Georgia College Green Initiative

Princeton Review Green Ranking for Georgia College

73/100. That’s the latest (2012) ranking for the Green category from the Princeton Review for Georgia College. It’s two points higher than 2011. That’s why we spent a considerable effort last week filling out the AASHE/STARS and Princeton Review reporting tools for sustainability. We have learned that we actually are doing much more than we’ve been given credit for! And we have learned that there are many more things we could be doing!!

If you’d like to learn more about sustainability at Georgia College, please contact us at: green@gcsu.edu.

It’s Official- Wellness Center makes LEED Silver!

Congratulations, Georgia College! You have achieved the US Green Building Council’s LEED Silver designation for the Wellness Center! This tremendous effort makes Georgia College the first institution in Central Georgia to have a LEED building! Thanks are due to Mark Bowen and the entire building design and construction team!

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is a highly-respected program to reward innovative design and construction which reduces energy use and environmental impact. At Georgia College, we are working on implementing advanced technologies to make all our new and existing buildings more sustainable!

Electricity Meter Results from April to December, 2012

Electricity usage data from our new metering system shows that the Chiller Plant uses the most total electricity, followed at a great distance by Russell Library, Centennial Center, and the Wellness Center. From April to December 2012, on the Metered buildings (not including residence halls), we used about 54,500 Kw-hr/day, which roughly works out to $5500/day.

When the electricity use is normalized by area (Kw-hr/sq ft), there is a different story. Excluding the Centennial Center, which is rather unique, Parks Memorial uses the greatest amount of electricity per square foot. Does anyone know what they do in there that uses so much electricity?

Please, can you help us find a way to conserve electricity?

E-recycle at Digital Bridges!

The Materials WorkGroup had a very successful meeting Monday 4 Feb 13 with Environmental Health and Occupational Safety coordinator Shea Groebner and Digital Bridges Information Systems Specialist Daniel Pittman. It looks like we are much closer to implementing an electronics recycling program than we had imagined. Currently, you may take your used computers, devices, phones, and batteries to Digital Bridges anytime for recycling!

Bike FixIt Stations Installed on Main Campus

The FixIt stations purchased by Kristian Page’s Student Green Fee grant have been installed at at Adams and Parkhurst halls. Students, staff, and faculty can now stop by these public repair stations to pump up their tires, adjust their bolts, or replace a reflector!!

Water Management Inc.

http://www.watermgt.com/
Alexandria, VA and Atlanta-based water management company looking for opportunities to work with our institution to study water use and recommend solutions. Their contact in Atlanta said that they have 30 years experience in institutional water planning, and have recently worked with Spelman and Clark Universities.

Is this something we could pursue?

New Student Group Helps Earth!

The G.I.V.E. Center has a new student organization dedicated to helping the Earth! The Earth Action Team is a group of student, staff, and faculty volunteers willing to contribute several hours a month to help cleanup our environment and make Georgia College a better place! The members, led by sophomore Environmental Science student Holly Nix, will donate their service to recycling efforts, cleanups, energy conservation, and other earth-friendly activities. Individuals and organizations are invited to join!

For more information, email Holly at holly.nix@bobcats.gcsu.edu and join the group on OrgSync and Facebook!

New GC Rideboard on Facebook

Not sure who started it, but it’s getting a lot of use already- Use this Facebook page <https://www.facebook.com/GeorgiaCollegeRideShares> to find or offer a ride to/from Milledgeville to surrounding cities and destinations!

Campus Ecology case study

Thanks to Dr. Doreen Sams, Georgia College is on the list of the National Wildlife Federation’s 2012 Best Green Projects:
http://www.nwf.org/Campus-Ecology/Campus-Search.aspx

Hundreds of case studies from around the nation were reviewed and the NWF liked Shades of Green, our educational outreach program to incorporate sustainability into job search and career investigation for our students.

Here is a link to the supporting documentation. Congratulations everyone!

Campus Sustainability / Food Day – Wed 24 October 2012

Campus Sustainability Day and Food Day, a nationwide celebration, will be hosted on Georgia College’s campus on Wednesday, October 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Several companies, including Starbucks, Georgia Power and Weight Watchers, will be tabling on back campus to promote healthy eating habits and other sustainable practices that benefit the environment.

Student organizations from all over campus will be participating in a Canned Food Drive. All donations will benefit Café Central at Freedom Church. The canned food drive will take place in the courtyard behind Chappell.

Campus Sustainability Day and Food Day is sponsored by The Max and GC Sustainability Council and is open to students, faculty, staff and the community. We look forward to seeing you on back campus (Lanier, Library, Chappell area).

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Doreen Sams at doreen.sams@gcsu.edu or Mrs. Lori Strawder at lori.strawder@gcsu.edu, or see our website: http://www.gcsu.edu/green/campus_sustainability_day_food_day.htm.