CU Environmental Center

Monthly Newsletter
November 2015

Enjoy our monthly update from the CU Environmental Center. 

Please let us know if you have ideas, input, feedback or news.

In This Issue
An Unsung Hero at the Rec



Written by Jason Farrell

At CU-Boulder's Rec Center, elliptical users can send renewably-generated electricity back into the grid just by working out.

This is due in part to the recent renovation of the Rec Center, a LEED Platinum-certified building that operates 70% more efficiently than the facility it replaced in 2014. Sustainability is integral to the building's design, from water conserving installations to energy saving technology. But being sustainable is more than just innovative infrastructure and design. Integral to the Rec Center's sustainability mission is social engagement, which works to better serve and educate the university's community.

One way the Rec seeks to engage its users is through the Green Ellipticals, located in the cardio space near the front entrance. Funded in part by a Sustainable CU grant from the university's Environmental Center, the ellipticals are special because they harness user-generated power and direct it back into the electrical grid.

The SportsArt brand ellipticals used by the Rec are fully integrated systems, so as a user works out on the machine, the kinetic energy is captured and converted into electrical energy. From there, each elliptical sends the energy to a central inverter, which feeds the electricity back into the grid. The ellipticals are surprisingly efficient-on average, 75% of the energy produced by the user is fed back into the grid, while the rest goes to other functions like powering the machines and monitors.

It is estimated that within five years of installation, over 112,000 kilowatt-hours will be saved. In other words, these ellipticals could generate enough to energy to power 11 homes for one year.

This means that each time someone works out on one of the Rec's Green Ellipticals, they are actively creating clean, renewable energy that helps to lower the carbon footprint of CU-Boulder. While the campus community is highly mindful about the importance of clean energy, it is often difficult to take tangible steps to reduce one's energy footprint, especially for students. With these ellipticals, users are empowered to make a positive difference in their lives-and the harder one works out, the bigger the impact he or she makes.

And the impact is already large, even though many users are unaware of the ellipticals.

In a survey of 525 Rec Center members, 25% indicated that ellipticals were their preferred piece of equipment. Even more, each elliptical in the Rec averages 900 hours of use per semester. The message is clear: the impact made by choosing to use a Green Elliptical can really add up, even if many users don't know the significance of the Green Ellipticals.

Beyond helping Rec Center members to take an active role in promoting clean energy, the ellipticals are special because each user can see just how much energy his or her workout produces-and just how much energy goes into creating electricity. For many people, a kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a vague term only seen on the energy bill. But by seeing the kWh produced by working out, users can grasp the significance of how much a kWh really is. For the Rec Center, one of the hopes with these machines is that users walk away a little more appreciation for about the amount of energy they consume in their everyday lives.

So these little-known machines help give a workout, make renewable energy, and teach something in the process-sustainability at it's finest.

Upcoming Events

This Changes Everything

November 11
5-7:00PM
Duane Physics G2B47
In partnership with Trees, Water & People, the CU Environmental Center is excited to present This Changes Everything, the documentary inspired by award-winning author Naomi Klein's critically acclaimed bestselling non-fiction book, This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs the Climate.

It's an epic attempt to re-imagine the vast challenge of climate change. This Changes Everything was filmed in nine countries and five continents over four years. Based on the book, it presents seven powerful portraits of communities on the front lines of climate change, from Montana's Powder River Basin to the Alberta Tar Sands, from the coast of South India to Beijing and beyond. Director Avi
Lewis poses the
question, "What if confronting the climate crisis is the best chance we'll ever get to build a better world?" The film attempts to "reimagine the vast challenge of climate change."

The event will open with a blessing from Lakota elder, Henry Red Cloud, who is also featured in the film for his work bringing renewable energy and green job training to tribal lands.

24 Hours of Reality: A People Powered Watch Party

November 13
2-3:30pm
Lower gym meeting room in the Rec Center
The Energy Outreach Team is excited to host a people powered watch party for 24 Hours of Reality by The Climate Reality Project, in preparation for the COP21 Negotiations in Paris. We will have games, food, drinks, dissussions, and action! 

Join us and millions of others across the globe on November 13th as we call our world leaders to act on climate change. As always, there will be free food!

Fossil Free CU Training: "Building Power for the Long Haul"

*Note: This training is for CU Students and Alumni interested in organizing on one or more of the three CU campuses (Boulder, Denver, CO Springs)*

Welcome and Overview
November 13
7-9:00pm

Training Day
November 14
9am-6:00pm

Want to join the flagship fossil fuel divestment campaign of the Southwest? Come to our fall training where we will cover all the essentials to become a leader on the CU campus!

We'll cover important modules such as campaign strategy and relational organizing!

Similar trainings can cost a lot of cash, but we'll set you up with the skills to organize for the long haul, for free!
On E-Waste

Written by Drew Searchinger

On September 25th the newest iPhone became available for purchase. According to Apple, in just three days more than 13 million units of their newest gadget had been sold around the world. It's highly unlikely that 13 million individuals needed brand new phones, but the culture of electronics encourages constant updates: newer is better, and it seems a better option is always right around the corner. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average phone is replaced every 18 months, and we don't always think about what happens to technology once it's out of our hands.
 
In the United States, we throw out two million to three million tons of electronics each year. Electronic waste, or e-waste, is the fastest growing component of the municipal waste stream worldwide, due to the high-speed consumerism that comes with constantly evolving technology. According to the EPA, televisions and computers each contain an average of four pounds of lead, as well other toxic substances such as chromium, mercury, and zinc. When put in landfills, these toxins leak into the earth and pollute groundwater. Smartphones have a slew of precious metals in them: gold, silver, platinum, copper, and rare earth metals such as Yttrium, Lanthanum, Neodymium and more are all present in the pocket-sized computers. According to 911 Metallurgist, on average, phones hold from 6-300 times more precious metal than the equivalent amount of ore from a mine. And currently, less than 1% of rare earth minerals are recycled.
 
Tempting as it is to snag the fastest, newest models as soon as they come out, it's important to use electronics for as long as possible and not jump to replace them before they're in poor condition. Then, when technology is no longer useable, recycle it! We're incredibly lucky to live in a place where it's easy to recycle not only electronics, but all sorts of materials. CU Recycling has formed a partnership with The Wireless Alliance to reuse and recycle old cell phones. You can drop off your old phones, chargers, cell phone batteries, and portable music devices at the UMC and Norlin Library to be recycled. You can also recycle old batteries on campus at several locations through Environmental Health and Safety.
 
Boulder is home to the first hard-to-recycle facility in the nation! CHaRM, Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials, has been recycling everything from light bulbs to yoga mats since 2001. They work with Electronics Recyclers International who are e-Steward Certified with the Basel Action Network to assure electronic scrap is safely processed within developed countries, not shipped abroad where it pollutes the water and land of those who sort it- which is both a social and environmental injustice. You can use Eco-Cycle's A to Z Recycling Guide to find out how to recycle, compost, or reuse just about anything. Be sure to check out CHaRM's Guidelines and Fees before heading out to the facility, located at 6400 Arapahoe Road.
 
Make the sustainable choice, and think twice before throwing things away, especially when it comes to electronics. Even though we can't see the effects of e-waste once it's out of our site, the pollution that comes from technology is rapidly impacting the wellbeing of the planet and its people. Do your part to sustain a safe, healthy and happy earth!
The VRC is 50!


The Volunteer Resource Center is celebrating fifty years of engagement and action on the University of Colorado Boulder campus.

Over the past 50 years, the Center has worked to create a culture of service and engagement within the community and to connect students, staff and faculty with the larger issues that impact the communities we live in.

We invite you to celebrate both the history and future of the Volunteer Resource Center!
Please join us in celebrating by signing up for our Fifty for 50 Service Challengea challenge to the CU Boulder community that encourages students, staff and faculty to participate in 50 hours of service work in your community.

All service is counted, including but not limited to: Court mandated hours, Volunteer Resource Center events, CU or Community service events, or any individual service with community partners, and group service projects.

Beginning October 1st, participants will be able to sign up and start logging your service hours. The VRC will provide each participant with a form to log where you have completed your service challenge hours, and how many you are accumulating.
Participants will get to set the timeline of when you would like to have completed 50 hours of service.

Prizes for the following goals reached:

*The person who completes their 50 hours the fastest

*The person who completes the most hours overall

*The campus group that completes the most hours overall.

Toward the end of the challenge in April, there will be an event in which everyone who participated will be recognized and those who completed 50 hours will receive a certificate and t-shirt.


Deadline Extended for Northern Front Range Residents to Obtain Discounts on Solar and/or Electric Vehicle Purchases
 
In just a few months, the Solar Benefits Colorado has contributed to almost a half a megawatt of solar energy being installed on rooftops throughout the community and over 150 new Nissan LEAF owners. And due to the overwhelming response from the community, Boulder County and their partners are extending the deadline for Solar Benefits Colorado, a first-of-its-kind program that offers discounts to encourage many Front Range homeowners to go solar, as well as offering a special discount for purchasing electric vehicles.
 
In partnership with VoteSolar, Boulder County launched Solar Benefits Colorado with multiple municipalities and organizations across the Front Range of Colorado.  The program, which engages local organizations and employers,pools the buying power of residents along the Front Range, to make purchasing rooftop solar and electric vehicle easier and more affordable.  Through a competitive solicitation process, an evaluation committee selected a reputable solar installer, and local electric vehicle dealership with no cost to receive a proposal or obligation to move forward with a project. It functions like a Groupon for a sustainable future.

The deadline to sign up to see if solar is a good fit for residents' homes has been extended to November 30th. Should homeowners decide to move forward with their project a contract must be signed no later than December 5th, 2015. Residents can request their home evaluation on the Solar Benefits Colorado website.
 
Residents wanting a discounted electric vehicle can call Boulder Nissan, 303.443.8110, with the promotional code "SolarBenefits."  Purchasing or leasing a new Nissan LEAF is eligible for discount pricing. Cars must be purchased or leased by December 31, 2015.  
 
Click here for more information, or call Boulder Nissan at 303.443.8110.

Eco-Tip: Conserve Energy!


Written by Drew Searchinger

Did you know?

      CU-Boulder reduced its energy use by 23% from 2006-2013 despite a 28% increase in campus building                 space.

 

      Through the purchase of offsets, both the UMC and the Rec Center are carbon neutral.


 

      CU has many solar installations throughout campus, producing about 1,500,350 kWh/year- enough energy to         power 1,500 homes!


What can you do?

      Replace light bulbs with LED bulbs! They use at least 75% less energy, and last 25 times longer than                     incandescent lighting.

 

      Throw on a sweater and keep your thermostat set to 65 degrees in the winter.


 

      Unplug chargers and appliances from the wall when not in use. These energy vampires still pull out electricity        even when they aren't connected to anything!


Community resources?

      Sign up for a free SCORE (Student and Community Outreach on Renter Efficiency) visit!  

        Not only will you save money on your energy bills through energy efficient installations, but SCORE will also           buy you a pizza if half of your roommates are home for the assessment!

      Contact EnergySmart for a Home Energy Assessment or a Free Phone-Advising Service!

        EnergySmart can help you save energy and money, as well as make your home more comfortable. Their                 services are available to residents in all Boulder County communities!

      Check out a Watt meter from the Norlin circulation desk to figure out how much electricity you can save by             unplugging electronics and appliances when not in use.

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