The Observer, April 14, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 24
Case conservation efforts featured
click to enlarge
A significant expansion of the Recycling Extravaganza, Sustain-A-Palooza is being sponsored by the Energy Advisory Committee in an effort to raise awareness about energy conservation, recycling, and sustainability around campus.
The event will take place on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Adelbert Gym. Showcasing exhibits and demonstrations involving everything from hybrid cars to green buildings to organic gardening, the event hopes to inform students of all the ways they can conserve energy in their daily lives and have them be more informed about the impact of their choices.
"We want to show that energy conservation and recycling are really easy to do on campus and can be a lot of fun too," Linda Robson, co-chair of the Energy Advisory Committee (EAC), said.
The program will feature presentations from student-run activities, such as the Recycling Club, as well as organizations in the greater Cleveland area, such as the Cleveland Green Building Coalition, City Wheels Cleveland, the City Fresh urban gardening program, Eco City Cleveland, and Green Energy Ohio. There will also be hybrid cars from Toyota and Honda.
"We hope to highlight what is happening in terms of sustainability around campus. The major point is to let people know that Case is doing quite a lot to conserve energy and reduce its environmental impact. The school is doing many things, from starting an undergraduate summer research program in energy studies to unveiling an 'adopt-a-building' energy conservation program.
Case is also expanding the recycling program, using compost for landscaping, and including faculty members in research on energy and sustainability issues. "These are all really cool things that people need to know about," Robson said.
She mentioned some of the highlights of the day's event, including the Cleveland City Wheels Program. "We want students to know that they don't have to rely on their cars on campus," Robson said.
The organization has a monthly membership fee and provides transportation services to students through a car-sharing program to conserve energy and make transportation more affordable.
Some other spotlight events are the Bon Appetit booth, which will feature the Farm to Fork section of its dining hall services, and the mock dorms and offices, which will show students and staff all the ways to conserve energy and recycle.
"We're also trying to get the Great Lakes Brewing Company to come. They use biodiesel in their microbrewery," Robson said.
Although not an annual event just yet, Sustain-A-Palooza might become a staple event at Case. The EAC hopes to have the event every year to continue to raise awareness about the energy conservation measures Case is taking.
Besides Sustain-A-Palooza, the EAC has a variety of other activities and programs planned leading up to the Earth Day celebration "EarthFest" on April 23 at the Cleveland Zoo.
One of the largest educational events in Ohio, EarthFest offers an opportunity to learn about environmental issues while at the same time it offers a chance to enjoy the entertainment and have fun.
On the same day as Sustain-A-Palooza, the ECC will be welcoming David Orr, Chair of the Environmental Studies Program at Oberlin College and author of Earth in Mind and Ecological Literacy.
He is slated to speak at 5 p.m. in Strosacker Auditorium, and his talk, "Sustainability and Higher Education—An Assignment for Case," will challenge Case to become conscious of environmental issues such as energy conservation.
Orr is best known for his pioneering work in environmental literacy in higher education and his recent work in ecological design.
"He is one of the country's most effective champions of mindful stewardship of the natural world, challenging higher education to rethink the way it fulfills its educational mission," according to the statement from the EAC.
The EAC encourages all students and staff to come learn about all the easy ways to conserve energy. To learn more about the EAC or the efforts Case organizations are making toward recycling and sustainability, go to http://www.case.edu/news/energy.
