MCC is the spotlight campus in the AASHE Bulletin

MCC is the AASHE spotlight campus for the week of September 20, 2010.

AASHE spotlights the sustainability achievements of MCC on their website and weekly newsletter, the AASHE Bulletin.

This is a great opportunity to spread the word about MCC's sustainability efforts.

MCC joins AASHE

MCC recently joined the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). AASHE is an organization of colleges and universities that are working to advance sustainability in higher education. You can see MCC on AASHE’s list of campus members.

AASHE membership covers everyone on campus. As members, we all have access to AASHE’s online resources and opportunities for networking, information sharing, collaboration and professional development.

MCC Celebrates Earth Week and Arbor Day

Come join us for Earth Week this Friday—tomorrow!—and Arbor Day next week.

• Everyone’s invited this Friday, April 23, at 1pm in MAC 241.
  Participants in the Brazos Project, our first MCC professional development session, aka “Integrating Sustainability into the Curriculum,” will share their ideas for incorporating sustainability principles into a class assignment.
  
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  Everyone’s also invited to MCC’s second annual Arbor Day celebration next Wednesday, April 28, at 2pm outside the Faculty Office Building.
  The MCC Arbor Day tradition continues this year with a short tree-planting program that includes a brief history of Arbor Day and short readings.

Please join us as we celebrate MCC's commitment to sustainability and the environment!

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