Orientation at the University Farm Photos and Report-Out

This August, incoming freshmen to CWRU had the opportunity to explore the CWRU Squire Valleevue Farm during their orientation. Students attended sustainability related Think Seminars on a wide variety of topics and some participated in hike and learn sessions. Think Seminars were given by over 30 faculty and staff members including the Office for Sustainability’s Stephanie Corbett and Erin Kollar as well as the Farm leaders Ana Locci and Chris Bond, as well as a variety of other members of the faculty and staff at CWRU. Incoming students were given the opportunity to learn more about the University Farm and how they can engage with the farm during their time at CWRU. As a part of the event, students were served a sustainable lunch, catered by Bon Appetit, which incorporated fresh produce grown at the CWRU farm. The event was also entirely zero waste, as all lunch utensils and plateware was compostable, and composted! Field day games and activities were planned but had to be cancelled because of the threat of thunderstorms.

Story by Morgan Bulger

Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know about Recycling E-Waste

Any unwanted electronic item is considered e-waste. Millions of tons of e-waste are disposed of annually. According to the EPA, in 2010, 2,440,000 tons of e-waste were disposed of, with only 27% of that being recycled. Recycling e-waste keeps toxic heavy metals out of landfills and the environment, and enables valuable resources to be harvested and reused. CWRU is lucky to have a fantastic partnership with RET3, a local non-profit committed to refurbishing unwanted computers for a second life at local non-profits and schools and demanufacturing and responsibly recycling electronics at the end of their useful life. In 2013, CWRU recycled 47,846 tons of e-waste, keeping over 500 computers out of the landfill!

Staff and faculty members who have e-waste to dispose of should request a pick-up by completing this form. RET3 will contact requestors to schedule a convenient time to collect the items from the office or department. It is important that the e-waste remain in closed offices and out of hallways pending pick-up, to prevent safety concerns, and to protect the integrity of the materials to be reused and recycled. Prior to refurbishing all computers and harddrives, RET3 wipes the drives with BLANCCO, the same software used by the Department of Defense. Employees are still required to follow the ITS media sanitization policy prior to donation of equipment.

While students are not currently able to participate in this collection program, they are encouraged to take small e-waste items, such as cell phones, calculators, cameras and even cds or jump drives, to a collection box in Wade Commons or Fribley. Also, RET3 will be on campus on Case for Community Day, September 19th on East Boulevard across from the Lagoon. Anyone can bring e-waste for recycling to the truck between 10am and 2pm. Staff, faculty and University Circle community members are also encouraged to bring e-waste from home to this collection event.

Story by Morgan Bulger and Erin Kollar

CWRU makes the Princeton Review and Sierra Club Lists of Green Schools

CWRU has made the 2014 Princeton Review Green Colleges list as well as the 2014 Sierra Club Cool Schools list of sustainable colleges. CWRU joins 331 other universities and colleges in being recognized for our sustainability efforts by the Princeton Review, and has ranked 78th in the world on the Sierra Club Cool Schools list. Released in April of 2014, the Princeton Review looks at factors like academic integration of sustainability, career-minded presentation of sustainability topics, as well as green buildings of campus, using LEED standards as a guide. The Sierra Club Cool Schools list is made by offering universities and colleges a questionnaire, based closely on the Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS) standards for integrating sustainability into Universities. The Office for Sustainability is proud and grateful to have made these lists once again, and look forward to making great improvements and strides throughout the university to help us improve our rankings in these reports, and more importantly, further integrate sustainability into the CWRU campus and reduce our climate footprint.

Story by Morgan Bulger

Apply Now to Become a Student Climate Leader!

The CWRU Office for Sustainability is thrilled to extend our pilot program of the Student Climate Leaders cohort for a new semester! If you are a CWRU undergraduate or graduate student interested in sustainability, learning more about what CWRU is doing to lower our greenhouse gas emissions and interested in sharing with others how they can personally help consider applying for the Student Climate Leaders program. If chosen for the program, you will participate in three informational training seminars, to learn more about sustainability and sustainability initiatives at CWRU, and then you will go out and deliver at least three 10-20 minute presentations to your own CWRU network, classes, faculty/staff department meetings, student organizations, etc. Leaders who complete all of the program requirements will be provided a cash stipend. To apply, send an email to sustainability@case.edu with the subject line “student climate leader application” with the following information:
1. Your name
2. Your year in school
3. Your major
4. Where you’re from
5. A short paragraph on why you are interested in becoming a Student Climate Leader, and why you think you would be a great fit for the position!

Deadline to apply is 10/25/2014.

Story by Morgan Bulger