Campus Practices
In August 2008, Sodexo Dining Services implemented tray-less dining in the Miley cafeteria as a means to reduce water, energy and food waste.
Campus Practices
Residential Life "Green Room" Program
During the spring 2009 semester, the Office of Residential Life, working with the Environmental Committee, implemented the "Green Room" program. The program encourages students to reduce their carbon footprint by pledging to recycle aluminum, paper, glass and cardboard, conserve water by taking shorter showers and conserve electricity by unplugging items when not in use. Students who pledged to join the "Green Room" program were given a sticker to affix to their residence hall door.
Sodexo Dining Services
- Switched from white napkins to 100 percent bleach-free brown napkins, which eliminate the bleaching process and the use of chlorine, and changed to napkin holders, which reduce napkin usage by 20 percent.
- Switched cafeteria condiments to bulk pumps, thus eliminating plastic bottles, and switched from individual creamers to bulk cream containers.
- The implementation of tray-less dining in the Miley cafeteria has reduced water, energy and food waste.
- Using fair trade coffee throughout campus, including Equal Exchange coffee in the Sky Ranch Grill, Green Mountain coffee in the Global Café and ethically sourced coffee Jazzman's Café.
- Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners served in the Miley cafeteria contain many menu items from local and sustainable sources.
- Catered events use Earth Plus products, which are environmentally friendly, and Greenware disposable cups, which are 100 percent compostable.
Water Conservation, Watershed Protection and Waste Reduction
- All showerheads and 95 percent of toilets have been converted to low-flow units throughout campus. Energy efficient washers and dryers have been installed throughout campus.
- Reynolds Field has incorporated a new well to pump groundwater for irrigation, eliminating $10,000 per year of potable water use. An irrigation system that uses recycled groundwater is in place at the Rodgers Recreation Center.
- Mops and rags are being replaced with microfiber mops and cloths that are reusable, ultra-thin and capture and retain more dirt particles. This mopping system uses less water and reduces the number of laundry loads necessary to clean products, further reducing water consumption.
- A concentrated products system ensures proper dilution and prevents overuse and/or waste of chemicals. As current concentrated products run out, they are being replaced with Green Seal Certified cleaning products and the Phazer applicator system which reduces product waste.
