Join the Residence Life department in our endeavor to reduce carbon emissions and the WSC campus footprint . . .

... IMPACT NOW

While at Western, be sure to enjoy all of the natural elements that surround!

LET'S LIVE A LITTLE GREENER ...

In this letter, you will nd some GREEN LIVING suggestions. These suggestions will allow you to help decrease the environmental footprint left by our WSC residential buildings.
LAPTOP Screen savers, contrary to popular belief, dont save any energy. Though closing your laptop or starting its sleep mode reduces its energy use up to 80%, if you dont plan to use the computer for at least half an hour, its a good idea to turn it off completely. PRINTER Whenever possible, use the librarys printers to print your work on both sides of the page. Not only does this give your papers that professional look, but it cuts the amount of paper used in half. Also, when printing yers, posters, emails, or other non-formal one-sided docs, try to print on the backside of used pages, which can be found in paper recycling trays next to most campus printers. Also, if you print from your room, please try to buy recycled paper! CHARGERS and BATTERIES Something we use every day but rarely think about are our chargers, for cell phones, computers, mp3 players. None of them have an off switch, so when they remain plugged into your wall, theyre leaking energy. When youre not charging your electronics, unplug them to conserve energy. Many nd that using a power strip is an easy way to manage your energy use; you can simply turn the strip off when not using the items plugged into it. This also eliminates the unsightly cord tangle problem. LIGHT BULBS Compact uorescent light bulbs (found at Wal-Mart) use a quarter of the energy and last ten times longer than regular bulbs. Also, remember to pull up your blinds and let as much natural light in as possible. Dont forget to turn off lights.

BIKE RIDING . . . Using alternative methods of transportation can keep the Valley air crisp and clean. Biking is a nice way to get about and exercise as well.

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*Photos by Dan Predoehl and Martin Davis

LEAVING A SMALLER PRINT ...

By living a little greener, campus residents can help decrease WSCs environmental impact.
FRIDGE Personal mini-fridges can use up much energy - not to mention their tendency to smell awful without careful rotation of leftovers! Try not to store your fridge too close to a window or heat source, as that will make the fridge work extra hard. If you nd that youre not using your fridge, unplug it. Just make sure to defrost it rst, or it might grow mold or mildew (ew). As far as what you put in your fridge, look for local or regional products. TRASH CAN and RECYCLING BIN Set up a mini recycling station in your room to collect paper, cardboard, paperboard, cans, bottles, etc. All of your recyclables can go into the blue recycling bins found in your rooms. If your bin is missing, please contact your RA and they can get you one or two. Large bins are also located on the exterior of each complex building. Remember that many things dont need to be thrown away. Fill up that water bottle again. Packers mugs can be bought and used innitely - plus you get discounts if you bring it back! CLEANING There is no need to buy expensive chemical sprays and scrubs when you can make your very own incredibly affordable and environmentally safe cleaning supplies! There are many recipes online, but below are some basics. If you are not into the homemade supplies, at least make sure you are buying biodegradable cleaners. All purpose cleaner: Baking soda, vinegar, water Spray bottle Put 1 pint of warm water into the bottle. Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda and one tablespoon of white vinegar into the bottle. Screw the top on tightly and shake to mix.

If you see trash, help out your neighbors and slip it in the bin. Thanks in advance!
WATER USE Although a hot shower can be our best friend, it is important to keep them short, or at least to turn off the water whenever possible (while shaving, conditioning, etc.). According to the United States Geologic Survey, showers use 2 gallons of water per minute. That means your 20 minute shower is using 40 gallons of water! Want to nd out how much water you use? Go to http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/ sq3.html and access an easy calculation program. It is interesting stuff! WSC RECYCLING INFO Want more info? Please visit www.western.edu/facilities/recycling.html for campus-wide recycling information. Feel free to call the WSC recycling ofce at 970-943-3088. Information can also be obtained through the Resident Director, Martin Davis (943-2330).

No-streak glass cleaner: Vinegar and water Spray bottle Put 1/4 cup vinegar and 4 cups of water into bottle. Screw on top and shake. WIPE WITH CRUMPLED NEWSPAPER! FAUCET Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. It is a good thing to do, plus one day itll save you money on your water bills! SHAMPOOS and SUNDRY GOODS Shampoos, deodorants, body washes, and lotions can contain chemicals (sodium laureth sulfate ring a bell?) that are not only harsh to your hair and skin, but get washed down the drain daily and pollute our water, an cannot biodegrade. You can ind a list of product names certied by the organic trade association at www.ota.com. Also, buying bulk cuts down on the amount of packaging (with chemicals adhering to the insides) thrown away.

Clubs and Orgs.

BE SURE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION RELATED TO CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS!

Join the WSC community for the annual community clean-up and Earth Week celebrations!

WSC RESIDENCE LIFE

Dont forget about the Res. Life move: The Residence Life ofce will be located on the rst oor of Crystal Hall 104 (Escalante Complex). Come visit!

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*Photos by Dan Predoehl and Martin Davis