of charge through the City of Portland?
The City of Portland provides brochures and water conservation devices that can be requested online at
http://www.portlandonline.com/water/index.cfm?c=29618#cid_33920
Items you can request online include; Water Audit Kit, Leak Detection Tablets, Toilet Fill Cycle Diverter, Toilet Displacement Bag, 1.0 Bathroom faucet aerator, 1.5 gpm Kitchen Faucet Aerator, 1.5 gpm Shower head, 5-minute Shower Timer, Watering Gauge and Guidebook: Water-Efficient Plants for the Willamette Valley.
There are also several brochures available to help you learn more about water conservation in the City of Portland. These brochures are:
*Financial Assistance: Describes the City’s financial assistance program for helping with water and sewer bills. Available in English, Spanish, Russian and Vietnamese.
*Indoor and Outdoor Water Savings Tips: Tips on saving water inside and outside the home as well as instructions on fixing minor leaks around the home.
*7 Basic Steps for Creating Water Efficient Landscapes: The seven steps in this brochure can help you create a water-efficient landscape that is colorful and easy to maintain. It includes recommendations of plants appropriate for the Pacific Northwest.
*Selecting a Landscape Contractor & The Irrigation Bill of Rights: This set of two brochures provides tips for selecting a landscape contractor for designing and maintaining a landscape, and installing an irrigation system.
*Planning and Maintaining a Lawn: This brochure provides detailed information on how to design and maintain a lawn to reduce water consumption and maintain a healthy look.
Questions? Want to join the SBA Green Team? Email: greenteam@sba.pdx.edu for more information.
SBA Green Team Tip of the Week (4/20/09)
Dirty dishes: by hand or by machine?
By the time you wash a sink load of dirty dishes by hand, you’ll go through four to five gallons of water. Modern dishwashers use as little as two gallons. Sure, dishwashers require electricity, but new ones use 95 percent less electricity than machines built 30 years ago, and they clean well enough that in most cases, there’s no need to pre-rinse.
Recommendation:
Stick to full loads, use the pot-scrubber option only if necessary, and hit the no-heat or air-dry option.
Taken from “Going Green, The Reader’s Digest Version” by Andy Simmons and Additional reporting by Ed Goralski and Mary Atkins
Questions? Want to join the SBA Green Team? Email: greenteam@sba.pdx.edu for more information.
By the time you wash a sink load of dirty dishes by hand, you’ll go through four to five gallons of water. Modern dishwashers use as little as two gallons. Sure, dishwashers require electricity, but new ones use 95 percent less electricity than machines built 30 years ago, and they clean well enough that in most cases, there’s no need to pre-rinse.
Recommendation:
Stick to full loads, use the pot-scrubber option only if necessary, and hit the no-heat or air-dry option.
Taken from “Going Green, The Reader’s Digest Version” by Andy Simmons and Additional reporting by Ed Goralski and Mary Atkins
Questions? Want to join the SBA Green Team? Email: greenteam@sba.pdx.edu for more information.
SBA Green Team Tip of the Week (4/13/09)
I know cold-water washes are greener, but will they get my clothes clean?
For a hot-water load, about 90 percent of the energy used to wash clothes goes to heat the water, not agitate your clothes. The good new is, washing your clothes in warm or even cold water will get rid of almost anything, except for the worst dirt or oily stains.
Recommendation: Switch from hot to warm water to cut energy use in half; cold, to cut it even more.
Taken from “Going Green, The Reader’s Digest Version” by Andy Simmons and Additional reporting by Ed Goralski and Mary Atkins
Questions? Want to join the SBA Green Team? Email: greenteam@sba.pdx.edu for more information.
For a hot-water load, about 90 percent of the energy used to wash clothes goes to heat the water, not agitate your clothes. The good new is, washing your clothes in warm or even cold water will get rid of almost anything, except for the worst dirt or oily stains.
Recommendation: Switch from hot to warm water to cut energy use in half; cold, to cut it even more.
Taken from “Going Green, The Reader’s Digest Version” by Andy Simmons and Additional reporting by Ed Goralski and Mary Atkins
Questions? Want to join the SBA Green Team? Email: greenteam@sba.pdx.edu for more information.
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