by Amy Panzarella

Putting pen to paper to process the annual benefits open enrollment is a thing of the past!  Many companies, including American Public University System (APUS), have reverted to the more environmentally friendly and efficient method of processing benefits on-line.  This process affords employees the luxury of completing their benefits enrollment at their convenience.  Additionally, it affords the company a significant cost savings.  Take into consideration the following facts:

• 1 tree = 16 reams of printer paper.
• 1 ream of paper = 500 sheets.
• APUS = approximately 700 full-time employees and 400 part-time employees.
• Historically, open enrollment required that Human Resources distribute packets of information to all full-time employees.  Each packet contained approximately 100 pieces of paper.
• All enrollments were typed into the Human Resource Information System (HRIS) and vendor’s systems manually.  This process invited the opportunity for human error.  Additionally, it took an extraordinary amount of time to input information multiple times. 

Read the rest of this entry »

by Ashley Adams

In West Virginia, Adopt-A-Highway is co-sponsored by the Division of Highways and the Department of Environmental Protection, Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan (REAP).  Adopt-A-Highway was developed in the 1980’s to promote community participation and awareness of the state’s environment by actively removing highway litter.  American Public University System (APUS) joined this program in 2004 and since has picked up trash along a two mile stretch of a local highway three times a year.  An email goes out to staff asking for volunteers to participate in the roadside cleanup. Usually between 15 and 20 employees take an afternoon to gather 20 plus bags of trash. Signs, on either end of the assigned roadside, indicate APUS has volunteered to be responsible for keeping the area free of trash. The Adopt-A-Highway program is in 49 states and available to all organizations.

by Jennifer Lefebvre

If you are in the market for a new vehicle, why not consider a more fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly vehicle?  In the past, hybrid vehicles tended to cost more and many people did not feel the savings up front equaled the fuel savings over the life of the vehicle.  However, costs are coming down and many of these vehicles are even affordable, starting well below $20,000.  There is no question that vehicles have enhanced the quality of our lives since their inception.  However, the increased use of gasoline by our ever-growing and ever-mobile population has added contaminants to our environment that have now affected our air quality.  Vehicles contribute some of the most significant greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution (25 percent of total GHG pollution).

Read the rest of this entry »

Second Nature is an organization based in Boston, Massachusetts dedicated to providing helpful resources to leaders in higher education seeking to create a more sustainable future.  Second Nature’s mission is to “accelerate movement toward a sustainable future by serving and supporting senior college and university leaders in making healthy, just, and sustainable living the foundation of all learning and practice in higher education.”  Second Nature supports the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) as well as other initiatives including Higher Education Associations Sustainability Consortium (HEASC).  The organization’s website provides a variety of resources related to financing sustainability in higher education, integrating sustainability into higher education curriculums, and green building practices.  For college and university leaders working towards greater sustainability in their organizations, Second Nature’s website can serve as a helpful and worthwhile resource.

by Jennifer Lefebvre

Did you know that even your garden could benefit from being “green”?  One of the most sustainable ways to green your landscaping is to use native plants.  Native plants are species that have naturally grown and survived in a particular environment.  These plants have evolved and adapted over many years and have shown to be resilient and vigorous.  They enjoy the soil in which they grow and have survived on the water supply they naturally receive.  They’ve survived diseases and pests that have come and gone which may have afflicted other species of plants.  In essence, they are low maintenance and thrive with the least amount of care.

A benefit of using native plants in your landscaping is that it fosters the existence of a natural ecosystem.  When native plants are healthy, the animals and insects that survive on them are also healthy.  Native plants offer a recognizable and diverse habitat for local wildlife.  This creates a balance in the environment.  Since native species have been able to survive on the water they receive from natural sources, it is not typically necessary to water them by hand.  In addition, they use water more efficiently because they have learned to; their root systems have adapted to their environment.  Not needing regular watering can save over 50 percent of landscape water usage.  Because of their root systems, they also help to control soil erosion.  In addition these types of plants do not require fertilizer or chemical pesticides.  Soil erosion and pesticides used on other types of plants can cause run-off that threatens our streams, rivers, and estuaries.

Read the rest of this entry »

by Jennifer Lefebvre

These days, almost everyone is trying to make a conscious effort to “go green.”  Those efforts may include recycling, carpooling, using less paper, less water, less plastic; thankfully, the list is vast and goes on and on.  However, sometimes many of us tend to forget that going green encompasses every aspect of our lives – including gift giving.  If you’re shopping for a gift, why not consider something that is eco-friendly?    Living a green lifestyle or giving a green gift doesn’t mean you have to compromise on the quality of a gift or the price you’d hope to pay.   Many new eco-friendly products are being created and introduced to the consumer market every day.  Some may cater to the practical person on your list while others may appeal to the fun-loving person.  No matter the reason or to whom you choose to give, these items have a common goal in mind:  helping promote the “going green” lifestyle.
Shopping for an environmentally friendly gift has become a whole lot easier than it once was.  Below are some ideas and websites to check out.  If you’re still looking for something special, simply type “eco-friendly gifts” into your search engine and a world of possibility pops up.

1. Global Goods Partners:  www.globalgoodspartners.org  – Help the environment and promote market opportunities for economically marginalized women across the world!  Global Goods Partners is a fair-trade, not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to reducing poverty and promoting social justice by strengthening women-led development initiatives for marginalized communities in Asia, Africa, and the Americas.  Artisans in these countries are not able to easily access the global marketplace and succeed in economic growth. Through their online store, Global Goods Partners provides direct access to new markets for their partners’ handcrafted products, often providing the only means of revenue in their communities.  Eco-friendly items include bags, jewelry, home décor, and clothing.

Read the rest of this entry »

by Ashley Adams

Are you thinking about putting in new floors, buying new furniture, or switching to wood for any other item in your home? Purchasing products crafted from reclaimed wood is one way to dress up your home without negatively impacting the environment.  There are many companies that specialize in reclaimed wood which includes wood that is no longer suitable in its current state and turned it into something functional.

For example, Centennial Woods uses old snow fences from Wyoming to create beautiful interior and exterior home products.  This company has been able to repurpose over five million feet of snow fence that would otherwise have gone to waste. The company approximates that it has been able to save 9,000 tons of CO2 emissions. Centennial Woods’ products also feature all natural and untreated wood meaning there isn’t “offgassing” once installed. Companies such as Centennial Woods benefit the natural environment and create a healthier indoor environment for consumers.

Read the rest of this entry »

by Jessica Stasiw

“Being green” starts at home. From the items you throw into the trash, to the amount of time you spend in the shower, it all adds up to an increased overall carbon footprint. Gas is one thing that is constantly a hot button topic for discussion in regards to the environment. With daily commutes to work and school, lately it seems better for everyone, especially the environment, to just stay home. If you’re interested in returning to school, however, there are eco-friendly ways of doing so, the most obvious one being attending an online school.

There are several eco-benefits to going to school online starting with the consumption of gas…there is none. Fuel emissions from time spent in traffic can have hazardous impacts on the environment and are multiplied when there is nobody with whom to carpool.  With an online school there is no traffic, no gas being consumed by your car on the way to school, and less overall environmental impact since the school is not required to maintain brick and mortar classrooms which require lighting, heating and cooling, and maintenance. E-learning can be considerably less carbon-intensive than conventional brick and mortar-based coursework. Convenience is also an appealing reason to attend an online school.

Read the rest of this entry »

by James May and Jennifer Lefebvre

EVP1000 Pickup Truck

In February 2009, American Public University System (APUS) purchased two electric vehicles (EVs) for transporting people, equipment, mail, and supplies across the university’s Charles Town, West Virginia campus.  Using EVs at APUS will aid in fulfilling the school’s commitment to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) by providing fuel efficient transportation around campus and reducing CO2 and other harmful emissions created when using traditional vehicles.  Prior to purchasing the EVs, employees used their personal vehicles to move goods and mail around the organization.

Read the rest of this entry »

by Beth Gray

The National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) is a great resource for anyone in higher education.  In 2009, NACUBO teamed with Second Nature to publish a book titled, Boldly Sustainable: Hope and Opportunity for Higher Education in the Age of Climate Change.  The book, written by Second Nature leaders Peter Bardaglio and Andrea Putnam, is a must-read for anyone interested in the issue of climate change as it relates to higher education.  Virtually every aspect of the higher education environment is addressed from the perspective of climate change.  From sustainable business models to greening dining halls and dormitories, the authors have managed to create a veritable encyclopedia of sustainability for higher education leaders interested in sustainability.  In September 2009, American Public University System’s (APUS) President, Wallace Boston, Jr., published a thorough review of Boldly Sustainable on his blog.  I encourage you to read President Boston’s thoughts on the work and take a look at Bardaglio and Putnam’s book for yourself.  I am sure that you will find it worthwhile.