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.

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by Beth Gray

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver have come to a close.  The United States stood strong atop the medal podiums, taking home a total of 37 medals, edging out Germany with 30 and the host nation, Canada, with 26.  Few would argue that the Canadians staged a successful event.  Vancouver is known for having an environmentally friendly and forward-thinking population and in planning these Olympic Games, the Canadians were cognizant of the environmental impact such an event could have.

The City of Vancouver touts an active environmental program.  Vancouver hosts a variety of programs for residents including “One Day” which encourages citizens to take proactive measures to reduce carbon emissions in the city.  The city’s One Day website boasts a variety of ways in which the city and its citizens are working toward a more environmentally friendly future.  For example, “all new commercial and multifamily buildings are required to meet the strictest energy efficiency requirements in Canada” and for more than a decade, the city has actively promoted alternative modes of transportation with great success; since 1996, Vancouver has seen a “44 percent increase in walking, a 180 percent increase in bike trips, a 20 percent increase in transit use, and a 10 percent reduction in vehicle trips.”  Vancouver also hosts a program called Green Streets which encourages citizens to beautify their neighborhoods by adopting and maintaining street gardens. 

Olympic planners stated early on that Vancouver would strive to host the most environmentally friendly Games the world had ever seen.  With more than 250,000 visitors traveling to Vancouver for the Games, the city faced a tremendous challenge in achieving that goal.  In attempting to meet their goal, however, the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) took several significant steps.  Upon winning the city’s bid to host the Games, VANOC formed a meaningful partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).  More tangible efforts toward greening the Games included low-flow toilets that used rainwater for flushing, separate waste receptacles for compostable waste, and energy-efficient grass covered roofs.  Additionally, VANOC increased its already expansive public transit system, encouraging visitors to move around the city using more environmentally friendly means. 

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by Beth Gray

It seems that many in the world today are seeking ways to make their lives more sustainable and “green.”  As individual citizens begin taking “green bags” to the grocery store and implementing carpools, businesses are also beginning to address the issues of climate change that are arguably reaching crisis levels.  The higher education industry has also begun seeking ways to make a difference in the realm of climate change.  Members of the higher education community have started to recognize the unique position they have in educating the nation’s next generation of leaders to be environmentally responsible citizens of Planet Earth. 

To this end, some 662 college and university presidents have signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).  This binding commitment speaks volumes to the dedication of signatory presidents to affect meaningful change in the way their institutions do business and educate students on the dangers of climate change. 

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