In early November, we featured an article by SAGE Ambassador and Sustainability Council member Cheryl Rusnak, "From trees to furniture: a case study of how trees from the Mansueto Library construction site were put to purposeful re-uses." Now, we are pleased to share even more photos from the project. All the credit goes to the committed folks at the Library!

It's that time of year again! Home heating can account for nearly half the average family's winter energy costs. This winter, try out these tips to stay warm and toasty while saving energy and your pocketbook.

• Securely close and lock all windows for the duration of the heating season

• Prevent heat loss through your windows by covering window air conditioning units or storing and removing them*

-On campus, call the Work Center (campus extension 4-1414); there will likely be a charge associated with covering an air conditioner

• Install storm windows

-At home, do it yourself or ask your landlord
-If you live in one of the older campus residence halls that have storm windows (Blackstone, Breckinridge, Broadview, Maclean, or Snell-Hitchcock), be sure to close them all the way to prevent draft

• If you don't have storm windows, instead use plastic to cover and seal around your windows

-On campus, call the Work Center (campus extension 4-1414); there will likely be a charge associated with this procedure

• Check for and seal air leaks to minimize drafts
• Stop under-door drafts by attaching a vinyl sweep or "door snake" (a long cloth tube filled with sand) to the bottom of your doors. You can also use a rolled up towel
• At home, install a programmable thermostat. An Energy Star model can cost as little as $30 while offering the potential savings of over $100 per year

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, dress for the weather. Before turning up the thermostat, try throwing on an extra layer. Everyone's experience of heat and cold is different and because entire buildings are often on the same ventilation and temperature control system, individual adaptation is key to staying comfortable.

If you just can't get warm enough, get a space heater to use as needed--just be sure to choose an Energy Star model!

As the pictures demonstrate, not only do AEPi members spend less time sorting during clean-up shifts, but, in the rooms where I provided garbage and recycling bins without compromising space, party patrons generally sorted items without issue. Even more, other AEPi members donated old towels to use as mops and cleaning rags instead of paper towels. Since O-Week when we started using the towels, we have yet to use more than 1 roll of paper towels during four different cleaning shifts that covered nearly 4,000 square-feet of space.
 

Guest post from Ari Epstein, a SAGE Ambassador and a fourth year in the College.

Before I became a SAGE Ambassador at the end of Spring Quarter last year, I contacted the Office of Sustainability on behalf of the Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) fraternity. Because of my interest in reforming in-house and party practices to be more environmentally conscious, the fraternity elected me to institute pro-sustainability changes as co-house manager of our South Campus house.

Members of the Office of Sustainability made my task very easy by providing advice on gradually implementing reforms in a large social organization like a fraternity and information on electronic, print, and city resources. Despite the lack of higher quality of photos in this series, I am pleased to share AEPi's successful sustainability reforms with the University community in order to generate interest among other large social RSOs to reduce their carbon footprint and overall environmental impact and to streamline existing sustainability measures like recycling.

Our recycles bike share partner, Blackstone Bicycle Works, is pleased to offer a new series of bicycle knowledge, building, and maintenance classes.

This single-session weekly class covers the basics. You will learn what every gear, link, and bolt is called and how it functions. Truth be told, you need to know how it works before you can fix it. We'll cover the basic repairs to keep you rolling: flat fixes, patch tubes, adjust brakes. You'll get a multi-tool and a reference guide to take home. Once a week, 6-9pm, Wednesdays.

Foster Holistic Understanding: $40 per class, $140 for all four.
These classes are in-depth explorations of the four main component groups that make up your bicycle
(you'll get a tool and reference guide to take home):
Drivetrain: 11/4, 12/2, 1/6, 2/3
This class covers the heart of your bike. Learn the ins and outs of gears, shifters, and derailleurs.
Brakes: 11/11, 12/9, 1/13, 2/10
This class covers all that is involved in the set-up, maintenance of all brake types.
Wheels: 11/18, 12/15, 1/20, 2/17
The spoked wheel is surprisingly complex! Learn to tame and true this wild beast!
Bearings: 11/23, 12/20, 1/27, 2/24
Learn to adjust, maintain, and rebuild hubs, headsets, and bottom brackets. These little b.b.s are important things!
 
In addition, Blackstone Bicycle Works will offer a five week intensive workshop of building a bike from scratch beginning 11/9. Please call or email the shop for more information.