Category Archives: Climate Change

Guest Series– Why CFLs?

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Guest post by Elise Clote, a Campus Conservation Nationals student leader in Humphreys Hall.

Make the switch! From regular ugly light bulbs to beautiful life-changing CFL lamps!

Why you may ask??? Because CFL ENERGY STARS are amazing!  They use less energy and save you money! Help fight climate change!

Fun Fact: If every American exchanged a regular light bulb for an ENGERY STAR light we would save $600 million annually and 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions!! Which is equivalent to 800,000 cars!

ENERGY STAR qualified light bulbs save $6 a year and $40 over its lifetime. Which is amazing! They use 75% less energy and last 6 times longer!

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Water Bottle Tower Coordinator and Volunteers Needed!

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The Office is bringing the bottle back! If this isn’t your first year at the UA, you might remember the  two-story water bottle structure that has been in the Union Mall during past two spring semesters.

The water bottle was designed and constructed in conjunction with RecycleMania for Spring 2011 and reused for last spring. The bottle represents the estimated 12,000 bottles of water that are improperly disposed of each day by the University of Arkansas campus. When it was dismantled last spring, we were unable to save the structure, and the bottles and metal were recycled.

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Higher Education’s Role in Adapting to a Changing Climate

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The American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment has released a new document (November 20122) that details higher education’s role in adapting to a changing climate.  While nodding to the seriousness of climate change, it offers readers a chance to engage in the opportunities that accompany threats to the climate:

Advanced human societies and the institutions that comprise them have emerged during a period of relatively stable climate over the past 12,000 years, making agriculture and settled civilizations possible. As we observe more widespread and drastic changes in climate across the globe, it is clear that this stability, and all it affords human civilization is being threatened. This threat is serious; yet it offers exciting opportunities to make our communities more dynamic and resilient, able to provide energy, water, food, shelter, and mobility, with redesigned systems equipped to thrive in a changing climate.

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Foundations of Sustainability Capstone Projects

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In celebration of the first year of the Foundations of Sustainability minor at the University of Arkansas, the Office for Campus Sustainability is highlighting accomplishments of their capstone projects in sustainability. Approximately 25 students completed the capstone requirement for the Foundations of Sustainability minor during the first year of the program. Each student in the minor must complete an internship, service learning project, or research project focused on sustainability.  The posters highlight the creativity, dedication, and activism of UA students interested in creating a more sustainable university and society.

Noah Diffenbaugh Does It Again

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Google Hangouts have an interesting use for those of us involved with sustainability. Recently, it provided me an opportunity to hear a little bit about the science behind Climate Change and soon there will be another opportunity to learn about Climate, Energy, Water, and Food on April 16, 2012.

Noah Diffenbaugh

Noah Diffenbaugh, Climate Scientist, Stanford University

Noah Diffenbaugh, Climate Scientist at Stanford, will host another Hangout to discuss the interconnectedness and interactions among humanity’s needs for and use of water, food, energy, and environment.

From Noah’s Google+ Profile:

I’ll be speaking on a panel on Climate, Energy, Water and Food on Monday April 16. I’d like to host a Hangouts On Air following the conference to extend the conversation. Check out the video below and let me know if you have questions that you’d like to see addressed and if you’d like to join a Hangouts On Air on this topic.

To participate or ask Noah questions, you’ll have to obtain a Google+ account.

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Extreme Weather and Climate Change with Noah Diffenbaugh

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I participated in an interesting Hangout with Noah Diffenbaugh, a climate scientist out of Stanford.  He spoke about Climate Change, human/environment overlay, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s new report “Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation“.

You can view the recorded (and edited) Hangout on Youtube and make sure to add Noah on Google+ to your circles if you want  to learn more about  Climate Change Science.

Hangout with Noah Diffenbaugh

Bottom line, continued rise in Greenhouse Gasses is linked to more extreme weather, whether it’s disaster related or not, and that people should take steps to mitigate the impact on the livelihood of communities.

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Energy Audits = Cash Money in Hand!

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EnergyCorps Image

Shannon Joyce, who works in the Applied Sustainability Center, lent her home to an energy audit as part of her Energy Corps training last year.  She was gracious enough to share her story with our office. Below is her personal testimony to the savings that are easily enjoyed post-audit,which are more than $100 a month.  Can you imagine the savings and reinvestment potential if every home in Arkansas conducted an energy audit?

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