Sustainability

University of Minnesota Housing & Residential Life is committed to doing what we can to conserve water and resources, as well as promoting recycling and green living in our residential communities. We have taken many steps in the right direction including:

• Creating recycling programs
• Providing water-saving laundry facilities
• Providing shower and toilet features
• Using recycled materials in hall offices

These small changes we are making within our residence halls can go a long way and make a difference. We ask that you join us in this effort to keeping the world in good shape for generations to come.

What we are doing

Housing & Residential Life Sustainability Committee

Housing & Residential Life instituted its own sustainability committee in 2007 with the mission to foster sustainability awareness in our living and learning communities. The Committee works closely with resident student groups to institute sustainability initiatives such as: in-room recycling, energy and water conservation as well as recycling awareness during move-in and move out.

Housing & Residential Life Makes Use of Sustainable Materials a Priority

We continue to make a conscious effort to ensure we use “green” materials wherever practical and feasible. When examining feasibility, we examine upfront cost verses payback period. We usually select green materials over conventional when cost premiums for green materials is less than 30 percent greater conventional. Here are some of the sustainable products and materials we’ve added to our inventory:

• Compact Fluorescent lighting
• LED Exit Signs throughout all residence halls
• On-demand water heaters in residence halls
• Energy Star Washers in all laundry rooms
• Reduced water usage showerheads in all showers
• 100% recycled toilet paper in all residence halls
• “Environmentally friendly” cleaning chemicals (whenever possible)
• Low or no VOC carpet
• Furniture made of recycled or sustainable materials (Pioneer Hall dining room tables)
• Carpet that is certified carbon neutral (Centennial Dining and Territorial Lounge)
• Water saver flush valves for toilets and urinals
• Recycled office paper
  

Community Advisor (CA) Action Plans Spring 2009

• Bailey Hall: Educational programs and events to include: Used Items Bazaar
• Centennial Hall: Educational programs and events to include: Sustainability Week in February (Trash sort, T-Shirt Exchange, Turn Off the Lights)
• Comstock Hall: Educational programs and events to include: Trash Wars the first week of RecycleMania
• Frontier Hall: Educational programs and events to include: Green Week in April (Trash Sort, Paper making, door-to-door trash, recycling pick-up, used items swap meet)
• Middlebrook Hall: Educational programs and events to include: Sustainable Living Off-Campus, Reduce Energy Consumption, and Recycling Challenge
• Pioneer Hall: Educational programs and events to include: Paper making, Clothing swaps, and movie nights with sustainable theme, “What does 20 watts look like?”
• Sanford/Wilkins Hall: Educational programs and events to include: Movie Night with sustainability theme, Trash Sort, Sustainability Open Mic Night, Pledge Day-residents can pledge to cut back on electrical use of their choice.
  
• Territorial Hall: Educational programs and events to include: Sustain-A-Week- each day of the week features a sustainable topic such as lights, water saving, trash sorts and use of wattage, and information on what residents can do reduce and re-use.
• University Village: Educational programs and events to include: Sustainability Calendar-each day will have ideas on how to live more sustainable.
• Yudof Hall: Educational programs and events to include: Sustainable dinner for residents with locally grown and organic foods, How to Compost in the Apartments

What you can do:

Housing & Residential Life is deeply committed to being sustainable and is asking our community members to help us by doing the same. Here are the five easiest ways to be sustainable while living on campus:

• Utilize the new recycling bins in your room (cans/bottles, office paper, newspaper plus) and empty them regularly in the nearest recycling room.
• Turn off your lights and electronics (TV, stereo, computer) when you leave the room.
• Do not run the water while doing dishes or brushing your teeth. Only do full loads, only use cold water and do not use more soap than needed when doing laundry.
• Ask the information desk at your hall where you can dispose of batteries, used ink cartages and other hazardous waste.

HRL's Sustainable Vendors

Norseman Plastics - Amy Freeman @ 810-714-5701 ( 3 tiered recycling containers)

Bay West - Toilet paper (Green Seal Certified) - contact Paul Gorofano @800-723-0002 x 843

3 M - Custodial cleaning supplies - Michael Stewart @ 800-917-1937 (on U of M contract)

Interface FLOR - sustainable carpet - Ann Martin @800-471336-0225 x 145 (on U of M contract)

Baltix - sustainable furniture - Chuck Lodge @ 763-210-0155 x 104

Minncor - re-upholster furniture - 800-646-6267 (on U of M Contract)

Upholstery by Caroline - re-upholster furniture Joe Lusian @ 651-437-5513 (small business)