The Recycling Education Committee of GREENetwork has prepared signs to build awareness about recycling — designed to quickly make people aware of what items can be placed in recycling bins, or remind them not to put recyclable items in trash bins.
These signs are available to download and post in your own campus area.
Do you bike on campus? Do you want to bike on campus but something is holding you back? We want your input on the bike racks on campus, or where you would like to see more bike racks in specific locations. Students in Environmental Health are looking to increase the number of bike racks on campus and provide more convenience for bikers. Your input matters!
Sodexo Campus Services now offers reusable to-go containers in the Faculty-Staff Dining Lounge. The containers are sold for $5.99, and diners receive a 25-cent discount any time they bring back a container to reuse.
To prevent prescription and over-the-counter drugs from entering the water supply, and in order to make it convenient to dispose of drugs properly, IWU has a drop-box located in the entry of the Security building at 110 E. Graham St. The drop-box site is open 24/7.
See guidelines for disposal from IWU Wellness.
Physical Plant Custodial Services has a new floor cleaning machine at the Shirk Center. By cleaning with ionized water, the machine reduces the use of water and chemicals — reducing both the environmental and budgetary impact of maintaining the facility, according to Dale Conover, assistant manager of custodial services and GREENetwork member.
In support of the University’s commitment to sustainability, Tate Archives & Special Collections in The Ames Library is the home of four collections related to Environmental Studies. These materials are available for researchers from any part of IWU’s community, both on and off campus, and serve as a resource for the IWU Environmental Studies Program.
This past summer, the Office of Residential Life replaced 65 pairs of laundry machines — which after 14 years had completed their usable life — with the same number of new Energy Star machines.
The new, front-loading washing machines use 20 less gallons of water per load of laundry than the machines they replace. Considering our students do nearly 100 loads of laundry a day, that’s 14,000 gallons a week or 224,000 gallons of water saved in a semester, according to Assistant Dean of Students Matt Damschroder. Also, each new machine draws 61 percent less energy compared to the old machines.
Following the President’s Convocation address by “No Impact Man” Colin Beavan,144 students, faculty and staff participated in the No Impact Experiment Week on campus, gaining a new mindfulness about their behaviors.
Students participating as a class requirement included those in Visiting Associate Professor Laurine Brown’s ENST 270: Health and the Environment class, who submitted journal responses. Among them, Carlee Nestelberger ’12 said she appreciated the opportunity for involvement beyond the classroom. She attended the documentary “FLOW” and wrote, “This movie really inspired me and I would love to get involved or start some kind of club to … spread awareness of water shortage in our world.”
A prairie plot was planted in the spring of 2009 on the southwest side of the Center for Natural Science. A student initiative and maintained by students, the plot features native Illinois prairie plants, which are resistant to drought and provide important wildlife habitat. All of the seeds were collected, bought, or donated by Illinois Wesleyan students and members of the community.
As part of its corporate commitment to sustainable practices, Sodexo purchases only hormone-free milk, fish from sustainable sources, and produce that is grown within the region, including many sustainable and organic suppliers.