Spring Break
Global corporations catch green fever
Reduction of environmental footprint by big business is goal of sustainability movement
Lauren Sigel
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: News
"These occupancy sensors are put into common areas where no individual takes ownership over the space, so lights are sometimes left on when unneeded, like at night and on weekends."
"The biggest project right now for improving energy efficiency on campus is the new Energy Center. It will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by about 38 percent by making some of our electricity on campus," Trelstad said.
Toxic waste is mostly produced by research and academic activity.
"The toxic waste produced on campus is handled through Environmental Health and Safety - the department that houses the Sustainability Office," Trelsad said. "We are somewhat reliant on lab workers and other in-campus departments to handle hazardous materials during use. When that becomes waste, they contact EHS to have it picked up and taken to a central storage facility on campus, packaged properly,and then taken for offsite disposal by a private contractor."
As for non-toxic waste, the SSI has a rather innovative way of getting rid of it.
The SSI composts West Dining Hall food and campus landscaping waste using a composting bin called the Earth Tub.
They also compost used coffee grounds from Raintree Coffee Co. in McNary Dining Hall using a worm bin called the Worm Wigwam.
"An Earth Tub can hold up to 3,200 pounds of waste when it is full. The initial purchase of an Earth Tub is high, but running and maintaining it does not cost any money other than the cost of electricity and labor," said Andrea Norris, SSI coordinator.
"We also have a three-bin composting system and a vermiculture system called a Worm Wigwam. The Worm Wigwam breaks down organic waste using worms, which digest the organics and produce excellent compost."
The CSC, formed in Jan. 2007, is a network of organizations and Corvallis residents who are working together to accelerate the creation of a sustainable community.
Like Nike, its mission is to reduce the community's contribution to toxic chemicals, protect natural ecosystems and use renewable resources whenever possible.
"The biggest project right now for improving energy efficiency on campus is the new Energy Center. It will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by about 38 percent by making some of our electricity on campus," Trelstad said.
Toxic waste is mostly produced by research and academic activity.
"The toxic waste produced on campus is handled through Environmental Health and Safety - the department that houses the Sustainability Office," Trelsad said. "We are somewhat reliant on lab workers and other in-campus departments to handle hazardous materials during use. When that becomes waste, they contact EHS to have it picked up and taken to a central storage facility on campus, packaged properly,and then taken for offsite disposal by a private contractor."
As for non-toxic waste, the SSI has a rather innovative way of getting rid of it.
The SSI composts West Dining Hall food and campus landscaping waste using a composting bin called the Earth Tub.
They also compost used coffee grounds from Raintree Coffee Co. in McNary Dining Hall using a worm bin called the Worm Wigwam.
"An Earth Tub can hold up to 3,200 pounds of waste when it is full. The initial purchase of an Earth Tub is high, but running and maintaining it does not cost any money other than the cost of electricity and labor," said Andrea Norris, SSI coordinator.
"We also have a three-bin composting system and a vermiculture system called a Worm Wigwam. The Worm Wigwam breaks down organic waste using worms, which digest the organics and produce excellent compost."
The CSC, formed in Jan. 2007, is a network of organizations and Corvallis residents who are working together to accelerate the creation of a sustainable community.
Like Nike, its mission is to reduce the community's contribution to toxic chemicals, protect natural ecosystems and use renewable resources whenever possible.
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