Minnesota Schools Cutting Carbon

The overall goal of the project is to reduce carbon emissions from student housing mainly by reducing electricity use (heating, lighting, and appliance use), but also by reducing solid waste, water use, transportation to and from campus, and educating students about making more sustainable choices.

Activities within the project will include: 1) energy competition – students will compete by room or floor to reduce energy use, 2) addition of recycling bins in each room as well as a centralized recycling station for collection, 3) change all remaining incandescent bulbs to CFLs, 4) provide a power strip for each room for TV/DVD/gaming systems to be completely switched off when not in use, 5) provide drying racks and/or clotheslines to reduce dryer use, and 6) an educational component (create and display educational signage near recycling station, laundry area, next to thermostats in dorm rooms, and other prominent areas, hold a sustainability information session during Welcome Week as students are moving into Rainy Hall to increase student awareness about sustainable choices and their impacts, and set up a model dorm room as an example for students to follow).

utting Carbon June, 2010 Interim Report
Northeast Higher Education District Sustainability Collaborative: Rainy River Community College

A. Update on the status of the work plan, including each objective and task; and
B. Indication of whether project is on schedule

Objective 1: To actively engage residence hall students in a strategy to reduce carbon emissions by making substantive energy reductions at Rainy Hall
Task A: Design and implement an energy competition with residence hall students which substantively reduces energy consumption in Rainy Hall
Sub-task 1: Students, Sustainability Team and residence hall director design and implement an energy competition in the residence hall to reduce energy consumption
The competition will be organized by the Sustainability Team and Rainy Hall students after students have been introduced to sustainable living through orientation this fall.
Sub-task 2: Sustainability Team and residence hall director identify students to lead data collection and reporting of competition results
Will be completed during orientation week.
Sub-task 3: Residence hall director designates area and bulletin board in the dorm for competition results to be displayed
To be completed August 2010 – area is available, just need to post signage and information.
Sub-task 4: Sustainability Team and students determine reward structure for competition achievements
The competition will be organized by the Sustainability Team and Rainy Hall students after students have been introduced to sustainable living through orientation this fall.
Sub-task 5: Students and Sustainability Team evaluate energy competition
To be completed after the competition takes place.

Objective 2: To reduce the amount of solid waste generated by students in Rainy Hall by increasing recycling efforts and educating dorm residents as to its importance
Task A: Design and implement a plan that decreases the amount of solid waste generated in Rainy Hall
Sub-task 1: Students and sustainability Team research and purchase appropriately sized paper, plastic and metal bins for each dorm room
Purchase requests are in the process of being completed so items will be in place before students move in. This task is slightly delayed because as International Falls/Koochiching County does not pick up recycling, we have to figure out the best method of collection and transport to the transfer station without creating a burden on our limited maintenance staff. In order to prevent our sorted recycling to end up in the dumpster, some sort of storage and transport (such as a trailer with walls) will be needed. We are working on this to be resolved soon.
Sub-task 2: Students and Sustainability Team research and purchase appropriately-sized bins for common rooms in Rainy Hall
See Sub-task 1.
Sub-task 3: Students create educational signs for each dorm room and common room collection area detailing proper recycling methods and the environmental/economic benefits of recycling
Signs for common areas are completed. A matching grant from the Rainy River Community College Foundation was received to create “Sustainable Living Guides” for each room, consisting of a three-ring binder with protected pages giving instructions on how to use the items provided in each room, as well as other ideas on how to reduce carbon emissions and live more sustainably. Funds for this grant just became available in July, so binders will be put together this month.

Sub-task 4: Students distribute bins and post signs
Will be completed before move-in day.
Sub-task 5: Students and Sustainability Team evaluate solid waste reduction program
To be completed after the program has been initiated this fall.

Objective 3: To encourage students to reduce energy consumption in Rainy Hall by employing a variety of energy reduction strategies
Task A: Research, design and implement strategies that directly reduce energy consumption in Rainy Hall
Sub-task 1: Students and Sustainability Team will research, purchase and distribute compact fluorescent lights for each dorm room in Rainy Hall
Purchase requests are in process.
Sub-task 2: Students and Sustainability Team will research, purchase and distribute Power Strips with switches to each dorm room
Purchase requests are in process.
Sub-task 3: Students and Sustainability Team will research, purchase and distribute drying racks and clotheslines to each dorm room
Purchase requests are in process. Given the small amount of space available in each room, we may change this to purchasing fewer drying racks to be signed-out from a central location from a resident assistant on duty. This will also help to ensure proper use and longevity of the racks.
Sub-task 4: Students will design and create educational signage for laundry area, lounge (TV/gaming area), and individual rooms
Signs have been designed, will be printed and hung before move-in day.
Sub-task 5: Students and Sustainability Team evaluate energy reduction program
To be completed after initiation of the program.

Objective 4: To engage in a proactive approach that prepares new students in Rainy Hall for sustainable living strategies
Task A: Students and Sustainability Team plan and implement a Rainy Hall Welcome Week for incoming students and parents
Sub-task 1: Students design and create educational display signs to be located in dorm
rooms and common areas
Signs have been designed, will be printed and hung before move-in day.
Sub-task 2: Students and Sustainability Team plan and organize Welcome Week activities
In progress. Agenda for welcome week and orientation day is still being finalized. Kelly is on the schedule to speak to all new students about sustainability efforts on campus, as well as to all students moving in to Rainy Hall as they arrive.
Sub-task 3: Students and Sustainability Team implement Welcome Week activities as students move into Rainy Hall in Fall 2010
To be completed August 2010.
Sub-task 4: Students, Sustainability Team and facilities set up a “model” room with Energy Star appliances, power strips, CFLs, drying rack/clothesline, and other sustainability measures in use
To be completed before move-in day if an empty room is available. If not, a group of students may volunteer to have their room be the “model” room for prospective students to view.
Sub-task 5: Students and Sustainability Team evaluate Welcome Week
To be completed after initiation of the program.

C. Update of the budget showing how much of the grants funds and matching funds have been spent, including the cost of materials, labor and other expenses.

At this time, no funds or matches have been spent. Funds will be utilized in mid-July through August.

D. Results achieved

Although we have not achieved measurable reduction of greenhouse gases as a result of our project to date, we are definitely positioned to make substantive reductions from individuals and groups from across the entire campus community and, hopefully, the greater International Falls area, as we “change the culture” of recycling and energy use.