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Did you know What Goes Around, Comes Around?This is the first year of the End of Year Residence Halls Collection at the U of U. We succeeded in effectively reusing and recycling materials from student housing and redistributing them to the local community. Learn more |
Did You Know?
You can reduce your junk mail!
"You can reduce the amount of junk mail you receive by contacting two different organizations. For a small fee, the website 41pounds will contact 20-30 of the direct mailing companies and have your address removed from their database. Additionally, Catalog Choice (a free service) provides a unique filtering system that allows you to select the catalogs you wish to receive and reject the catalogs that are unsolicited."
"According to Earth Share, more than 100 million trees are destroyed each year to produce junk mail and 42% of timber harvested nationwide becomes pulpwood for paper. In addition, the energy used to produce and dispose of junk mail exceeds 2.8 million cars. About 28 billion gallons of water is used to produce and recycle junk mail every year, and, finally, the average American wastes about 70 hours a year dealing with junk mail." -John Steward, SLAC Today. View full newsletter
You can get natural gas for your car on campus? Learn more
Do you know how...
To define sustainability?
There are hundreds of ways to define the concept of sustainability. Take a look at some of our favorite ways to think about it. Sustainability definitions...
to save energy?
The U of U FYI Publication shares details about how experts at the U are saving energy on campus. See FYI articles...
Learn interesting facts about what the U of U has done to save an enormous amount of energy! See energy facts...
Also, take a look at what you can do everyday to save energy both at work and at home! See energy tips...
Global warming will affect utah
The National Wildlife Federation compiled a list of potential effects of global warming for each state in the USA. Take a look at what it has to say about Utah. See NWF article...
Learn more about global warming from an excellent presentation by David Chapman, a University of Utah expert. Global Warming: More Than Hot Air
The new paper recycling program works?
Here is a quick description of the 2 types of paper bins you can find on campus:
Office Pack bins have WHITE labels listing acceptable papers, mostly white and light-colored copy paper, envelopes,and direct mail. To see the white label click here.
Mixed Paper bins have RED labels listing acceptable papers and take everything
else including newspaper, magazines and catalogues, and brighter colored papers. To see the red label click here.
For more information about the program, see the comprehensive FYI article.
Learn more about recycling programs in Utah in general. Website
to save paper?
You can cut back on paper use by choosing e-statements (electronic statements) instead.
You can make e-payments for a variety of purchases including home utilities such as electricity, water, natural gas, even professional membership fees, and auto registration.
University of Utah Credit Union makes it convenient to save a tree! They offer services for switching from paper statements to Electronic Versions. To make the switch check out their E-Services tab, speak to a Branch teller, or call 801-481-8800.
To stop junk mail?
Do you get a million unwanted catalogs too? By going to this website you can browse through countless catalogs to decline ones that you receive but don't want. It allows you the opportunity to actually reduce the number of mailings you get which is a step above simply recycling them. visit the website to set up an account and stop receiving unwanted catalogs. More...
Electronics use power even when turned off?
The New York Times report published on December 11, 2007 by C. Claireborne Ray explains how it works.
"Question: Many devices that are “always on” while seemingly “off” draw power so that they can spring into action on demand. How much electricity does a television, for example, use when plugged in but not turned on?
Answer: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has done extensive studies of standby power since 1996 for the Department of Energy. In particularly inefficient appliances, standby power use can be as high as 20 watts.
'For a single appliance, this may not seem like much,' the laboratory’s Web site says, 'but when we add up the power use of the billions of appliances in the U.S., the power consumption of appliances that are not being used is substantial.'
An exact reading of the standby power drawn by an individual appliance can be obtained only by using a fairly expensive energy meter or by turning off all the rest of a home’s appliances and checking the utility meter.
For making an estimate, a laboratory Web site — standby.lbl.gov/data.html — provides tables of the minimum, average and maximum power used by appliances that cannot be switched off completely without being unplugged. For television sets, the laboratory estimates a minimum power use of zero watts, an average of 5 watts and a maximum of 21.6 watts."
Good to know facts
On November 1, 2007, by a vote of 4-3, the Senate Subcommittee on Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection adopted America's Climate Security Act.
Global Warming? FYI News asked Jim Steenburgh, professor and chair of the Department of Meteorology, for his views on what the hottest summer on record along the Wasatch Front means. See FYI article...
University Print and Copy Services has "gone green"? Learn more about the earth- friendly inks and recycled and alternative papers offered! Learn more...
Did you know that you can make better commuting choices and be green and save green? Get your EDpass that allows you to ride any UTA transit service for free if you are U of U students, faculty, or staff. Learn more...
Utah's Governor Huntsman's Blue Ribbon-Advisory Council on Climate Change created a 2007 Report on climate science and policy options for Utah?
Blue Ribbon Advisory Council Final Report - Executive Summary
Climate Change and Utah: The Scientific Consensus – Executive Summary
*Note that the Office of Sustainability is a clearinghouse for information on sustainability initiatives being carried out by other departments and groups at the U of Utah.
Please contact us if you have ideas!