September 2014
Sustainability Bulletin
Energy Campaign September 3rd–November 9th
Keynote Speaker: Bill McKibben Tuesday, September 16th
People’s Climate March Sunday, September 21
Paul C. Lemon Endowed Lecture: Dr. Tyrone Hayes Monday, September 22
National Kale Day Wednesday, October 1
Campus Crunch Friday, October 24
4
Speakers on Campus
6
Energy Campaign
12 Around Town 14 Opportunities
Photo by Frank Kovalcheck Cover photo by Paul Miller
“On to New York: Why the Climate Movement is on the March” Author and environmentalist Bill McKibben will give a keynote lecture at the PAC Main Theater on Tuesday, September 16th at 2:30 about our current reliance on fossil fuels, the looming climate crisis and, most importantly, our ability to advocate for positive change. He is the founder of 350.org, the first planet-wide grassroots climate change movement. Foreign Policy recently named him to their inaugural list of the world’s 100 most important global thinkers, and the Boston Globe said he was “probably the world’s most important environmentalist.” The event is sponsored by SA, GSA, the Office of Environmental Sustainability, UAS, and UUP.
McKibben’s talk leads up to The People’s Climate March in NYC on Sunday, September 21, which will be the largest climate rally in history, urging U.N. world leaders to take action this September dramatically reduce global warming pollution. For roundtrip bus tickets from Collins Circle to Manhattan, click here.
“From Silent Spring to Silent Night: A Tale of Toads and Men” Dr. Tyrone Hayes will speak in the PAC Main Theater on Monday, September 22nd at 4pm about the chemical industry. Agriculture in the United States uses millions of pounds of pesticides and herbicides per year. At the same time, many amphibians are ‘feminizing’ – meaning male frogs and toads, among other animals, are producing eggs instead of sperm. Are agricultural chemicals to blame? What are the implications for human fertility and health? Join us as one of the nation’s leading experts on the effects of agricultural chemicals on hormones, Dr. Tyrone Hayes, answers these questions and more. Brought to you by the Paul C. Lemon Lecture Series, sponsored by the Department of Biological Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences.
Reception follows in the PAC Futterer Lounge
Live video of the lecture will be available at: http://new.livestream.com/hvccstreaming/Hayes
The campus buildings have once again begun vying for the title of top energy reducer. The Energy Campaign, a 10week challenge to reduce electricity consumption, was officially kicked off on September 3rd. In 2013, we saved over a million kilowatt hours and achieved a 10.02% campus-wide reduction. This equates into taking 102 cars off the road or supplying the energy for 24.5 homes or the sequestration of 402 acres of forests. You can view more equivalents at the EPA website by clicking here. Dedicated students, led by sophomore Emely Rodriguez and junior Sarah Helgeson, volunteer their time a few nights a week to go through academic building classrooms to power down any electronic left on. These energy checks ensure that our lights and computers are not buzzing while we sleep soundly. The students leave friendly reminders to practice environmentally-friendly behaviors when it comes to our gadgets. Since 2008, the residents of Empire Commons apartments receive mock electric bills during the Energy Campaign and then again over a two-month period in spring. The educational initiative aims at teaching students about their general usage in comparison to their neighbors. The bills show each apartment’s usage as well as the highest, lowest and average use for all apartments. Not only do the bills teach an essential life skill, the program works to lower the UAlbany’s total electricity usage. Just listen to Alex Laskey’s TED talk on why.
Follow us on Twitter or Like us on Facebook to compete each week during the Energy Campaign for a gift card to the Campus Bookstore!
Standby power is the energy used by some products when they are turned off but still plugged into a power outlet. While this standby power sometimes provides useful functions such as remote control, clock displays, and timers, in other cases it is simply wasted power as a result of leaving an electronic device or power adapter plugged in. The devices causing this waste are referred to as energy vampires because these products are slowing sucking energy from your home while not providing any useful function! In addition to your home office and home electronics equipment, chargers for cell phones, ipods, power tools, etc also suck energy from your home when they are plugged into an outlet, even if they aren't charging. The amount of energy used by products when they are in standby mode is significant. The average U.S. household spends $100 per year to power devices while they are off (or in standby mode). On a national basis, standby power accounts for more than 100 billion kilowatt hours of annual U.S. electricity consumption and more than $10 billion in annual energy costs.
Taken from Energy Star.gov.
Tips for Conserving Electricity
Use a power strip as a central “turn off” point Plug your computer, printer, tv, chargers, and other electronics into a power strip and then turn off the strip when not in use.
Avoid energy vampires A typical American home has about 40 products continuously drawing power. This combined phantom energy can account for about 10% of your power bill.
Replace standard bulbs with CFLS A CFL uses about 75% less energy than a standard incandescent.
Wash full loads of clothes A laundry machine uses the same amount of energy whether you’re washing a full load or a pair of socks. Decrease the amount of energy you use by waiting until you have a full load of laundry.
Birds Take Flight
It's that time of year when birds are on the move. Come along on an early morning adventure to observe some of the amazing birds here and see our science team in action as they capture and band birds! They are working together to learn more about birds migrating through the Pine Bush. After a short outside observation period, an indoor hands-on presentation will take place. Indoor portion will occur rain or shine. Discuss a basic overview of climate change and weather at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center on September 20th at 7am.
DIY Hot Sauce Learn how to ferment hot peppers of your liking and create hot sauce using process that will allow you to improvise with a variety of heats and flavors. Preserve your peppers and keep warm all winter while impressing your spice-loving friends. Bring a quart jar and $3 if you plan to get started, or just observe and ask questions at no cost at Honest Weight Food Coop’s Teaching Kitchen on September 18th at 6pm.
The Passenger Pigeon: From Billions to Zero “Celebration” isn’t quite the right word for this centennial exhibit; let’s go with “memorial.” One-hundred years ago, the last passenger pigeon died in captivity. A species that once numbered in the billions in North America was wiped out through zealous over-hunting and habitat destruction. The New York State Museum takes a look at this long-gone bird— and the lessons we can learn from what happened to them—in The Passenger Pigeon: From Billions to Zero. Dr. Jeremy Kirchman, the Museum’s curator of birds, will give a lecture on “The Passenger Pigeon: Icon of Extinction” at 1 PM on Sept. 28 in the Huxley Theater. The exhibit is now on view at the New York State Museum through March 30, 2015.
Local Harvest Fest Come down to the Lakehouse at Washington Park on Sunday, October 5th from 12-4 for the Local Harvest Fest. Now in its sixth year, the festival has grown to feature over 50 local farms, vendors, businesses and a slew of great local bands.
Parks and Trails New York Key Responsibilities The Project Coordinator is an important member of our team and has the opportunity to work with communities across the state to develop opportunities for outdoor recreation and active transportation, manage a variety of projects and develop new program directions. Duties include: -use trails, engage in public outreach, foster trail-related tourism, and promote local trail use; and promote the Canalway Trail Adopt-a-Trail, Ambassador and End-to-End programs; and organize and promote the annual Canal Clean Sweep; bicycle-pedestrian issues at all levels of government; related to planning, organizing and outreach. Qualifications public administration, recreation, or related field and preferably at least three years of related experience communities and constituents to action delivering public presentations -starter able to work with minimum supervision on multiple assignments and projects and thrive in a collaborative and fast-paced office environment -state travel with overnight and evening commitments Additional Skills/Experience Desired the state
Compensation Competitive salary and excellent benefits package. How to Apply Submit a resume and cover letter that addresses why you are excited by this position and why we should be excited about you. Please provide your salary requirements. The position will remain open until filled. Send materials to: Project Coordinator Search, Parks & Trails New York, 29 Elk Street, Albany, NY 12207,
Office of Environmental Sustainability The Office of Environmental Sustainability is seeking three motivated and energetic interns to assist with the publication of monthly sustainability bulletin, developing flier templates for a variety of sustainability engagement initiatives, assisting with social media management and completing other assignments as requested. The interns are expected work a minimum of 1012 hours weekly. Internships are unpaid though students may obtain academic credit through the Communications Department. Deadline: Applications for the fall internship will be reviewed on a rolling basis. If interested, send a resume and letter of intent to Mary Alexis Leciejewski at mleciejewski@albany.edu. Questions about the internship can be addressed to Mary Alexis at 518-442-2592
Campus Life Peer Sustainability Education Roundtable On Saturday November 1, 2014, Cornell University in association with the New York State Sustainability Education Working Group are hosting the 2nd annual Campus Life Sustainability Education Roundtable. In 2013 the Roundtable brought together 100 staff, students, and faculty from across New York to share ideas and discuss programs that engaged students in campusbased experiential sustainability learning opportunities. Participants wanted more! The 2014 Roundtable will again provide a forum for an exchange of ideas, information, and best practices, but will be so much more. NEW THIS YEAR: The 2014 Roundtable will have special sessions by and for students along with sessions led by campus life and sustainability staff from around the state. In addition, there will be a poster session and an evening networking reception.
Greenovate NYS Present your ideas to environmental experts, established professionals, and potential employers. The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute Research & Development Student Competition is now accepting applications! NYSP2I is pleased to invite applications from undergraduate or graduate students for our 4th Annual R & D Student Competition. The competition fosters creative thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and collaboration across disciplines and provides an opportunity for students to present their projects to environmental experts, gain insight from established professionals, and receive recognition by potential future employers. The program provides funding to offset project costs as well as awarding prize money at the culminating competition exhibition on Earth Day, April, 22 2015 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). All required forms, the Request for Applications and additional details can be found on our website at: http://www.rit.edu/affiliate/nysp2i/rd-student-competition. Applications are due Friday, November 7, 2014 by 5pm EDT.
In a continued commitment to reduce its carbon footprint, UAlbany welcomes Zipcar, the world's leading car-sharing service, to its campus community. With Zipcar, members can reserve self-service, on-demand cars by the hour or day, 24/7. All 18 and older UAlbany students can become members for $25, with an opportunity to earn $45 in free driving privileges, if enrolled by September 30, 2014. Former Hertz 24/7 Members, UAlbany’s previous car-sharing service, can currently enroll in Zipcar for free. UAlbany's partnership with Zipcar provides a number of environmental benefits to its campus and beyond, including reducing personal CO2 emissions, driving 40 percent fewer miles, and providing options for students without cars on campus. In addition, a Transportation Research Board/National Academy of Sciences study finds each shared car takes about 15 private cars off the road.