Green Pages Update

SUNY Canton Green Pages are off to a strong start in the first six weeks of existence. Through September 30^th there were over 2000 visits to the Green Pages, despite the fact that the direct link from the SUNY Canton Home Page was temporarily replaced by the swine flu alert during early September.

Many people were unaware of various efforts to make the campus more sustainable, and the Green Pages were created to get the word out on all that was being done. Information is being added and updated regularly. Since their inception, new links for campus recycling, the draft State Energy Master Plan, utility usage data, and the campus environmental club have been included. Please send any ideas to Sustainability@canton.edu.

Sustainability Resources Fund Started

As part of SUNY Canton’s commitment to becoming a more sustainable institution we are pleased to announce the creation of a Sustainability Resources Fund as part of the Canton College Foundation. Associate Director of Advancement Julie Parkman and Sustainability Coordinator Doug Welch recently made a joint announcement to the campus community. Donations will be used to advance campus sustainability projects.

SUNY Canton employees interested in contributing to this new fund can do so either through a payroll deduction, or a one-time donation. Forms for starting a payroll deduction can be obtained from the Canton College Foundation office. SUNY Canton alumni and community members interested in contributing can do so as well. Please include “sustainability” on the memo line when writing a check.

Thank you very much for your interest in this new endeavor.

Conservation is Cool!

One of the biggest misconceptions about conserving energy is that we would all end up sitting in the dark and cold. Not true. In the European Union per capita energy consumption is far less than North America, but the standard of living is about the same. While the excellent public transportation in Europe would account for some of this difference in energy use, it is not the whole story.
Conservation is a concrete action we can all take to shape our shared energy future in a positive way. Conservation means one less power plant to build and pay for, and fewer transmission lines through someone’s back yard who does not want them there. Conservation buys time to figure out energy alternatives, saves money, and partially insulates us from the vagaries of national and international energy markets.
So far from being a dirty word, conservation is our friend. In a time of energy uncertainty and financial crisis, here is something we can do, even as we embark another busy academic year here at SUNY Canton.