A reminder - Sustainability Activities This Week (Nov 9-13)

A quick reminder about the upcoming presentation by Holt Kelley, local expert on solar energy and photovoltaic cells. His company is the one who has installed the solar panels as part of the LEED certification for our new Science and ESEC buildings. He will talk about the technology, the impact it is having on our current energy production, and how we can take advantage of solar energy in our own homes.

The presentation will be on Thursday, November 12 at 2 PM in MAC 235.

Refreshments will be provided afterwards by Phi Theta Kappa.

Some other activities dealing with Sustainability ongoing this week in conjunction with Phi Theta Kappa:

• "What is Recyclable" workshop - facilitated by Elaine Alexander, Geology and Environmental Science professor - learn about 5% contamination and how to reduce it, as well as recycling efforts on campus - Tues., Nov. 10, 1 pm, outside LTC
  
• Adopt-A-Street Clean-up - students and facility will clean Highlander Dr. and other areas of campus - Tues., Nov. 10, 2:15 pm, meet in LTC

Solar Energy and You - Presentation on November 12 at 2 PM

Come join us for a presentation by Holt Kelley, local expert on solar energy and photovoltaic cells. His company is the one who has installed the solar panels as part of the LEED certification for our new Science and ESEC buildings. He will talk about the technology, the impact it is having on our current energy production, and how we can take advantage of solar energy in our own homes.

The presentation will be on Thursday, November 12 at 2 PM in MAC 235.

Refreshments will be provided afterwards by Phi Theta Kappa.

Come and learn about the future of solar energy.

Sustainability Committee and Phi Theta Kappa

MCC Sustainability Note for October

MCC Sustainability Efforts This Month - October Update

I. Did you know? MCC and Baylor are working on a joint project termed Ag Gas out at Highlander Ranch which extracts clean methane gas from chicken manure. The remains make good compost without the bad smell. The hope is to someday have one of these units at every major chicken house or dairy and turn manure into useable fuel and compost.

II. Recycling on Campus:

a. Recycle Bins: Many of you have reported the overloaded recycle bin and the littering around the LTC building. We’re moving the large yellow recycle bin from Highlands to the rear of the LTC to accommodate the vast amount of recycling material collected in this area of campus. Adding an extra bin should take care of this problem.

b. Printer Cartridge Recycling: Student Activities collects the ink and toner cartridges to take to the Humane Society. As for Laser printer cartridge, vendors like Office Depot offer a “rebate” credit towards the purchase of another like unit.

c. Student Recycling Awareness Forum, October 26: Phi Theta Kappa is teaming with the Sustainability Committee to teach students recycling tips. This informative session will be at 2:30 PM in the central campus mall area and will address commonly asked questions about recycling and how to recycle specific goods properly. It will be a come and go event held outside so students, faculty and staff can just stop by for a brief synopsis of proper recycling.

III. “Ask Elaine” - Answers to Your Recycling Questions:
The new compact fluorescent light bulbs require special handling, as they contain lead. You can dispose of them at Home Depot and Lowe’s. Any working standard light bulbs replaced with compact fluorescent bulbs can be donated to Habitat for Humanity. Recycle batteries at Batteries Plus or Best Buy or dispose of them during Waco’s Household Hazardous Waste Day.

IV. What are your thoughts on our sustainability efforts? See what MCC is doing for sustainability and/or let us know on how to make the campus more environmentally friendly. Check out our website at http://www.mclennan.edu/gogreen/ and our blog at http://mccgogreen.blogspot.com/.

Thanks for your support. It takes the entire College to make sustainability work!
The MCC Sustainability Committee

MCC Sustainability Efforts This Month (Updates for Fall 2009)

I. Did you know? MCC received a rebate check from ONCOR for $116,000 for installing photovoltaic solar panels on our new Emergency Services Education Center (ESEC) and Science buildings. Surplus energy generated from these panels will be sold back into the energy grid, saving ONCOR extra generation capacity and allowing the College to purchase equipment and supplies for the new buildings that would not have been available otherwise–a true WIN/WIN solution.

II. Recycling Centers on Campus: MCC has single-stream recycling, which means all approved recyclables (see attached flyer) go in the same bins. Faculty and staff have recycle containers in their offices. This fall the Physical Plant has placed new blue recycle bins in all buildings in the commons areas for students to use. The MAC recycle center is on the main floor under the grand stairwell, near the coffee bar. The Science Building recycle center is on the first floor near the bathrooms. The ESEC recycle center is in the vending and snack area on the first floor. The LTC food court area also has three recycling containers. Additionally, there are large yellow recycle dumpsters in four locations across campus: the CSC building near the Childcare Center, the loading dock behind the LTC, the Bookstore’s loading dock at the MAC, and the dumpster area near the Highland Gym.

III. Food Services: Starting this fall, SODEXO, our food service provider, has moved to corn-based biodegradable plates, cups and silverware. SODEXO is also considering reusable beverage mugs. Stay tuned for more details.

IV. What are your thoughts on our sustainability efforts? Check out what MCC is doing for sustainability and/or let us know your ideas on how to make the campus more environmentally friendly. Check out our website at http://www.mclennan.edu/gogreen and our blog at http://mccgogreen.blogspot.com.

Thanks for your support. It takes the entire college to make sustainability work!

The MCC Sustainability Committee

Sustainability Tip of the Week - Preparing for Moves and Summer

MCC Sustainability Efforts This Month
End of Semester Recycle “Special”

As the semester ends, many of you are contemplating what to do with all your old tests, confidential or sensitive papers, student projects, books, etc. you no longer need. Many of you are packing to your new or temporary office. Please consider one of the following in cleaning out your old office:

For documents you do not want to just throw away
We are having a Second Shred Day Scheduled for Thursday, May 7. We will be positioning secure bins in locations across campus to collect student papers or other materials needing to be shredded. Shred Day will run from 9 am to 1 pm. We’ll give more details on the location of the bins next Monday. For now, please start collecting your materials.

For other paperwork
Please use the recycle bins provided in each building. We are still in the Recyclemania competition and all recycled products count towards our total number. So far this semester, we have collected close to 11 tons of recycled wastes, 2 tons of office paper, and 120 pounds of cardboard from across campus.

To dispose of books
Please consider using the green and white boxes labeled Better World Books (BWB) located in buildings around campus. Phi Theta Kappa and the Baptist Student Ministry association are still collecting books for BWB, who will distribute the books to needy students worldwide. To date, both organizations have collected over 35 boxes of books, 27 which are now on their way to BWB and beyond, three which were donated to the Hewitt Public Library, and five that were recycled.

Thanks for your support. It takes the entire college to make sustainability work!

MCC’s Sustainability Committee.

Sustainability Note of the Week - Opportunities Ahead

Thanks to all who participated in Tire Amnesty Day
Elaine Alexander counted 67 MCC students, faculty and staff members who came out last Saturday in the cold to collect used tires. The initiative collected 1769 tires, far less than in the past, but the smaller total may signal that the number of tires needing recycling is dropping.

Lake Waco Clean-Up this Weekend
Keep Waco Beautiful, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the City of Waco are sponsoring the annual Lake Waco Clean-Up Day on Saturday, April 4th, 9 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., as part of the Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Clean-Up and the Texas Trash-Off. Volunteers are invited to check in at the pavilion at Twin Bridges Park at 8:30 am. Trash bags and trash tongs will be provided. Volunteers should bring gloves and wear long pants and closed-toe shoes.

A hotdog lunch will be served at the pavilion following the cleanup.

MORE INFORMATION: Keep Waco Beautiful, (254) 750-5728, or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 756-5359

Did you know?
Our three new buildings on campus are equipped with a number of innovations that will cut water consumption by 20 to 45%. Among the innovations are the new double-flush toilets and water-miser faucets available in all three buildings, and the rainwater recovery system at the Emergency Services Education Center (ESEC). The double-flush toilets have two settings: flush up for liquid waste and flush down for solid waste. The instructions are on the wall, and the toilet handles are green to remind users of the options. The water-miser faucets work only on demand. Both will use far less water than our current fixtures, and the rainwater recovery system at the ESEC will add additional savings by using the collected water for toilets and landscaping.

Getting involved
Please see the new MCC Sustainability website at www.mclennan.edu/gogreen. We welcome your input and help in making MCC a greener campus.

MCC’s Sustainability Committee

Sustainability Tip of the Week - Tire Amnesty Day this Weekend

Tire Amnesty Day occurs this Saturday, March 28 from 8:00 am – noon at the Paul Tyson Football Field on Lake Air drive. Residents of McLennan County (with proof of residency) may bring up to 8 tires for free disposal. Tires must be off rims and less than 34” in diameter. More than 8 tires, tires with rims, or tires between 35 and 50 inches can also be disposed of, but there is a fee. No tires over 50” or Over the Road (OTR) loader/grader tires will be accepted

Volunteers of all ages are welcome but all have to fill out a release form at the site. They will help address the cars, get information (toughest job), and unload the tires (dirtiest job). It is recommended volunteers wear long pants and bring gloves. If you are interested in volunteering or have students who are interested, please contact the following person:

Contact person: Parker Wilson, Executive Director
Keep McLennan County Beautiful
254-722-2832
A Keep Texas Beautiful & Keep America Beautiful Affiliate
kmcb@grandecom.net
www.keepmclennancountybeautiful.org

Did you know…?
As part of the LEED platinum certification for MCC’s new Emergency Services Education Center will be a photovoltaic solar panel array that will produce 47 Kilowatts of electricity. This electricity will provide 12.5% of the electrical requirement for the facility. During weekends and holidays when the building is not in use, the energy produced by the solar array will be sold back to the commercial power grid basically reversing the charge on our power bill and saving the college money.

Want to know more about our Sustainability efforts?
To learn more about the LEED Certification process as well as other MCC Sustainability efforts, check out the links and information at the MCC Sustainability website at http://www.mclennan.edu/gogreen.

MCC’s Sustainability Committee