Sustainable Duke (Oct. 2007 - May 2011) by Working Duke

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Tallman Trask, Executive Vice President, inside the French Family Science Center.

s we plan for campus growth, our goal is for Duke to become a nationwide leader in sustainability. We can each make a difference in creating a sustainable world by fostering environmentally friendly and socially responsible practices. We embrace this at Duke. All of our individual decisions – whether to recycle, use public transportation or build with energy-saving features, for example – can conserve vital resources, protect our environment, and have a lasting impact on our community and our world. Sustainable practices seek to make a positive difference in the economic, social and environmental systems that affect future generations. Each month, Working@Duke will highlight the many efforts of our students, staff and departments to illustrate how our community is preserving, protecting and enhancing our environment through policies, operations, research and community outreach. In 2004, we created Duke’s first full-time sustainability coordinator position to assist with long-term planning, and to be a resource for our campus community. The next year, the university and health system signed an environmental policy, committing Duke to leadership in environmental research and education, environmentally responsible operations and environmental stewardship in the community. The list of Duke’s sustainability accomplishments is long. We are the fifth largest university purchaser of green power. We run about 80 campus fleet vehicles with alternative fuels. We collect 17 different types of recyclables, diverting more than 1,200 tons annually from the landfill. We participate in many community service programs, including the Durham Neighborhood Partnership, which enriches conditions at nearby schools and neighborhoods. I am particularly proud of our work in designing and constructing low-energy, resource-efficient buildings, as well as our efforts creating environmentally sustainable dining services and innovative storm water management. Since 2003, Duke has been committed to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building standard. Seventeen buildings are either LEED certified or registered for certification. One of our newest buildings, the French Family Science Center (a contender

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for a national silver rating in energy and environmental design), features local and recycled materials, two green roofs comprised of vegetation, soil, gravel and water-tight insulation, and plumbing fixtures that save two million gallons of water annually. In addition, Duke eateries purchase organic food when possible, and our primary food service vendor buys locally grown produce and seafood caught or farmed in ways that do no harm. Another of our sustainability achievements includes Duke’s Wetland Assessment Management Park (SWAMP). This 14-acre restored site is designed to help protect water quality by controlling storm runoff from Duke’s campus and 1,200 surrounding acres of Durham. Duke’s focus on sustainability will grow in the years ahead. We will encourage interdisciplinary education and research on environmental topics. And as we redevelop Central Campus, we’ll work to preserve and protect the natural environment. We’ll design buildings that conserve energy and minimize our environmental footprint. It is important to recognize that Duke’s sustainability efforts are not the product or sole responsibility of one office. We have many champions at Duke and need more. We greatly appreciate our students, who have advocated for policies and initiatives, including green purchasing, green power purchases and the annual eco-olympics competition on East campus. Sustainability is part of how we do business today, and we are committed to seeking new ways to protect our campus, Durham’s neighborhoods and our environment for generations to come.

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Got A Sustainably Story? Influence others — Write us at

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Want More? Visit www.duke.edu/ sustainability

From top: Kelly Peak, a Nicholas School of the Environment & Earth Sciences graduate student, distributes free energy efficient light bulbs during Duke’s 2007 Earth Day festival. At right, Emily Warren, of Piedmont Biofuels, discusses the benefits of fueling a vehicle with cleaner burning biodiesel. Bottom: Members of the Duke community celebrate Earth Day at the festival on the West Campus Plaza.

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How the Duke Surplus Property Program Works a Fill out a pickup

request form at www.procurement. duke.edu

Keith Byrd of God's Property Urban Ministry in Durham loads donated Duke chairs from the new surplus program for the organization’s transitional housing program.

Finding A Home For Duke Property hen Duke announced it was getting out of the business of selling surplus equipment and into the business of donating usable furniture, computers and other property, Fran Alexander rented a truck. She and her staff furnished the EDGE Training and Placement center in downtown Durham with many fixtures, including 93 chairs. They also received a donation of 30 Duke computers for the 28 to 30 students preparing for the General Education Development (GED) test. “It’s just been invaluable,” said Alexander, executive director of EDGE, which stands for Education, Development, Growth and Employment. “There’s no way we could have done it alone.”

Many non-profit groups and charities such as the Recovery Center of Durham, Community Wholeness Venture and Urban Ministries have participated in the

new Duke Surplus Property Program, receiving chairs, sofas, tables, televisions and microwaves, among other items. On July 1, the Duke Surplus Store closed its doors at the Shoppes at Lakewood after 10 years and started the new surplus property program as part of Duke’s commitment to socially responsible and environmentally friendly practices. The new program builds upon other initiatives such as the Duke Computer Exchange, which has donated more than 2,000 computers to Durham Public Schools and local non-profits. “If there’s still life in it, we can find a home for it,” said Mary Crawford, associate director for Procurement and Supply Chain Management. “By donating items instead of selling them, we are likely to create a more sustainable, closed-loop system with a greater level of waste diversion. This ’cradle-to-cradle’ business model will eliminate part of the waste stream and lower our demand on resources. The more items we provide to the community, the less likely new items will need to be produced from raw materials.” In addition to the new property re-use program, Duke constructs low-energy, resource-efficient buildings,

uses locally-grown produce in its dining services and participates in community service programs that enrich conditions at nearby schools and neighborhoods, all in an effort to have a positive impact on the community and world. Duke’s Procurement and Supply Chain Management coordinates the donation of all usable furniture, computers and other property to charities and non-profit organizations, as well as health system medical equipment and supplies for Duke’s Global Health PLUS program, known as Placement of Life-changing Usable Surplus. The new process for getting Duke property to charities and non-profit groups begins with requesting a pick up. Students, faculty and staff can go online to Duke’s Procurement Services Web site to enter surplus property information and request a collection. Once orders are received, items are scheduled for pick up by DeHaven’s and delivered to a local warehouse for distribution to certified charities and non-profit groups. Health System surplus medical equipment and supplies will be donated to the international community. Medical supplies not used in surgical or other procedures and usable surplus medical equipment will be donated to Global Health PLUS, which will distribute items to health programs around the world, including REMEDY at Duke, the Engineering World Health program, and the DukeUganda 2007 Neurosurgery Initiative. Duke neurosurgeon Michael Haglund, a member of the Global Health PLUS committee who heads the Uganda initiative, said that before the surplus store’s closing, medical equipment sat at the retail space until liquidators bought it. He said the new donation program will not only change lives, but also how surgery is practiced in East Africa.

a Enter the required

information about each surplus item, including computers and peripherals.

a DeHaven’s, a

contracted moving and storage company, will collect up to six items at no charge when collected by two movers and a truck. Allow several days to coordinate pickups to eliminate excess trips to campus, thereby saving fuel.

a Items will be collected and stored in campus warehouses.

a Local charities and

nonprofits will be contacted to schedule time to pick up items.

Get Property For Your Department Call (919) 684-2964

Want More Sustainably News? Visit www.duke.edu/ sustainability

— By Camille Jackson Writer, Office of News and Communications

Tell Us Your Sustainability Story — Write to Working@Duke.edu

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I now have a different relationship with my fuel. I make it.”

Running On Vegetable Oil Bob Clemen, Duke Fuqua School of Business professor, stands by his biodiesel-fueled Jetta.

o look at Bob Clemen’s silver Volkswagen Jetta, nothing suggests it is any different from the dozens of other vehicles in the parking lot adjacent to Duke’s Fuqua School of Business. To ride in the car, there’s nothing to indicate that it isn’t just like the millions of other vehicles running on petroleum. But there is something different about Clemen’s automotive means of transportation, and he keeps an example of it in a Mason jar on his desk in the Fuqua School of Business. Biodiesel. It’s more eco-friendly, and it’s the fuel that gives the Jetta life. “The main thing is it’s not petroleum-based,” said Clemen, a professor of decision sciences at Fuqua. “So, I don’t have to fight a war in Iraq to have fuel for my car. And I don’t have to burn fossil fuel and put the fossil carbon into the atmosphere in order to drive my car.” Biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel, produced from domestic, renewable resources. It contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend. It is produced from any animal fat or vegetable oil through a refining process called transesterification. Clemen, who says he’s a “product of the ’60s environmental movement,” started using biodiesel about two years ago. He and his wife, Margaret, bought a diesel engine RV after doing their homework and deciding to trade in their model that ran on unleaded gasoline. They started using biodiesel in the new rig because, “We thought this was a good thing to do.” That led to buying the diesel-engine Jetta and joining Piedmont Biofuels Cooperative in Pittsboro. Nearly every week, Clemen collects waste oil and drives it to Pittsboro, where Piedmont Biofuels refines the oil into fuel for his car.

“I turn the key, and it never ceases to amaze me,” Clemen said. “This complicated machine is running on fuel made from waste vegetable oil.” The Jetta on biodiesel has similar fuel economy to unleaded gas – mid 30 miles per gallon. The biodiesel burns cleaner, reducing carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides and sulfates emissions. “I now have a different relationship with my fuel,” Clemen said. “I make it. That takes effort and time. It’s a lot of fun. I like doing it. Now I think a little bit harder about putting trips together and being more efficient about what I do.” His passion carries over to the classroom. With Lincoln Pratson of the Nicholas School, Clemen ran an independent study last spring with more than a dozen Duke students who assessed the viability of collecting waste vegetable oil from restaurants near Duke. What would it take to have a collection route? What’s the cost? And would area restaurants be interested in contributing to the cause? Clemen said some students involved are interested in pursuing the study further as a part of a master’s project. Clemen hopes that one day, Duke will be able to have its own collection system, a reactor perhaps run by Duke students. He recognized, though, that most people don’t have the ability to trade in their current vehicles for one with a diesel engine. But that doesn’t mean people can’t do their part to raise their eco-consciousness. The best thing people can do, he said, is use compact-fluorescent light bulbs. “You get bulbs that will reduce your energy consumption to just about one-tenth,” he said. “That’s the simplest, easiest, inexpensive way to make a difference.”

— Bob Clemen Professor Duke’s Fuqua School of Business

Got A Sustainability Story? Influence others — Write us at

working@duke.edu

Want More? Visit www.duke.edu/ sustainability

— By Tim Candon Working@Duke Correspondent

Learn About Biodiesel — Visit www.biofuels.coop

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Tour The Smart Home The Home Depot Smart Home at Duke is on Faber Street and opens for tours in November.

Tour Duke’s new energy efficient Smart Home fter almost five years of dreams, plans, fundraising and construction, Duke’s new Smart Home is finished and awaits its first residents. Ten Pratt engineers and Trinity students will move into the Home Depot Smart Home in January as Duke’s newest ambassadors of E-Living. They will seamlessly integrate technology into the home and champion energy efficient, environmentally responsible lifestyles. Before students move in, the Duke community is invited to tour the $2.5-million Smart Home Nov. 12-13. “Nothing could make this program more successful than for it to continue to grow beyond engineering and become a Duke-wide endeavor,” said Robert Clark, dean of the Pratt School of Engineering. “We are growing the core faculty across campus to engage in research through the dorm and to leverage their enthusiasm to create a broader range of projects in the dorm – from sociology majors studying group dynamics and technology adoption to economics majors evaluating the cost/benefits of new technology designs to environmental science and engineering focusing on energy, the environment and sustainability.” Home Depot is the naming sponsor, and many other businesses contributed materials and expertise to the 6,000 square foot residence and research laboratory. The Smart Home, which sits across from the Freeman Center for Jewish Life, is designed to achieve Gold LEED certification, a national standard for green construction. The building is the centerpiece of Duke’s Smart Home Program, a research-based approach to smart living sponsored by the Pratt School of Engineering. Primarily focused on undergraduates, the program encourages students from different academic disciplines to form teams and explore smart ways to use technology in the home. The emphasis on “smart” means finding the best answer for a particular problem, not just finding the high tech solution or latest gadget on the market. This approach naturally leads students to identify “gaps” in the marketplace such as problems that aren’t being addressed through commercially available technology. These gaps then become the basis for exploration and could lead to integration of different technologies in new applications.

Professor and Pratt Senior Associate Dean Barry Myers said the Smart Home residence represents an investment from a dedicated core of Duke undergraduates who participated in the architectural planning process and helped oversee construction. “The construction process was just as challenging – if not more so – than building your own home,” said Myers, who managed the construction process. “We had to make the same tough decisions as any homeowner, day after day, to achieve our goal of a truly green residence and yet stay within our budget.” — By Deborah Hill Director of Communications Pratt School of Engineering

Nov. 12 & 13 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. 1416 Faber St. Durham

Got A Sustainability Story? Influence others — Write us at

working@duke.edu

Nuts & Bolts The ultimate roof: The green roof covers most of the roof space. Green roofs insulate during the winter through snow accumulation and cool during summer through evaporative cooling. They prevent the “urban heat-island effect.” The soil in the roof pre-filters water that passes through it, removing pollutants. The rest of the roof is constructed out of white seam metal that reflects more of the sun’s energy and keeps the building cool. Siding: The house was wrapped in a water proof vapor membrane called Tyvek Commercial Wrap. It was then covered by a maintenance free, eco-friendly fiber cement board, Cembonit, in a “rain screen” technique. The siding is separated from the wall by half-inch to one-quarter inch gaps between panels to allow for water and air to circulate. This prevents moisture build-up and relies on the Tyvek as the water barrier. Cembonit never has to be painted, and if it gets chipped, the color is the same on the inside. Lumber: The lumber in the building is harvested from sustainable forests. The trim includes southern yellow pine from the Duke Forest. Interior Insulation: Dry wall is insulated with a product donated by Icynene, a spray foam insulation. The product expands to 100 times its original size to fill every crack. It acts as a complete insulation and air barrier and dampens sound between rooms.

Want More? Visit www.duke.edu/sustainability

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U.S. SEASONAL DROUGHT OUTLOOK

NORTH CAROLINA

WHAT YOU CAN DO

With the strengthening and expected persistence of La Niña conditions through early 2008, the current drought outlook leaned heavily on precipitation anomalies that typically occur during La Niña episodes. A widespread area of drought development is expected from the southern Rockies into the southern Plains, Gulf Coast, and Florida. Year-to-date rainfall deficits range from 15 to 20 inches in the area of exceptional drought centered in northern parts of Alabama and Georgia. Drought will likely persist in these areas along with the Carolinas. SOURCE: NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION.

Every Drop Counts Water conservation at Duke s North Carolina experiences the worst drought in recorded history, Duke is developing a conservation plan to reduce water consumption and has launched a new Web site to provide students, faculty and staff with the latest drought information and water conservation tips. Water conservation is critical, Duke water officials say, since weather forecasters predict a dry winter following one of the driest summers. “We may reach the spring and summer with even less water than we had in 2007,” said Eben Polk, a Nicholas Institute research associate. Duke has cut its daily water use by thousands of gallons since the beginning of the drought, and is developing a conservation plan to comply with all stages of Durham’s water conservation ordinance. The plan will include reduction measures that comply with the current Stage III restrictions – enacted in September – which include a target goal of reducing water use by 30 percent. “Even before the city issued the mandatory restrictions Duke had already begun making changes to reduce the amount of water consumed, and we are continuing to look at all areas on campus to find additional ways to conserve water,” said John Noonan, associate vice president for Duke’s Facilities Management Department. “Duke is determined to stay ahead of the game on this.” Water consumption at Duke has been reduced in a variety of ways – adjusting low-flush toilets, discontinuing pressure washing and most lawn watering, and making operational changes such as an adjustment at the central chilled water plant that saves 9,000 gallons daily. Even in the medical facilities, which account for nearly half of Duke’s total annual water use, conservation is in full swing. Duke’s medical facilities are working to reduce consumption through a variety of proposed engineering projects such as installing low flush toilets and recycling water from buildings.

One proposed project alone is expected to save millions of gallons annually. It involves recovering cold water from cooling units at the Nanaline Duke and Sands buildings, and pumping the water to Duke’s central chilled water plant for use in the plant’s process to cool buildings at Duke. “We’re encouraging all employees to conserve water whenever they can without impacting the quality of patient care,” said James Good, associate operating officer at Duke Hospital. “During the past five years, the Health System has saved a substantial amount of water that is required to operate our facilities by engineering more efficient ways to use water. Those are the types of things that we’re looking into for future reductions.” On the university campus, most automatic irrigation systems, which account for 8 percent of Duke’s total water use, have been turned off. And several eateries have switched to disposable dinnerware, saving hundreds of gallons daily. Water use from fiscal year 2006 to fiscal year 2007 decreased by 30 million gallons, Noonan said. “This was done in spite of adding additional new square footage in buildings on campus,” he said. “Our commitment to design environmentally-friendly buildings has resulted in more efficient use of resources such as water.” North Carolina’s drought is not expected to end soon. “We’d need about 24 inches of precipitation by the end of February or about 35 by May to completely end the drought this winter,” said Phil Badgett, a National Weather Service forecaster in Raleigh, “and the chances of that happening are less than 4 percent.”

Report leaks, dripping faucets and running toilets. For University buildings, 684-2122; residence halls, 6845320 (East), 684-5486 (West), 684-5813 (Central); medical center, 684-3232.

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Turn off faucets while washing hands or brushing teeth. Make a conscious effort to do one thing every day at Duke to conserve water. Every drop counts.

We’d need about 24 inches of precipitation by the end of February or about 35 by May to completely end the drought this winter, and the chances of that happening are less than 4 percent.” — Phil Badgett National Weather Service forecaster in Raleigh

— By Missy Baxter Senior Writer, Office of Communication Services

Conserve Water Now – Visit www.duke.edu/sustainability/water

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Changing the campus climate Last summer, President Richard Brodhead signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment. In doing so, Duke pledged to become climate neutral over time. Brodhead appointed a committee of students, faculty and staff to develop a plan to reach the ambitious goal of making Duke’s campus climate neutral. The committee is co-chaired by Executive Vice President Tallman Trask and Bill Chameides, dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment. Working@Duke sat down with Chameides to talk about issues facing the committee. What is the greenhouse gas problem?

ourselves. We have the opportunity to partner with Durham, the Triangle, the state and on up to do something far more significant in the way of transportation, and we should.

Greenhouse gases absorb a certain type of radiation in our atmosphere and act like a huge blanket that insulates the earth and keeps heat in. These gases stay in the What can people do to atmosphere for about 100 make a difference? years, so some of the We simply need to carbon dioxide emitted be smarter about how we into the atmosphere by the use energy. That involves first Model T is still in the lifestyle changes. Some of atmosphere today. The those are fairly trivial, like other thing that is really turning the lights off and Bill Chameides, dean of Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment. scary is it takes about 30 using less water. If every years for the full impact of home in the United States the emissions to be felt in changed out three regular light bulbs to compact the climate. Even if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases fluorescent bulbs, it would be equivalent to taking three today, the earth would still warm up for another 30 years. million cars off the road. That’s significant. In the final analysis, however, I don’t believe the necessary changes will What would “climate neutral” look like at Duke? Being climate neutral means at some time in the future happen on a national scale until appropriate signals appear the university will be responsible for no net greenhouse gas in the marketplace. emissions. There are a variety of ways of doing that, such What needs to change nationally to reduce emissions? as cutting emissions by being more efficient to changing The federal government should put a cap on emissions the energy infrastructure for the campus so we are burning by some specified year and allow the marketplace to figure less or even no fossil fuels. Offsets can also help. We can, out the best way to meet it. Whoever figures out the best, for example, pay hog farmers in North Carolina to use cheapest way to supply the energy we need without technology that captures methane, a powerful greenhouse emitting too much CO2 will create the technology that gas and a by-product of the breakdown of manure. By paying the farmer to capture the methane before it escaped wins. Today, there is little incentive in the marketplace. We’re all putting out CO2 into the atmosphere for free, but to the atmosphere, Duke would own those negative there really is a cost. Coal is cheap, but the reason why coal greenhouse gas emissions or offsets, which could then be is so cheap is because no one is paying for all the CO2 that used to negate an equivalent amount of CO2 Duke put in is going into the atmosphere. Once you internalize the cost the atmosphere. of those emissions, coal is not so cheap, and other sources of energy, such as wind and solar power, begin to look a What are the key issues in making Duke a climate lot more attractive. neutral campus? I think the big issues will be power and steam How will Duke play a role in helping our country cut generation and transportation, which represent our largest sources of emissions. We purchase electricity from Duke emissions? Energy, which has a large number of coal-fired plants. So a The advantage we have at Duke is our culture of being lot depends on what happens nationally. If the U.S. passes interactive and interdisciplinary. For example, part of the legislation that requires energy companies to decrease their answer will be coming up with new technologies. That’s CO2 emissions, it will help us meet our goal because we primarily an engineering challenge, and we’ve got great assume responsibility for the emissions that Duke Energy folks at Pratt who can help do that. But if you don’t have a emits to generate power on our behalf. good business model, the technology won’t be adopted in Coal is also the fuel used in Duke’s steam plant to heat the marketplace. We’ve got people in Fuqua School of buildings on campus. One of the things we are considering Business thinking about that. You also need good policies is to co-fire the steam plant using biomass, which would to provide the incentives for making new technologies cut fossil fuel emissions significantly. attractive. We’re working in the Nicholas Institute and the I think the transportation sector is especially challenging Sanford Institute of Public Policy to make that happen. because of the lack of alternatives in this area. If we want — By Paul Grantham to address the transportation issue, we really can’t do it by Assistant Vice President, Office of Communication Services

Learn about the Presidents Climate Commitment at

www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org

I SUPPORT

Bleed Blue. Live Green.

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Take the Sustainable Duke pledge. The pledge is meant to raise awareness about sustainability issues and encourage members of the Duke community to consider the environmental, social and economic impact of their daily decisions. Every person who signs the pledge will receive a small gift of appreciation that they can use to help share the message.

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Take the pledge; go to:

www.duke.edu/ sustainability

If every home in the United States changed out three regular light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs, it would be equivalent to taking three million cars off the road.” — Bill Chameides Dean of Duke’s Nicholas School of Environment

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Duke Introduces New Self-Service Web site We b s i te s ave s p a p e r, offe rs co nve n i e n ce Rosa Whitworth dreaded pay day. direct access to faculty and staff will help It’s not that she didn’t like getting ensure records remain accurate and up paid; it’s that the distribution of to date. direct deposit statements always “In the past, you would have came at a bad time. to search for multiple Web sites “I didn’t like having to stop from different departments at Offering the opportunity to opt out of paper my work to sign for my pay Duke or visit the physical pay statements for direct deposit supports statement,” said Whitworth, a locations for some of these Duke’s environmental sustainability efforts. Last medical technologist II in the departments to access and year, Duke printed and distributed more than half a Duke Outpatient Clinical Lab. update the information million direct deposit statements and another “And I had all these blue available on Duke@Work,” 77,522 pay checks. In a survey of Duke@Work pilot pieces of paper all over the he said. “Having the ability participants, 75 percent said they would consider place.” to review and make changes opting out of paper pay statements. If that So when Whitworth directly will streamline percentage holds true with the general discovered she could go to a new administrative processes and also Duke population, more than 386,160 Duke self-service Web site to view reduce the potential for errors from paper statements could be her pay statements dating back to multiple points of data entry.” saved this year. 2002, she chose to discontinue receiving Donald Gillard, communication paper statements, an option available through center operator in the Office of Information the site. Whitworth was part of a pilot for the site, and Technology, used the site to check his home address and she now receives an e-mail notice every pay day to let her found that the address did not include his apartment know that her pay statement is available online. number. With a few quick key stokes, he changed that. Duke@Work, which was introduced broadly to all “It’s possible that I was not receiving some Duke mail faculty and staff in mid-February, is a secured site that at home because my address was not complete,” he said. offers the ability to log in using NetID and password to “I think it’s real convenient. I was also able to change my view personnel information. In addition, faculty and staff withholdings without having to complete a form and take can perform a wide variety of transactions, such as it down to Human Resources.” updating home and work addresses, viewing pay Plans to add information and functional capability are statements, signing up for direct deposit, changing bank already in the works. Eventually, Duke@Work will be the accounts or deductions, viewing retirement plan balances one-stop-shop to allow faculty and staff to enroll in and enrolling for certain benefits. benefits, renew parking permits, and access retirement Clint Davidson, vice president for Human Resources, accounts and tools. said consolidating information on the site and providing

Going Green

My Profile

What’s in your wallet?

Review the details of your personnel data — name, address, title, benefit status, how long you’ve worked at Duke, organizational unit, etc. Update your home and work address. Edit your email privacy settings or change your NetID. Add money to your DukeCard Flex Account.

View current and past pay statements to 2002. Go “green” and opt out of receiving paper pay statements. Check the payroll schedule. Change your state and federal withholdings. Update your bank account information for direct deposit.

You’re in good hands Review your coverage for dental, vision and health insurance. See how much Duke contributes for your health insurance. Find out if you are saving enough for retirement. Check your reimbursement account balances.

Duke@Work Features:

䡵 View current and past pay statements from August 2002 䡵 Change home address 䡵 Update work address (physical location) 䡵 Access health care or dependent care reimbursement account 䡵 View retirement plan balance 䡵 Review benefit participation in certain plans 䡵 Add money to DukeCard FLEX account 䡵 Explore professional development opportunities 䡵 Search for jobs at Duke 䡵 Set up or change bank accounts for direct deposit 䡵 Change Federal and North Carolina tax withholdings

My Pay

Who are you?

My Benefits

At Your Fingertips

My Career Oh, the places you’ll go Find resources for professional development. Search for transfer or promotional opportunities at Duke. Enroll in a training course. Visit iTunesU to hear a lecture talk by one of Duke’s prominent faculty members or visiting speaker or view one of the digital movies produced by first-year students as part of Froshlife.

— By Paul Grantham Assistant Vice President, Communication Services

For More Information: www.hr.duke.edu/selfservice

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Get Your ‘Green-On’ at Duke Farmers Market WANT TO GO? WHEN:

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The market, which runs through Sept. 26, features a cornucopia of fresh produce, herbs, flowers and other products from seven local farms.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays, from April 11 to June 27; then every other Friday from July 18 to Sept. 26. Closed July 4 and July 11.

WHERE:

onnie Henninger plans to go green at the Duke Freda Butner, a licensed dietitian nutritionist and marketing specialist with the North Carolina Department Farmers Market, which opens April 11. Not only will of Agriculture & Consumer Services, said Duke is among a she shop for lettuce, beans and other veggies, small handful of Triangle employers that offers on-site Henninger will do away with a plastic sack and carry a farmers markets. reusable cloth bag for purchases. She might even buy a rain “In the past, places like Cisco and IBM have offered barrel at the market. occasional farmers markets at their locations in Research “I love the Duke Farmers Market because I know I’m Triangle Park, but Duke is really pioneering new territory getting vegetables and fruits right out by having an on-site market on a regular of the ground that are fresher and basis,” Butner said. healthier than store-bought Local farmers commend Duke for produce,” said Henninger, director of promoting sustainable agriculture, which Strategic Sourcing, Procurement and In the past, benefits consumers, farmers, farm workers, Supply Chain Management at Duke. places like the environment and local economy. The market, which runs through Cisco and IBM have offered Buying local produce cuts fuel costs. Food Sept. 26, features a cornucopia of in the United States typically travels fresh produce, herbs, flowers and occasional farmers markets between 1,500 and 2,500 miles from farm other products from seven local at their locations in to table, according to Worldwatch farms. Seasonal selections vary, but Research Triangle Park, but Institute, an environmental and social highlights include tomatoes, policy research organization in peppers, onions, okra, cabbage, Duke is really pioneering Washington, D.C. cucumbers, potatoes, squash, “The money you spend with a local new territory by having an cantaloupes, melons, strawberries, farmer at the Duke Farmers Market stays in blueberries, blackberries, peaches and on-site market on a regular our community,” said Roland McReynolds, plums. basis.” executive director of the Carolina Farm The 2008 market, which is Stewardship Association, a non-profit — Freda Butner sponsored by LIVE FOR LIFE, North Carolina Department of organization in Pittsboro that promotes the Duke’s employee wellness program, development of a locally-based, organic Agriculture & Consumer Services will offer reusable cloth shopping food system. “You’re making an bags and educational events designed investment not only in your own health to encourage sustainable living and good food, but in the people, the land, practices such as water conservation. the air and the water that support us all.” On April 18, a local company will sell rain barrels Caring for the environment and local economy are and demonstrate how to install them. among the many reasons Henninger supports the Duke Tavey McDaniel Capps, Duke’s environmental Farmers Market. sustainability coordinator, said the farmers market is in line “Plus, you can grab a tasty, convenient lunch there,” with Duke’s continuing efforts to leave a lighter she said. “I often get the Caesar salad, which is a great environmental footprint. “It is not just about the health of way to go green.” our bodies, it is also realizing the impact food production — By Missy Baxter and transportation has on our entire environment,” she said.

Senior Writer, Office of Communication Services

For More Information: www.hr.duke.edu/farmersmarket

In front of the Medical Center Book Store off Coal Pile Drive, next to the walkway connecting Duke Hospital and the Clinics.

DID YOU KNOW? Shoppers who swipe their DukeCards at the market are entered into a weekly raffle to win a basket of fresh fruits and vegetables.

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Landfill detour: Duke reuses and recycles construction debris BY THE NUMBERS Duke LifeFlight Heliport Project

718 :: Tons of debris reused/recycled during Duke Hospital rooftop heliport project

430 :: Tons of roof

ballast stone recycled as Duke Forest road stabilization

90,000 :: Square feet of insulation salvaged for reuse in other Duke roofing projects

Duke recycled nearly 600 tons of debris, including wire conduit, above, while renovating the former Trinity College science building on East Campus.

hen the Trinity College science building on East Campus was transformed into a new home for humanities departments, the entire building was gutted, resulting in about 800 tons of construction debris such as drywall, wiring and old plumbing fixtures. Instead of transporting the debris to the Durham County landfill, Duke reused structural components such as exterior brick walls and interior support columns and recycled 75 percent of materials removed from the building. “We recycled about 600 tons of debris, including every piece of wire conduit, dry wall, plaster and scrap metal,” said Ray Walker, the staff architect with Duke’s Facilities Management Department (FMD) who oversaw the $11 million renovation last year. By reusing and recycling construction materials, Duke is reducing waste and increasing the life cycle of valuable resources. Recycled materials are also used in new campus buildings as part of Duke’s commitment to sustainable design. “Reusing and recycling not only saves a lot of debris from going to the landfill, but it boosts sustainability by giving the construction materials a second life,” said Tavey McDaniel Capps, Duke’s environmental sustainability coordinator. From the renovation of the former Trinity College science building to the construction of a rooftop heliport at Duke Hospital, Duke is exploring innovative ways to recapture building debris for use. Tons of construction materials will be recycled in upcoming campus projects such as the renovation of Baldwin Auditorium and demolitions of the P.M. Gross Chemistry Building and Bell Medical Research Building.

During construction of the Duke LifeFlight heliport last year, more than 400 tons of roof ballast stone and 90,000 square feet of roofing insulation were removed from the Duke Hospital roof. The stone was used to stabilize roads in Duke Forest, and the insulation has been used in numerous projects such as installing a new roof on the Durham Regional laundry facility. “That insulation has turned into the gift that keeps on giving,” said Tim Pennigar, construction coordinator with Medical Center Engineering and Operations. In other projects, recycling was a priority. Wiring, drywall and insulation were recycled during the Perkins Library expansion, while asphalt from a demolished parking lot near the Divinity School was recycled during construction of the Fitzpatrick Center for Interdisciplinary Engineering, Medicine and Applied Sciences (CIEMAS). The CIEMAS project also incorporated structural steel, aluminum building panels and ceiling tiles made from post-consumer recycled content. Using recycled materials and diverting debris from the landfill help buildings earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, which Duke requires of all new construction and renovations on campus. “The information about which materials are being reused and recycled has to flow all the way down the line – from the architect and project manager to the contractor and the person pushing the wheelbarrow,” Walker said. “It’s rewarding to know that your extra efforts toward sustainable development have resulted in a wonderful, useful space with much less impact to the environment.” — By Missy Baxter Senior Writer, Office of Communication Services

WWW.DUKE.EDU/SUSTAINABILITY

$133,600 :: Value of salvaged roof insulation

$29,797 :: Landfill disposal fees avoided

265 :: Gallons of

dump truck fuel avoided

Got A Sustainability Story? Influence others — Write us at

working@duke.edu

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Duke University Press rolls with bright ideas s the publisher of about 30 journals and 120 books annually, Duke University Press is known for innovative thinking. Many publications receive literary and professional awards, thanks in part to a staff of about 100, ranging from book designers to copy editors. With many creative minds, it’s no wonder that Duke Press is generating bright ideas to leave a lighter environmental footprint. Not only has the press switched to printing many books on recycled paper, it also offers publications online. In addition to big picture initiatives, Duke Press employees pitch in by recycling and conserving energy and natural resources in their downtown Durham Brightleaf Square office and nearby warehouse. Neal McTighe, an assistant managing editor in the books division at Duke University Press, installs a compact florescent light bulb into an office desk lamp. “There are a lot of “R” words flying around Duke University Press,” said Judy Melvin, logistics coordinator at Duke Press. “Along with reducing, reusing and recycling, we’re reclaiming and repurposing everything we can.” As an example, she pointed toward a chair in the reception area. “We got that chair from Duke’s Surplus Program, so you could say it’s reclaimed, and we had it reupholstered – another great “R” word,” she said, laughing. “Plus, this is a repurposed building – a former tobacco warehouse.” Melvin and other staff members – including director Steve Cohn, who bikes from his Durham home to work and around campus –- are serious about being green. That’s evident with Duke Recycles collecting approximately three, 96-gallon containers of recycled paper, plastic and aluminum each week from Duke Press. “Our employees are really dedicated to the environment, and part of my role is to look at ways we can conserve more resources, so it’s definitely a team effort that involves everyone,” Melvin said. The Duke Press staff also recently formed two groups to foster eco-friendly initiatives. The Duke Press Green Team meets regularly to brainstorm ways to practice sustainability at the office – from installing compact fluorescent bulbs to recycling shipping cartons. And the Sustainable Living group has about 20 employees who meet monthly during lunch to discuss books about environmental issues and ways to conserve at work and home. Some suggestions have already been implemented in the office. Individual paper John Rorem, an assistant managing editor recycling bins dot each desk. Compact fluorescent bulbs are in lamps. Procurement at Duke University Press, won a rain barrel receipts are scanned for digital storage, not printed. during Duke’s Primetime employee forum “I’m an avid recycler, so I suggested we get recycling bins for paper at our on sustainability in April. desks,” said Adam Hartz, a journals production coordinator. “It’s convenient because you can fill it up and then carry it down the hall to dump it in the main recycling container.” At home, many Duke Press staff members recycle and conserve natural resources. Take John Rorem, an assistant managing editor in the journal division. He recently installed a rain barrel at home. He won the rain barrel during a drawing at Duke’s Primetime employee forum on sustainability in April. Duke Press staff said it is important to talk about environmental issues to raise awareness – a key factor in creating change. “Once you start to learn about the environmental crisis we are in, you have no choice but to change,” said Amy Ruth Buchanan, a book designer who helps coordinate the Sustainable Living group. “It’s great to have a group of smart, supportive colleagues along for the challenge.”

— By Missy Baxter Senior Writer, Office of Communication Services

HOW IS DUKE UNIVERSITY PRESS GOING GREEN?

■ Offering publications in online formats ■ Recycling paper, plastic, aluminum, cardboard and ink cartridges ■ Using compact fluorescent bulbs when possible ■ Providing recycling bins for paper at each desk ■ Turning off lights and machines not in use ■ Scanning procurement receipts as PDFs ■ Serving water in pitchers, not plastic bottles ■ Distributing reusable “Green Team” mugs to staff

Got A Sustainability Story? Influence others — Write us at

working@duke.edu

Judy Melvin, logistics coordinator at Duke University Press, empties a recycling bin into a larger Duke Recycles container.

WWW.DUKE.EDU/SUSTAINABILITY

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THIS COULD BE YOU

Share the Ride:

Duke technology analysts, Uma Subramanian, left, and Shaila Vadlamudi, right, traded in individual parking permits to join Duke’s newly enhanced carpool program. Each can save about $1,000 annually on fuel and parking costs.

Keep more green in your pocket uke technology analysts Uma Subramanian and Shaila Vadlamudi used to dread the commute from their homes near Cary to their American Tobacco Campus office. With soaring fuel prices, the 40-mile roundtrip to work was costing each of them about $150 a month in gas. But now the two colleagues in Duke’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) can each save about $1,000 annually by sharing a ride and enrolling in Duke’s newly-enhanced carpool program “That’s enough for my family to take a short vacation or to buy Christmas gifts,” Subramanian said. “Plus, it’s a lot better for the environment that we are not driving alone.” As fuel prices top $4 a gallon, more Duke staff and faculty are seeking other ways to get to work. This year, for example, 450 Duke employees used alternative transportation such as carpooling during the 2008 Smart Commute Challenge, a campaign coordinated by Triangle Transit and SmartCommute@rtp. Duke’s enhanced carpool program, available to all Duke staff and faculty, offers several new incentive levels such as free parking for groups of four or more participants, and 24 individual daily parking passes for staff and faculty who share a ride with at least one other person. Finding carpool buddies will also get easier with Duke GreenRide, a new ride-matching service on the Duke Parking & Transportation Web site. The database, which relies on commuters to input ridesharing contact information, connects commuters who live and work in the same area and share similar schedules. “Since Duke GreenRide is new, it’s important for anyone interested in carpooling or ridesharing to register as soon as possible online to create a database of commuters for matching,” said Melissa Harden, assistant director for Parking & Transportation. Subramanian and Vadlamudi decided to try carpooling after chatting during lunch. They contacted Parking & Transportation to learn more about Duke’s alternative transportation options. They rotate drivers and cars, reducing maintenance and repairs on each vehicle. They’re hoping to find a few other Duke commuters to join them through Duke GreenRide to save even more.

Carpooling will also help each of them drop hundreds of pounds a year – in carbon dioxide emissions. “Even if you only carpool once or twice a week, it cuts greenhouse gases,” said Tavey McDaniel-Capps, Duke’s sustainability coordinator. “It also helps Duke leave a lighter environmental footprint and preserve green space instead of paving it for parking lots.”

Duke Carpool Incentives

______________________________________________________________________________

Number of Participants

______________________________________________________________________________ Parking Permit Cost

FREE

$4 monthly 1/2 price of per person regular permit ______________________________________________________________________________ Parking Location

Designated Carpool Designated Carpool Unmarked Space Space in Preferred Lot Space in Preferred Lot in Preferred Lot ______________________________________________________________________________ Free Individual Daily Passes

24 per person

The OIT colleagues worked with supervisors to slightly adjust schedules so they could ride together. They also devised a contingency plan for days they have personal errands. “We all have children, so we’re glad that Duke provides daily passes for carpoolers to use when they can’t ride together,” Subramanian said. She touts other carpooling perks such as social interaction and relaxation. “When I’m not the one driving, I sometimes read or meditate, and we spend a lot of time talking and laughing,” Subramanian said. “Also, the carpool group dropped me off at the airport one Friday afternoon, which was very convenient and saved me from paying to leave my car at the airport all weekend.” — By Missy Baxter Senior Writer, Office of Communication Services

24 per person

HOW MUCH CAN YOU $AVE? USE DUKE'S NEW ONLINE CARPOOL CALCULATOR AT WWW.PARKING. DUKE.EDU/CARPOOL

7 INCREASE THE ODDS OF FINDING A CARPOOL PARTNER. REGISTER YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION THROUGH DUKE GREENRIDE AT WWW.PARKING.DUKE.EDU/CARPOOL.

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RECYCLING BY THE NUMBERS

1,467 TONS Plastic, Glass, Aluminum and Paper Recycled at Duke in 2007

1,004 POUNDS Plastic Collected at 2007 Duke Home Football Games

Blue Devil football fans (left to right) Ramsey Elliott, Logan Elliott, Jake Schwarze and Keir Schwarze collected plastic cups during a Duke home football game at Wallace Wade Stadium to help raise money for Recycle for the Children.

353 POUNDS

Recycled cups runneth over s hundreds of football fans watched the final minutes of last year’s Duke-Wake Forest game in Wallace Wade Stadium, brothers Ramsey Elliott, 12, and Logan Elliott, 14, turned their eyes from the field to the stands. The goal: plastic cups. The Elliott brothers – along with friends, Jake Schwarze, 14, and Keir Schwarze, 11 – rushed through the stands, gathering dozens of plastic cups. They carried the plastic towers to a “Duke Recycles” booth near a stadium gate, dropped them into a large blue bin and selected prizes such as Duke clocks and suncatchers. “The cup contest is a fun way to wrap up an afternoon at the game,” said Carol Elliott, Ramsey’s and Logan’s mother and a regulatory coordinator with Duke Medicine’s Adult Blood and Marrow Transplant Program. “The boys started forming their game plan as soon as the announcer mentioned a contest.” Fans who attend Blue Devil home football games, including three in September, will hear an announcement about Duke’s Recycle for the Children contest at the end of each game. Fans can hustle to collect the most plastic cups and help raise money for Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center. Duke employees and their families can get involved in the Recycle for the Children program by competing in the cup contest, tossing recyclable items into collection bins at home games and suggesting volunteer groups to help gather recyclable items after the games. The volunteers, along with parents and chaperones, receive

free admission to the game and are recognized by the announcer. “Along with supporting the kids at Duke Children’s Hospital, this program helps the environment and educates people about the importance of recycling,” said Arwen Buchholz, coordinator for Duke’s recycling and waste reduction programs. “Volunteering for the Recycle for Children program is a great way for groups to earn community service hours and enjoy an exciting football game for free.” During last year’s football season, more than 1,000 pounds of plastic and 2,000 pounds of aluminum and glass were collected. The proceeds from the sale of recyclable items are used to buy toys, games and art supplies for the children’s hospital. “I attend the home football games and it is always great to hear the announcement about the contest and the volunteer groups because I know it helps us provide many hours of positive distraction for our young patients,” said Edith Rosenblatt, coordinator of pediatric volunteer services at Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center. Boy Scout Troop 43 of Mebane has assisted several times with the program as a community service project. “Volunteering allowed the scouts to learn a lot more about recycling and they had a big time at the games,” said the troop’s leader, Jeff Harward, a landscape specialist with Duke Facilities Management. “Plus, we were proud to help raise money for such a great children’s hospital.”

Aluminum Collected at 2007 Duke Home Football Games

1,706 POUNDS Glass Collected at 2007 Duke Home Football Games

MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND SUPPORT RECYCLE FOR THE CHILDREN AT BLUE DEVIL HOME FOOTBALL GAMES:

SEPT. 6, 13, 27 OCT. 18 NOV. 8, 29

— By Missy Baxter Senior Writer, Office of Communication Services

7 LEARN MORE ABOUT RECYCLING EFFORTS AT DUKE AT WWW.FMD.DUKE.EDU/RECYCLES

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Ride A Bus Want A Bus Pass? Monique Brown, a staff assistant in Duke’s Office of Research Support, watches for her stop at Erwin Square during a recent ride on a Durham city bus. Staff, faculty and students can now purchase discount city and regional bus passes at a savings of up to 60 percent through Duke Parking and Transportation Services.

Save 60 percent on local, regional bus passes s the city bus rolled toward Erwin Square at 8:45 a.m., Monique Brown pulled the signal cord for her stop. “See you tomorrow,” Brown, a staff assistant in Duke’s Office of Research Support, told the driver as she hopped off a Durham Area Transit Authority (DATA) bus. Brown and other Duke faculty, staff and students who ride or want to ride city and regional buses can save up to 60 percent by purchasing discount bus passes through Duke for transportation on DATA, Triangle Transit Regional and Triangle Transit Express buses. Passengers with a regional pass can also board a Capital Area Transit bus for connections to DATA and Triangle Transit lines. The program, organized by Duke Parking and Transportation Services, offers several types of day and trip passes. Some have restrictions, so Duke community members should review routes and schedules to select a pass that best meets their needs. Those who join the program and enroll through payroll deduction and automatic bus pass renewal will receive additional pre-tax savings on some passes. This additional savings only applies to participants who purchase 30-day bus passes. The discount bus pass for 20 one-way trips can be purchased with only cash, check or credit card, and the pre-tax savings will not apply. Brown, who rides a DATA bus about 45 minutes each way from her home in Durham, plans use to payroll deduction to purchase a 30-day unlimited DATA pass for $12; the pass regularly sells for $36.

Duke staff, faculty and students can purchase discount passes through Duke by visiting Parking and Transportation Services in the Facilities Center on Coal Pile Drive. Passes must be purchased in person. Online registration is not available, and passes may not be purchased through the transit lines.

“This keeps more money in my getting people to change behavior pocket,” she said. “I started taking the like choosing how to get to and from bus to work about a year ago when campus,” said Tavey McDaniel-Capps, my car broke down, but I continued Duke’s sustainability coordinator. riding after my car was fixed because “We hope incentives like discount bus the bus is easier, less expensive and passes will encourage individuals to you don’t have to worry about try alternative transportation.” fighting traffic.” — By Missy Baxter The savings may be even more Senior Writer for bus commuters from other areas. Office of Communication Services For example, Duke employees who use payroll deduction can get a 30-day Triangle B U S PA S S D I S C O U N T S Transit Express pass for unlimited rides on Triangle Regular Rate Occasional User Rate Frequent User Rate Without Duke staff/faculty/student Duke staff/faculty/student price Transit Express, Triangle Duke discount price (cash, check or credit card (payroll deduction or bursar account Transit Regional, Capital payment only; bursar and and automatic bus pass renewal) Area Transit and Durham payroll deduction not accepted) Area Transit Authority for DATA 20-trip $16 $8 Not available $32, compared to $80. Valid for 20 one-way trips on Durham Area Transit Authority buses. That’s good news for Not valid on Triangle Transit or Capital Area Transit routes. current Triangle Transit ____________________ riders, such as Lorrie DATA 30-day $36 $18 $12 Alexander, a senior HR Valid for 30 days after first use for unlimited rides on Durham Area Transit Authority buses. representative in Staff and Not valid on any Triangle Transit or Capital Area Transit buses. Labor Relations. He ____________________ commutes from Northwest Triangle Transit Raleigh to his office in Regional 20-trip $32 $16 Not available Trent Hall. The round-trip Valid for 20 one-way trips on Triangle Transit, Capital Area Transit and Durham Area Transit Authority buses. ride takes nearly two hours. Not valid on Triangle Transit Express buses. “It’s fantastic that Duke ____________________ is offering these discount Triangle Transit passes because it will save a Regional 30-day $64 $32 $24 lot of people, including me, Valid for 30 days after first use for unlimited rides on Triangle Transit, Capital Area Transit and Durham Area Transit Authority buses. a ton of money,” he said. Not valid for Triangle Transit Express. “With the price of fuel, ____________________ riding the bus is definitely Triangle Transit the way to go, especially Express 30-day $80 $40 $32 with these discount passes.” Valid for 30 days after first use for unlimited rides on Triangle Transit, Triangle Transit Express, Capital Area Transit and Durham A discount bus pass Area Transit Authority buses. offers other benefits, too. “Duke is committed to reducing its environmental footprint, but one of the toughest challenges is

For more information, visit parking.duke.edu/buspass or call (919) 684-7275.

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Computer science professor Robert Duvall drops a can into a recycling bin at Blue Express in the Levine Science Research Center. The bin and others on campus were financed through Duke’s Green Grant Fund.

Green Grant Fund seeds eco-friendly projects W

hen computer science professor Robert Duvall eats at Blue Express in Duke’s Levine Science Research Center, he makes sure to drop his used plastic bottles, soda cans and other recyclable items in the cafe’s recycling bins. For Duvall, the routine dates back to his childhood. “My mother would stop the car on the side of the road, and we’d pick up bottles and cans and turn them in for recycling,” said Duvall, 37. “As someone who considers taking care of the environment a priority, I’m glad to see more recycling going on at Duke.” The recycling bins, enclosed in labeled wood cabinets, were installed at Blue Express and nine other campus eateries last year to reduce the amount of trash in landfills. The project, overseen by Duke Dining, is among 29 initiatives launched in the past three years by faculty, staff and students with money from Duke’s Green Grant Fund. The Green Grant Fund, established by Executive Vice President Tallman Trask III, supports projects that yield environmental, social and economic benefits to Duke’s campus and the Durham community. Duke allocates $50,000 each year for the

Green Grant Fund, which is available to Duke community members to pay for projects or activities that reduce Duke’s environmental footprint. Since the program began in 2006, Duke has awarded about $120,000 to seed a myriad of new programs and projects. Grants have ranged from $500 to nearly $20,000, and recipients include a bike maintenance and repair station; a Duke student group that refurbishes computers for Durham schools and community centers; and an organic garden and compost system at the Marine Lab in Beaufort. Grants have also funded research and provided education and training for Duke students, staff and faculty. “At Duke, we recognize that it’s not just the big moves toward sustainability, but also a series of smaller changes that will get us where we want to be,” Trask said. “By encouraging the entire Duke community to think creatively about sustainable solutions and by providing funds to pursue projects, we make it possible for good ideas to become reality.” The latest grant will allow a Nicholas School of the Environment student group, called Farmhand, to promote a week-long local food

challenge, which runs Nov. 1-8, and a sustainable agriculture festival at Woodcrest Farm in Hillsborough on Nov. 8. The grant will also finance a series of speakers and workshops in the spring on topics such as canning, gardening and cheese-making. “By supporting projects like this, Duke is proving that it is serious about improving our campus, our community and our world,” said Gretchen Kroeger, a Nicholas School graduate student who helped the group apply for the Green Grant. Duvall, the computer science professor, has been instrumental in boosting recycling efforts in his department. With his help, the Computer Science Department received the Best Recycling Department Award from Duke’s Environmental Management Advisory Committee in 2004. “It’s great to know there’s money set aside at Duke to support projects like this,” Duvall said during a recent lunch at Blue Express. “The best way to make a difference is to raise awareness and encourage everyone to think about how their actions impact the planet.” — By Missy Baxter Senior Writer Office of Communication Services

Learn more about Duke’s Green Grant Fund at duke.edu/sustainability or contact sustainability outreach coordinator Ryan Powell at ryan.powell@duke.edu.

Want To Apply? Download an application for Duke’s Green Grant Fund under “campus initiatives” at duke.edu/sustainability. The fund is a revolving account with $50,000 allocated each year.

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Scooting to Duke

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Kim Hanauer, director of Young Alumni and Student Programs in Alumni Affairs, has been riding her Honda Metropolitan II to work for more than two years.

Maloney isn’t the only employee on campus bundling One day up extra for the daily trip to I saw a work. scooter and thought Kim Hanauer, director of Young Alumni and Student it was time for a Programs in Alumni Affairs, change.” has been riding her Honda — Cheryl Maloney Metropolitan II for more than Program Director two years. Even though she still hen she fills up at the gas pump, Cheryl Terry Sanford Institute of has a car, she said she’ll only Maloney doesn’t feel the same pinch as some Public Policy drive it if it snows, when she motorists. She spends no more than $5 to fill up needs to transport large items, her tank. or if she’s with her dog. That’s because Maloney, a program director for the Otherwise, she said, it’s a waste of gas and not as good for Population, Policy & Aging Research Center, drives to work the environment. from Raleigh on a TGB Sunset scooter – a round trip of “Ninety percent of the time you’re driving in a car, about 45 miles. you’re alone in it, so it can be so wasteful,” said Hanauer, “One day I saw a scooter and thought it was time for a who lives about a mile away from her office and doesn’t change,” she said. mind riding her scooter in the rain. Over the summer, she got rid of her Nissan Murano During colder months, Maloney and Hanauer said they SUV that got 23 miles per gallon. Now, she gets about 65. wear biking clothing or ski outfits to keep them warm and Maloney contributes fewer carbon emissions, while also dry. But, Hanauer said being cold is probably the only saving nearly $700 a month in various costs. downside that comes with riding a scooter. Duke doesn’t charge a parking fee for employees who “As long as gas prices stay the way they are and the ride scooters to campus because they don’t need a parking economy stays flat, this isn’t going away,” said Danny Hoag, pass. Maloney said that’s a convenience of driving her general manager at the Scooterz Inc. store in Raleigh, where scooter, since she pulls right up to the side of Duke’s Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy and parks her scooter next Maloney bought her ride for about $1,800. “Now, it’s almost as if you’re not cool if you don’t ride one.” to a bike rack. Hoag said that Scooterz sold more than 400 units in its Take a look around campus. It’s easy to see that with first 10 months after opening in October 2007. He added a hurting economy and higher prices at the pump, more that the broad appeal of scooters in North Carolina is students, faculty and staff are turning to two-wheeled helped by laws that allow anyone over 16 to drive one. alternatives to save money and help the environment. And They also don’t need a license or auto insurance. scooter sales in the Triangle are on the rise. But, Maloney said those shouldn’t be the only reasons During Maloney’s daily commute to West Campus on someone decides to ride a scooter. back roads to and from Raleigh, she takes the time to clear “It’s caused me to slow down and appreciate my her mind and organize her thoughts. Even with the threat surroundings because I feel a lot closer to nature and have less of ice or snow, Maloney said others ride scooters stress,” she said. “Driving is an enjoyable experience now.” throughout the year just fine, so why not her? “It’s just better for me all around,” she said. — By Bryan Roth

Writer, Office of Communication Services

Learn more about transportation alternatives at parking.duke.edu

Got A Sustainability Story? Write us at

working@duke.edu

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Sizing Up Our Footprint

Staff assistant Joelle Andrews empties recyclables in the Office of Prospect Research, Management and Analytics to help make Duke a climate neutral campus.

oelle Andrews recently formed a “recycling brigade” with colleagues in Prospect Research, Management and Analytics to tackle mounds of plastic bottles, aluminum cans and newspapers overflowing the office break-room. “The problem was that the small recycling bins in our break-room fill up quickly and no one was in charge of emptying them into the bigger recycling bin outside,” she said. “I was concerned that people might be tempted to toss recyclable items in the trash.” She created a sign-up sheet and recruited volunteers to empty smaller bins each Friday. The result: more recyclables and a step toward creating a more sustainable campus. Andrews, 25, a staff assistant who joined Duke in 2001, is among about 3,000 staff, faculty and students who signed the Duke Sustainability Pledge. The pledge encourages Duke community members to consider the environmental, social and economic effects of their actions. Across campus, others are taking a proactive approach to help Duke become climate-neutral, a pledge made by President Richard Brodhead in 2007, as part of the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment. Duke recently completed a greenhouse gas inventory to determine the size of Duke’s carbon footprint and establish a baseline to measure the impact of future sustainability initiatives. The inventory found Duke produced nearly 434,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in 2007. That’s the equivalent of emissions generated by

Total Carbon Dioxide Emissions (kg CO2)

DUKE’S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

Transportation 23% Steam Plant

24%

Electricity

53%

takes to transport Duke measured emissions from transportation, steam and electricity to determine ways to reduce thousands of environmental impact on campus. people, heat hundreds of buildings, sterilize medical equipment and keep Duke running around-theclock,” said Tavey Capps, Duke’s sustainability coordinator. A committee led by Executive Vice President Tallman Trask III and William Chameides, Dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment, is exploring options to reduce Duke’s carbon emissions. While many Find carpool buddies initiatives involve institutional with Duke GreenRide, changes in facilities and operations, Becoming A Climate a ride-matching tool some require students, faculty and Neutral Campus staff to change behavior by using parking.duke.edu or alternative transportation, conserving (919) 684-7275 Growing Greener is a continuing energy and reducing waste. series about Duke’s goal to become Staff and faculty can find ways a climate-neutral campus. This first Order individual recycling to reduce their footprint with tools segment considers Duke’s 2008 bins from Duke Recycles such as a personal emissions calculator greenhouse gas inventory, the at epa.gov/cleanenergy/energyduke.edu/sustainability/ major contributors to emissions on resources/calculator.html or campus_initiatives or campus and how you can make a CarbonRally.com, a site created by (919) 660-1426 difference. Other segments, Jason Karas, a Nicholas School alum. coming soon, will examine options “Using a carbon footprint Duke is exploring to reduce its Buy eco-friendly office calculator is an effective way for impact and create long-term individuals to discover specific ways supplies through Duke’s strategies to off-set emissions. to reduce their environmental Green Purchasing Program impact,” Capps said. “By simply duke.edu/sustainability/ carpooling or turning off your using about 50 million gallons of campus_initiatives or computer, each person’s actions can gasoline, according to the have a sizeable impact.” (919) 613-8353 Environmental Protection Agency. For staff like Joelle Andrews, At Duke, the three biggest simple changes make a difference. greenhouse gas contributors are Recycle office furniture “The little things like recycling do purchased electricity (53 percent); steam through the Duke Surplus add up. We can’t just do them at home, produced for heat and sterilization (24 Property Program though,” she said. “It’s important to percent); and emissions and fuel for make an effort at work, too.” procurement.duke.edu transportation (23 percent), including — By Missy Baxter or (919) 684-3166 campus buses, commuter vehicles and Senior Writer, employee air travel. Office of Communication Services “Determining Duke’s impact requires us to measure everything it

Growing Green

Visit duke.edu/sustainability to sign the Duke Sustainability Pledge.

Shrink Duke’s Carbon Footprint

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Deeply Rooted Cherishing our university in the forest Duke boasts more than 100 species that provide a canopy for about 400 acres of the Durham campus, as seen in this view of West Campus.

ulch scattered as Michael Weatherspoon raked around a 10-foot tall dogwood tree on Towerview Drive. He was removing a “mulch volcano,” a pile of shredded wood and pine straw around the trunk. “If the mulch builds up too high, it can prevent the roots from going deep enough in the ground,” said Weatherspoon, a senior equipment operator with Duke Grounds in the Facilities Management Department. “This helps trees survive, especially during a drought.” Healthy tree management efforts by Weatherspoon, other Duke groundskeepers and community volunteers helped Duke earn the recent designation of Tree Campus USA from the Arbor Day Foundation. Duke is the first university in North Carolina to be named a Tree Campus USA, a new national program honoring universities for promoting healthy urban forest management and engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship. “Not only do the trees at Duke help beautify the campus, they also play a role in decreasing carbon emissions by shading buildings, which reduces energy use, and by storing carbon in their limbs, trunks and root systems,” said Robert Healy, a professor emeritus at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment. Healy, along with Judson Edeburn, Duke Forest resource manager, are among about 10 members of Duke’s new campus tree advisory committee, formed last year as part of the criteria to become a Tree Campus USA. To receive the

designation, Duke established a comprehensive campus tree-care plan, earmarked annual expenditures for tree care, and organized service-learning projects. Last November, for example, Duke Grounds, Recycling, and Sanitation Departments organized 55 volunteers to plant dogwood, persimmon and cherry trees near Gilbert-Addoms residence hall on East Campus. Volunteers included Duke students, staff, faculty and avid gardener Cynthia Brodhead, wife of Duke President Richard H. Brodhead. “The students, staff, faculty and community volunteers who help with projects like Duke GROWS are a major reason we won the award from the Arbor Day Foundation,” said Duke Grounds superintendent Roger Conner. Known as a “university in the forest,” Duke boasts more than 100 species that provide a canopy for about 400 acres of the Durham campus. And that doesn’t include countless species in the Duke Forest, which covers more than 7,00 acres. Each spring, the campus pops with color as dogwoods, cherry trees, magnolias and other flower-bearing species bloom. “Many people come to Duke specifically to admire the trees on campus or to conduct research in the Duke Forest,” Conner said. “If you see an aerial view of campus, it’s amazing. You can barely see the buildings because of the trees.”

To celebrate Earth Month and Arbor Day on April 21, Duke is organizing several tree-planting and service-learning projects. To volunteer, contact Roger Conner, (919) 660-4282 or roger.conner@duke.edu.

Elvis Holden, a landscape specialist with Duke Grounds in the Facilities Management Department, helps plant a tree on East Campus with Duke students and other volunteers.

Visitors, staff, faculty and students can experience the diverse urban forest in numerous areas. Unique species such as red buckeye, bald cypress and common china fir shade Edens Quad on West Campus. The trail circling East Campus offers views of magnolias, sycamores and giant willow oaks. And more than a dozen memorial trees dot campus. “When people call someone a ‘tree hugger,’ they should realize there’s a good reason to hug trees,” Conner said. “They are vital to our environment. Plus, at Duke, they’re part of what makes our campus even more beautiful and sustainable.”

Did you know? Many of Duke’s trees were planted in the 1920s as part of a landscape design developed by a firm founded by Frederick Olmstead, designer of New York City’s Central Park and Asheville’s Biltmore Estates. Olmstead often touted the benefits of trees to enhance community morale and counteract anxieties of city life.

— By Missy Baxter Senior Writer, Office of Communication Services

7 Visit duke.edu/sustainability

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rder food and drinks? Check. Book bands? Check. Offset carbon emissions? Check. This isn’t a typical party checklist, but a Duke student committee organizing the 2009 Last Day of Classes concert and celebration is voluntarily working to shrink its carbon footprint by planting trees and buying local carbon credits to help offset emissions from buses, electricity and waste. The April 22 celebration, which falls on Earth Day and Growing Greener is expected to draw about 7,000 people to the West Growing Greener is a continuing series about Duke’s goal Campus Quad, is like other large events that require to become a climate-neutral campus. The first segment in transportation and energy: it will produce carbon dioxide, February examined Duke’s 2008 greenhouse gas inventory, which contributes to overall greenhouse gas emissions. the major contributors to emissions on campus and how “Our goal is to conserve resources and reduce waste as you can make a difference. This month, we explore carbon much as possible, such as having a sustainable dinner at credits, which help offset an individual’s or organization’s carbon emissions. The next segment, coming soon, will Great Hall with local food and setting up recycling bins,” explain Duke’s long-term strategy to become a climatesaid Meredith Estren, a Pratt School of Engineering senior neutral campus. and Baldwin Scholar leading the effort. On a broader scale, Duke is facing the same challenge in working to become a climate-neutral campus, a pledge made by President Richard Brodhead in 2007, as part of “It would take about $4 million to purchase enough the American College & University Presidents Climate carbon credits to offset our current emissions, but we’re Commitment. determined to do as much as possible to reduce actual Last year, Duke produced 434,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide through electricity, transportation and steam emissions on campus before we opt for any offsets,” said Tim Profeta, director of the Nicholas Institute for to heat buildings and sterilize medical equipment. While Environmental Policy Solutions and member of the changes are underway to reduce the university’s overall committee developing Duke’s plan to become a climateemissions, it is virtually impossible to totally eliminate the neutral campus. campus carbon footprint. For Duke students organizing the Last Day of Classes To help mitigate the impact of emissions, some event, the offset options include recruiting students and institutions and corporations purchase carbon credits, other Duke community members or offsets. But Duke is exploring to plant trees on campus and options beyond purchasing purchasing carbon credits from credits such as investing in “Our NCGreenPower.org. As the first research and projects that will goal is to statewide green energy program in improve North Carolina’s the nation supported by the state’s environment and create conserve resources utility companies, renewable energy sources. and reduce waste as NCGreenPower.org offers local Instead of simply buying offsets, much as possible.” offset options, a more viable way to Duke’s goal is to make positive changes to improve the local Meredith Estren — Meredith Estren, compensate for carbon emissions environment and quality of life. Pratt School of Engineering than purchasing carbon credits that For example, a recent Nicholas Senior and Baldwin Scholar don’t directly benefit North Carolina. Institute study recommends that “When we started working on Duke play a leading role in pilot projects greening Last Day of Classes, all I knew about offsets is that to reduce methane emissions at hog farms using innovative it was a trendy thing that people were doing to reduce the waste systems, improve statewide forest management and impact of things like flights,” said Estren, the Pratt School raise public awareness about the importance of energy of Engineering senior. “If we purchase carbon credits, we efficiency. For an offset to be valid, it must reduce want to make sure they directly improve the local greenhouse gas emissions in a way that would not have environment.” occurred otherwise.

Becoming A Carbon Neutral Campus Carbon Offsets Symposium Learn more about the role of offsets in reducing Duke’s carbon footprint April 10-11. The free event in the French Family Science Center is hosted by the Duke Environmental Markets Student Group and features panel discussions on carbon offsets dealing with energy efficiency, renewable energy, forestry and methane capture. To register and learn more, visit duke.edu/sustainability.

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— By Missy Baxter Senior Writer, Office of Communication Services

For a list of Earth Month activities in April, visit duke.edu/sustainability

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Taking a bite out of food waste ast year, Duke diners tossed away tons of uneaten food and scraps. The good news is, most of this food waste went to an off-site compost facility for gardening soil to benefit the environment. Still, Duke is working to further reduce food waste through campaigns that include tracking uneaten food, eliminating food trays in some eateries and exploring providing biodegradable, recyclable or reusable to-go containers in two of the largest campus dining establishments. “We want everyone to understand the importance of mindful consumption,” said Nate Peterson, director of operations for Bon Appétit Management Company, which operates the Marketplace on East Campus and Great Hall on West, Duke’s largest eateries. “We want people to realize they should only take the amount they will eat.” Duke earned an “A” for food and recycling in the College Sustainability Report Card issued last September by the Sustainable Endowments Institute. The report noted that Duke conducted an inventory of the dining facilities’ environmental impact to help guide and implement best practices. One practice Duke is using to reduce food waste is by tracking it through awareness campaigns. Bon Appétit launched “Taste Don’t Waste” at the Marketplace on East Campus in February. For five weeks, staff weighed daily food waste and recorded it on posters. During that time, about 30,000 pounds of food was composted, instead of landing in a landfill. The campaign hit home with diners: food waste at the Marketplace dropped about 35 percent from a daily average of 1,182 pounds the first week of the campaign to 761 pounds the final week. “I think the large reduction was because seeing the amounts of waste written on the posters made people more aware of their impact,” said Barbara Stokes, assistant director of Duke Dining Services. “Even if they had only left a little bit on their plate, they realized how quickly that added up.” In another effort to reduce waste and conserve water, the Marketplace on East Campus gave trays the heave last August. Stokes said less food is being wasted because diners carry plates, not trays. Students in a Food & Energy class at the Nicholas School for the Environment are researching whether the trayless program can be expanded to the Great Hall on West Campus. The class is also investigating whether Duke should create an on-campus compost site and offer biodegradable or reusable to-go containers in the Great Hall and Marketplace, where plastic recyclable containers are currently provided.

Roderick Johnson, a Dining Services employee in the Marketplace on East Campus, scrapes uneaten food into a composting collection area in the dishwashing room.

“Food production is a great contributor to climate change, so this allows the students to learn research methods and help make an important contribution,” said Charlotte Clark, the Nicholas professor teaching the course. Duke senior Marissa Galizia, who is in the class, said the research is enlightening. For instance, the team working to find the best to-go containers discovered some composting facilities don’t accept certain biodegradable containers. “Along with the environmental impact, we also have to consider economic and social factors,” Galizia said. “People always think that going green is easy, but there are a lot of variables.”

Duke’s two largest eateries, the Marketplace and Great Hall, use posters to educate diners during the “Taste Don’t Waste” campaign to reduce food waste.

— By Missy Baxter Senior Writer, Office of Communication Services

Stay informed about sustainablility at duke.edu/sustainability

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U.S. SEASONAL DROUGHT OUTLOOK

夝 NORTH CAROLINA

WHAT YOU CAN DO The Drought Outlook through the end of July is generally pessimistic in western sections of the country, with the likelihood of improvement increasing farther east. Mid-April precipitation should reduce impacts of the moderate drought in the mid-Atlantic region and the interior Southeast, and typical seasonal increases in precipitation should bring improvement to the Florida Peninsula and the Great Lakes region later in the forecast period. Farther west, odds favor drier than normal May-July conditions and therefore persisting drought across the interior West, and the low precipitation amounts typical of this time of year along the Pacific Coast and in Hawaii should keep drought intact across those areas as well. Source: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Water Use Drops Williams Field is not the only area cutting back on he historic drought that ravaged North Carolina in consumption. The Sarah P. Duke Gardens recently installed 2007 and into 2008 may be over, but Duke is still a new computerized watering system that uses satellites to preparing to take on the threat of another longtrack weather conditions and determine precise watering lasting dry spell by using reclaimed water, cutting back needs in some sections of the gardens. The initiative should on irrigation and implementing new technology at Sarah help reduce water consumption by 30 to 40 percent in 28 P. Duke Gardens to track rainfall. spots in a five-acre segment around the Doris Duke Center. Overall water consumption at the University this spring Information about each of the 28 zones’ soil was down about 50 percent since 2007. conditions, incline and sunlight exposure feed In fact, from June 2008 to February of a controller to determine how much water to this year, Duke used 100 million fewer Duke is send to each zone. gallons than the year before. That’s the determined to “Were trying to be proactive about this to equivalent of providing the daily stay ahead of the game try to save water for the university, the gardens recommended 64 ounces of water for and the community,” said Greg Nace, director each Durham resident every day for two- in conserving water.” of horticulture at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. and-a-half years. — John Noonan “This is something that I think will be a “Duke is determined to stay ahead Associate Vice President positive step forward.” of the game in conserving water,” said Facilities Management This summer, Duke will install tanks John Noonan, associate vice president that can gather and hold up to 10,000 for Facilities Management. “We haven’t gallons of storm, cistern and reclaimed water let up in looking for ways to save water that will be pumped or trucked to the tanks. The water through maintenance or ideas for new facilities or will be used to irrigate portions of West Campus, maintenance systems.” including Koskinen stadium. The Triangle area has received relatively normal Faculty and staff can also take action to help conserve precipitation for this time of year, said Brian Fuchs, a water by turning water off while washing hands and climatologist for the National Drought Mitigation Center. reporting leaks, dripping faucets and running toilets. Typically, 16.35 inches fall by mid-May, but the region Fixing leaks and dripping faucets can save hundreds of had received 14.76, which is 1.59 inches below normal. gallons a year. Trouble spots are Eastern and Western North Carolina, “It’s the small steps that each of us can take that end which are abnormally dry. up making a big difference,” said Ryan Pfirrmann-Powell, Duke isn’t taking any chances. This February, two education and outreach coordinator for Duke underground holding tanks were installed at Williams Sustainability. “We can take personal responsibility for Field on East Campus. The tanks collect water from an helping Duke and the environment.” irrigation system at the field hockey field and a storm line that flows from nearby Bell Tower Residence Hall. This — By Bryan Roth Writer, Office of Communication Services will allow about 80 percent of the water used at the field to be collected and reused.

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Stay informed about sustainablility at duke.edu/sustainability

䡵 Keep showers under five minutes and save up to 1,000 gallons per month. 䡵 Turn off faucets while washing hands or brushing teeth. 䡵 Wash full loads in dishwashers and washing machines and save up to 1,000 gallons a month. 䡵 Replace shower heads with a low flow model. 䡵 Report leaks, dripping faucets and running toilets. For University buildings, 684-2122; residence halls, 6845320 (East), 684-5486 (West), 684-5813 (Central); medical center, 684-3232. 䡵 Make a conscious effort to do one thing every day at Duke to conserve water. Every drop counts.

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aquatic species, including rare mussels. The creek is dotted with historically significant mill sites and interesting geographical features. The surrounding hardwood forest contains unique ecosystems and trees that are more than 200 years old “It will allow research on topics ranging from water quality and wildlife habitats to North Carolina history,” Edeburn said. “We’re planning to keep it in its natural condition, so I doubt there will be any recreational trails or active forest management in this new part of the forest.” Along with studying rare flora and fauna, researchers using the new tract will focus on crucial environmental topics. Water samples from New Hope Creek will be tested to determine the impact of drought conditions, pollution and other factors on water quality, aquatic habitats and plant physiology. Like most of Duke Forest, the new tract will be dedicated to academic and research purposes for at least 50 years. In addition, 23.5 acres of the tract along the creek will be permanently protected from development by a conservation easement. Duke and the Triangle Land Conservancy will work together to The newly acquired 41 acres in Duke Forest borders New Hope Creek, which is home to many fish species ensure that terms of the conservation and regionally rare plant, insect, amphibian and aquatic species, including rare mussels. easement along the creek are upheld. hirping birds, croaking “Protecting this portion frogs and cascading Since this of New Hope Creek is crucial water created a soothing to maintaining the area’s water water symphony as Judd Edeburn quality and forming a wildlife eventually winds up hiked along a wildflower-lined corridor between Erwin Road trail beside New Hope Creek in our faucets, it’s and N.C. 86,” said Robert in the Duke Forest. important to Healy, professor emeritus at Like a proud father, Duke’s Nicholas School of the protect the creek Edeburn smiled as he admired Environment. He serves as an important new addition to from encroaching chair of the New Hope Creek the forest: a 41-acre tract on development and Corridor Advisory Mt. Sinai Road in Orange Committee. pollution.” County. The tract includes a The 41-acre tract is already stretch of New Hope Creek, a — Judd Edeburn proving to be a valuable source of drinking water for Duke Forest resource manager academic tool. A group of Triangle residents. Nicholas School of the “Since this water Environment graduate students eventually winds up in our compiled a report with plant inventories, which will be used faucets, it’s important to protect the creek from as a baseline reference for future monitoring. encroaching development and pollution,” said Edeburn, Katherine Wright, an easement steward with the land who has served as Duke Forest’s resource manager for conservancy, said the conservation easement will protect 31 years. “Plus, the New Hope Creek corridor contains the property in perpetuity despite rapid development significant environmental, ecological, geographical and underway in the area. To oversee the conservation historical assets.” easement, Wright said, the land conservancy plans to use Along with preserving natural resources and protecting state grant money when it becomes available. water quality, the Duke Forest expansion provides new “The New Hope Creek corridor is a valuable natural research and education opportunities for Duke students, resource,” said Wright, who received a master’s degree from other school groups and visitors from around the world. Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment in 2007. Duke acquired the property in October 2008 by “Triangle Land Conservancy is excited to be partnering collaborating with the Triangle Land Conservancy, a with Duke to help preserve this area for future regional land trust. generations.” Located in Duke Forest’s Korstian Division, the new

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tract borders New Hope Creek, home to about 100 fish species and regionally rare plant, insect, amphibian and

— By Missy Baxter Senior Writer, Office of Communication Services

Stay informed about sustainablility at duke.edu/sustainability

DUKE FOREST BY THE NUMBERS 4,696 Acres when formed in 1931

7,091 Current acres

78 Years of research

$3.4 million Total research funding

55 Current research projects

SAVE THE DATE Duke Forest’s Annual Gathering will be at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at the New Hope Improvement Association, 4012 Whitfield Road in Chapel Hill. To register or signup for the Duke Forest listserv, call (919) 613-8013 or visit www.dukeforest.duke.edu

VIDEO: See the newly acquired acres of Duke Forest at

youtube.com/ WorkingAtDuke

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From Coast to Fork

Scenes from Beaufort and Core Sound. Photos by Joshua Stoll.

Employees can order, pick up fish on campus ost restaurant servers can recite daily specials and name favorite dishes. But there’s one question, Tracey Koepke says, that often stumps even the savvy waiters: Where does the food come from? As someone committed to reducing her impact on the environment, Koepke, a marketing manager for the Duke University Health System, strives to eat regionally-raised foods. She will start adding a little protein to her locally-made plate by participating in a new pilot program that offers faculty and staff a chance to order and pick-up fresh fish on campus. “I’m excited at the prospect of getting access to fresh seafood, and trying different species I’ve never tried before because they’re not available here,” Koepke said. The newly formed Walking Fish Community-Supported Fishery at Duke is launching the 12-week program in September to bring employees bundles of fresh flounder, shrimp, clams and other seafood caught right off the Carolina coast. The initiative is a pilot project of Duke’s student chapter of the American Fisheries Society. “We were looking for a project that was connected to fisheries and conservation, but also would give us the opportunity to engage the community more,” said Joshua Stoll, a graduate student at the Nicholas School of the Environment and member of the fisheries society.

Stoll and fellow students got started by locating a seafood distributor in Beaufort, N.C. with a track record of working only with fishermen who abide by legal and sustainable commercial fishing practices. Duke’s program works like the Mobile Farmers Market: participants buy shares of a weekly catch brought in by fishermen from the Pamlico Sound, Core Sound and Atlantic Ocean off the Carteret County coast, about three and a half hours from Durham. The mix will include seven types of seafood, including regional species such as spot, black drum, mullet and triggerfish for $7.50 a pound. Each week, a fisherman will drive a refrigerated truck to a parking lot at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens to hand out two- to four-pound packages of fish, whole or filleted – whatever the buyer’s preference. The packages will come wrapped in plastic and ice, and participants will also receive insulated bags to keep their catch cold on the ride home. Faculty and staff may sign up for the program this month but space is limited to 200 to 250 on a firstcome, first-serve basis. The first truckload arrives Sept. 17. For more about signing up, go to www.walking-fish.org or e-mail info@walking-fish.org. Many employees said they wanted to try the program because it offered heart-healthy, freshly caught seafood at better prices than they could find locally. Others were encouraged by the relatively short trip

of the food, compared with seafood that might be processed overseas and then shipped to the U.S., leaving a larger carbon footprint. Those with adventurous palettes also were eager to find new favorites. “One of the benefits is the process of experimentation,” said Koepke, the health system marketing manager. “Whatever they provide in my share I will find a way to cook with it.” A central theme, Stoll said, is really to educate the community and support local fishermen, specifically those who are using more environmentally sound practices for their work. “We see this as a wonderful opportunity to start a dialogue with people about sustainability, local food and health,” he said. “I think there are a lot of misperceptions, and we want to move that conversation forward.”

FRESH CATCH To sign up, visit www.walking-fish.org or e-mail info@walking-fish.org.

— By Samiha Khanna Working@Duke Correspondent

Read More About Food “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life” by Barbara Kingsolver “Coming Home to Eat: The Pleasures and Politics of Local Foods” by Gary Paul Nabhan “The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals” by Michael Pollan

7 Stay informed about sustainablility at duke.edu/sustainability

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Debra Harding, an administrative assistant at the Duke Clinical Research Institute, has reserved a Zipcar at least 35 times.

Sharing Wheels

Want to become a Zipster?

Two cars added to campus car-sharing service

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up to four days at $8 per hour or $66 a day, booking time hen Debra Harding arrived at Duke to work at the through the company’s web site: zipcar.com/duke. Duke Clinical Research Institute four years ago, she Zipcar, which was featured on the cover of Fortune thought she would have to own a car to get around magazine, allows members to borrow a car without carrying – until the Zipcar car-sharing program came to campus. costs of ownership or commuting. There’s no cost for gas; The program fit Harding’s lifestyle so well that she members just have to leave a quarter of a tank for the next actually sold her Ford Escort last spring, and now walks to user as a courtesy. The goal is alternative work and on most errands. She uses transit to reduce traffic, parking demand a Zipcar once a week for certain and pollution. tasks, such as carrying home a “I’m always “As the popularity of Zipcar grows, watermelon or 10-pound bag of looking for ways I think students and employees who use cat litter. to reduce my carbon it will really become the ambassadors to “I’m always looking for ways to get others to try it out,” said Tavey M. reduce my carbon footprint,” said footprint. ... we all need to Capps, Duke’s environmental Harding, an administrative assistant be doing a little bit more sustainability director. “They see how who lived in New York City for 25 than we think we can.” easy it is to reduce their environmental years. “The world is in a crisis now, footprint and will encourage friends to and we all need to be doing a little — Debra Harding do the same.” bit more than we think we can.” Administrative Assistant Kate Johnson, who works at the Harding joined Zipcar in Duke Clinical Research Institute Nicholas Institute for Environmental February and spends $120 a month Policy Solutions, walks to work and uses a using the 24/7 service – a fraction of Zipcar three times a month to run errands, or to attend offthe cost of a car payment, insurance, gas, maintenance and site meetings. Johnson first used a Zipcar as an undergrad at parking permits. She has reserved a car at least 35 times. UNC-Chapel Hill, and was excited when Duke began “I don’t really need a car that much. My life is pretty participating, too. simple,” Harding said. “The Zipcar fills in the gaps of “It’s just such a smart and easy program,” Johnson said. needing a car.” “It’s a major perk.” Zipcar’s fleet at Duke expanded in August from four to There are a few reclaimed benefits, for Harding at least. six cars: three each of the Toyota Matrix and Prius models The two-mile walk to work and back slows her down after parked on East and West campuses. Zipcar names its cars. busy days that buzz by. The vehicles at Duke have names like Moisa and Peard. “You can see what’s going on in the world,” she said. Since the program began in January, more than 250 “Stop and see what’s blooming.” employees and students have joined Zipcar, paying a $35 annual membership fee. Users may rent from one-hour to — By Samiha Khanna

zipcar.com/ duke

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Working@Duke Correspondent

Stay informed about sustainablility at duke.edu/sustainability

Coming Soon There's a Zipcar iPhone app right around the corner. Check zipcar.com/ iphone for details.

New Era for Steam

Historic plant burns natural gas after renova

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hen Duke’s steam plant was built 100 yards off the rail tracks near East Campus in 1926, it was heralded as one of the best in its class: Georgian architecture with decorative brickwork, two-story tall window arches and interior oak finishes. For about 50 years, the plant’s coal-fired boilers supplied steam through underground pipes and tunnels to heat campus buildings until the plant closed in 1978. The plant is scheduled to reopen in January after a $25 million renovation that marks another era at Duke: natural gas – not coal – will fuel the new boilers. The system will provide 35 percent more steam to heat academic and medical buildings, sterilize surgical equipment and maintain proper humidity for art and lab research. “It really is a historic restoration,” said Floyd Williams, who managed the project for Facilities Management. “We’re taking a building and adding state-of-the-art technology to produce steam at high efficiency and ultra-low emissions.” The plant, which sits off West Pettigrew Street, will become Duke’s base system, supplying the equivalent of enough steam each hour to heat 2,500 houses. Duke’s other steam plant, built in 1929 on West Campus near Research Drive, will be a “peaking plant” with the capacity to burn coal, oil, recycled oil and natural gas when demand is high during the coldest days of the year. “With this conversion, Duke is expected to cut its coal consumption by approximately 70 percent,” said John Noonan, associate vice president for Facilities Management. The effort is part of Duke’s overall goal to become a climate-neutral campus, a commitment by President Richard Brodhead in 2007, as part of the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment. Converting the plant on East Campus to natural gas isn’t the only sustainable feature of the system. In hopes of earning a silver rating in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the U.S. Green Building Council, Duke is reusing 87 percent of the original building and making use of recycled water, including rainwater from the new roof to operate the plant’s only toilet. “The reuse of this existing building, and its re-commissioning as a steam plant, represents a major commitment to sustainability,” Noonan said. Architects in the firm of Horace Trumbauer, the architect of Duke University, designed the original plant on East Campus. The firm’s work also included a collection of 11 buildings on East Campus that the plant served. A newspaper headline on April 22, 1926, announced a “…New Heating Plant of Size at Duke University.” “The plant will supply heat for the present campus community, including the large new unit of eleven buildings …” the article said. “Land has been purchased by the university bordering the tracks of Southern railway siding, where coal will be loaded directly from the railway tracks to the plant via trestle and chute, and a tunnel, to be built under the tracks, will allow the main steam pipe line to enter the campus …” At a cost of $440,000 during the unsteady financial times of the late 1920s, the steam plant included architectural features and touches uncommon for an industrial building. Cornices, decorative brickwork and recessed brick medallions with brick around inset square concrete panels resembled details of tobacco factories and warehouses.

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Up until 1978, rail cars delivered coal along a trestle to a corrugated tin shed on the plant’s roof. From there, the coal dropped through floor gates to three furnaces below. After the steam plant closed, the generation of steam to heat and dehumidify hundreds of campus buildings and sterilize surgical and other health system equipment was completely provided by the plant on West Campus. But because the renovated plant on East Campus will carry the system’s load and burn only natural gas, much less coal will be used to fuel the West Campus steam plant boilers. Coal now arrives at the plant on West by truck, instead of rail, ending an 80-year tradition. Duke is investigating how to convert the remaining coal-fired boilers in the West Campus plant to alternative fuels.

The project included removing three coal burners and installing 15 natural-gas powered Miura boilers, considered the largest installation of its kind in the United States.

At the East Campus plant, dozens of crew members have worked more than a year to renovate the 7,500-square-foot space. Site work involved a range of tasks like restoring the tin rooftop shed for new mechanical equipment; grinding out and refilling most of the old brick mortar on the building and smokestack; gutting the interior and installing the 15 natural-gas powered Miura boilers, considered the largest installation of its kind in the United States. The new gas boilers require less water and time to produce steam – and at lower emissions and greenhouse gases than coal. Instead of using lots of energy to fire up one to three large coal boilers, the plant can calibrate among 15 smaller gas boilers based on demand. “This creates a significant reduction in the energy losses associated with a typical start-up, purge and warm-up cycle of a boiler,” said Russell Thompson, director of utilities and engineering for Facilities Management. The plant’s accompanying 175 feet tall brick smokestack remains but only as an architectural relic. “The smokestack is imposing once at the site, yet successfully inconspicuous upon leaving it,” a student wrote in a 1996 art history paper kept in the University Archives. Duke also salvaged one of the plant’s original black, cast iron coal boilers. It will be on display in the lobby. By Leanora Minai Editor, Working@Duke

at Duke

ation

Top: Dukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s steam plant was built 100 yards off the rail tracks near East campus in 1926. Right: About 83 years later, the plant receives a $25-million renovation that retains its historical value but includes state-of-the art technology and natural gas boilers.

Top: The lobby of the steam plant, seen here in its gutted stage, will feature one of the plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original black, cast iron coal boilers. The plant was recognized for its Georgian architecture with two-story tall window arches and decorative brickwork, including its 175 foot tall smokestack.

See a video of the steam plant during renovation at duke.edu/sustainability

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Duke to become climate neutral by 2024 uke has released a plan to become climate neutral by 2024, a date that coincides with the 100th anniversary of James B. Duke signing provisions that established the institution. The university developed the Climate Action Plan as part of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, which President Richard H. Brodhead signed in 2007. “Duke has long been a major center for the study of the environment, and we are committed to being a leader in best practices in responding to climate change,” Brodhead said. “There are many uncertainties in this field, so we will continue to assesses our progress and change our plan as needed as we go forward. But it’s time to get moving toward this important goal.” Executive Vice President Tallman Trask III and Dean William Chameides of the Nicholas School of the Environment led the effort to develop the plan, which inventories Duke’s greenhouse gas emissions and offers recommendations for reducing or mitigating Duke’s footprint through the year 2050. The university’s current inventory represents about 300,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, most of which come from energy and transportation, including commuter travel, air travel and the campus bus fleet. “The reductions require that we make smarter choices about energy use, transportation, and other facts of daily life,” Brodhead said. “We must challenge ourselves to be more thoughtful about our habits and imaginative about needed changes.” Among other recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the university would replace 10 campus buses with hybrid buses and discontinue the use of coal by

renovating the East Campus steam plant with natural gas boilers and initiating the conversion of West Campus steam plant away from coal. Duke will mitigate the impact of emissions it cannot reduce by investing in “carbon credits” through a new initiative that will serve as a catalyst for projects that will provide academic opportunities and reduce or sequester greenhouse gas emissions elsewhere. “Duke’s plan will specifically target regional offsets rather than distant ones,” Trask said. “This will help us address our carbon footprint as well as improve the local environment and quality of life here in North Carolina.” Operationally, Duke has made significant strides to become more energy efficient by cutting its expected coal consumption by 70 percent and meeting standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system. “We have already made significant investments and improvements in energy efficiency by developing and renovating as many LEED-certified buildings as any other university in the country,” Trask said. “We will continue to advance these institutional efforts as resources become available.”

To symbolize Duke’s ongoing commitment to sustainable environmental practices, recycling and water conservation, the Cameron Crazies, Duke’s enthusiastic student fans, wear green shirts emblazoned with the slogan BLEED BLUE, LIVE GREEN, during the Jan. 31, 2008, men's basketball game in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

How you can help ■ Turn off computer when not

in use. ■ Set up power management

Cut your computer’s carbon footprint

features like “sleep” mode/disable screen savers. ■ Buy Energy Star-compliant

rom switching desktop computers to “sleep mode” when idle to consolidating clusters of servers, Duke is exploring new ways to save energy and money through “green” computing. Green IT, which includes power usage and computer purchasing and disposal, has the potential to contribute significantly to Duke’s goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2024. “Everyone has a computer, and we’re all using more and more technology,” said Tavey McDaniel Capps, Duke’s director of environmental sustainability. “IT is a significant contributor to energy use on campus, and sustainable computing is a way both to reduce costs and reduce our environmental footprint.” The university has about 20,000 office and lab computers, 5,300 servers and 5,100 printers and mobile devices, not including student and faculty computers. The average desktop PC wastes nearly half the energy it consumes as heat, which translates to higher electric bills and increased greenhouse

gas emissions. Setting up power management features on one computer can save nearly half a ton of carbon dioxide and more than $60 a year in energy costs. In addition to educating employees about green computing practices, the university also is investigating ways to boost the energy efficiency of its IT infrastructure, including consolidating server rooms across campus. “For servers, cooling is actually a significant part of the cost,” said Jeff Chase, a Duke computer science professor. “How the room is set up, how the cooling system is provisioned – those things really matter. We’re

also tracking energy usage to find ways to get the most bang for the buck out of the hardware.” Reusing old computers also minimizes waste. Last year, Duke donated more than 1,500 refurbished computers to local public schools and nonprofits. On other fronts, virtualized computing and web and videoconferencing solutions enable telecommuting and online meetings, which also have “green” benefits, said John Board, associate CIO and associate professor of electrical and computer engineering. “It’s a happy coincidence that many of the design decisions we’re considering making from a costsaving point of view also make wonderful sense in terms of green computing,” Board said. “Technologies have converged to make cost savings and sustainability complimentary choices, not competing choices.” — By Cara Bonnett Managing Editor, News & Information, Office of Information Technology

PCs or laptops, which use 15 to 25 percent less energy. ■ Unplug from phantom

power. Computers use electricity even when turned off or in standby mode. ■ Set default print settings

to double-sided.

Want to learn more about Green IT? Attend the Learn IT @ Lunch discussion,“Using Technology to Be Green and $ave Green,” from noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 27 in the RENCI Conference Room, OIT Telecommunications Building. For details: www.oit.duke.edu/ training/

Stay informed about sustainablility at duke.edu/sustainability

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Grassroots Green: reducing our emissions from the ground up n announcing Duke’s plan to become climate neutral by 2024, President Richard Brodhead called on Duke community members. “The reductions require that we make smarter choices about energy use, transportation and other facts of daily life,” he said. “We must challenge ourselves to be more thoughtful about our habits and imaginative about needed changes.” The university produces about 300,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually. While significant reductions will be achieved through institutional changes like converting from coal to natural gas, a large percentage will fall to the decisions and behaviors of people who work, study and live at Duke.

5 ways you can make a difference at Duke the pledge. 1StartTakeby making a commitment.

Turn it off. 3Electricity is the largest

Add your name to the Sustainable Duke Pledge, which states, in part: “I will consider the environmental, social and economic impact of my daily decisions and make every effort to reduce my ecological footprint.” Kristi Viles, who holds a doctorate and is a research analyst in the Division of Surgical Sciences, is among more than 3,300 employees and students who have pledged. “My husband and I carpool to Duke together, we stay on campus for lunch, we use the stairs instead of the elevator,” she said. “I even bring materials home that I can’t recycle here at work.” Pledge now at duke.edu/sustainability

portion of Duke’s overall greenhouse gas emissions. While Duke is implementing institutional changes like creating more energy efficient buildings, help do your part by turning off equipment and lights when not in use. “The meters are still churning at night because lights, computers and office equipment are left on when many offices are closed,” Capps said. “Turning off a light when you leave a room may seem small, but if you add up collective electricity used, you would see a significant difference.”

In. 2DoWeigh you know how much carbon you produce at Duke? Learn by using the Duke Carbon Calculator to see how much carbon you emit while eating, traveling, working or living on campus. Individuals receive a “Carbon Report Card” that includes overall emission results and a breakdown by category. “Once people see their overall emissions, we offer them specific tips and suggestions about how they can start their carbon diet and reduce their footprint at Duke,” said Tavey Capps, Duke’s environmental sustainability program director.

Carbon Calculator Crunch your numbers at duke.edu/ sustainability/calculator

Share a ride. 4Commuting miles by employees represents the largest single component of Duke’s transportation emissions. The primary reason: 72 percent of Duke’s employees drive alone to work, according to a recent Triangle Transit survey. “One of the biggest impacts employees can make to reduce carbon emissions is sharing a ride with a co-worker,” Capps said.

Duke offers carpool and vanpool incentives, as well as discount city and regional bus passes at a savings of up to 60 percent. Learn more at parking.duke.edu and select “alternative transportation.”

Give it a second chance. 5Duke sends more than 10,000 tons of waste to the landfill annually. Efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle are making a difference. While the university has grown the last two years, trash disposal has not, recycling has increased 11 percent. But more is needed. Start by reducing your waste–avoid items that are disposable or heavily packaged. Reuse items when possible or donate them to others. If you have to dispose of something, recycle any components you can like aluminum, paper, cardboard and plastics numbered 1–7. Learn what and where you can recycle at duke.edu/sustainability/campus_initiatives/waste — By Paul Grantham Assistant Vice President Office of Communication Services

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How It Works 1 Visit a cashier at the Great Hall on West Campus, pay $5 and receive an “EcoClamshell” key ring token.

Junior Kirsten Moy, left, hands her “Eco-Clamshell” to-go container to Thurman Walker, a Dining Services employee in the Great Hall. The reusable containers can be used at stations in the Great Hall on West Campus.

Green dining to-go wo or three times a week, Bisa Meek walks from the Allen Building to the Great Hall for lunch. Sometimes, she carries food back with her in a plastic container. She felt guilty throwing away the plastic container. Not anymore. Meek and more than 300 other Duke community members recently made a change to reusable to-go containers, which allow Duke to reduce waste because fewer plastic containers are thrown away. With these new “Eco-Clamshell” containers – which get their name because they open and close like a clam – Duke saves money and helps the environment. “There are a lot of things I can’t change, and I can’t influence, but I completely believe that every little bit helps,” said Meek, an administrative assistant for Trinity College of Arts and Sciences. “As everyone becomes more aware of the environment and what it means to add to the trash, little things like using a reusable to-go container can add up to a big difference.” That was the idea when a group of undergraduate students studied reusable to-go containers last spring. In addition to looking at how similar programs have fared at other places like University of Florida and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, students studied behaviors at the Great Hall, where they found almost half of the customers used plastic to-go containers that can rarely be recycled because of sanitary specifications. When students shared their report with Andrea Myrick, Duke’s green purchasing program coordinator for Procurement Services, the decision was easy. “There’s so much waste that’s being created with to-go containers because even if students or employees are dining

in the Great Hall, they’re still using them instead of plates and trays,” Myrick said. “If that’s the preference, then we needed to see what we could do to get rid of the waste.” The new clamshells are like current to-go containers used at the West Campus eatery, except they’re made of environmentally-friendly polypropylene, a type of hard plastic. The containers can be washed and reused, as opposed to being thrown away. After use, diners drop off the container at a station near the cashier. The containers are then run through the same sanitizing process as other plates and utensils. Students and employees who want to participate pay $5 to join the program with cash, credit, food points or the Flexible Spending Account accessed with a DukeCard. The containers are only available and used in the Great Hall on West Campus. The start-up cost of the container program is funded through the Sustainable Duke Green Grant Fund established by Executive Vice President Tallman Trask. It supports projects that yield environmental, social and economic benefits to Duke and the Durham community. Kirsten Moy, a junior active in several student-run sustainability groups, said that using a new container is a comfort she’s happy to have – knowing that she’s doing her part to make Duke greener. “I’m excited for the awareness that it’s bringing because it shows we’re excited to do our part to help the environment,” she said. “Hopefully this will get people thinking about reassessing how much waste they contribute during the day.”

2 When dining at the Great Hall, give your token to an employee when ordering your food or requesting a container.

3 After using the container, rinse it out, bring it back and leave it in the drop station to be cleaned and sanitized.

4 Once your container is in the drop station, head over to the cashier to pick up a replacement token. The token can be turned in for a container for another meal.

VIDEO: See how the “EcoClamshell” works at dining.duke.edu

— By Bryan Roth Writer, Office of Communication Services

7 Stay informed about sustainablility at duke.edu/sustainability

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Local harvest Duke Farmers Market opens April 23 C

atherine and Michelle Foss enjoy farm-fresh strawberries as often as they can when the fruit is in season. Lucky for them, they don’t have to travel far to satisfy their craving. Catherine and Michelle, mother and daughter who both work in the Health System, are regulars at the Duke Farmers Market, which opens its 10th season April 23 at the green space between the Bryan Research and Seeley G. Mudd buildings. The market runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Friday through July 30. “We try to eat nutritious, fresh fruits and vegetables as opposed to frozen or canned ones because fresh things are better,” said Catherine Foss, a clinical research coordinator in Pulmonary Allergy and Critical Care Medicine. “The food we get at the farmers market is healthier.” Added her daughter, Michelle, a nurse in the Emergency Department, “I work 12 hour shifts, and I could go to the grocery store on my way home, but by the time I’m there, the fruit has been out all day.” Strawberries aren’t the only popular item at the farmers market, which features more than 10 vendors selling produce and goods such as sweet potatoes, grass-fed beef and flowers. This year’s market will also have guest cooking demonstrations, music and more. To celebrate the 10th anniversary, the market will have a theme of “10.” The first two weeks of the market will feature a booth with information about 10 popular locally grown products and 10 ways to become more sustainable. Other themes through September include highlighting local restaurants, creative recipes and ways to support the Durham community through donations and volunteering. While the Duke Farmers Market celebrates 10 years, its growth has been part of a larger trend. The search for more local and nutritious foods has become popular across the country. The number of farmers markets in the United States has grown steadily with a total of 5,274 reported in 2009, compared to 1,755 in 1994, the first year the United States Department Agriculture began tracking them.

“I think it’s clear that the importance of eating locallygrown fruits and vegetables is a priority for employees at Duke and people throughout America,” said Diana Monroe, a health education specialist for LIVE FOR LIFE, Duke’s employee wellness program and organizer of the famers market. “We’re glad to be able to give people what they want in a convenient location during the workday.” In addition to local products, shopping at the market is more sustainable than finding goods at a chain store, Monroe said. None of the foods are processed or contain ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup, and they’re transported a short distance, which means less carbon emissions are involved in getting the products from farm to fork. Farmers like Richard Holcomb, who operates Coon Rock Farm in Hillsborough, take pride in the fact that they’re able to provide local goods. Holcomb travels about 15 miles to Duke, where he sells chemical-free produce like heirloom tomatoes. “Most grocery stores sell produce that have been sprayed with a large number of chemicals and have an emphasis on how big something is and how it looks, not how it tastes,” he said. “Locally grown food is going to be healthier, safer and taste better. There really aren’t any negatives to shopping locally.”

Want to go? 11 a.m. to 2 p.m Every Friday, April 23 – July 30 (every other Friday on August 13, 27 and September 10) On the lawn next to Bryan Research Building & Searle Center off Research Drive

— By Bryan Roth Writer, Office of Communication Services

For more Duke Farmers Market information, visit hr.duke.edu/farmersmarket

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Rising to the challenge

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Green Devil Challenge By the Numbers

Rich Kells, assistant director of the Duke Annual Fund’s Young Alumni Program, rides his bike to work instead of driving to lower his carbon footprint.

Duke community is cutting its carbon footprint

5,550+ Green Devil Pledges

cott Rockart knows the commute from his Chapel Hill home to Duke isn’t ideal for his carbon footprint, especially in an SUV. When he crunched his numbers on Duke’s carbon calculator to find out just how big his footprint was, he wasn’t happy. It was more than 4,000 pounds of carbon a year, enough to take about a half-acre of pine trees a year to remove his carbon from the atmosphere. “I’m a numbers guy, and I was curious what my numbers were and what I could do to make things better,” said Rockart, an assistant professor in the Fuqua School of Business. “I know what I drive is inefficient over a long distance, but with three kids and carpools, it’s something I need.” With information from the carbon calculator, a tool to see how much carbon a person emits during a year at Duke, Rockart is trying to make changes like reusing paper, buying local food from the Duke Farmers Market and working from home instead of driving to work. Rockart is among about 2,000 Duke students, faculty and staff who have used the carbon calculator as part of the university’s ongoing “Green Devil Challenge,” a monthly grassroots effort led by the Campus Sustainability Committee and Sustainable Duke to encourage faculty, staff and students to make changes to reduce emissions at Duke. As part of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment, Duke has pledged to become climate neutral by 2024. That means the university needs to cut or offset roughly 330,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas it produces every year. Students and employees are asked to make smarter choices about energy use, getting to and around campus and disposing of waste.

One method is through the Green Devil Challenge, which began in January. Participants are asked to accept a variety of actions like taking the Sustainable Duke Pledge, which states: “I will consider the environmental, social and economic impact of my daily decisions and make every effort to reduce my ecological footprint.” The February challenge invited Duke community members to use the carbon calculator for a detailed report about their emissions and suggestions to reduce their carbon footprint at Duke. Tips included saving energy through “green computing” like turning off monitors when not in use. Future Green Devil Challenges include using less water during the summer months. “Tools like the carbon calculator make it easier for the Duke community to measure its impact and take action,” said Tavey McDaniel Capps, Duke’s environmental sustainability program director. “It will help us institutionally to reduce our carbon footprint, since we rely heavily on individual behavior change to help us meet our goal of neutrality.” After receiving a “Challenge” e-mail in February, Rich Kells took the Sustainable Duke Pledge and promised to reduce his ecological footprint. Kells, assistant director of the Duke Annual Fund’s Young Alumni Program, said that because of the challenge, he plans to occasionally walk or bike about a mile to his office on West Main Street instead of driving to work. “I had thought about doing it before, but going online and making a commitment to take the action makes it more real, so now I plan on building these changes into my life,” Kells said. “It’s important to make these changes through collective action because if 100 Duke employees decide to not drive to work with me, it’s going to have an impact.” — By Bryan Roth Writer, Office of Communication Services

1,900+ Completed Duke Carbon Calculator

3,500+ January Challenge: Green Devil Pledge

1,100+ February Challenge: Use Duke’s Carbon Calculator

600+ March Challenge: Use less electricity

450+ April Challenge: Carpool, bike or use public transportation

(Figures through April 1)

Stay informed about sustainablility at duke.edu/sustainability

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Durham County abnormally dry

Did you know?

✪ North Carolina

Source: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Water consumption up as Duke looks at innovative ways to cut use or decades, water from clay and cast iron pipes leaked into the soil underneath the fish pool at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens’ Terraces. But in January, the Gardens began a project to repair cracks in the pipes underneath the 50,000 gallon pond. Nearby construction at Duke’s Medical Center increased the amount of storm water running through the Gardens’ aging infrastructure, so the university and Duke Gardens decided to repair the fish pool and surrounding storm water system. Once completed, the project will be one of several that combine to save water and decrease Duke’s reliance on city water. “A lot of these older gardens weren’t built with sustainability in mind because they were simply pleasure gardens,” said Bobby Mottern, director of horticulture for Duke Gardens. “Now, we’re trying to make these systems as efficient as possible so we’re not losing water, and we’re drawing water from reserves that are filled naturally.” Along with fixed pipes and new monitoring systems, the fish pond will draw water from the Gardens’ main pond in the Asiatic Arboretum instead of being filled by city water. It will save money and cut back on Duke’s water use.

The project is particularly beneficial as Duke moves away from North Carolina’s historic drought of 2007 and focuses on new ways to save water. From June 2009 to February of this year, Duke saved more than 140 million gallons, compared to the year of the drought – a 30 percent reduction and enough to fill more than 200 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Projects to fix leaks like the one at the fish pond have helped to cut back on overall water use. Duke projects and employees’ conservation are important with Durham and surrounding Triangle counties listed as “abnormally dry” in early May by the U.S. Drought Monitor. While drier conditions have been the norm since 2007, water use at Duke increased about 20 percent from last year. Officials cite a change in water use behavior and lifting of irrigation restrictions as the biggest reasons for the increase. “It can be hard to sustain water conservation when a drought is not front page news, but it’s important to remember that water is an essential and limited resource,” said Tavey M. Capps, director of Sustainable Duke. “With the development and growth of this region, water supplies can be stretched thin even in normal rainfall years.”

That’s why Duke continues to look at innovative ways to cut back water use. Facilities Management is taking a proactive approach to saving water by cooling buildings, laboratories and hospital areas with the help of Duke’s two chilled water plants. The high-tech system cools buildings by chilling water to 40 degrees and pumping it through underground pipes across campus. Depending on the time of year and demand, up to half of the water used daily at Chilled Water Plant 2 can potentially come from natural sources like a creek that runs through campus and captured condensate or storm water. Between June 2009 and March 2010, more than 30 million gallons or a third of total water use at the plant during that time came from alternate sources – not drinking water. “Duke is constantly striving to find new ways of conserving water, whether we’re in a drought or not,” said John Noonan, associate vice president for Facilities Management. “Every drop we’re able to save helps Duke save money and ease our reliance on outside sources. Each small change adds up.”

The Triangle has received higher than normal precipitation to start the year, but, as of May 26, the area is still 1.73 inches below normal for the year.

Leaking Faucet? Sinks drain about 20 gallons of water daily from a single drippy faucet. Here’s whom to call: University buildings: (919) 684-2122

Residence halls: (919) 684-5320 (East) (919) 684-5486 (West) (919) 684-5813 (Central)

Medical Center: (919) 684-3232

— By Bryan Roth Writer, Office of Communication Services

7 Stay informed about sustainability at duke.edu/sustainability

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Sustainable Decorating What’s in the room? After

Organic sheets & pillows

This Few Quad “green” dorm room was furbished with about 20 sustainable items and was part of summer campus tours for prospective students.

“Smart” power strip that turns off electronics

Dorm room goes green for summer campus tours

Lamp made with recycled bottles Area rug made of recycled plastic

Before

nstead of bare walls and beds in an empty room, summer campus tours saw sky-blue organic bed sheets, a lamp made from recycled bottles and a vanity mirror made from recycled magazines. Welcome to Duke’s first “green” residence hall room. The room, the first of its kind by Duke to highlight sustainability, was a project by Sustainable Duke and three students from the Students for Sustainable Living program who wanted to show prospective students on campus tours in June and July how they can live sustainably at Duke. According to results from Duke’s Green Devil Challenge – a monthly effort to promote sustainable behavior at Duke – students at the university average about one metric ton of carbon dioxide emissions annually from dorm room energy and water. That amount would need 36 maple trees to remove from the air. “When students are looking at universities, there are so many different things they’re looking at to make their decision and this gives us an opportunity to showcase how Duke is taking an active role to help the environment,” said Julie Colvin, a graduate student in the Nicholas School of the Environment who helped organize the project. “Hopefully the project will encourage potential students to make sustainable decisions while living on campus and carry these lifestyle choices with them once they move off campus.” Funded by a $500 grant from the Duke STARS program, a group that allocates funding to sustainability-related projects at Duke University, the room in Few Quad was furbished with about 20 sustainable items purchased from Whole Foods Market, Target and Etsy.com, a website that sells sustainable goods made by artisans around the world. Biodegradable toiletries and cleaning products, and a power strip that automatically turns off electronics were some items featured in the room. A sign accompanied each

product and explained what the item was and how it made the room more sustainable. Some items will also be shown in a Few Quad common room when students arrive on campus in August. In true sustainable fashion, all items will be reused each summer as a highlight of Duke campus tours. “It’s important for any sustainability program to include the residential community because that’s such a large part of the undergraduate experience here at Duke,” said Joe Gonzalez, associate dean for Residence Life. “It’s critical to encourage students in residence halls to enhance their dorm lifestyle with sustainability in mind and hopefully initiatives like the green dorm room can develop those habits.” Casey Roe, outreach coordinator for Sustainable Duke, said that presenting the green room showed students they can play an important role in helping Duke become carbon neutral by 2024 as part of the university’s Climate Action Plan. Lifestyle changes like using less energy with fluorescent light bulbs and drinking from reusable water bottles instead of throwaway plastic bottles will be small, but important changes, Roe said. Both examples are showcased in the green dorm room. “Students may feel like they don’t have a lot of control over sustainable choices while living in a dorm room, but we want to show them that there’s lots of things they can do to reduce energy and water consumption and they’re easy,” Roe said. “Students need to buy a lot of these items when they come to college anyway, so we’re showing them they can do it in an environmentally-friendly way that helps Duke, too.”

Clothes drying rack Aluminum water bottle Biodegradable laundry detergent Reusable shopping bag Compact florescent light bulbs Bike helmet Chemical-free cosmetics Biodegradable cleaning supplies Wall art made from recycled goods from Durham’s Scrap Exchange

— By Bryan Roth Writer, Office of Communication Services

7 VIDEO:

See the “green” room getting a makeover: duke.edu/sustainability

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Duke and Durham launch fare-free, sustainable bus service The Bull City Connector fare-free route features hybrid buses serving 32 stops linking Duke to areas throughout Durham, including downtown, Ninth Street and Golden Belt.

essica Johnstone had never ridden a bus in Durham before she and a co-worker tested out the Bull City Connector three days after the fare-free bus service launched in August. She’s glad she did. “I’ll definitely be using it again,” said Johnstone, a staff assistant in the Duke Clinical Research Institute. “The bus was nicely air conditioned, it looked shiny, bright and new, and it had a friendly and safe feeling, which was good.” Johnstone rode the Connector from outside her office at the Durham Centre on West Morgan Street to a stop near Erwin Road and 15th Street, where she walked a few minutes to the North Pavilion for a meeting. The door-to-door trip took about 25 minutes, which Johnstone said is about the same amount of time it takes to drive her car and find a parking spot. “Driving can be so stressful when you have to worry about traffic, stoplights and parking,” she said. “This way, you can just get on a bus and enjoy the ride.” Johnstone was among the more than 1,400 passengers who used the Bull City Connector in its first three days of operation, according to the Durham Area Transit Authority. The bus route features 32 stops that link Duke, downtown, Ninth Street and Golden Belt. The Connector provides service with hybrid buses every 15 minutes Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and every 20 minutes from 6 p.m. to midnight. On Saturday

and holidays, buses will arrive every 20 minutes from 7 a.m. to midnight. The service does not operate on Sunday. Phail Wynn, Jr., vice president of Durham and Regional Affairs at Duke, said the service is a benefit for Duke students and employees. “This fare-free, Duke-todowntown Durham transit connector will be of tremendous benefit to not only Duke students but also to the nearly 2,000 Duke University and Duke University Health System employees working in downtown Durham,” Wynn said. Under an agreement with the city, Duke provided $375,000 in matching funds so the City could receive a $3 million federal grant and a $375,000 state grant to buy new hybrid-diesel-electric buses for the Bull City Connector route. Duke will also contribute toward annual operating costs of the service; the City and Triangle Transit will manage the service. Delivery of new hybrid buses is expected in early 2012. Until then, the service will use hybrid buses already in the DATA bus fleet. The Bull City Connector holds about 60 passengers each. The buses feature wheelchair securement, an entrance ramp and a kneeling feature in addition to a video surveillance system, talking bus features for the visually impaired and bike racks. “Duke is always looking for new ways for students and employees to cut back on the university’s carbon footprint and this is just one of them,” said Casey Roe, outreach

coordinator for Sustainable Duke. “But it’s not just about saving money and making a sustainable choice, these hybrid buses are a great way to travel between Duke and Durham too.” — By Bryan Roth Writer, Office of Communication Services

Want to hop on the Connector? East Campus Main Street at Swift Avenue (eastbound) Main Street at Iredell Street (westbound) Main Street at Campus Drive Main Street at Buchanan Boulevard (eastbound) Main Street at Watts Street (westbound) Central Campus Erwin Road at Alexander Avenue West Campus Erwin Road at Anderson Street (eastbound) Erwin Road at 15th Street (westbound) Duke Medical Center Flowers Drive at Trent Drive (eastbound) Erwin Road at Trent Drive American Tobacco Campus 515 W. Pettigrew Street

For more information, an interactive route map or to download a map, visit bullcityconnector.org

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Going green, one paint stroke at a time Brian Williams, a painter with Facilities Management, inspects newly refinished shelving. Along with co-worker Todd Allen, Williams has worked to transform Duke's Paint Shop with more sustainable paints and practices.

Duke’s Paint Shop becomes more sustainable ost household paints can have thousands of chemicals and hundreds of toxins, but at Duke, two painters in Facilities Management are working to transform the paint inventory to safer and sustainable options. Four years ago, Todd Allen and Brian Williams decided to update the Paint Shop’s inventory by using new kinds of low or non-toxic paint and disposing of materials past shelf life. The shop has become an example of a new way to work more safely and sustainably. And their efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. This year, Allen and Williams received the Environmental Impact Award from Duke’s Environmental Management Action Committee, which is comprised of students, faculty and staff. Each year, the award goes to a Duke employee or group making pioneering contributions to Duke’s sustainability efforts. “Todd and Brian turned their shop around and not only are leaders in environmentalism, but are leaders in their field because they’ve taken the time to be at the forefront of sustainable changes,” said Arwen Buchholz, chair of the committee and program coordinator for Recycling and Waste Reduction. In the past four years, Allen and Williams worked with Duke’s Occupational and Environmental Safety Office (OESO) to dispose of more than 1,100 gallons of oil-based and latex paint and 330 gallons of thinners through disposal processes like incineration. Overall, they reduced the paint inventory by half and replaced old paint with new-age, low- or no-toxin paint. They also perform annual inventory checks to get rid of materials that could grow more hazardous with age. “Todd and Brian have made a great effort to clean house and get us all the stuff they know they don’t want or won’t need again,” said Kathleen Ingram, a safety and health specialist with OESO. Allen and Williams, who have worked at Duke since 2007 and 2006, respectively, only use paint with low or no volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. VOCs are

By the Numbers

Paint and materials disposed of by the Paint Shop since November 2006

640 gallons Oil-based paint carbon-containing compounds that enter the air and can cause common reactions people get from paint, like breathing problems, nausea or headache. Per liter, all paint used by Facilities has zero or 50 grams of VOCs. Common household paint can have up to eight times that level. The Paint Shop is also using eco-friendly methods to clean tools. Instead of washing paint brushes in a sink, Allen and Williams use a special pump that uses water and environmentally-safe powders to turn paint into a sludge-like substance. Instead of going down the drain, the sludge is placed in a 55-gallon drum that gets incinerated. The shop also has a machine that cleans spray guns with chemicals, but has a pump and top that don’t release hazardous materials into the air. “We’re definitely more environmentally-conscious people now because of all the work we’ve put into this,” said Allen, the painter with Facilities. “To excel at your job, you should try to keep tabs on your industry and conform to the latest standards. For us, that means trying to become more environmentally-friendly.”

462 gallons Latex paint

330 gallons Thinners

200+ gallons Various hazardous chemicals from Facilities departments

— By Bryan Roth Writer, Office of Communication Services

7 Visit duke.edu/sustainability

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Post-Plastic Workplace From West Campus to the Marine Lab in Beaufort, eliminating the use of single-use plastic bottles is picking up steam.

Duke employees eliminate plastic bottle use ather than plastic bottles, faculty, staff and students at the Duke Marine Lab are pouring drinking water from three-gallon coolers and sipping from biodegradable cups. It’s part of a growing movement across Duke to do away with bottled water for a more sustainable option. “When people use a plastic bottle, they may not consider the huge amount of resources that go into manufacturing, transporting and ultimately disposing of that little bottle,” said Tavey McDaniel Capps, Duke’s environmental sustainability director. “It’s exciting to see departments across campus make an effort to reduce their carbon footprint and help the environment.” From West Campus to the Marine Lab in Beaufort, eliminating the use of single-use plastic bottles is picking up steam. Only about 20 percent of water bottles are recycled annually in the United States, according to the National Resources Defense Council, and Duke is doing its part to cut back on the non-compostable bottles that often end up in a landfill. The effort to decrease plastic bottles at Duke took off in April when Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Jackson Browne and his wife, Dianna Cohen, left a lasting impression on Provost Peter Lange while Browne was on campus to accept the 2010 Duke LEAF Award for Lifetime Environmental Achievement in the Fine Arts. After hearing Browne and Cohen speak about the importance of living sustainably, Lange said he was inspired

to banish plastic water bottles from his administrative offices. Lange was particularly influenced by Cohen, whose artwork of thrown away plastics – like plastic shopping bags – was on display in the Perkins Gallery in April.

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There’s such a tremendous amount of waste we can avoid or recycle. It’s not very hard to do once you stop and think about it.” — Provost Peter Lange

“We had a staff meeting the Monday after their visit, and I told everyone we’re going to get rid of plastic bottles and exclusively use a cooler and paper cups,” Lange said. “There are a lot of things you know you should do but never get around to it, so I figured why not start now?” By switching to a standing cooler and paper cups, the provost’s office annual drinking water costs have been cut by $1,700 – nearly 80 percent. Many employees have purchased reuseable water bottles and mugs to use instead of paper cups, cutting more waste. It was easy to make the change – the office stopped ordering

bottled water and worked with a vendor to install a water cooler. “There’s such a tremendous amount of waste we can avoid or recycle,” Lange said. “It’s not very hard to do once you stop and think about it.” As Lange’s office made changes, the Marine Lab announced that all single-use plastic bottles would be removed from its Beaufort campus – including all bottles from dining areas, vending machines and catering. The Marine Lab provides three-gallon coolers of water for catering and uses corn-based, biodegradable cups. “Everyone really embraced it,” said Dominick Brugnolotti, assistant director of auxiliary services at the Marine Lab. “You just don’t see plastic bottles around the Marine Lab anymore.” In honor of Earth Day in April, Tanya Jisa and members of the Office of Continuing Medical Education also discontinued buying two cases of water every month. Instead, they bring in reusable bottles, drink from a water fountain or pour water from a fivegallon container. Jisa said that the move has helped to save money because the office isn’t buying at least two cases of water for drinking every month. “We just wanted to increase our overall sustainability, and this seemed like an easy thing to do that wouldn’t be difficult for people to implement into their daily lives,” Jisa said. “It’s been a good move for the environment, and people don’t feel impacted by it.”

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— By Bryan Roth Writer, Office of Communication Services

Give Up Plastic Want to work toward eliminating plastic bottles in your office? Get tips and information by e-mailing

sustainability @duke.edu

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A Sign of Sustainable Times Signs posted around campus are part of a campaign to promote eco-friendly behavior Joe Gonzalez, associate abs Wise has a new excuse dean for Residence Life and to take the stairs instead of Housing Services, said the the elevator now that she reaction he’s seen from students knows every elevator ride of just has been overwhelmingly a few seconds uses enough energy positive and students have to recharge her cell phone. even alerted him when signs go “It’s kind of neat that I can missing because they want to save that much energy by just make sure they stick around. taking the stairs,” said Wise, “Improving sustainable associate director of the Office behaviors among residents of Undergraduate Scholars and is something we feel is very Fellows. “I like that it’s better for important and hope the my health and the environment.” positive reaction we’ve heard Wise learned that bit of Katherine Grant, a graduate student who volunteers with Students turns into a positive impact,” sustainable trivia from a series for Sustainable Living, posts a sticker above a sink in the Duke Gonzalez said. “They’ve of signs posted around Smith Divinity School break room. definitely been noticed by Warehouse and other buildings students and visitors to A sign posted by faucets lets at Duke. Created by Students for campus like parents.” passersby know that for every one Sustainable Living and Sustainable In fact, the signs were featured minute the tap is running, they’re Duke, the university’s sustainability on a sustainability-themed blog at using 2.5 gallons water. Another by office, the signs are posted near ecokaren.com after first-year student copiers alerts people that on average, elevators and in bathrooms and move-in. When a mother was each American uses 730 pounds of kitchens as part of a campaign to impressed with Duke’s commitment paper each year, an amount as high promote eco-friendly behavior. to sustainability, she posted pictures as a 40-feet tall tree. All signs are Signs range in shape from the size and commentary about the signs. She printed on recycled plastic with of a business card to a paperback said that a sign with facts like how eco-solvent inks. book cover. During the fall semester, students much water is used during a minute “Duke has committed to become carbon neutral by 2024, and we can’t began posting in six buildings: Smith of hand washing or showering is impactful because it gives a good do that without the help of employees Warehouse, Levine Science Research visualization that translates to Center, Fitzpatrick Center for who are willing to change their something tangible. Interdisciplinary Engineering, behavior and begin to take steps to “Signage, if done right, is one Medicine and Applied Sciences, reduce their own individual carbon of the best ways to educate people,” Divinity School, Bryan Center and footprint at Duke,” said Casey Roe, said Karen Lee, author of the Nicholas Institute for Environmental outreach coordinator for Sustainable ecokaren blog. “Signs with tips, facts Policy Solutions’ houses on Campus Duke. “We hope these signs will and do’s and don’ts are something Drive. Signs will continue to be remind employees about how they people can sink their teeth into.” can lessen their carbon footprint while posted this year and have been up in residence halls since August. — By Bryan Roth also saving the university money by Writer, Office of conserving energy, water and paper.”

Tips on the Signs Every minute of a shower uses the equivalent of 12 bottles of water

Communication Services

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Heating water accounts for 90 percent of the energy used to wash clothes Each American generates an average of 4.5 pounds of waste every day Operating a TV uses the same amount of energy as up to 30 compact fluorescent light bulbs

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It’s Electric Brandon Tucker, a locksmith with Duke Facilities, charges an electric van he drives on campus.

Duke adds battery-charged vehicles to Facilities fleet weight of the vehicle, driving ith electric cars like the style and other variables. Nissan Leaf and Chevy In all, Facilities spent about Volt growing more $20,000 per vehicle, which was popular, it’s no surprise that less than the cost of a gasenvironmentally-friendly powered option. The electric vehicles are showing up at vehicles are built by Vantage Duke. But instead of passenger Electric Vehicles, a Corona, cars, a collection of electric vans Ca.-based company. Jimenez and trucks are making a said that as more gas or diesel positive impact on Duke’s vehicles are phased out of the carbon footprint. Facilities fleet of vans and Over the summer, Duke’s Brandon Tucker, a locksmith with Duke Facilities, prefers using the trucks, it’ll become common Facilities Management van because it is sustainable and also has more storage space. practice to replace them with Department introduced 10 new sustainable options. electric vehicles for use with the “We try to put more plumbing, electric, carpentry and the new electric vans. Tucker, a sustainable practices into place grounds shops. Nine full-size vans locksmith, said that he prefers using whenever we can, there’s no doubt and one pick-up truck replaced old the electric van because it has more about that,” said Jimenez, noting that gas-powered vehicles in another storage space and is as quiet as a golf the average age of the non-electric step toward the university’s goal of cart. vehicles in Facilities’ fleet is about 14 becoming carbon neutral by 2024. “I do a lot of driving back and years. “The entire consensus we’ve “We were looking at a long-term forth between West Campus and heard is the new electric vehicles are vehicle replacement plan and how we Duke Hospital, so I like the fact that working out well.” could manage our fleet of vehicles I’m not just burning through fuel,” Some of those positive reviews better, so we saw no reason not to try Tucker said. “I also don’t have to came from James Doherty, a HVAC to ‘green’ our fleet as well,” said Ellie make a lot of trips back to the shop Jimenez, director of administration and because I’ve got more tool storage and master technician who gave up his 1990 Ford Econoline for an electric van. special projects for Facilities. “By going a nice ladder rack on top.” Doherty said that handling the new van to electric vehicles, we’re saving on The van Tucker uses – like the is much easier because its width is about maintenance and fuel and eliminating other nine vehicles – plugs in to two feet smaller and length four feet about 36,000 pounds of carbon a year charge stations on the north side of shorter than the Econoline. that would have come from driving Smith Warehouse to replenish “I certainly didn’t need to be our older, gas-run trucks and vans.” batteries. A “quick charge” option In addition to fewer carbon refills a battery to 80 percent in about driving a gas guzzler like that,” Doherty said of the Econoline. “I’m glad that a emissions, the electric vehicles will 30 minutes. Facilities staff can leave big benefit of the change is we get to cut gas and maintenance costs vehicles plugged in overnight for a drive something greener.” compared with previous gas-guzzling normal, full charge. Each vehicle options, like the 1986 Chevy S-10 travels a maximum of 25 miles per — By Bryan Roth Writer, Office of compact pickup truck Brandon hour and gets about 40 miles per Communication Services Tucker drove before getting one of charge, depending on temperature,

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Take back the tap

Nearly half of bottled water comes stright from the tap of last year’s campus taste test, said he average American drinks 21 water taste tests generally reveal that gallons of bottled water every Not only are people people prefer tap water. year. Only beer and soda “Most people couldn’t tell the surpass it in sales. But bottled water spending dollars on difference between the two and is less sustainable because most something they can get for free many people even assumed the tap bottles end up in the trash. or only spend cents on, but water was actually bottled because Bill Chameides, dean of the they thought it tasted better,” Finkel Nicholas School of the Environment, bottled water is just plain said of the campus test. “Our goal said about 40 percent of bottled wasteful.” was to try and demonstrate that water, a $100 billion industry, is — Bill Chameides choosing bottled water is more municipal water that comes out of a Dean, Duke’s Nicholas School about the conception of what we’re tap – and just packaged and sold. He of the Environment told tastes better and not what said bottled water is regulated by the people actually like.” Food and Drug Administration, That’s exactly what Duke which has less thorough testing for behavioral economist Dan Ariely believes has made the sale water than the Environmental Protection Agency, of bottled water successful. Whether it’s through names like which tests tap water. “So many people make the choice to buy bottled water smartwater or vitaminwater or using an aesthetically when it makes no sense whatsoever,” he said. “Not only are pleasing bottle, companies have sold consumers on the idea that bottled water is better for them because of packaging people spending dollars on something they can get for free or something added to the water, Ariely said. or only spend cents on, but bottled water is just plain “With bottled water, you don’t see it coming from wasteful.” anywhere bad and with tap water, you see it coming from a For the most part, that may not be the case on Duke’s metal object that some people may see as a stinky hose,” campus. In a blind water taste test held last year on West Ariely said. “Even though bottled water is coming from the Campus Quad, the undergraduate student group same process, we don’t see it in the same way so it looks like Environmental Alliance found that slightly more than bottled water’s origin is pure.” 70 percent of about 100 students surveyed preferred the Ariely likened the marketing success of bottled taste of tap water over bottled. water to voodoo. Through slogans and imagery, he said, And they weren’t the only ones. In November, tap water from the Durham’s Wade G. Brown Water Treatment consumers have constantly been told that bottled water Facility placed third in a statewide “Best Tasting Tap Water” is better and often believe it as fact. “Like many decisions, buying bottled water is like competition held as part of the North Carolina American a habit,” he said. “Once you start behaving differently – Water Works Association and Water Environment maybe get a reusable bottle and fill it all the time – you get Association annual conference. Durham has finished in the top three seven times since used to that and you can start changing your behavior.” the event was initiated in 1985. All previous winning — By Bryan Roth Writer, Office of entries came from the city’s Williams Water Treatment Communication Services Plant, which supplies Duke with its water. Duke Sophomore Ben Finkel, treasurer for the Environmental Alliance student group and coordinator

“

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Did you know? Several entities at Duke have stopped purchasing bottled water for sustainable purposes. Last year, the Provost Office and Beaufort Marine Lab made the change for a variety of reasons: plastic bottles made from petroleum get thrown into the trash and shipping bottled water puts fossil fuels into the air.

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Duke Campus Farm grows relationships Students, faculty and staff work together to maintain the Duke Campus Farm, which will grow a variety of produce to be sold to Duke’s food vendor, Bon Appetit. The food will then be used in Duke eateries.

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both locations. Duke’s food vendor, Bon Appétit, will buy hat was once an empty acre of grass-covered earth all produce from the farm. has been dug, tilled, planted and now resembles “If we can help create a way for people at Duke to something else – farmland. learn how to farm, there’s no greater reward than that,” said A former undergraduate class project has bloomed Nate Peterson, director of operations for Bon Appétit. “Not into a sustainable learning opportunity for Duke students, only are we able to purchase local food from a Duke-owned faculty and staff: the first Duke Campus Farm. The goal is farm, but then that food is being bought by Duke consumers to create a full-scale educational farming facility that grows and that money is going back into Duke. It doesn’t get and sells produce that ends up on plates of students and more local than that.” employees at campus eateries without heavy use of Ben Riseling, web pesticides or fertilizers. operations manager for “Our goal for this first Duke’s Office of News year is simply to use our & Communications, one acre as best we can to participated in the first grow local vegetables,” said farm work day in Emily Sloss, a 2010 Duke November. Having grown graduate who’s working up on farms in upstate part-time as the farm’s New York and Kentucky, project manager. Riseling didn’t hesitate to “Everything we grow will volunteer after reading get into Duke dining halls about the work day in as a fresh, local alternative Sustainable Duke’s weekly to what people are newsletter. otherwise eating.” “I thought it was an Student and employee Ben Riseling, left, a web operations manager at Duke, hauls dirt as part of the inaugural Duke Campus Farm work day. absolutely appropriate volunteers return to the definition of what Duke’s farm this month to plant sustainability commitment means,” Riseling said. new crops and harvest others, like kale, chard, radishes and “The fact that there’s a local place where students and beets. In addition to growing and selling produce locally, employees can grow their own food that will be served the farm builds community around students, faculty and on campus is huge.” staff. Any member of the Duke community can volunteer If the Duke Campus Farm meets certain goals – like with the farm. logging at least 500 total work hours with volunteers – the “As a student, I never interacted with employees farm could expand beyond one acre. Up to nine more outside of their jobs, so it’s great to be out there doing this acres are available at the farm site. together,” Sloss said. “Our hope is to see it grow into a great educational The idea for a campus farm arose from a class taught opportunity for students, faculty and staff,” Sloss said. “A by Nicholas School of the Environment’s visiting assistant year ago, this wasn’t considered a possibility and now we’re professor Charlotte Clark. To fund the initial work on the planting vegetables into the ground.” farm, Sloss secured grants, including one through the Office of the Executive Vice President. — By Bryan Roth Writer, Office of Once produce is harvested, it will go straight from the Communication Services Duke Campus Farm to the East Campus Marketplace and West Campus Great Hall to be used in dishes served at

Become a sustainability leader in your workplace with "Leading for Environmental Sustainability," a workshop offered through Sustainable Duke.

Learn more about the Duke Campus Farm and volunteering at

sites.google.com/site/dukecampusfarm

The free training covers: • Sustainability efforts at Duke • Personal changes to reduce environmental footprints at work • Starting and leading a "green team" • Performing an environmental audit of a workplace The workshop is 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. April 28. For more information or to register, visit

hr.duke.edu/ sustainabletraining

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Green Gowns Students wear gowns made from recycled plastic bottles

From Plastic Bottle to Graduation Gown

Above, recycled plastic bottles are turned into yarn in a three-step process. At right, the sustainable gown ends up looking like any other graduation garb despite its recycled origins.

uke’s graduating students will be dressed in black caps and gowns this month, but they’ll be greener than ever. The change isn’t in color, but rather the substance of the graduation garb. On May 15, students will wear apparel made of material produced from recycled plastic bottles. About 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students are expected to receive diplomas; this means as many as 100,000 plastic bottles could wind up on students rather than in a landfill. “Everyone on campus, it seems, wants to do what they can to be more environmentally responsible,” said Jim Wilkerson, the director of Duke University Stores who led the effort for making the change to sustainable caps and gowns. “This choice is representative of what the university is doing as a whole, so it was an easy decision.” Purchased through Oak Hall Cap and Gown of Salem, Va., the academic regalia will be made of fabric spun from molten plastic pellets. Each cap and gown is made of about 20 used plastic bottles. The caps and gowns were also shipped in boxes made of recycled cardboard and in storage bags made from recycled plastic. Wilkerson said the new caps and gowns cost about $2 to $3 more than ones made from other materials, like polyester. Of that extra few dollars, Oak Hall contributes 25 cents for each gown sold to Duke’s Students Taking an Active Role in Sustainability (STARS) committee, which provides funding to sustainability related projects at Duke. “These gowns will help our graduates literally ‘walk the walk’ for sustainability and, hopefully, encourage them to think about ways they can address environmental issues in their lives beyond Duke,” said Tavey McDaniel Capps, director of Sustainable Duke. The move to sell “green” caps and gowns isn’t the only sustainable aspect of Duke Stores. In addition to selling

Step 1 Recycled plastic bottles are processed to remove impurities such as labels and caps.

Step 2 Bottles are then chopped into fragments called “flakes.”

eco-friendly office and school supplies, recycling paper and plastic materials and saving and reusing boxes and packing supplies, Duke Stores also has helped the university make some big changes: g

During the state’s worst drought in 2007, Duke Stores’ administrators took the lead in purchasing 189 highefficiency laundry machines for residence halls that save almost 3 million gallons of water per year compared to normal washers and also cut energy costs by about $75,000.

The textbook buy-back program has purchased about 51,000 books in the last four buy-back sessions, diverting about 13,000 tons of books from landfills.

The Terrace Shop in the Doris Duke Center collects rainwater to water plants at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens.

Step 3 Flakes are then melted and solidified into uniform pellets called “chips.”

Step 4 Chips are melted again and extruded into a continuous filament yarn.

Step 5 The yarn is woven, dyed and finished into a gown.

“In this era of environmental stewardship, all these things just feel like the right thing to do,” said Tom Craig, merchandise manager for Duke Stores. “Natural resources won’t be around forever, so we want to be committed to reducing and reusing materials to make sure we’re helping Duke be as green as possible.” — By Bryan Roth Writer, Office of Communication Services

7 Find out about Duke Stores’ other sustainable actions at

dukestores.duke.edu/about/sustainability.php