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Go Green in the College Houses!
Go Green in the College Houses is Penn’s environmental sustainability initiative in residences. Its mission is to increase awareness of waste reduction, energy conservation, and best practices for living a sustainable lifestyle at Penn.
Tips for Residents in the College Houses
Reduce and Recycle
- Find out where your House collects recyclables (see chart below)
- Speak out against litter; pick up and dispose of litter you see blowing around
- Establish a waste reduction ethic — minimize unnecessary copying, reuse scrap paper and envelopes, print double-sided, etc.
- Consider what you buy: is it something you really need?
- Avoid products with a lot of extra packaging; recycle what packaging you can
- Support consignment, thrift and charity shops by donating clothing and household items
- Support the PennMOVES charity drive instead of trashing unwanted items when you move out
- Recycle old cell phones; don’t just leave them in a desk drawer!
Purchase Green Products
- When possible, buy only computers, office equipment and appliances compliant with EPA Energy Star program. Information on Energy Star program found at: http://www.energystar.gov.
Water Conservation
- Minimize water wastage during bathing times and while brushing your teeth
- Refill personal water bottles with tap water
Energy Conservation
- Minimize electronic usage (ie fans, televisions, etc) and equipment run times
- When not in your room, make sure to turn off lights
- Unplug or turn off wall switch to any electronics not in use
- Replace regular light bulbs with compact florescent light bulbs
- Wash clothes in cold water; air dry clothes whenever possible
Hazardous Materials
- Recycle hazardous waste-containing products such as batteries, computer monitors and televisions, etc.
- Use integrated pest management techniques to minimize or eliminate use of poisons.
Transportation
- Consider public transportation, bicycling, walking, carpooling (i.e. PhillyCarShare)
- Keep car tires properly inflated to improve gas mileage; car pool for longer trips
Food and Food Service
- Support local organic farms including the Farmers Market that visits campus
- Minimize the use of disposable dinnerware
- Utilize a reusable mug and/or drinking bottle
- Avoid wasting food; take home leftovers from restaurants whenever possible
- Take reusable shopping bags along when you go to the market
- Refuse bags for small purchases if they are easily carried
Additional Resources
Recycling in the Houses
Facilities for recycling are available in all of the Houses. Here's where you can recycle in your House:
| |
Where to recycle |
Where to take trash |
| Du Bois |
Can on steps near Uchoraji Lounge |
Trash chutes located on west side of building |
| Fisher Hassenfeld |
Foerderer Arch, Upper Quad gate, or Speakman trash rooms |
Trash chutes located in Graduate, at 37th St., or Speakman trash chutes |
| Gregory (Van Pelt) |
Lobby |
Trash chutes located on every floor |
| Gregory (MLP) |
Lobby |
Trash chutes located on every floor |
| Harnwell |
Recycling alcoves on every floor |
Trash chutes located on every floor |
| Harrison |
Recycling alcoves on every floor |
Trash chutes located on every floor |
| Hill |
Recycling alcoves on every floor |
Trash chutes located on every floor |
| Kings Court English (KC) |
Recycling cans on floors |
Trash cans located in common areas throughout the building |
| Kings Court English (English) |
Recycling cans on floors |
Trash cans located in common areas throughout the building |
| Riepe |
Appropriate trash chutes located in Graduate, Upper Quad gate, or Speakman trash chutes |
Trash chutes located in Graduate, at 37th St., or Speakman trash chutes |
| Rodin |
Mechanical rooms on even-numbered floors |
Trash chutes located on every floor |
| Stouffer (Stouffer) |
Recycling cans in vestibules |
Trash cans located in common areas throughout the building |
| Stouffer (Mayer) |
Directly outside the building in green can by the dumpsters |
Trash chutes located on every floor |
| Ware |
Appropriate trash chutes located in Graduate, Upper Quad gate, or Speakman trash chutes |
Trash chutes located in Graduate, at 37th St., or Speakman trash chutes |
Other initiatives in the College Houses and at Penn
Green Roof at Kings Court English College House
By fall of 2008, the roof terrace of Kings Court English College house will be covered in vegetation! A green roof, in which the roof area of a building is covered in plants and the soil in which they grow, is an ecologically sensitive and sustainable construction method that combines benefits for the building (such as extended roof life and enhanced drainage and insulation) with benefits for the environment (like reduced stormwater runoff and a lower impact on carbon dioxide levels.)
More details on KCECH's roof are available online at http://www.facilities.upenn.edu/whatsNew/construction/englishroof.php3.
Harnwell Energy Project
Details to follow.
Recyclemania 2008
RecycleMania is a friendly competition among college and university recycling programs in the United States and Canada. For 10 weeks, campuses compete in different contests to see which institution can collect the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita, or have the highest recycling rate. In the end, RecycleMania helps all participating colleges and universities make achievements in recycling and waste reduction!
Find out about Penn's Recyclemania participation at www.upenn.edu/recyclemania.
Last
updated
March 4, 2008
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