Approximately one thousand years…the amount of time it takes plastic bottles to break down. One year and ongoing…the amount of time it will take the College of Saint Elizabeth (CSE) Environmental Sustainability Task Force and the College community to implement green initiatives which will drastically make a difference for the environment.

 

“With today’s emphasis on energy conservation and reduction of carbon emissions, there are many things that we can do,” said Maria Cammarata, vp of Finance and Administration for the College. So, CSE decided to create a taskforce devoted to identifying ways the College can reduce its consumption of energy, increase recycling, and become an even better steward of the world’s limited natural resources.

 

The 2008-09 team of nine CSE representatives is charged with: educating and raising overall awareness with students, faculty, and staff about its planned CSE initiatives and what they can do to help; creating a plan for ongoing communications; and making sure that each initiative is implemented once approved.

 

 

  

CSE is sponsoring CSE GREEN WEEK. Attend September 2 through 5 on campus and learn about how to help CSE GO GREEN. Events range from a Lunch and Learn to a film premiere and include giveaways for the first 500 attendees. Click here for CSE GREEN WEEK details.

 

Recently, GREEN co-chairs, Meredith Beebe, CSE director of Residence Life, and Frank Neglia, CSE director of Facilities, arranged for first-year students to attend a 30 minute orientation program regarding CSE GREEN initiatives and how they can help.

 

CSE has already discontinued the use of the large bottles of Poland Spring Water and will be discontinuing the use of bottled water for internal catering requests received by Chartwells, the CSE food service provider. Instead, the campus will rely on water supplied by its own well, which is tested for purity on an ongoing basis by the Sister of Charity Physical Plant staff, said Ms. Cammarata.

 

Other College GREEN initiatives already completed are numerous and include, but are not limited to:

 

• New construction built with energy conservation in mind: Annunciation Center, CSE’s Arts and Education Building, opened in August 2007, was built with efficiency in mind
• Reduced paper generation: students register and order books on-line; health services transitioned to on-line information; many documents on-line vs. printed including the catalog and other items; encouraging two-sided printing
• Energy efficient installations: boilers, fluorescent lights/ballasts, motion sensors
• Increased recycling: more trash recycle bins deployed; batteries, cell phones, PDAs donated for refurbishment or recycling; “ end-of life” equipment (computers, printers, etc.) recycled; light bulb disposal crusher purchased; using, where applicable and possible, recycled paper in copying machines
• Redeployment of hardware: increased use of networked vs. individual printers
• Temperature regulation: review of settings is ongoing
• GREEN cleaning materials used

 

Some GREEN initiatives completed by Chartwells at CSE are:

 

• Reusable giveaway: “Project Green Thumb” tote bag was given to each resident student to use as an alternative to plastic bags
• Using eco-friendly disposable products: Grab & Go Salad program containers are made from 100% annually renewable resources and are compost able; catering utensils, plates, and more to be more eco-friendly
• Implementing healthier solutions: using zero trans fat foods and oils; using cage-free eggs; using antibiotic-free pork and chicken; purchasing seafood from those partnered with the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program
• Purchasing locally: 75 percent of produce is from local growers to support local economies
• Recycling cooking oil

 

Keep focused on efficiency and stay tuned for more CSE GREEN initiatives as they are unveiled. Thank you for helping us GO GREEN!