environmental steward Program

Environmental Stewards

About

As part of Be Spartan Green initiative to decrease inputs and harmful outputs, through energy and waste reduction, as well as other environmental initiatives, Environmental Stewards are being recruited for every department and building on campus.

Environmental Stewards roles and responsibilities are to:

• promote environmental changes among co-workers
• points of contact for their department for questions and information on environmental stewardship
• liaisons between the Be Spartan Green Team and buildings for suggestions, improvements and progress

Read the memo challenging MSU building occupants to reduce waste and energy issued by:
Fred L. Poston, Vice President for Finance & Operations
Kim A. Wilcox, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Become a Steward

If you are interesting in assisting your unit to Be Spartan Green, please volunteer to be an Environmental Steward! Email Lauren Olson, Project Coordinator in the Office of Campus Sustainability, olsonla3@msu.edu, or call her at 884-2443.

Photo by Harley Seeley/University Relations

Environmental Steward Orientation

If you haven’t been orientated, or need a refresher, please come to an Environmental Steward Orientation.  These presentations provide the background you need to become the point person within your department about waste and energy issues.  Additionally, you’ll receive items to help you be a steward, including a compact fluorescent light bulb, reusable bag, reusable water bottle, logo pin, and more.

Upcoming orientations:
Tuesday 6/9 8:30am-9:30am at 209 Olds Hall
Tuesday 6/30 8:30am-9:30am at 209 Olds Hall
Tuesday 7/14 8:30am-9:30am at 209 Olds Hall
Tuesday 7/28 8:30am-9:30am at 209 Olds Hall
Tuesday 8/11 8:30am-9:30am at 209 Olds Hall

Email Lauren Olson, olsonla3@msu.edu, to RSVP.

Meet your building’s Environmental Steward team

Being an Environmental Steward

Already an Environmental Steward? Looking for things to do? Well, look no further!

Meet with your building team
Call together the stewards, what do each of you see as the issues? What is going well? What can be improved? What do the building reports say about the progress?  Take a team photo and we’ll add it to the GIS website, email it to Lauren Olson at olsonla3@msu.edu.

Know an issue that’s solvable?
Most likely the issue your office area, department, or building has can be solved, check this webpage for more information.  Bring the issue (and its solution) up at meetings, via email, or talk with your coworkers about it.  Most likely people want to do the right thing, but don’t know how or need assistance. Need more help or want to share a success?  Email Lauren Olson, Project Coordinator in the Office of Campus Sustainability at olsonla3@msu.edu.

Become a resource
Let people know they can come to you for answers about how they can Be Spartan Green.  If you ever get a question you can’t answer, feel free to email Lauren Olson, Project Coordinator in the Office of Campus Sustainability at olsonla3@msu.edu.  This website is here to help but it’s not perfect; let me know how it can better suit your needs.

Contacts & Resources

Custodial
Select your building from the pull down menu to contact your custodial crew

Physical Plant
Energy and Environmental Engineer, Lynda Boomer
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) extended time scheduling, 353-4669
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) issues, Maintenance Services 353-1760

Recycling
Recycling Hotline; call 355-1723 or email.
Container request forms

Surplus Store
Call at 355-0364 or request a pick-up online.

University Stores
Green product list: go to catalog, then search using the keywords “be green”

Downloads

Resource Book
Orientation Presentation
Letter of Introduction to Coworkers
Recycling Posters
Building Reports FAQ
Be Spartan Green Interactive Tools

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Energy

Save Energy by turning it OFF

Before breaks and holidays, remind others to turn it OFF
Before you head home for the long weekend, give your heating and electronic equipment a holiday. 

Please remember to turn OFF:
Computers and any other components (speakers, printers, monitors)
Shared copiers, fax machines, and printers
Any other energy consuming equipment

Shared spaces can be energy hogs too, check on shared workspace, meetings spaces, and kitchens. 

Before you close that door next week for a long weekend, LOOK AROUND, is there anything still powered ON that doesn’t need to be?

Help by turning OFF all unnecessary electrical equipment and Be Spartan Green!

Save energy every night and weekend
When you leave for the day, turn OFF:
Lights
Computers
Monitors
Copiers/printers
Window air conditions
Turn the temperature UP or DOWN
…and remind others!

Download the poster at http://www.recycle.msu.edu/downloads/Reduce-flyer.pdf

Lighting

Why waste?
Turn lights off when you are the last one to leave a room, or when you leave the room for more than five minutes.  It takes less energy to turn the lights on and off than keep them on.  Use sun light when available and keep lights off, this will help your space stay cooler in the summer months. 

Use Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) whenever possible for task lighting, these bulbs last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and use 75% less energy.

If you use a 60 W incandescent bulb, then purchase a 13 W CFL bulb.
(Stores Stock Item:11054390)
If you use a 75 W incandescent bulb, then purchase a 18 W CFL bulb.
(Stores Stock Item:11054382)

Light Bulb Recycling & Disposal
To dispose and/or recycle any fluorescent tubes or CFLs, please contact your custodial building head.  Find contact information at www.custodial.msu.edu.

Electronic  Equipment

Purchase Energy Efficient Electronics
Whenever possible, buy Energy Star electronic equipment when your unit is purchasing (such as refrigerators, copiers, battery chargers, water coolers, and many others).  You’ll save energy without even thinking about it! If you’re buying a new or refurbished computer, consider the EPEAT rating.  This rating comes in bronze, silver, or gold signifying how environmentally-friendly the computer will be throughout its lifespan. Computer Store offers EPEAT ratings on the products it sells.

Unplug Your Equipment (or buy some help)
Plug control equipment (e.g. power strips) provide technological solutions to help control energy use. Some of these devices can automatically sense when spaces are unoccupied and turn off equipment in the space, thus reducing energy waste.

Plug Control Equipment
The WattStopper Energy Saving System. $87.189/each or $91.99/personal use.
(Stores Stock Item: 11020117)
Smart Strip. $34.826/each or $36.74/personal use.
(Stores Stock Item: 11020115)

Stop Stand-by Energy Waste
Vampires aren’t just creepy people in Transylvania—they are nearly every electronic device plugged directly into the wall.  These devices “suck” up energy, called stand-by energy, to be prepared for the moment they get turned on.  Plug your devices into a surge protector power strip, and turn it off when you leave for the day.  Can’t remember?  Invest in a Smart Strip to help you.

Let Your Computer Rest
Power down your computer and monitor when it’s not in use.  Turning off the computer helps the computer have a longer lifespan and saves much more energy than keeping it on!  Set your power management system on your computer to turn off when you forget, or contact your IT professional. 

Remember, screen savers are not an energy saver, but a relic from our large monitor (CRT) past.

Stop Waste and Save Energy with Rechargeable Batteries
Single-use alkaline batteries are difficult to recycle, but rechargeable batteries work just as well and are easily recyclable.  In the long run, these batteries save energy and resources.  Get a set for things like wireless mouse, remotes, and other devices.  Batteries and rechargers are available at University Stores, and send dead rechargeable batteries to MSU Recycling.  Don’t forget to unplug the charger once it’s done!

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

Drafty windows? Is Your Office too Hot or too Cold?
Save energy by promptly report room comfort conditions that are not normal. Rooms that are too hot or too cool may be due to faulty thermostats or other controls that are malfunctioning or have drifted from set-points. This results in wasted energy as well as uncomfortable conditions for you.  Report issues to Maintenance Services at 353-1760.

Need Heating or Cooling for an Event?
With our new Environmental Stewardship initiatives, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) hours have been reduced in many buildings on campus.  If there are planned activities in a non-residential hall building after-hours or on weekends, call scheduling at 353-4669.

Allow Your Office to be Heated
How you arrange your room doesn’t just affect your mood (maybe), it affects the ability for the HVAC system to heat and cool the room (definitely).  Do not block air intakes on walls, place furniture next to air registers so that the air intake near the floor is blocked, or place clutter near the flat-top air registers.  Don’t block thermostats with furniture either.  Remember, your room can’t be heated or cooled properly unless you allow it to! 

Space heaters are a sign of a larger problem; every room should be effectively heated and cooled unless there is a mechanical failure.  Call Maintenance Services first before you bring in a dangerous space heater, 353-4669.

Save Energy with Your Thermostat
Adjust your thermostat if you have the ability to, one degree means big savings! Dial it up in the summer, down in the winter. Compensate for temperature in your space by dressing for personal comfort.  A one-degree change in the thermostat setting saves $225,000 annually across campus.

$225,000 translates other ways, too:

Approximately 2,915 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions reductions

A reduction of about 6,500 tons of coal burned at the power plant

65 less rail car deliveries per year, meaning less wait time at the tracks

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Waste

Reduce

Minimize Disposables
Recycling and reusing materials are great ways to reduce the amount that goes to the landfill; but another great way to reduce materials arriving and leaving campus is to USE LESS STUFF.

Use reusable containers such as mugs around the office instead of foam, paper, or plastic cups. Use a reusable bottle for water and insulated mug for hot liquids. In this way, you can use one container instead of a new one every day.

Minimize paper use

• Print only what is necessary, and when you do print—print duplex (two-sided)!
• Digitize files and forms to save paper, space, and time
• Reduce document page margins use margins no greater than 0.5” or 0.75”
• Use old single-sided documents as scrap paper or print on the other side

Reduce printed materials by creating electronic files, sending out materials for meetings electronically, and by editing on the computer using track changes.

If you have to use paper, use recycled paper
Seek out office products made from post-consumer waste and close the loop! That way there is a market for all the stuff we recycle.  Some examples include: 100% post-consumer recycled copy paper, reused or recycled content file folders, recycled content legal pads, and remanufactured printer/toner cartridges.

New Leaf Paper (100% recycled content), $2.946/RM.
(Stores Item Detail: 14054120)
Aspen (100% recycled content), $3.652/RM.
(Stores Item Detail: 14054080)
Aspen 30 (30% recycled content), $3.325/RM.
(Stores Item Detail: 14053860)

Eliminate Unwanted Mail
Almost all mail is recyclable as mixed paper, but you can eliminate unwanted mail by calling or emailing the organization that is sending the mail to take you off their list.  Preventing unwanted mail from coming on campus prevents paper resources from being used and saves fuel from mail delivery.  Click here to download a flyer that explains more.

Reuse

Recycle furniture, electronics, and most usable stuff
The MSU Surplus Store serves as a place to displace used MSU property. The first priority is to transfer goods from one department to another; however, the Surplus Store does have public sales.  Go to www.msusurplusstore.com for more information.

Electronic Device Recycling
Used MSU electronic devices (quite simply, anything with a cord) can be resold or recycled through the MSU Surplus Store.  Keep dangerous elements like lead out of landfills by recycling electronic waste!  Go to www.msusurplusstore.com for more information.

Create a Shared Office Supplies Space
If it doesn’t already exist in your department, create a space (a shelf or cabinet) where people can share things such as pens, folders, and other office supplies. 

Recycle

What MSU recycles:

• White Paper: simply, any white fiber paper.
• Mixed Paper: includes magazines and all glossy papers, any non-white copy paper or cardstock, envelopes with or without windows of any color, and file folders of any type (no metal or plastic parts, please).  Post-its can be recycled as mixed paper.
• Newspaper: and anything that comes with the newspaper (i.e. ads and flyers)
• Corrugated Cardboard: Corrugated cardboard has a fluted layer sandwiched between two layers.  Break down your cardboard boxes and place them next to your recycling stations
• Plastics #1 & #2: bottles must have a smaller neck than bottom, check for the plastic number on the bottom of the container

More Recycling Information
For more information about what other materials can be recycled, recycling in the residence halls and apartments, and information about the recycling efforts in food service kitchens, visit the MSU Recycling materials webpage, www.recycle.msu.edu.

Recycling Hotline: They’re there to help!
To report recycling issues, to get another hamper for cleaning out materials (free of charge), or an at-desk recycling container (free of charge), please call the Recycling Hotline at 355-1723.  Confidential shred is also available for a fee.

Under-desk Recycling Containers
At-desk recycling containers make recycling easier and more convenient. Order some free containers for your desk and your colleagues’ desks by calling the Recycling Hotline at 5-1723.

Hardcover and Softcover Book Recycling
Separate and transport small numbers of boxed or bagged catalogs, directories, soft cover and hardcover books to your building’s recycling dock or staging area.  If you have a large amount, call the Recycling Hotline for a hamper at 5-1723.  Soft cover and hardcover books will be sent to MSU Surplus Store for reuse.

Inkjet and Toner Cartridge Recycling
Ink jet cartridges and toner cartridges are recyclable!  Place them in their box (if possible) near the centralized recycling containers.  They are sent to be refurbished, and eventually are sold to be reused. Consider buying refurbished cartridges instead of new ones – it closes the loop.

Moving? Perform a Green Sweep
If you or your department is moving, it’s a great time to perform a green sweep.  Call the Recycling Hotline at 5-1723 for hampers, or large recycling containers.  MSU Surplus takes most items that can be reused, go to www.msusurplusstore.com for more information.

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Water

Save Water, Report Drips
MSU gets its water from the Saginaw Valley aquifer through a series of wells around campus. Please conserve water whenever possible. If a faucet is dripping, please call Physical Plant Maintenance Services for a free estimate at 353-1760.

Make More Energy Efficient Water Cooler Conversation
If you do have a water cooler in your office, request an Energy STAR qualified water cooler, it requires about half as much energy. 

Drink Locally (and with less waste)
Water purification systems such as pitchers or other containers with filters can provide the “taste” you want without the price or waste of bottled water. 

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Transportation

Bicycling
The MSU Bikes Service Center, located under the Bessy Hall auditorium right on the river trail near the Farm Lane Bridge, offers a full-service bike repair and rental. Bicycling is a great way to get around campus! So instead of driving the car to the meeting, looking for a parking spot and that whole hassle, ride a bike.  For more information, please visit: www.bikes.msu.edu or call (517) 432-3400.

Public Transport
Capital Area Transportation Authority provides bus service to the Lansing area. Check out their website for information about routes and schedules at www.cata.org. Additionally, CATA provides all on-campus busing. Next time you have a meeting across campus on a cold or rainy day, try bussing rather than driving.  All employees are provides a free on-campus bus pass for this use.

Carpooling
CATA Clean Commute Options program is a free service dedicated to educating the community on alternatives to driving alone. The goal is to encourage the community to participate in improving the Tri-County area’s air quality. CATA provides information on bus routes, biking and walking, in addition to providing a matching service to those who are interested in forming car or vanpools.

Create a Carpool
Did you know MSU issues car pool permits for commuters? The cost of the faculty/staff sticker fee is equally divided among the carpoolers (maximum of four per pool). Get all the details through the MSU Police at the parking office at 87 Red Cedar Road, call 517-355-8440 or visit www.police.msu.edu.    

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