News in 2012
SUSTAINABILITY FEATURED DEPARTMENT OF THE MONTH, DECEMBER 2012: CHILD AND FAMILY EDUCATION
December 4, 2012
Studies show that contact with the natural world can significantly reduce symptoms of attention deficit disorder, contribute to enhanced self-esteem, and increase the likelihood that individuals will take action to benefit the environment. Lane's Child and Family Education Department have taken these studies to heart and have designed a full outdoor experience for the kids in their Center.In 2011, Child and Family Education transformed their traditional playground to one that emphasizes play with natural elements. A rock creek bed, garden, and play campground made of rocks replaced plastic houses. In additional to the natural elements, the playground also includes recycled-content, low maintenance plastic lumber. Native plants attract birds and insects that further increase the children's interactions with nature. More about December 2012 Featured Department...
LANE'S RECYCLING RATE IS INCREASING
November 27, 2012
Lane's recycling rate increased in 2011-12 to 57%. This is a 1% increase over the 2010-11 recycling rate of 56%. More significantly, Lane's total waste (recycling and garbage) decreased by 20% - from 586 tons in 2010-11 to 471 tons in 2011-12. This 20% decrease in total solid waste happened over a period when enrollment only declined by 0.3%. Some of the decrease in solid waste may have been from a slowing down of bond projects, but some is due to intentional conservation efforts across the college including the new a paperless work order system in Facilities Management and Planning. Contact: Mike Sims.
LANE'S GREEN REVOLVING LOAN FUND FEATURED IN TWO NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS
November 16, 2012
Because Lane is the only community college in the country with a green revolving loan fund, the college's energy carryover fund has recently been featured in two national publications. The story in the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment newsletter (www2.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/pcc/newsletter/050.html) provides detailed information about how Lane set up and stewards the fund. Lane is also featured in Greening the Bottom Line (http://greenbillion.org/resources/#reports) which describes the green revolving loan funds of 76 colleges and universities and provides information that other institutions can use to set up their own funds. Contact: Anna Scott.
INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES WEBSITE IS NOW LIVE
November 13, 2012
Please check out Lane's new Institute for Sustainable Practices website at www.lanecc.edu/sustainability. An updated calendar of events as well as a weekly story are highlighted on the main page. The new site includes lots of new and updated information including descriptions of Lane's sustainable practices in Food, Energy, Water, Building, and more. Events and highlights featured this week are a screening of "Queen of the Sun," a film about the global bee crisis and what we can learn from the bees, a mushroom growing workshop, and a story about Lane's carpool matching service, Zimride. Contact: Jennifer Hayward
ENJOY PREMIUM PARKING IN LOTS B AND L BY CARPOOLING TO LANE
November 6, 2012
Those who carpool to Lane can use one of the twelve premium parking spots in lots B and L. All you have to do is arrive at Lane with at least two people in your vehicle. No signing up or permitting is required. If you carpool to Lane, please feel free to use one of these spots. If you currently drive alone, please consider signing up for Lane's carpool matching service, Zimride, at www.zimride.lanecc.edu. Zimride current has over 1000 Lane users and the average number of potential carpool matches per user is 28. Since Lane began using Zimride as our carpool matching service, carpoolers have saved up to $468,915, 33,434 gallons of gas, and 648,624 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. Contact: Jennifer Hayward.
SOLAR STATION ELECTRIC VEHICLE PARKING EXPANDING
October 30, 2012
Due to increasing demand from electric vehicle drivers, more spots will be designated as "Electric Vehicle Only" at the Solar Station in Parking Lot B starting this week. Currently, five parking spots on the southeast side of the station are designated "Electric Vehicle Only." This week, the college will be changing the signs at the remaining four spots on the south side of the solar station and designating them as "Electric Vehicle Only" as well. Parking on the north side of the Solar Station will still be open to general parking. Once the new signs designating "Electric Vehicle Only" parking are installed, Public Safety will begin ticketing combustion-engine cars parked in these spaces. Please check the sign before parking at the Solar Station to avoid getting a ticket. Starting winter term, Lane is planning to begin charging a small fee for parking in the EV only spots to recovery the cost of electricity used by the electric vehicle drivers. Lane's Institute for Sustainable Practices thanks electric vehicle drivers for helping to reduce our carbon emissions. Other modes of climate friendly commuting include carpooling, busing, and biking. Contact: Jennifer Hayward.
HAITIAN LEADER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD WINNER CHAVANNES JEAN-BAPTISTE NOV. 8
Thursday, November 8, 1-2:50 p.m., CML Room 226, Building 19
Internationally renowned Haitian environmental/social justice leader, Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, will be at Lane to share his remarkable story and talk about sustainable agriculture in Haiti. He is founder of the Peasant Movement of Papaye (MPP). Chavannes serves as the international spokesperson and negotiator at international climate change negotiations and other international environmental negotiations on behalf of Via Campesina, the international peasant movement, which represents 200 million farmers worldwide. Chavannes recently led efforts at both the Rio+20 and the Durbin Climate Summit. He carries out his work despite Haiti's extremely volatile political climate. In 2005, Chavannes and MPP won the Goldman Environmental Prize (the environmental equivalent of the Nobel Prize) for their work on reforestation and sustainable agriculture. Joining Jean-Baptiste at Lane will be Pauleon St. Fleur, the civil engineer in charge of the projects. To learn more about Chavannes Jean-Batiste visit www.goldmanprize.org/2005/islands.
This free event is an extraordinary opportunity to hear the stories of these Haitian leaders and learn more about sustainable practices in Haiti. For more information, please contact Donna Koechig, koechigd@lanecc.edu or 5307, in Lane's Diversity Office.
LANE JOINS BILLION DOLLAR GREEN CHALLENGE
October 2, 2012
This summer, Lane became a charter member of the Billion Dollar Green Challenge. This membership is one of the outcomes of a Sustainable Endowment Institute conference attended last spring by Anna Scott, Lane's energy and indoor environmental quality analyst. Lane is now profiled on the GreenBillion.org website. The profile highlights Lane's standard for funding energy management projects through savings realized by conservation work. The Energy Carryover Fund realizes savings when current year electricity and natural gas expenditures are less than current year budget. Additionally, rebates and other incentives for energy-focused projects can be deposited into the fund, helping to fund more projects in the future.
SUSTAINABILITY SHOWCASE PLANNED FOR LCC EARTHWEEK
April 12, 2012
As a local and national leader in sustainability, Lane Community College will celebrate Earth Week on campus with a series of educational and fun events, April 19-23. more about Sustainability Showcase...
SUSTAINABILITY PLAN VISIONING WORKSHOP
February 13, 2012
Sustainability Committee is hosting a workshop on Monday, February 13 from 2:30-5:30 to begin working on the vision for a college-wide sustainability plan. Skilled, local facilitator, Tree Bressen, will help attendees to developing a vision and an outline for a sustainability plan that will guide the college to becoming a thriving, sustainable organization. The workshop will be held in the CML, Room TBA. Snacks and beverages provided.
SUSTAINABILITY AT EMPLOYEE HEALTH & WELLNESS FAIR
January 31, 2012
Lane's Sustainability Committee will have a "Take Back the Tap" table at the Health and Wellness Fair promoting the use of reusable rather than disposable water bottles. Swing by the CML between 10:30 a.m - 3:30 p.m on Tuesday, January 31 to learn about why drinking tap water from your own reusable bottle is healthier for you and the environment. We will have handouts, information, and will be showing a powerful seven minute video, "The Story of Bottled Water," by Annie Leonard.