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STUDENT OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY

Monthly Newsletter • March 2013

WHAT IS Sustainability?BY EMY L. MARIER

KEEPING IT Clean:THE E-WASTE PROGRAMBY GREGORY T. NELSON

MARCH 2013

“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

-The Brundtland Report

The Triple Bottom Line—“it aims to measure the financial, social, and environmental performance of the corporation over a period of time.”

-The Economist

“Based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment.” -The Environmental Protection Agency

Two electronic waste receptacles have been installed on campus in order to provide students with an outlet to proper disposal. One is located at the entrance of the McIntyre Library and the other is located in Hilltop Center, near the ATMs. The Student Office of Sustainability has partnered with First Choice Recycling, a local recycling facility, to make sure student electronic waste is disposed of safely and ethically. Electronic waste, or e-waste, is any electronic device that has passed its life of use – whether it is due to being broken, obsolete, or simply out of power. These waste items are of special concern because they often contain

Seymour’sSustainableLIFESTYLETIPS:

• PURCHASE CFL OR LED LIGHTING

• USE A PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT

• WASH YOUR CLOTHES IN COLD WATER

• UNPLUG YOUR APPLIANCES OR USE A POWER STRIP (DUE TO GHOST CURRENTS)

• TURN OFF THE LIGHTS OR USE NATURAL LIGHTING

Sustainability is valuing the interdependence of our social, economic, and environmental systems. To start, it must be acknowledged that an economy is a subset of a society—it is the wealth and resources of a region. How wealth and resources are valued and distributed varies across societies; however, it is well accepted that economic and social systems are connected. Next, it must be acknowledged that social and economic systems are dependent on the environment because the environment provides natural resources such as food, water, shelter, and energy—resources required for survival. Therefore, without a healthy environment, can we have a healthy society and/or a healthy economy?

Sustainability revolves around reducing waste, valuing natural capital (the natural resources that fuel our existence), and foresight regarding the needs of future generations. At its core, sustainability is managing our social, economic, and environmental systems in a way that is mutually beneficial to each and can be sustained through time.

SAVING

ENERGY

EDITION

chemicals that are hazardous to peoples’ health, as well as to the environment. They can have components made of heavy metals, carcinogens, or neurotoxins depending on the item. Keeping these contaminants out of the standard waste stream is important not only to reduce the risk of pollution but also to reduce the demand of energy needed for the extraction of more resources. Please do you part to safeguard your environment and properly dispose of your e-waste. Items that can be taken include laptops, computer accessories, phones, music devices, batteries, chargers, cables/chords, headphones, and other small electronics.

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Student Office of Sustainability • March 2013 • Monthly Newsletter

MARCH 2013

climate scientists predict extreme weather will increase in frequency. Related to rising CO2 levels and the resulting climate change, the largest US climate rally occurred on February 17, 2013 in Washington, DC. An estimated 40,000 protesters attended. What were they protesting? The Keystone XL Pipeline—a proposed oil pipeline that would stretch about 2,000 miles from Alberta, Canada to the Gulf Coast of Texas.

To read more about atmospheric CO2, visit: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/mar/08/hawaii-climate-change-second-greatest-annual-rise-emissionshttp://co2now.org/

Read more about the climate rally: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/17/forward-on-climate-rally_n_2702575.htm

THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE: An OverviewBY MARIAH E. DORNER

The Keystone pipeline project was designed by the Canadian oil and gas company, TransCanada, to transport synthetic crude oil nearly 2,000 miles from the Athabasca oil sands in Northeast Alberta, Canada to the gulf coast of Texas (among other destinations in the United States). The pipeline consists of the “Keystone Pipeline”, the “Keystone-Cushing Extension”, and two proposed pipeline expansion segments, referred to as the Keystone XL Pipeline (indicated in green) and the Gulf Coast Project (indicated in blue).

TransCanada must receive a permit from the Obama administration before they can begin construction on the Keystone XL project. Obama rejected the permit, in January 18, 2012, amidst strong public opposition of the pipeline running through environmentally sensitive areas of Nebraska’s Sand Hills region. Consequently, Obama delayed the decision based on the need for an environmental review of the project.

On March 22, 2012, President Obama issued a memorandum and executive order to expedite the review of Keystone XL’s southern segment. This allowed for construction to commence on the lower segment of the expansion pipeline, beginning in Crushing, OK and extending to the gulf.

A final decision on the XL Pipeline is not expected until this summer; however, the decision to halt construction could damage the relationship between the U.S. and Canada, as the latter country would be forced to look elsewhere for new energy markets. Conservatives disapprove of the projects delay, which they see as the development of a reliable energy source that will serve to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and provide our country with new jobs. The project has powerful supporters from the business community, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers.

Environmental groups have argued that approving the full Keystone pipeline would lock in further development of carbon-intensive oil sand projects and set the stage for continued dependence on oil in the United States and Canada, thus worsening climate change over time. Critics of the project say that we should be working to create renewable energy sources to offset our dependence on foreign oil. Renewable energy markets also have a great potential for creating jobs.

“The president cannot tell us that he is concerned about global warming and approve the Keystone XL project. I again call on the president to reject this dangerous project and continue moving our nation toward energy efficiency and sustainable energy,”- Sen. Bernie Sanders.

The report from the State Department has concluded that the pipeline would have little environmental impact, and that construction of the XL pipeline would be unlikely to speed up the development of Canada’s oil sands. To this, Jim Lyon, vice president for conservation policy with the National Wildlife Federation asks, “If Keystone XL wouldn’t speed tar sands development, why are oil companies pouring millions into lobbying and political contributions to build it?” Environmental groups are sceptical of claims by the Department of State that the pipeline would have no environmental consequences.

Check out this story about one farmer whose property was seized by TransCanada in court based on eminent domain:•http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57569967/texas-rancher-wont-budge-for-keystone-pipeline/•http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/08/22/farmer-loses-case-against-keystone-xl-pipeline/

Read more:•http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/285789-state-report-downplays-climate-impact-of-keystone-pipeline#ixzz2N4BoaMU5•http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/why-the-keystone-pipeline-decision-probably-wont-matter-in-2012/2012/01/18/gIQAVxCz8P_blog.html

IN THE News Carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere has reached 395 parts per million (ppm). This update comes from the Mauna Loa observatory in Hawaii, which has been measuring atmospheric CO2 since 1959. The average yearly advance of CO2 in the atmosphere in the past 10 years has been 2.07ppm. From 2011-2012, CO2 increased by 2.67ppm—the second highest rise in 54 years.

This is significant because CO2 is a greenhouse gas that results in global warming and climate change. The main release of CO2 comes from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas). Leading climate scientists have stated that 350ppm is the upper limit for CO2 levels in order to avoid unprecedented climate change. As CO2 levels continue to rise,

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Student Office of Sustainability • March 2013 • Monthly Newsletter

MARCH 2013

BASICS of a GEOTHERMALHEATING and COOLING SYSTEMBY EMILY A. ZUPON

Geothermal energy = heat energy stored in the Earth

• At the Earth’s core temperatures are around 9,000 °F• Pipes are buried into the Earth at various depths to harness this heat energy• A 400,000 sq. ft. high school in WI with a geothermal heating and cooling system saved 20% of annual heating and cooling costs and 13% less CO2 production

For many people, the term “carbon footprint” often alludes primarily to carbon dioxide emissions from driving, flying, and industrial practices, but bananas have carbon footprints too. In fact, nearly every product and activity in our daily lives comes with a carbon accomplice. Calculating carbon footprints is no easy task, but it can be done. Even with the use of well-established methods for calculating carbon emissions, it is nearly impossible to come out with precise figures, as Berners-Lee admits. How Bad Are Bananas is a worthwhile guideline to understanding the carbon impact of our daily lives, and Berners-Lee keeps it pretty interesting with emissions calculations of such seemingly extraneous activities as texting, using toilet paper, getting in a car accident, and being cremated.

1) Cold air leaves the building2) The constant ground temperature warms the building air3) The heated air reenters the building

1) Hot air leaves the building2) The constant ground temperature cools the building air3) The cooled air reenters the building

MIS

SIO

N

CO

NT

AC

TThe SOS provides funding for projects that reduce UW-Eau

Claire’s negative impact on the environment and make UW-

Eau Claire a more sustainable campus. The SOS allocates

funding to projects addressing the various sustainability

areas of transportation, energy, waste, climate change, food

systems, campus ecology, environmental ethics, and outreach.

STUDENT OFFICE OF

SUSTAINABILITY

MEETINGS:

Tuesdays, 5 PM | Council Oak Room, Davies Center 260

DIRECTOR:

Ellen Sorensonstusen65@uwec.edu

NEWSLETTER DESIGN, SERENA S. WAGNER

HOW BAD ARE BANANAS?BY MARIAH E. DORNER

It is important to realize, as Berners-Lee asserts to multiple times in his book, that the carbon footprint of any product/activity is only one measure of its social and environmental impacts. Carbon tracking does not account for many specific issues regarding civil rights, pollution, public health, biodiversity, and environmental health.

Nonetheless, I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in obtaining a firm perspective on carbon foot printing. Mike Berners-Lee offers his knowledge as a manual for living a low carbon lifestyle in this fascinating, and oftentimes farcical read. •