The Sierra Student Coalition (SSC) is offering free IWU water bottles to incoming students who pledge not to buy single-use plastic bottles. The IWU bottles will be available during orientation week, while supplies last.
The SSC received funding from Student Senate for two hydration stations to be placed in CNS and Presser Hall for students to refill their bottles, as part of an ongoing campaign to “take back the tap.”
Cyclists can select “show bike racks” on the campus map to find bike rack locations on campus, including a new rack installed this summer outside The Ames Library.
Visitors also can select “parking for electric vehicles” on the map to find the EV charging stations, located at the Minor Myers, jr. Welcome Center.
Illinois Wesleyan has contracted with a new provider, CDS Office Technologies, for new Konica-Minolta multi-function copiers. These devices meet international environmental standards, including Energy Star, Japan’s Eco Mark, Germany’s Blue Angel Mark and the Eco Leaf Environmental Label, which is based on a product’s environmental impact throughout its entire life cycle.
To help reduce waste, toner levels will be monitored electronically and new cartridges automatically delivered as needed (so they aren’t ordered in over-abundance). Used cartridges and parts will be recycled.
This fall, software will be implemented that offers feedback about the carbon emissions produced when selecting various device options. CDS will be working with the campus community in an ongoing effort to help reduce the environmental impact of printing and copying.
Project Analyst Michael Gorman ’10 found a way to commute sustainably while attending a conference out of state, and shared his experience on the Good To Go Blog.
The new IWU Peace Garden has been planted with tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins, gourds, beets, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, basil, thyme, oregano, parsley, sage, onion, beans, sugar snap peas, dill, cilantro, tomatillos, squash and potatoes.
The garden — located north of IWU’s practice fields — is dedicated to providing education and fresh produce for the campus and Bloomington-Normal communities. Organizers hope to distribute the produce to Clare House, Sodexo and an on-campus farmers market.
Ryan Dyar ’14, Danny Kenny ’13 and Alex Monzon ’13 are working on the garden as interns for the Action Research Center, under the guidance of Associate Professor of Political Science Jim Simeone and Action Research Center Coordinator Deborah Halperin. Kenny wrote a successful grant request to help support the garden during an Action Research Seminar.
Visit the Peace Garden blog or Facebook page for updates.
The 10th annual Yard Smart Walk is Saturday, June 23, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (including lunch and an educational program).
This free tour highlights beautiful and functional yards in Bloomington/Normal that incorporate native plants, provide “edibles,” benefit wildlife and use few or no synthetic chemicals to help protect our local environment and water supplies.
Participants will caravan to four different local yards. Lunch will be provided following the tour. Bill Davison, former owner of the Blue Schoolhouse Organic Farm, Cathy Bilow of Kid-Conscious Lawns with Grieder’s, and Sharon Welch of Wild Ones will be on hand to answer questions about sustainable garden practices.
A Freecycle exchange of live plants and garden tools will also be available — so bring your extra and unwanted plants for exchange with other participants.
The event is free and open to the public with a $5 suggested donation for lunch. Event registration is required and is requested by Wednesday, June 20.
To register and receive more information call (309) 454-3169 or go to www.ecologyactioncenter.org. Individuals should bring their own lawn chairs and reusable water bottles for the lunch and presentation.
Due to infestation by the Emerald Ash Borer, approximately 17 ash trees were removed from campus grounds last week, primarily in the area around the parking lot at Empire and Park streets. Safety was a factor, with concerns about limbs falling as the trees succumbed to the infestation.
The Emerald Ash Borer is an invasive species that has been working its way south from Canada for several years. “It’s been called a natural disaster,” Assistant Manager of Grounds Services Ken Detloff said. “It takes out every single ash tree.”
In the years that the University grounds crew braced for the threat, they identified seven prominent ash trees for preventative treatment. Detloff described the treatment as “effective but costly,” and noted the environmental impact of using insecticides is a consideration in treating only selected trees.
Before the recent removal, there were 29 total ash trees on campus. Of the few remaining that aren’t being treated, most are located on city property — between sidewalks and street curbs — and will eventually fall under the city’s removal plans, Detloff said.
“We have a small percentage of ash trees compared with the rest of the community, so we’re fortunate,” he said. “Since all those elm trees came down years ago, we’ve really focused on diversity.”
In the 1950s, Dutch Elm disease killed more than 100 elms on campus. Today Illinois Wesleyan is home to more than 1,200 trees comprising nearly 150 different species, as noted on the campus tree map.
As of Friday afternoon (May 18), members of the Illinois Wesleyan community had logged 49 sustainable commutes in last week’s GLT Good to Go Commuter Challenge.
Total Sustainable Miles: 275
Calories burned: 14,033
CO2 emissions abated: 235 lbs
Can you walk, bike, find a carpool buddy, or take the bus to work for a week?
The Good to Go Commuter Challenge is a fun, free, friendly competition among organizations (workplaces, groups and teams) and individuals to commute sustainably.
Everything counts, except driving alone. Registration is now open at gltgoodtogo.com/challenge; the challenge takes place next week (May 12-18).
All participants are eligible to win a $200 Visa gift card.