Environmental Club's Earth Week raises campus awareness
By: Ashton Simmons
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: News
DePauw Environmental Club members agreed that Earth Week, last week's dedication to environmental sustainability, not only engaged the campus in environmental awareness, but also served to illustrate where DePauw can improve in its efforts.
Freshman DEC advertisement director Hannah Ramage referenced the lessons learned from the "landfill" in academic quad last Monday. Out of 19 bags of trash from various residential and academic buildings, DEC members recovered two bags of compost, three bags of plastics and six bags of paper, leaving only eight bags of trash.
"It was not only a demonstration to show people, but it showed us what needed to be done for the recycling program," she said.
Other events throughout the week proved similarly successful. On Tuesday, DEC engaged the superintendent of the North Putnam school district in a discussion called "Talk Green" at Blue Door Café. He discussed an energy audit at the schools, which "looks at all of your sources of energy to heat and power your building and where you are losing money," said DEC president Anthony Baratta. One of the schools decided to change its one large boiler for five smaller ones, which cost around $100,000. Baratta added that the school is already making up the money faster than expected, and if the school cannot make up the money in a certain period of time, the energy auditors will pay the difference.
"He said that they are well on their way to saving much more than that and going well beyond even," Baratta added.
On Wednesday, DEC members passed out absentee ballots, hoping to encourage students to vote in local elections in their hometowns. Pamphlets illustrating presidential candidates' environmental policies were also provided.
"Regardless of what party you support, it's important for you to know what they think about the environment," said DEC member Maggie Baber, who was in charge of creating the pamphlets.
The Water Forum, a discussion of water scarcity, was held Wednesday evening.
Freshman DEC advertisement director Hannah Ramage referenced the lessons learned from the "landfill" in academic quad last Monday. Out of 19 bags of trash from various residential and academic buildings, DEC members recovered two bags of compost, three bags of plastics and six bags of paper, leaving only eight bags of trash.
"It was not only a demonstration to show people, but it showed us what needed to be done for the recycling program," she said.
Other events throughout the week proved similarly successful. On Tuesday, DEC engaged the superintendent of the North Putnam school district in a discussion called "Talk Green" at Blue Door Café. He discussed an energy audit at the schools, which "looks at all of your sources of energy to heat and power your building and where you are losing money," said DEC president Anthony Baratta. One of the schools decided to change its one large boiler for five smaller ones, which cost around $100,000. Baratta added that the school is already making up the money faster than expected, and if the school cannot make up the money in a certain period of time, the energy auditors will pay the difference.
"He said that they are well on their way to saving much more than that and going well beyond even," Baratta added.
On Wednesday, DEC members passed out absentee ballots, hoping to encourage students to vote in local elections in their hometowns. Pamphlets illustrating presidential candidates' environmental policies were also provided.
"Regardless of what party you support, it's important for you to know what they think about the environment," said DEC member Maggie Baber, who was in charge of creating the pamphlets.
The Water Forum, a discussion of water scarcity, was held Wednesday evening.
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