Carleton's Pledge of Sustainable Conduct

Developed by students, faculty, and staff during the 2007-2008 academic year and opened for signing in Fall 2008, the Pledge of Sustainable Conduct lists basic habits that will make aspects of individual's everyday routines more environmentally sustainable.  The emphasis of the pledge is toward behavior changes as opposed to lifestyle changes; the actions listed are achievable by all members, students, faculty, and staff, of the Carleton community.  The purpose of the Pledge is to increase consideration of everyday sustainable actions by individuals at Carleton, and over time act as a tangible expression of Carleton's sustainable ideals.  The Pledge of Sustainable Conduct can be accessed and signed (by anyone with a Carleton ID) here.  Contacts: any Sustainability Assistant

Sustainability Assistants (STAs)

The paid student position of Sustainability Assistant was created in Fall 2007.  There are currently six STAs assigned to different focuses around campus.  This year's areas of focus are:

• Energy and Carbon Neutrality
• Solid Waste/Composting
• Dining Services
• Campus culture/Intercultural life
• Residential Life

During the Fall 2008 trimester STAs have been:

• Meeting with staff and faculty department meetings to talk about what campus departments can do to become more sustainable. 
• Writing articles for Carleton's Sustainability Blog Shrinking Footprints.
• Publicizing the Pledge of Sustainable Conduct, the Sustainable Revolving Fund, and the procedures for using Carleton's One-Stream Recycling system and recently implemented dorm-wide composting bins.

(Information from C. Erickson)
Biographies of this year's STAs can be found here.

GoPrint for Campus Printers

The program Go-Print was implemented campus-wide in 2008.  The program does not charge for printing and still allows unlimited printing.  However, students, faculty, and staff must now swipe a Carleton ID card and confirm all printing jobs from laptops located next to printers.  Go-Print allows greater organization in printing, and by reducing accidental or absent-minded printing has significantly reduced paper waste at public campus printers.  (Awaiting more information from ITS, Information Technology Services)

Green Bikes

 
Began in Spring 2008, there are currently 5 Green Bikes (1 during winter term) available for day use by any student.  They can be checked out from Campus Activities. SOPE (Students Organized for the Protection of the Environment) supplies funding for all Green Bikes, but many of the parts for the Green Bikes were supplied by the Yellow Bike Club in addition to SOPE.  All Green Bikes have a milk crate attached to the back for carrying objects such as groceries, backpacks, or pieces of wood. (R. McGaughey and E. Webb)

• Contact Ray McGaughey (mcgaughr@carleton.edu) or Alex Long (longa@carleton.edu) for more information or with interest in helping maintain the Green Bikes.

Dorm Wars/Recycle-mania

Carleton dorms participate in dorms wars and recycle-mania, annual competitions to reduce energy and waste.

Plug Loads Database

The Plug Loads Database was started in Fall 2008 and will be an ongoing project to collect information on energy consumption by different electronics used on Carleton's dorms and offices and their frequency of use.  Eventually this database will act as a resource for consumers as well as provide insight into those appliances that cost the college the most money on monthly electricity bills.  For more information contact Chris Erickson (ericksoc@carleton.edu)

Sustainability Website

The Sustainability Website was launched in 2006 on Earth Day (Shrinking Footprints).  It serves as a means of communication and a resource for members of Carleton interested in environmentalism and sustainability.  It is currently maintained by Ryan Noe but is a product of communally supplied information and opinions.  The homepage can be found here.

Shrinking Footprints: Sustainability Blog

Begun in Spring 2006 Shrinking Footprints, the Carleton sustainability blog, serves as a forum for information and communications regarding sustainability at Carleton College.  Blog articles are written by the STAs (student Sustainability Assistants), Environmental Studies Educational Associates, and interested faculty, staff, and students.  Articles cover a broad array of information from international news pertinent to campus to seasonal developments in Carleton's 880-acre Arboretum and is consistently read by an audience both inside and outside the Carleton community.  In October 2008 the Shrinking Footprints homepage received more than 4,500 visits (C. Erickson).

Sustainability Revolving Fund

The Sustainability Revolving Fund (SRF) reflects the value that Carleton places on student ideas and innovation.  The SRF funds student-initiated projects that will reduce Carleton's GHG emissions or general environmental impact while at the same time reducing operating costs.  Savings must pay for start-up and maintenence costs within at least 6 years; 90% of all savings accrued in first 6 years will be used to recoup the initial expense and then further grow the fund.  As of November 3, 2008 the SRF had $70,191.50 available for student projects.  Read more about the SRF, and how to submit your own proposal at the Sustainability Revolving Fund "Initiatives" webpage. (SRF Charter)

Except where noted all writing on this page was done by Chris Erickson.

Sources for information on this page:

C. Erickson - Chris Erickson
2008-2009 5th Year Environmental Studies Intern

R. McGaughey - Ray McGaughey
2008-2010 Co-President of SOPE
Class of 2011

E. Webb - Elizabeth Webb
2007-2009 Co-President of SOPE
Class of 2009

Shrinking Footprints - Carleton's Sustainability Blog