Around the Dell
The focus turns to sustainability for the 2010-11 academic year. See what we’re doing Around the Dell.
What is sustainability?
Dr. Kevin Peterson, associate professor of math and coordinator of the Year of Sustainability, defines a sustainable lifestyle as one that:
• Respects and supports all living things
• Upholds universal human rights • Maintains economic and social justice
• Insists on a culture of peace • Can be continued indefinitely.
To that end, Dr. Peterson showed a
series of “Films for Thought” that took a tough look at our food system, the wastefulness of buying water in plastic bottles, trash, and the chemicals that are polluting the planet. Senior Symposium lectures also focused on the sustainability theme, as did numerous endowed lec- tures. Another way faculty and staff demonstrated sustainability was with a
“freeshare” in December where un- wanted items were swapped and un- claimed items were donated to neighbors of the College.
GLTCLT GLTCLT GLTCLT Is the water meter broken?
When the City of Lynchburg read Lynch- burg College’s water meter last fall, the city assumed it was broken. The College saved 1.2 million gallons in one month compared to the same time the previous year, thanks to campus-wide retrofits completed as part of the College’s com- mitment to reducing energy use. During the four months of the 2010
fall semester, the College saved nearly 4.5 million gallons of water. “That’s the equivalent of over 29,000 flushes per day based on the current flush rates for these new toilets,” said Dave Fisher, director of lc’s physical plant. “That’s 3.5 million flushes total.”
Not all the savings come from toilets,
however. Low-flow showerheads and faucets, as well as “smart” irrigation sys- tems have also decreased water usage. Savings have also occurred in electric
use. “Across four months, we saved 237,600 kWh (kilowatt hours),” Fisher said. “That is the equivalent to not burning 5,988 40-watt light bulbs for eight hours a day.” Overall, the College saved $78,658 in
fall 2010, compared with the same period in 2009.
A ticket to ride
Students, faculty, and staff boarded, at no charge, Greater Lynchburg Transit Company (GLTC) buses 5,406 times (about fifty-four times per day) during the fall semester thanks to a pilot program paid for by the College and suggested by B.J. Keefer, director of Student Activities. The free bus rides, continuing this spring, are aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the campus community.
GLOBE:
PHOTOS.COM/GETTY IMAGES/THINKSTOCK
Spring 2011 LC MAGAZINE 3
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52