Bike To Work Day is May 17th!

Attention all Union College faculty and staff! This Friday, May 17th is Bike to Work Day! 

For all those bikers out there, Union will have a buffet this Friday from 8:15-10:30am in the courtyard outside Schaffer Library! 

Please register for our Union team here! 

http://bikeatoga.org/portfolio_archive/initiatives/

What are some benefits for biking to work? 

Biking provides exercise that is good for the body AND mind, free gym membership!

Reduce carbon emissions 

Less expensive than driving a car

Avoid traffic!

Avoid the stress that comes with looking for a parking spot

Reminder: There are several resources on campus to facilitate biking to work. Mens/women's bike commuter locker rooms are located in the basement of Science and Engineering. Alumni Gym also has lockers and showers available.  Bike racks are located all around campus as well! 

400 ppm: What Does This Mean For The Climate Crisis?

If you haven’t already heard, the Mauna Loa observatory in Hawaii has reported that we have reached atmospheric carbon dioxide levels of 400 parts per million. So what does this mean and why is this big news? This milestone that we have reached unfortunately shows we are moving in the wrong direction. Scientists tell us that we must reduce the amount of carbon dioxide we have in the atmosphere to below 350 parts per million (ppm) to be in the “safe zone” from the climate crisis. This milestone is evidence that while we need to be reducing our CO2 emissions, we are actually increasing emissions. Much of the carbon dioxide that is released into the environment is from human activity and if we do not reduce our output soon, we will cause damage to the planet that can last thousands of years. For those unfamiliar with the Mauna Loa Observatory, atmospheric carbon dioxide readings have been taken on a daily basis since the mid 1950s and have steadily been increasing since then. There is a yearly fluctuation in carbon dioxide levels due to the change in seasons but the overall yearly change has been increasing drastically.

This milestone may seem like a defeat for those fighting to stop climate change, but it is actually a wake up call to those who have not yet made the decision to change. In order for 350 ppm to become a reality, the whole world must agree to change since the majority of the rise in CO2 levels is from burning of fossil fuels. The last time the concentration of greenhouse gasses including carbon dioxide reached this mark, many animals were living in the high Arctic and seas were at least 30 feet higher; today this sea level rise would destroy many coastal cities. 

So what should we do? On an individual level, there are many things that can be done to reduce carbon emissions. We can carpool to work, ride bikes and walk to our destinations when we can. We can turn off electronics and lights, and lower the heat when not in the house. While small changes on an individual level will make a big difference, we also must make changes on the national and international level. We must urge our government to acknowledge climate change, pass laws to reduce fossil fuel emissions and reject the Keystone XL pipeline. On an international level, the Global Power Shift is the new phase of the global climate movement. Climate leaders from around the world will meet in Turkey this June and create a new strategy to tackle climate change and spend the rest of the year using this strategy to take action around the world. The more of us that work together around the world, the more of an impact we can make! 

For more information: 350.org, www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/10/atmospheric-co2-concentrations_n_3253757.html, globalpowershift.org/get-involved/

Native vs non-native vs invasive; weed vs wildflower - what's the difference?

Happy Spring! Gardening weather has returned to the northeast! With it comes an interest in landscaping and getting outside to enjoy our local biodiversity.

Gardening and the biodiversity of our natural habitats sometimes clash because some species that are planted intentionally for landscaping purposes escape cultivation and wreak havoc in nearby forests, wetlands, and grasslands. Government agencies and non-profit organizations such as The Nature Conservancy spend millions of dollars each year trying to prevent the introduction of such plants and to reverse their impacts.

There are many terms associated with this issue - native, non-native, and invasive species are only a few of the descriptions that are thrown around. Weed and wildflower are similarly vague and not always defined. What do they all mean? Let me try to help.

Japanese maple tree

• Typically a native species is one that naturally occurs in a particular region. The opposite is a non-native species, which is one that has been transported outside its native range to another place. So, a red maple tree is native to the northeast; the common ornamental Japanese maple tree is non-native to the northeast but native to Asia. Usually the introduction of non-native species is associated with human transportation, trade, etc., though with shifts in species ranges due to climate change, there may be more and more examples of species entering new areas with relatively little human assistance.

Japanese barberry in a forest understory

• An invasive species is a non-native species that is particularly worrisome because it is capable of expanding into natural areas or protected habitats. While Japanese maples are non-native, they for the most part stay in the yards in which they are planted - I have two in my own yard - rather than produce new offspring that grow into surrounding forests. Therefore, they are not considered invasive. The term invasive is reserved for species whose ranges are able to expand in size or whose populations are able to grow in number. Another species from Asia, Japanese barberry, is also widely planted in landscaping, but it is also a highly invasive shrub in surrounding forest understories. Barberry seeds are transported by birds to neighboring habitats where they grow and reproduce in abundance. So, not all non-native species are invasive, while the term "invasive" is pretty much reserved for non-native species (though there are some exceptions).

Dandelion in a salad - not a weed



Dandelion in a lawn - a weed

• Weed is a term that is basically defined by the context of its presence retaliative to human uses. Many native species are weeds in agricultural fields because they decrease a farmer's productivity. And the same species may be a weed in one context and not a weed in another context – for example dandelions in your lawn versus in your $10 salad.

Red trillium

• Lastly, the term wildflower is usually reserved for native, often herbaceous species. However, it is important to note that many non-native – including invasive – species were specifically cultivated and sold for their pretty flowers. There are few if any prohibitions against selling non-native species in nurseries in NY state – many plants that are the target of expensive eradication programs are widely sold in garden centers.

So, what is a gardener to do armed with this knowledge? By all means, get out there, enjoy the outdoors, and get dirt under your fingernails. When you do, give a special nod to your native vegetation that can support diverse pollinators and birds and that values the unique ecological and environmental history of our region.

I recommend following this hierarchy:

1. Where you can, plant a native species. There are excellent resources for gardeners interested in native landscaping. This is an excellent resource by Donald Leopold for the northeast region. Better Homes & Gardens has a list of the top 15 native plants for northeastern gardens. There are many other similar publications and lists for other regions. Also consider planting native species that support native pollinators such as butterflies and bees. Many of these pollinators' populations are struggling due to loss of habitat, climate change, and increasing pollution. So they need all the help they can get.
2. When you do plant a non-native species, make sure it is not invasive. The innovative "Don't Plant a Pest" program is a cooperation between the California Invasive Plant Council and the state's horticultural community to offer alternatives - both native and non-native - to invasive species that might be planted in people's gardens. Similar programs exist elsewhere, and you can also visit sites such as New York's Invasive Species Clearinghouse to see lists of priority invasive species.
3. Get out there and pull! There are many opportunities to volunteer to control invasive species in parks and natural areas near your home. Contacting your park or local chapter of The Nature Conservancy is an excellent way to get involved in biodiversity conservation.

Octopus's Garden Help!

Great progress was made setting up the garden last week and this Saturday, May 4th, is a big planting day! Before Springfest begins at 1pm, head over to the Garden at 10am to help plant and get the garden growing! Never been to the garden before? Now is the perfect time to join, all you have to do is show up and we'll put you to work. It's going to be a great day! For more information email octopusgarden@union.edu or battar@garnet.union.edu  

Banned Bottled Water Day at Union!

Today at Union College there is no bottled water being sold on campus in an effort to raise awareness for the need to ban bottled water. You may be thinking, "I'm confused? Water is a natural product from the earth, why are these crazy environmentalists telling me that I shouldn't be drinking it?" While yes, water is a natural and comes from the earth, the packaging of bottled water is just a way for the bottled water industry to get you to pay for something you can have essentially for FREE! Some people are skeptical about drinking tap water but the truth is that 47.8% of bottled water is actually filtered tap water!

And what about Schenectady drinking water? How safe is that? It's extremely safe and tastes great! Here are a few excerpts from the City Of Schenectady: Annual Drinking Water Quality Report

"In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the State and the EPA prescribe regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by Public Water Systems. The State Health Department’s and the FDA’s regulations establish limits for contaminant’s in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health. Our water source is a clean and plentiful groundwater aquifer called the Great Flats Aquifer. The water from the aquifer is pumped into the system through a series of twelve 70 foot drilled wells located at the treatment plant on Rice Road in the Town of Rotterdam. The water produced by the wells is of excellent quality prior to treatment. Chlorination, fluoridation and inorganic phosphates provide the only treatment required. During 2012, our system did not experience any restriction of our water source." 

"We test your drinking water for inorganic contaminants, radiological contaminants, lead and copper, nitrate, volatile organic contaminants, and synthetic organic contaminants. In addition, we test seventy samples for coliform bacteria each month." 

Many water bottled companies want to convince you that the water that you're drinking is unsafe and tastes bad, but in taste tests across the country, people actually preferred the taste of tap water to bottled water! 

And whats the problem with the plastic bottles?

~Studies by the Natural Resources Defense Council explained that "....there is no assurance that bottled water is any safer than tap water." 

~The production of water bottles uses 17 million barrels of oil a year, this is enough to fuel 1.3 million cars for a year!  

~In terms of water usage, it takes three times the water to make a water bottle as it does to fill it! 

~Of the 50 billion plastic water bottles that were used last year, only 23% were recycled! This left over 38 billion water bottles to go strait to the landfill. 

~Water bottles can take between 400 and 1000 years to decompose

~Due to the vast amount of trash poured in, the Schenectady County Landfill is one of the highest points in the city

~The energy we waste making bottled water would be enough energy to power 190,000 homes

~The NRDC conducted a comprehensive four-year scientific study of 1,000 brands of bottled water. The results showed that one third of the bottled waters violated their own industry standards for water quality

Sign the pledge in front of Reamer Today!

So join us today and just SAY NO! to  plastic water bottles! Reusable bottles are sold at many retail stores and are also sold in the Union College Bookstore! While yes a reusable water bottle may be a little more expensive then a $2 water bottle, in about 5 refills you will get the payback that you deserve and start enjoying free water! This will save you hundreds of dollars every year and also save the environment from unnecessary waste! 

Information collected from http://www.businessinsider.com/facts-bottled-water-industry-2011-10?op=1#ixzz2ROau3PYa , City Of Schenectady: Annual Drinking Water Quality Report, and The Story of Stuff: The Story of Bottled Water 

What Is Your Earth Week Pledge?

Happy Earth Week! This week we are celebrating the earth and we are taking this week to appreciate everything the environment has given us. This Earth Week, we are challenging students, faculty, and staff at Union College to make a pledge for earth week! This is the week to think, what small changes can we make to our lifestyles that will mean BIG changes in protecting our planet? 

For those of you who don't do much now but want to do more, here are 10 Earth Week pledges to get you started! 

1) I will buy a reusable drinking container and start filling it with water from the many water refill stations around campus. 

2) I will only take what I need in the dining halls. If I am still hungry I can always get up and take a little bit more. 

3) I will recycle my one-time use containers and be more aware of what I can recycle around campus. 

4) I will carpool and encourage my friends to carpool when traveling. 

5) I will walk short distances instead of driving there. 

6) I will take shorter showers. 

7) I will bring reusable bags to the grocery store and not take plastic bags. 

8) I will recycle my plastic bags in the bin located outside of the Union College Bookstore. 

9) I will do my laundry only when I have a full load to do. 

10) I will make an effort to buy more local foods (Start today! the Schenectady Greenmarket is outside of Reamer Campus Center from 11-2pm!)

For those of you who feel that you incorporate a lot of environmentally friendly practices into your everyday life, here are some more challenging pledges to take on! 

1) I will encourage 10 friends to make an Earth Week pledge. 

2) I will walk/bike to work or class. I will only use the car if it is in a carpool, otherwise I will travel by foot. 

3) I will not eat meat for the duration of Earth Week. 

4) I will not use any single use containers for all of Earth Week. 

5) I will not use the dishwasher. I will only hand wash all of my dishes this week. 

6) I will not purchase water bottles. 

7) I will start composting my organic waste in my home. 

8) If I see someone not disposing of their waste properly, I will make an effort to say something in order to educate my peers on proper recycling practices. 

9) I will bring my old electronics to facilities and recycle them. 

10) I will use empty glass containers to store food instead of using aluminum foil or plastic wrap. 

Make a commitment today! Write your commitment on an item that can be recycled and take a picture with your pledge! Send your pictures to schwarts@garnet.union.edu or haleyqum@union.edu. We will be posting all of our pledges to many of Union's social media sites including Garnet Goes Green! You can also write down your commitment and take a picture in front of Reamer Campus Center tomorrow from 11-2pm! 

RecycleMania Results!

This past winter term, Union College competed in the annual RecycleMania Tournament. The tournament is an eight-week long competition between hundreds of colleges that are competing to recycle the most waste and reduce their consumption. This years RecycleMania final results are now in! So how did Union do compared to the rest of the country and to previous years?

Union College’s rankings in each category are below!

Category	Rank
Grand Champion!	113 out of 274
Per Capita Classic	21 out of 361
Gorilla Waste	169 out of 365
Waste Minimization	159 out of 167
Paper	80 out of 164
Corrugated Cardboard	34 out of 162
Bottles and Cans	34 out of 163
Food Service Organics	29 out of 156

How does this compare to previous years? Union College was the winner of per Capita Classic and Carrogated Cardboard in 2011 and 2012! This years slight drop may mean that we were a little over confident this year. Time to step it up Union! Even though the competition is now over this doesn’t mean that we should stop trying to improve for next year! It is time to increase our recycling efforts to instill good practices on campus so that we can regain our winning title next year! 

So what can we do around campus to improve our recycling efforts? 

~Encourage your peers to properly dispose of all waste around campus! Whether it is composting properly in upper class dining or making sure that a friend puts their soda bottle in the recycling bin, we must work together!

~Check out the signs above every bin! Each paper and plastics, metals and glass bin is properly labeled with what waste should go in it? If you’re not sure, check the list, ask a friend or email us!

~Remember that cardboard can be folded up and placed next to a bin and it will be recycled!

~Also remember that you are allowed to LIFT THE LID! There are many recyclable containers that may not fit in the hole of the plastic, metals, and glass recycling lid but that doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t go in the bin! Always remember to LIFT THE LID if the item is labeled with a 1-7 recycling number.

Special thanks to Kyle Lanzit and Jamie McNulty!