| On Campus Aggies are |  |
| Going Green!! |
-------- HOW?? ---------
Energy Conservation
Sustainability Challenge
September 20 - October 19, 2011
From September 20th through October 19th, all On-Campus Aggies have been responding to the challenge to go green. Utilities management has tracked utilities use in comparison to last year’s usage for each hall. [Climate-wise, this semester’s start, temperatures were much warmer than last year, so conservation of utilities relating to cooling was more difficult.]
This is the second (of the 4 years of the challenge) to be been held in the fall semester, in hopes of encouraging students to start the year off with better sustainability practices and habits. Additionally, this year’s challenge took an even more expanded view of sustainability and residents could earn points for their hall by signing a sustainability pledge, participating in a film series with topics of global sustainability (Food Inc, Trashed, Flow, and King Corn) sponsored by Multicultural Services, doing service relating to recycling with SGA’s Environmental Issues & Concerns (Kyle Field post-game) or Stream Clean, participating with the student Howdy Farm to learn about sustainable food sources, as well as sponsoring an educational bulletin board and/or having an Aggie Eco-Rep from their hall. | More info
Lighten the Load - We participate in Mac-Gray's Lighten the Load program which is helping to offset several million pounds of CO2 over the life of our contract, thus significantly reducing the campus carbon footprint and bring Texas A&M one step closer to carbon neutrality. | More info
Compact Flourescent Light (CFL) Program - The Residence Hall Association (RHA) is removing existing incandescent light bulbs and installing CFLs for energy savings. Four of the thirty halls are completed. Porch lights in two halls have been replaced.
Go Green Competition - Another goal is to encourage other students to “go green” and change their individual lifestyles and attitudes about the need for conservation and the importance of sustainability.
Recycling
Residence Hall Recycling - We field special efforts during student MOVE IN that collect castoffs and huge additional recyclable loads, some donated to local non-profitable entities and charities.
Cardboard Recycling (Fall Semester Move In) - In 2002, the TAMU Recycling Program kicked off its first pilot residence hall recycling program. Since then seven additional halls have become a part of the program.- Donation Drive (Move Out) - The Heart of Texas Goodwill Industries and the Texas A&M Residence Halls have joined forces to make it easy to convenient for residents to recycle their gently used items. Donation trailers will be placed at two locations on campus during move-out to accept clothing, shoes, small furniture items, etc.
- Aluminum Cans - All halls have the option of collecting aluminum cans. They are collected and taken to a local recycling center.
- Mixed paper, newspaper, ink cartridges - Eleven halls participate in this campus recycling program sponsored by TAMU Physical Plant Recycling Center.
New Residence Hall Construction
Attain LEED Certification - The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally aqccepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building project is environmentally responsible. --adapted from LEED website
Tips from ResLife's Carbon Footprint Investigators
The Department of Residence Life's Carbon Footprint Investigators would like to share some helpful tips for reducing your carbon footprint. | Helpful Tips | What is your carbon footprint?
OTHER RESOURCES |
 Download the Texas A&M University Office Sustainability Guide  |
 Download "Green Your Home or Dorm" |