Archive for November, 2009
Environmental Consortium II
Lauren Brois November 16th, 2009
After the first day of workshops we had a wonderful dinner where our congressman Maurice Hinchey gave a great speech about many of the current environmental issues in NY.
Hinchey mentioned how he was currently working on a bill that will reduce C02 emission by 17% in 2020 and 80% in 2050. If this bill passes through congress it will return to 2005 emission levels by 2050. He spoke with pride about New Paltz (his alma mater) and New York State. We learned that NY is actually the 14th most heavily forested area in the nation.
My favorite part of his speech was when he spoke about natural gas and hydraulic fracturing. He told us the “very interesting chemicals” (like benzene) used to extract the natural gas from deep underground are actually not regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA’s authority to regulate benzene was removed in 2005, when the agency “was stripped of their water regulatory authority,” which allowed for unregulated drilling in the US to happen. Oil and gas drilling is presently not regulated under the EPA.
The contents of the fluid used for fracking are not all announced because the solutions are protected under private business laws. Hinchey wants to see federal regulation step in to address the dangers fracking has to our water supply.
Hinchey ended his talk by reminding us that the answers to environmental issues are out and will be found with the help of our educational system and support for political leaders that want to make sustainable advances.
Recycling Club and NYPIRG with Maurice Hinchey!
Environmental Consortium I
Lauren Brois November 16th, 2009
We are back from the Environmental Consortium at Vassar at it was awesome! Over the next few days members of Recycling Club will be posting summaries of what they learned at the conference. Check back later this week for photos and posts about the event.
What’s in your cleaning products?
Lauren Brois November 16th, 2009
The Environmental Working Group tested over 20 cleaners used in schools in California, and detected hundreds of air contaminants not listed as ingredients by manufacturers. Follow the link to find out the contaminants used in popular cleaning products.
Save a Mountain
Lauren Brois November 16th, 2009
Two weeks ago, the families of Pettus, West Virginia woke up to find that the blasting had started on Coal River Mountain, one of the epicenters of the fight over the hideous practice of mountaintop removal coal mining in the Appalachian Mountains. Coal River Mountain is an iconic symbol of the energy choices our country now faces: we can blast off the mountain’s top to scoop out the dirty coal inside, or we can harness its enormous wind potential and start to build a better world.
Green of the Week
Lauren Brois November 10th, 2009
Did you know by the early ’90s, American families had, on average, twice as many possessions as they did 25 years earlier. By 2005, according to the Boston College sociologist Juliet B. Schor, the average consumer purchased one new piece of clothing every five and a half days.
Environmental Consortium
Lauren Brois November 9th, 2009
Last Call!
Do you want to come with Recycling Club to the Environmental Consortium?
Comment back if you are a SUNY New Paltz student and would like to come along with us and receive free admission. It’s going to be a fun and educational two days but if you can only make it for one day that is fine too! Our congressman Maurice Hinchey will be speaking at the conference on Friday. I’m excited.
We will be leaving campus on Friday 11/13 at 12:15 and should be back by 8pm (if you take your own car you can leave when you like). Saturday we will be leaving campus @ 8:30 and be back around 2ish. On Saturday we will be taking a tour of the Greenway Composting Facility, which is where all our Hasbrouck food is sent to be composted!
Laundry Time!
Lauren Brois November 8th, 2009
Did you know that tumble dryers are one of the most energy consuming appliances in your home? In Bouton the 12 dryers are usually on and running, sometimes filled with just a few items. We could save a lot of energy by changing out habits.
One of the easiest things to do to conserve energy is to make sure you are running a full load when using the dryer.
Other schools are taking it a step further and using line drying systems like Pomona college. Check out the picture of the dorm room drying system! 
for more info check out the NY times article
Recycling Specifics
Lauren Brois November 2nd, 2009
Check out this video if you are interested in learning more about the specifics of recycling
