Although many of us enjoyed and continue to enjoy the beautiful, sunny weather that was characteristic of this summer, it is important to acknowledge the impact that this has had on our environment. On September 3rd, UConn issued a Stage II Mandatory Water Conservation Alert due to dry conditions that have led to a reduction in stream flows. Our own Fenton River and many others have exhibited flow rates close to or below the lowest on record for this time of year. A drop in water level is known to have an inevitable cascade effect that can lead to the loss of thermal refuges and cold water fish, as well as the diminishment of river water quality.

It is imperative that we recognize that all environmental conditions, including droughts, affect everyone to some degree. Furthermore, everyone’s actions can either positively or negatively affect the situation at hand. Drought or no drought, UConn works to conserve water each and every day through a variety of efforts. The operation of the Reclaimed Water Facility and the installation of low flow shower heads and faucet aerators are just a few of our campus’s consistent approaches to water conservation.

Nevertheless, it is crucial that students, faculty, and staff on campus take additional measures to conserve water during this alert. Upon the issuance of the Stage II Water Supply Watch, mandatory conservations became and remain effective. These include restrictions on lawn watering, washing motor vehicles, and using water for dust control. Equally as important are the voluntary measures that we can all enact to conserve water throughout our daily routines. These measures include taking shorter showers, washing laundry in full loads, turning off the sink while brushing your teeth, and reporting leaky fixtures to “Stop the Drop.” We hope and expect that most members of the UConn community strive to implement these measures everyday despite the current dry conditions; however, if you are looking for a reason to begin conserving water, this is certainly the time.

The start of the semester is looking bright, and we’re not talking about the glowing faces of the students strolling to their 8AM classes. We’re referring to the 4,500 LED lamps distributed to new and returning students this past weekend.

In past years, students picking up their textbooks at the Co-Op have been provided with fluorescent and LED bulbs; however, this year, UConn and Eversource exceeded all expectations with the allotment of energy efficient LED desk lamps. For those who do not know, light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, deviate from CFLs and incandescent bulbs in their light production efficiency. LEDs expend 75% less electricity than incandescent bulbs with a lifetime up to 25 times longer.

We are all very grateful to Eversource, UConn’s electric utility company, for its generous support. Apart from being energy efficient, the lamps distributed were eye-catching with a sleek design and UCONN logo in an array of colors. The built in USB port was also a great feature. It is no wonder that all 4,500 lamps were distributed by Day 3 of the event.

This success can be defined not only by the great amount of lamps given out, but by the message the event conveyed. To students and parents present, UConn’s commitment to the environment was made all so evident. This and other displays of effort and success are reflected in UConn’s #8 ranking in 2015 and consistent top ten ranking in Sierra’s Cool School annual sustainability survey of the greenest colleges and universities in the United States.

Like a lot of girls, I love to shop. As a consumer, it is important to be conscious of the impacts of your clothing purchases. It is estimated that over 90% of the clothing purchased in the United States comes from abroad. A sweater that you notice hanging on the rack or a pair of shoes you come across at a department store might have traveled thousands of miles, using up energy and polluting the planet with coal on its journey to reach you. The latter motivated me to become the type of consumer who primarily purchases consignment clothing.

What is Consignment?
Consignment clothing shops is a clothing shop that sells clothes that are owned not by the shop’s owner, but by the individual who had given (consigned) the clothes to the shop for the owner to sell. Both the shop owner and the individual who donated the clothing receive a portion of the profit once the clothing items are sold.
Consignment clothing produces a significantly smaller carbon footprint. While the sweater or the pair of shoes might have first come from thousands of miles away, it most likely made itself into the consignment clothing shop after someone in the local community wore it, and then sold or donated it to the shop. The only carbon emissions associated with the sweater or pair of shoes is the fuel that it took the donator and the shopper to drive to the store. The amount of emissions would be significantly less or virtually zero if either person walked, biked, or took public transportation to the consignment clothing store.
Consignment clothing items are tremendously discounted as well. I have always found that $50 at a consignment clothing store will earn me at least three or four times more than spending $50 at a department store. Purchasing discounted items does not mean sacrificing style. A majority of consignment stores tailor to the style of the glamorous, uptown, modern woman.

The 3 R’s
Reuse
While the idea of wearing something that someone else wore can be a turn off to some people, the clothing is first washed before it is placed on the racks, and the clothing must be gently used. Buying and using gently worn clothing follows one of the main principles of environmental friendliness. These clothing items, if they had not been donated or sold to the consignment shop, could have easily ended up in a landfill.

Reduce
The packaging associated with brand new items often ends up in landfills as well, especially if the new clothing item is ordered online. The new clothing items can come wrapped up in a lot of plastic, tissue, etc. Gently worn clothing items purchased in a consignment clothing shop eliminate that unnecessary packaging entirely.

Recycle
You can support consignment clothing shops by participating as a donor or seller. Bring your gently used, unwanted clothing items, shoes, and accessories to a consignment clothing store. You will be paid for your generosity and environmental stewardship!

-Meredith

Earth Day may be on April 22nd this year, but I’m sure we can all agree that UConn’s commitment to environmental sustainability calls for more than just one day of celebration. This year, we envision something much more spectacular: an Earth Week! Throughout the week of April 20th, Fairfield Way will be home to lots of exciting, sustainable events.

On Monday, April 20th, UConn’s annual Earth Day Spring Fling will be taking place on Fairfield Way from 11:00am-2:00pm. There will be over 40 sustainable vendors and exhibitors, as well as live music, and the Department of Dining Services will be hosting a delicious, zero-waste barbeque. For years, EDSF has been a well-loved event, and this year will be no exception.

On Wednesday, April 22nd, UConn’s very first Arbor Day Celebration will be held from 11:00am-2:00pm at the intersection of Fairfield Way and North Hillside Road. Thanks to a generous donation from the Arbor Day Foundation as well as the help of Dining Services, this event will feature an eight-by-four foot tree cake (yes, a thirty-two square foot cake), a tree pruning demonstration, as well as a tree planting.

EcoHusky will be hosting a clothing swap throughout the week of the 20th: Monday 11:00am-2:00pm during Earth Day Spring Fling, Tuesday 10:00am-2:00pm, and Wednesday 10:00am-2:00pm. The clothing swap provides students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to give away old clothes in a more sustainable way, and also pick out something new.

When we consider the level of commitment to environmental sustainability at the University of Connecticut, this week of celebration and excitement seems fitting. UConn’s obligation to our Earth is worthy of such festivities, and we hope that everyone on campus will be able to partake in and enjoy these wonderful events.

Exchange your clothes; anything goes!

After this long winter, I’m sure we’re all tired of our coats, sweaters, hats, and scarves. Now that spring is finally here, and it’s a beautiful, sunny 46 degrees outside, we need to start making space in our closets for shorts and tank tops. That does not mean we should just toss all of our lightly used clothes in the trash. If you have any clothing that you no longer want or need, have no fear. EcoHusky is hosting a clothing swap for anyone at UConn to drop off unwanted clothes and even exchange them for something new!

The clothing swap will be taking place on Fairfield Way the following dates/times:
– Monday, 4/20 11:00am-2:00pm
– Tuesday, 4/21 10:00am-2:00pm
– Wednesday, 4/22 10:00am-2:00pm

Bring as many clothing items as you can carry, because for every item you donate, you have the opportunity to exchange for something new. Even if you don’t have anything to donate, please make sure to stop by anyway, because every item is on sale for only $2! All proceeds will go to EcoHusky to promote sustainability and host cool green events like this one. In addition, all extra clothing will be donated to Planet Aid and PIRG’s Campaign for Hunger and Homelessness.

If you can’t make it to the swap any of these days, there are other opportunities to get involved. Clothing collection bins can be found in a variety of locations, including the EcoHouse office in Sprague Hall, the WHUS studio located on fourth floor of the Student Union, as well as the laundry rooms in Buckley and North. If you have any questions, please contact: kelly.morrissey@uconn.edu

EcoHusky’s clothing swap is a fantastic way to transform your closet in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way. We hope to see you there!

With recent media hype surrounding the mind-blowing Solar Impulse 2, a solar-powered plane set to travel around the globe, it is clear that this renewable energy source has come a long way since it first appeared commercially in the ‘50s [1].  Over the last century, photovoltaic (PV) technology has developed immensely, playing an increasingly significant role in environmental initiatives to move away from fossil fuels and mitigate climate change.  Unfortunately, opportunities for everyday homeowners to solarize have seemed few and far between.

Luckily for Connecticut residents, UConn has been selected to participate in Solarize U – a program that allows state homeowners to get involved in the solar movement.  Through Solarize U, CT locals can implement PV technology in their own homes at low rates from reputable solar installers.

Interested in learning more?  Here are the top five reasons why you should check out Solarize U for yourself.

1.) Save money on your electric bill

By installing solar panels on your home, you will immediately begin to generate your own electricity.  As you make payments towards your loan or purchase, you will be generating enough electricity from your solar panels to be cash-flow positive.  Additionally, excess electricity produced in your home can be sold back to the grid at the end of year.

2.) Receive the lowest installation rates on the market

Currently, solar panel installation rates range widely from company to company.  How do you know if you’re getting a good deal?  Through SolarizeU, Connecticut residents automatically receive some of the best rates on the market with the programs pre-screened installers.

3.) It’s easy

SolarizeU has created a simple, online process for taking the next steps towards going solar. All you need to do is head to UConn’s “EnergySage” website to get started.

          Step 1: Register online

               – Register and complete your property profile

          Step 2: Pre-screened installers submit quotes online

               – Installers compete for your business

          Step 3: Compare quotes online

               – Pick the best quote for you and save with solar!

4.) There’s no obligation

If you decide against all of the solar quote options, no worries!  Solar installers will only contact you if you so request.

5.) Combat climate change

Climate change has become a major issue on the environmental forefront.  Through using solar power as your home’s energy source, you will be decreasing your carbon footprint and releasing less harmful emissions into the atmosphere.  Help do your part in saving the environment!

Act fast!  The program ends on June 30^th.

If you have further questions, please contact Bernie Pelletier and Kate Donnelly, Solarize U Outreach Managers, at bpelletier@smartpower.org and kdonnelly@smartpower.org respectively, or call the Office of Environmental Policy at (860) 486-5773.

[1] http://www.sunlightelectric.com/pvhistory.php

February 28^th was quite a day for UConn Women’s Basketball. Not only did the Huskies win their second-straight American Athletic Conference regular season crown; Kiah Stokes earned her 300^th block, and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis joined UConn’s 2,000 point club!

Despite all of the excitement, UConn fans still found time to recycle their bottles at the game. This season’s Women’s Basketball Green Game Day was a success, yet again. Volunteers from EcoHusky, EcoHouse, and the Office of Environmental Policy encouraged fans to recycle, promoted future green events, and collected countless bags of bottles after the game. The responses from fans of all ages were enthusiastic and positive. So many of them expressed that they already practice great recycling strategies, which is fantastic to hear, and others appreciated the efforts and devotion of the volunteers to such a great cause.

A big thank you to all of the volunteers and fans that came out to the game and brought with them their excellent approaches to recycling!

Recycling is the law! According to the CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, every single resident of Connecticut must recycle. Fortunately, UConn has worked very hard to ensure that recycling on campus is effortless and accessible. Between 2013 and 2014 alone, our recycling rate has increased nearly 2 percent, equivalent to over 50 tons! 

In the past, recycling was a confusing, time consuming task, especially for students in a rush to get to class. If there were no visible recycling bins nearby, one would simply toss their bottle into a garbage can. Even with recycling bins in sight, so many individuals were unsure of what items belonged in what bins, so they would either throw their bottle into an incorrect bin or a garbage can. The problem did not stem from a lack of motive, but from confusion and inconvenience.

New mixed recycling bins are designed to eliminate confusion regarding what items can be placed in what bin. Indicated by the bright blue color and distinct lid shape, these mixed recycling bins are all over campus. With an opening configured for both bottles and paper, nearly any recyclable, including plastics bottles, metal cans, milk cartons, newspapers and magazines, paper, books, and cardboard, can be tossed into this type of bin. It is no surprise that in 2014, 32 percent of the waste diverted at UConn came from mixed recycling. Now, when students are rushing to class, it takes no more time or effort to place a bottle in a mixed bin than it does to throw it into a garbage can.

Despite UConn’s efforts to make recycling timely and convenient, there still exists a lack of knowledge and understanding of the concept of mixed recycling bins to a degree. Many are not aware of the new guidelines, and are still unsure of what can be thrown out where. It is imperative that those who understand the concept and intention of these bins educate those students, faculty, and staff that do not. Spreading the word will make a world of a difference on our campus!

Last month, UConn’s Office of Environmental Policy joined the company of many other universities, large companies and institutions by signing the U.S. Department of Energy’s Workplace Charging Challenge. The goal of the challenge is to have the number of U.S. employers offering workplace charging to increase tenfold by 2018. By joining, UConn shows a commitment to providing charging station access to employees, assessing demand for charging stations, establishing a workplace charging plan, and sharing workplace charging progress and best practices to other institutions. UConn already fits the basic criteria for this challenge with three active Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations and one on the way. These charging stations are located in the Motor Pool parking lot off of North Hillside Road and in North Garage. Benefits for joining the Workplace Charging Challenge include informational resources and technical assistance for EV charging stations, assistance in assessing the feasibility of charging stations, exchange of information and networking with other organizations, and recognition of UConn’s EV charging station progress.

Signing the Workplace Charging Challenge is great for the university as it promotes an initiative we’ve already invested in!

-Chris

Are you the owner of an electric vehicle?  The University of Connecticut has recognized the importance and efficiency of both hybrid and fully electric alternative fuel vehicles.  Recently, grants have been acquired to allow UConn to install Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations around the Storrs Campus for your convenience!  Currently, there is one EV station in the Motor Pool parking lot off of North Hillside Road, two in North Garage on North Eagleville Rd, and plans to install stations in South Garage in the near future.  The North Garage stations were open for use on Friday, February 6, 2015.  All stations located on campus are free of charge for public use for the first 5 years of operation.  In addition to the campus stations, there are 4 more charging stations in the parking garage off of Dog Lane in Storrs Center, as well as one in the parking lot of the Mansfield Community Center.  These stations charge $1/hour of charging to the public, or a flat rate of $3 per charge for residents with a garage pass.