green

Ten greenest colleges in the nation

America’s institutions of higher learning are doing more than just molding and inspiring the bright minds of students. Many are also setting admirable examples of sustainable solutions to myriad problems.

Submitted by projectgreenlight on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 20:47

the problem:

Project Greenlight is rooted in a small community in Northeast Pennsylvania. Many people live in poor rural areas and working class urban neighborhoods in the formerly prosperous Lackawanna and Wyoming Valleys. I hope to educate people about energy conservation and help them to make a positive change. By distributing and installing CFLs I hope to not only touch individual lives, but to do my part in the fight against climate change.

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why it's important:

Project Greenlight has some pretty sizable goals. Through Project Greenlight I aim to change the world by influencing people to live greener. By assisting everyday "folks" in switching over to more efficient CFLs I hope to make a lasting effect on our planet. If each individual makes just this small change it can make a positive ripple in our fight against global warming and a changing climate. And as said by Robert F. Kennedy, each tiny ripple of hope builds into a current.

the plan of action:

I first needed to raise money in order to purchase CFLs to hand out. To raise the required funds I wrote over 100 letters to businesses, celebrities, and corporations requesting items for raffle. I then conducted a raffle of over 30 donated prizes/packages at several local locations including malls, stores, and my church. With the money from the raffle I was able to purchase nearly 1,000 CFLs. I also received donations of CFLs from both local and national lighting companies including Philips, Westinghouse, and Sylvania.

At this point I began to distribute CFLs at community events. Through one of the giveaways I was put into contact with a national representative of CFL manufacturer TCP. His company then gave me a donation of nearly 1,000 more CFLs.

This spring and summer, as expected, I have been distributing CFLs, with my giveaways being held at local events. Recently with the encouragement of Greenlight New Orleans founder, Andi Hoffman I have decided to take my initiative one step further. I plan on partnering with his organization (which has distributed over 100,000 CFLs) and begin recruiting volunteers to install CFLs in individual homes. I hope to also aquire more sponsors and more CFLs for distribution. Taking my project to this level, however, will take more effort than I have had to put forth thus far. I plan on traveling to New Orleans to learn about the process of in-home installation and volunteer recruiting and hopefully coordinate my efforts with those of Green Light New Orleans.

how you can get involved:

Soon I hope to begin the process of installing CFLs. At that point I will need volunteers to assist in this. I also am working with another student in my high school to begin an environmental club which will most likely provide volunteers to my project.

project updates:

Submitted by kfcrawford on Tue, 07/22/2008 - 21:34

the problem:

Shift The Tide is closing the information gap between the environmentalist movement and the Average Joe. Our goal is to create an accessible source for ideas about conservation and the small changes everyone can make to help keep the planet healthy.

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why it's important:

The discussion on climate changes needs to be open. Shift The Tide has created a way for environmentalist newbies and old-school tree huggers to share ideas in an inviting forum.

the plan of action:

Shift The Tide is a fledging project that facilitates discussion of climate change issues among young people. We look at the facts and take away the spin to present useful information on what you can do to be kind to the environment.

how you can get involved:

Visit us at http://shiftthetide.blogspot.com and present your ideas. It's your world- it's time to raise your voice.

project updates:

Submitted by begreen on Tue, 07/01/2008 - 13:18

the problem:

We are helping anyone looking to go green by living within their environmental means. Solving the problem of global warming one person at a time has made, and will continue to make a difference in the global struggle to cool off the planet.

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why it's important:

BeGreen is the carbon offset division of Green Mountain Energy. We offer high quality carbon offset products and services to individuals and businesses looking to reduce their carbon footprint.

the plan of action:

We here at www.begreennow.com have created a carbon calculator that enables consumers to calculate and offset the carbon emissions associated with portions of their lifestyle. We have helped thousands of people offset over 4 million of tons of CO2. This is the equivalent of taking over 732,000 cars off the road or recycling over 20 billion aluminum cans.

how you can get involved:

Reduce your your consumption and offset what remains!

project updates:

Submitted by Community Actio... on Mon, 05/19/2008 - 17:06

the problem:

Doraville is a growing community with a growing number of immigrant and refugee families. The area is very diverse with many Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese and Mexican Americans. Our goal is to bring all of these diverse people together to bring awareness to the global issue of preserving our environment. The preservation of our Earth is a cause that crosses all lines of color, race, ethnicity, religion and culture. Doraville is an area that doesn't have many recycling centers or environmental preservation or conservation campaigns.

vital stats:

people impacted:

100

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why it's important:

We plan to begin a tidal wave of awareness by starting with a recycling project. The non-profit is frequented by many Doraville and DeKalb county residents to receive services. By starting with the non-profit we bring the issue front and center.

the plan of action:

We are a youth leadership group that meets weekly at a non-profit in Doraville, Georgia. We assess the needs of the community and formulate an action plan to meet those needs such as mentoring and peer education. Recently we have identified environmental awareness as a pressing issue in our diverse community. We would like to start with a comprehensive recycling program at the non-profit organization we meet at and spread the awareness to various restuarants, county agencies and companies in the local area.

how you can get involved:

We will solicit local schools and county agencies to join the effort.

project updates:

Pop Quiz: How green is...VANESSA CARLTON?

Submitted by CelebsGoneGood on Fri, 05/02/2008 - 11:03

Vanessa Carlton's SoHo loft is quite spacious by Manhattan standards. Yet it feels super cozy, with an earthy feel that exactly matches its owner. And it should, as she decorated the ethereal space herself. The wallpaper is tree print; the dining room table is long and wooden and adorned with drying flowers, the bathtub has beautiful, dark branches lying across it. And of course, in the center of it all, sits the "A Thousand Miles" singer-songwriter's unusually feminine piano (grand, indeed!).

Submitted by jenchick79 on Thu, 05/01/2008 - 19:05

the problem:

I am opening a green day care/preschool to teach children from the ages of 0-5 that they can have an impact on the environment. Also, the center will be eco friendly with minimal impact to the environment. The center will have a native grass that doesn't need to be watered, bamboo flooring and other recycled products. In addition, the children will be able to grow food and see how nature works with a key on fun so they enjoy being green.

My hope is to create an healthy learning environment for children with asthma/allergies or that are completely healthy. I also hope that each child leaves the center with a green attitude, and hopefully employs at least one thing at home.

There will also be a special program for sick children and children with disabilities. I would like a nurse on staff and a special class for children with special needs, that allows the children to participate in school while allowing the parents to have a much deserved break.

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Submitted by pacllama on Mon, 03/31/2008 - 16:58

the problem:

Kids at Willow Elementary School in Alaska are choosing to Recycle! There is currently no recycling program in Willow, Alaska. The nearest Recycling Center is almost 50 miles away! We are trying to get bins in all the classrooms and businesses around town! Having bins conveniently located will make recycling much easier for students, teachers and community members. The bins will also make it easier to transport the recyclables. Recycling is an easy choice, so we want to make recycling easy!

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people impacted:

100

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Submitted by Sevy on Fri, 03/21/2008 - 01:08

the problem:

I go to Sandy High School in Sandy Oregon, and this year I took a trip with the Green Club at school into Portland to view some of the many eco-friendly green roofs installed on several large and small buildings throughout the city. There was even a middle school with an eco-garden. After the trip I was very impressed by how effective and efficient these green roofs are. Within the next four years we are supposed to have a new high school built, up and running. The blueprints and such are currently in the works, from what I know, and evidently the architecht is environmentally oriented. This inspired me to contact our tour guide to find out more and to see if we could get one set up here at Sandy High. I've been speaking with some of the science teachers and the tour guide and we're considering installing an eco-roof over the science wing or breezeway out current school. The purpose of this would be to prove its effectiveness and hopefully convince school officials/whom it may concern to install eco-roofs in the new school. Doing this would benefit the school, environment, and students in many ways. An eco-roof is, in short, just grass or other similar such plants that grow on the roof. When you do this it minimizes the amount of water that just runs down the gutter and into the sewer(actually it captures anywhere from 10-100 percent of the water). Instead, conserving it and allowing it to water the grass. Having healthfully growing grass on the roof then helps to cut down on cooling costs for the school; the grass serves as an insullator. Costs are also being cut long term, seeing as an eco-roof lasts at least twice as long the conventional roof. A few more random facts courtesy of PortlandOnline.com : the eco-roofs lower the temperature of stormwater runoff which helps maintain a cool stream temperature needed by fish - this is important as Sandy High school is located very close to the Sandy river, an eco-roof improves outdoor air quality by decreasing air temperatures and reducing smog. I would love to get a project like this going at Sandy High school and hopefully even branch out into the community, my teachers and school advisors are all for it but the problem is we have no funding to even get things started. I think given the opportunity, a chance to set up an eco-roof at Sandy high school would leave nothing but a postive impact on the environment, students, school officials, and community members.

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Submitted by ShawGC on Wed, 01/30/2008 - 12:56

the problem:

We have started a recycling program within our school. We have a big bin in our cafeteria and many small boxes throughout individual classrooms in the school. Every thursday we collect all of the materials and send them to the county recycler.

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people impacted:

1,200

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