Category Archives: Tips

Greening Your Lawn

It’s that time of year! Each weekend about 54 million Americans mow their lawns, using 800 million gallons of gas annually and producing tons of air pollutants. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a new gas-powered lawn mower produces as much air pollution in one hour as 11 new cars. (Source: http://www.peoplepoweredmachines.com/faq-environment.htm )

The Ecology Action Center’s Yard Smart program encourages yard care that is ecologically sustainable. Their website offers a host of helpful resources about steps you can take, such as switching to low-maintenance native landscaping, and reducing your reliance on chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

Campus Arboretum

The grounds of Illinois Wesleyan flourish with greenery at this time of year, with spring rains awakening the approximately 1,200 trees representing nearly 150 species and cultivars on our 80-acre campus. Thanks to Groundsman Art Killian, the variety of trees at Illinois Wesleyan are catalogued and newly photographed on the Campus Tree Map — a treasure map for the amateur arborist.

Reduce Printing-Related Costs, Consumption

The multifunction copier/printers installed on campus are more cost efficient and environmentally friendly than individual inkjet printers. Faculty and staff are encouraged to take advantage of these local network printers instead of using individual desktop machines. You will see substantial savings on replacement ink cartridges, save paper by duplex printing, and help reduce our carbon footprint. Plus, stretching your legs every so often to visit a network printer will be good for your health!

If your local network printer does not print in color, your print job can be uploaded to the Digital Storefront for printing by Printing, Publications and Mailing Services (PPMS). To set up a Digital Storefront account, contact Susan at ext. 3055 or by e-mail at ssombeck@iwu.edu.

Also, remember to take advantage of campus resources when you need printing or copier supplies for your department:

1) Order printer cartridges through Information Technology Services. Their suppliers can save you as much as $200 per cartridge compared to other third-party vendors.

2) It is University policy that all paper be ordered through PPMS, which has negotiated more favorable pricing than an individual department could obtain. All paper ordered by PPMS for copying and printing now contains eucalyptus fibers, a less expensive and more sustainable source than traditional wood pulp. This paper absorbs less moisture and performs better in campus machines. In addition, all University stationery contains 100 percent post-consumer waste, in keeping with Illinois Wesleyan’s commitment to sustainability.

McLean County Freecycle

Need to make room in your closets for all that holiday loot? Is there something you’re still looking for, but the season of giving has emptied your wallet?

McLean County Freecycle is an online exchange opportunity through the Freecycle Network, a grassroots nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) items for free in their own communities, finding ways to reuse and keep good stuff out of landfills.

Membership is free. The McLean County group is moderated by the Ecology Action Center with help from volunteers.

Recycling Awareness

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.