This month, Staples has put together a context in which all BuySite users can participate. Simply consolidate small office supply orders into an order of $50 or more between June 4, 2012 and June 22, 2012 and you'll be entered into a drawing for a pizza party for your department.
See the contest flyer for more details and ideas to help you consolidate.
]]>Students compost their plates, cups, utensils, and leftover food at the South Asian Students Association Annual Cultural Show on Saturday, March 31.
Thus, we have worked with the Office of Sustainability and ORCSA staff to bring you a brand new Green Event Certification program! The aim of the program is simple: to raise awareness for Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) that are committed to reducing their environmental impacts, and to encourage other RSOs to do so as well.
How does certification work, you might wonder. Well, the process is simple! You perform a self-assessment of and we verify the amount of "green" actions your RSO has taken (in planning an event) by having you fill out a checklist. Each item on the checklist is worth a certain number of points, and if you accumulate 5 points, then you earn certification for your event! If your RSO has taken additional measures that are not mentioned on the checklist, you can detail those actions in a special "Innovation" section and receive points for those deeds as well.
Once you send your completed checklist to greencertification@lists.uchicago.edu, we will verify your "greening" efforts and notify you of your certification achievement. As I mentioned previously, you only need to accumulate 5 points to achieve the SAGE Certified designation. However, if you go above and beyond (by accumulating 8 or more points), your event will receive the honor of SAGE Certified Plus!
After your event is certified, we will send you a special seal that you can display on event advertising and on your RSO website. As an added bonus, we will advertise your event on the GCI listhost and your RSO's greening efforts will be recorded on the Office of Sustainability's website.
So, what are you waiting for? Fill out that checklist and start receiving the recognition you deserve!
Points towards certification can be earned by purchasing recyclable and compostable tableware (above) and composting all food waste at your event (below).
Points can also be earned by serving water in coolers, rather than offering bottled water (below).
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]]>When you walk into Ratner, you can't help but be inspired by the many patrons determined to surpass five miles on the treadmill or bench press hundreds of pounds. When we walk into Ratner, we can't help but be inspired by the many steps the Athletics Department is taking towards a greener fitness facility.
Let's start with the machines: been biking lately? All of Ratner's bikes are user-powered. They have batteries for startup, but once you start peddling, the motion of your legs spinning the wheels powers the machine. There are even two upright bikes on the second floor that feature iPod/iPhone integration, meaning you can charge your electronics through exercise!
Ratner is also working with Facilities Services (FS) to implement energy conservation lighting, which was done in 2011 at Henry Crown Field House. FS is also completing a project to recalibrate and balance Ratner's ventilation system. This would increase the efficiency of both the heating and cooling at Ratner.
In addition to these sustainability measures, the Athletics Department sends older fitness equipment to other University athletic facilities. When equipment can no longer be repurposed, Ratner staff trades in these machines to fitness equipment companies. In return, these companies give Ratner new equipment while the old equipment is repaired and sold to high schools and other organizations or sold as scrap metal. Old athletic uniforms are donated to charitable organizations.
As gym patrons know, Ratner provides spray bottles of cleaning solution and towels in various locations throughout the gym. This cleaning solution, made by Simple Green, is eco-friendly and the towels are repurposed as cleaning rags by Ratner's staff once they are tattered. The towels are washed in high-efficiency machines with a green laundry detergent. You can read more about the sustainability of their laundry detergent here.
Next time you hit the basketball courts or take a trip up to the cardio rotunda, rest assured that Ratner is making sustainable choices and looking towards a greener future. And don't forget to power down that TV after you've finished your workout!
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