MCC Sustainability Efforts for December 2015

Did You Know? MCC saves energy and $ with photovoltaic panels on the Science, Student Services, and Emergency Services Education Center (ESEC) buildings. The Science building panels power the courtyard bubbler fountain pump. The Student Services and ESEC buildings get about 15% of their electricity from solar power. The ESEC gets another 30% of its power from renewable energy sources, and its HVAC system fans are powered entirely by geothermal wells.

Sustainability Activities on Campus this Fall:
1. MCC’s Biannual Shred and Recycle Day on November 6th was a success! Your efforts helped MCC again meet sustainability goals. Data will be available in spring.

2. Before leaving for Winter Break, please:
a. Shut down computer lab computers, monitors, document cameras, and printers
b. Unplug all charging devices that use ghost energy
c. Unplug portable fans or heaters
d. Unplug the microwave in your office or break room
e. Clean and unplug small office refrigerators
f. Lower your office thermostat
g. Close your blinds
h. Turn all lights off
Help us save energy and reduce hacking and other malicious activities this season.

3. Practice these 6 sustainability R’s over the holidays:
a. Reuse: Instead of buying something new, consider reusing things you already have and have worn or tried only a few times.
b. Recycle: Instead of adding to our already loaded dumps, consider recycling.
c. Repurpose: Can you use that container or item for another purpose?
d. Repair: Instead of buying something new, fix or clean your older home technology.
e. Refuse: Do you need everything television or advertisers say you do? Just say no instead of buying into whatever they’re selling.
f. Rethink: Overall, think through your purchases and how you use them with the goal of becoming a better steward of our resources and our environment.

4. Computer Tips: Save energy and printing costs!
a. Change your default font to Century Gothic. It uses 30% less ink than Arial, the standard default setting in Microsoft Office programs.
b. Use a smaller font size to reduce the number of pages and ink.
c. Reduce top, bottom, and both side margins to 0.5 inches or less.
d. Before printing, use the Print Preview option to see what your printout will look like and to find last-minute errors or formatting problems. Then, set your printer to "Fast Draft," which uses less ink and prints faster. Did you know that typical ink cartridges cost about $30? That’s about $10,000/gallon!

5. Tips for home energy savings during the holidays. When stringing outside lights, put them on a timer. You will save energy and $ by turning your lights off at a designated time.

See us at http://www.mclennan.edu/gogreen/ and view our blog at http://mccgogreen.blogspot.com/.

Thanks for your support! We wish you all a safe and happy holiday season.

The MCC Sustainability Committee