SUSTAINABLE YouNH FOR FACULTY & STAFF 
It's Your University. Be Part of the Solution.
As educators and members of the UNH community, you play a key role in expanding UNH's natiional leadership as a Sustainable Learning Community. In all that you do - from what you teach and research to how you run your office or department - please consider the following questions:
- How can I model and teach the principles of sustainability?
- How can my research integrate with that of others to help address the global issues we face today (including climate change, obesity, poverty and hunger, public health issues, war and violence, and dwindling biodiversity) and to contribute to making UNH and our world more sustainable?
- How can I help make UNH more sustainable?
Relatedly, when you make decisions for your office of department - such as what kind of printer to buy or what kind of paper to use - consider the following questions as a framework that can guide you towards sustainable decisions that have cultural, ecological, economic, and health benefits for you, your office or department, UNH as a whole, and the planet!
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How can I save energy and emissions?
Buy energy efficient
UNH has UNH Energy Efficient Product Standard (PDF) for the Durham campus, which was developed by the UNH Energy Task Force (ETF), the USNH Purchasing & Contracting Services Office, the UNH Energy Office, and the UNH Office of Sustainability. This standard strongly encourages you to to commit to purchasing products that meet high standards for energy efficiency, such as those that carry the U.S. Environental Protection Agency's Energy Star rating. Products in more than 40 categories, such as office equipment, appliances, and lighting, are eligible for the Energy Star rating as they use less energy, save money, and help protect the environment. In fact, energy efficient products can reduce energy costs by 30% or more without compromising product quality or performance!
Buy local
Buy local food and products whenever you can. Doing so supports local farmers and businesses while ensuring that your food and goods don't have to travel hundreds of miles - and use lots of gallons of greenhouse gas polluting fossil fuels - in the process.
Shop at the UNH Organic Garden Club Farm Stand!
Calculate then reduce your carbon footprint
Use the NH Carbon Challenge's Carbon Estimator or the EPA Personal Emissions Calculator to estimate how much carbon dioxide is emitted through your daily activities and lifestyle. Then take the Carbon Challenge to lower your emissions and save on your energy bills!
Take the New Hampshire Carbon Challenge, which helps New Hampshire households reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by 10,000 pounds per year!
Carpool
Prevent greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution by carpooling. If you carpool with another UNH staff person, you can get a carpool parking permit from University Transportation Services (as long as you both have parking permits) and then park in Lot C (across from the Durham Marketplace on Mill Rd).
Choose your personal vehicle wisely
Thinking of making your own personal vehicle choices more efficient and less polluting? One sight that is useful for "apples to apples" comparisons of vehicles for both fuel economy and emissions is the EPA Greenvehicle Guide; you can sort by make, model, etc. You should also crosscheck against the new standard miles per gallon (MPG) ratings that will be used as of January 1, 2008. Not sure if you should go diesel or hybrid? Check out this section of the Fueleconomy.gov website. You may also want to research estimated annual fuel cost savings information. Finally, research the status of federal tax credit on a particular hybrid vehicle you are considering; the availability of these rebates decline as each manufacturer hits volume targets.
Go gourmet and local at the annual Local Harvest Feast!
Join us on Thursday, September 20th, 4:30 - 9:00 PM, at Holloway Commons for this very popular, "all you care to eat" gourmet dinner featuring local foods. Talk with local farmers, pick up some information on buying local foods, listen to some live music under the tent on the Holloway patio between 4:30 - 7:30 PM, and view original photographs by Charter Weeks taken at Lasting Legacy Farm in Barrington in the Holloway hallway. Open to the community. Payment via cash or UNH meal plan: $12.50 plus tax adults; $6.50 plus tax children under 10. Sponsored by UNH Dining and the UNH University Office of Sustainability.
Heat with bioheat
Through a partnership between the Office of Sustainability’s Climate Education Initiative and Proulx Oil and Propane of Newmarket, UNH staff and students can use renewable home heating. Proulx is offering bioheat (B20) - a mix of 20% biodiesel and 80% heating oil - at a fixed price of $2.629 per gallon during the home heating season (October 1, 2007 – April 30, 2008) with no pre-buy requirement to UNH employees and students. This offer is only available through August 1, 2007. Downside protection -- the ability to pay less per gallon should market costs drop and no more than $2.629 per gallon even if market prices increase -- is also available for 15 cents per gallon. Bioheat can be used in existing oil-burning furnaces with no modification. A blend of traditional #2 heating oil and organic material such as refined vegetable oil, renewable bioheat is proven to burn cleaner than regular heating oil, thus reducing emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, soot, and hydrocarbons. Bioheat also costs the same as traditional home heating oil sold by Proulx, and lessens reliance on foreign oil. In addition, Proulx Oil will also donate $5 from each bioheat contract signed to both the fund established to support the daughters of former UNH Office of Sustainability associate director Crescentia Healy-True, who passed away in 2006 from breast cancer, and the New Hampshire Carbon Challenge, a non-profit group located at UNH and dedicated to helping New Hampshire households reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by 10,000 pounds per year. (Take the Challenge at carbonchallenge.sr.unh.edu.) To sign up for bioheat home heating, call Donna Lund at Proulx Oil at (800) 287-1921, mention the UNH program, and have your staff or student identification number ready. You can also email Donna at info@proulxoilandpropane.com and put in the subject line "UNH Bioheat."
Hybrid-ize your order
When renting a vehicle from the Durham Enterprise Rent-A-Car office, ask for one of the new gas-electric hybrids Enterprise voluntarily added to their fleet in late 2006/early 2007! Choosing to rent a hybrid vehicle from Enterprise helps us reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption. On top of that, if you plan on driving over 90 miles you will actually save UNH money on the rental! The entire UNH community is strongly encouraged to select these hybrid vehicles for their rental needs.
To rent a hybrid, call the Enterprise Durham office at 862-3228.
Power down
If the students can do it, so can you! Turn off and then unplug all electronics and appliances when not in use. Or, plug these items into a power strip or surge protector that you can turn off. As much as 10% of the energy used by appliances like TVs and home entertainment systems, cordless phones, cell phones chargers, laptop chargers, hand-held vacuums, answering machines, hair dryers or straighteners, and electric toothbrushes is “leaked” when these appliances are off but still plugged in - especially if the appliances or their chargers are older, less efficient models. (Put your hand on your cell phone charger after it's plugged into an outlet for a while; if you feel heat, the charger is not very efficient and is wasting energy.) For more information, read this San Diego Union-Tribune story.
Download our 2007 Powerdown Flyer (PDF) to help spread the word!
Ride a Cat Cycle
Visit UNH Transportation Services at the UNH Visitor's Center near A-lot, show your UNH ID, and borrow a blue Cat Cycle - for free! Then happily ride all over campus knowing that you are improving your health and our air quality.
Rideshare with GoLoco
Prevent greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution by carpooling. Use GoLoco to help you find someone with whom to carpool. Plus, if you carpool you can get a carpool parking permit from Transportation Services (as long as you both have commuter permits) and then you can park in Lot C (across from the Durham Marketplace on Mill Rd).
Visit GoLoco.org or add the GoLoco application to FaceBook. Then post a trip as a driver or passenger!
Use compact fluorescent lights (CFL's)
While UNH has used energy efficient compact fluorescent lighting (CFL's) for several years - including in new construction and major renovation projects and as replacements for all incandescent lighting that dies out and needs to be replaced - one of the biggest issues with incandescent lamps versus CFL's is the large number of personal floor and desk lamps that faculty, staff, and students bring into offices, classrooms, and residence halls. Buy CFL's for your office or department - and inform others with whom you work to do the same.
Use a high-efficiency chemical fume hood
Using high-efficiency chemical fume hoods instead of conventional chemical fume hoods wherever possible reduces energy use, associated costs, and emissions of greenhouse gases and other criteria air pollutants. By purchasing and installing high-efficiency fume hoods, individual laboratories may see energy consumption reduced by 30% to 60%. NOTE: Certain applications, such as wet chemistry laboratories, may still require the use of conventional chemical fume hoods for safety reasons. Other safety issues to note: (1) Do not use highly volatile chemicals in a low-flow fume hood. Highly volatile chemicals include flammable, reactive, corrosive, toxic, or radioactive materials. (2) Allow the hood to operate unobstructed for 5 minutes on startup. (3) Keep all chemicals at least 6 inches inside of sash. (4) Avoid using techniques or procedures that disrupt airflow. (5) Do not obstruct the front airfoil, or rear baffles; storage of materials in the hood decreases efficiency. Check the requirements listed as part of the UNH Fume Hood Program(PDF), and call the UNH Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) at 862-4041 for more information.
Use your computer power management settings
Set the power settings on your computer to have your monitor, hard drive, and CPU sleep after a certain amount of time of non-use. And DO NOT USE SCREENSAVERS as they do not save energy. Instead, set the power management settings on your computer, which put your computer monitor, hard drive, and CPU into a low power "sleep" mode when not in use. A simple touch of the mouse or keyboard "wakes" the computer and monitor in seconds. According to EPA's ENERGY STAR program, monitor power management can save $10 to $30 per monitor annually, while hard drive and CPU power management can save $15 to $45 per desktop computer annually. Finally, if you are buying a computer, go with a laptop as they use less energy than a desktop
Take WildCAT Transit
Instead of driving solo to campus, take WildCAT Transit to save time, hassle, money, and emissions. And - coming soon! - look for the EcoCAT signs, which mark all alternative fuel and clean technology transit and non-transit vehicles on campus. You can ride a B20 biodiesel bus and a compressed natural gas (CNG) shuttle - all in one day!
Turn it off!
Turn off lights when you leave the room - including bathrooms, showers, common rooms, and classrooms. Use natural lighting - read or work near windows or outside when you can. Finally, turn off your computer and other electronics and appliances when not in use - and don't forget to unplug them!
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How can I use fewer resources?
Buy office supplies that contain recycled, non-toxic materials
You can find many such products through UNH's contract with OfficeMax Solutions by using their "Advanced Search" feature. Look for items with the "Recycled Goods" symbol.
Buy UDOO - UNH compost!
UDOO is great for your gardening and home lawn care needs. And it's made from composted UNH food scraps and leaves! Learn more...
If you are interested in reserving a bag of compost to purchase in the spring, please call (603) 868-2345. Compost will be on sale Fridays 8 AM - 3 PM through June 2009 or by appointment at Kingman Farm.
Conserve water
Only wash full loads of clothes, and wash with lukewarm or cold water, not hot. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth. Take shorter showers, and turn the shower off while you scrub. (You can turn it back on to rinse.) When washing dishes by hand, use a sink full of water instead of running water. If you use a dishwasher, only run full loads and use any energy or water efficiency settings available. Report any leaks and drips in sinks, showers, and toilets on campus to UNH Facilities at 862-1437.
Don't Dump Down the Drain
Don't dump anything down sewer drains or kitchen and bathroom sinks. What you dump reaches our watershed, including local rivers like College Brook and Oyster River and ultimately Great Bay!
Manage waste properly
First, use less of everything - from laboratory chemicals to paper - and conserve where you can. Second, if you do have biological, chemical, radiological, or other hazardous waste, you need to work with the UNH Office of Environmental Health & Safety (OEHS) to dispose of it properly. UNH curricula, research, and operations are only successful if all protect human and ecological health - in large measure by complying with applicable regulations. OEHS can help you do just that!
Learn how UNH manages waste on campus -- and tips for how to reduce, reuse and recycle!
Recycle
You know the drill. Please don't use your blue UNH recycling bin for trash! UNH recycles aluminum cans, glass and plastic bottles (#1 and #2), tin, steel and metal scraps as well as any paper that can be torn including newspapers, junk mail, books, catalogs, phone books, cereal boxes, envelopes and paper bags. Corrugated cardboard is also collected. And check out the outdoor recycling bins! In January 2007, UNH began a pilot project to install outdoor recycling containers adjacent to trash receptacles for mixed glass, plastic, and aluminum containers. Fourteen containers were installed as Phase 1 with more to be installed as part of the Main Street project in summer 2007. Learn more...
For more information about recycling at UNH, contact Linda Leavitt of UNH Facilities at (603) 862-2265.
Refill, Don't Landfill
UNH Printing Services now offers a cartridge refilling service for both inkjet and laser printers - saving you up to 50% on the cost of a new cartridge and keeping the old cartridges out of the trash. Visit the MUB Copy Center located on level 2 east of the MUB or call 2-0530 to learn more.
Reuse
Bring your own travel mugs places to avoid using paper cups. Have a stash of reusable cups, mugs, and plates at work that people can borrow, wash, and replace instead of using disposable items. Print on both sides of paper, or use the backside or used paper for notes and scrap. Shop at "pre-owned" clothing stories, or have clothing swap parties with friends instead of buying new. Visit Craig's List or Freecycle to find items that people are giving away for free! Shop yard sales. Buy products with minimal packaging. And be creative: find new ways to use old things!
Donate and sell UNH-owned items your office or department no longer needs through USNH Surplus!
Scan instead of photocopying
Dimond Library now offers a free scanning service. Faculty, staff, and students can use a KIC II scanning station -- located next to the photocopier outside the Addison Reading Room -- to scan paper documents. The scanner uses a touchscreen to allow the user to change contrast, resolution, image format, etc., and to either save the file onto a USB device or to email the file. It is very easy to use, and is completely free. Questions about the scanner can be directed to the Dimond IT Support Center staff.
Stop junk mail at home
You can easily stop receiving catalogs, credit card offers, and other junk mail with a variety of online services! Catalog Choice is a free service that lets you opt-out of unwanted catalogs. You can opt out of pre-approved credit card and insurance offers by calling 888-567-8688 (888-5-OPT-OUT) from your home telephone; it will be checked against an address database. Or visit www.optoutprescreen.com/. You can also opt out of mailings from the Direct Marketing Association, the trade group used by 5,200 member companies to pitch their products directly to consumers. To stop receiving mailings from DMA members, go to www.the-dma.org and click on the orange box that reads “remove my name from mailing lists.” For other great ideas, read this MSNBC.com and "Today Show" story.
Use recycled paper
You can get 100% post-consumer recycled content paper through USNH's contract with OfficeMax Solutions. You can also get 100% tree-free kenaf paper at the UNH MUB Copy Center. And, of course, print double-sided.
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How can I help my community?
Buy fair trade and organic
If you can buy local products that are also fair trade and/or organic, then by all means do so! But if you can't find what you need locally - such as coffee beans, for example - buy fair trade (which assures that growers and producers receive a fair, living wage) and/or organic. You can even by coffee that is bird friendly - grown under the shade of canopy trees that many birds use for habitat.
Buy local
Buy local food and products whenever you can. Doing so supports local farmers and businesses while ensuring that your food and goods don't have to travel hundreds of miles - and use lots of gallons of greenhouse gas polluting fossil fuels - in the process.
Shop at the UNH Organic Garden Club Farm Stand!
Buy office supplies made from minority-owned businesses
You can find many such products through UNH's contract with OfficeMax Solutions by using their "Advanced Search" feature. Look for items with the "Diverse Supplier" symbol.
Get involved in sustainability-related research and other efforts
Get involved in the work of groups on campus like the UNH Energy Task Force, the Transportation Policy Committee, or the Campus Aesthetics Committee. And student groups - such as the Students Without Borders, the UNH Organic Garden Club, the Student Environmental Action Council, and various student performing arts groups could benefit from faculty and staff involvement and support. Finally, get involved in integrated, interdisciplinary research with your fellow UNH colleagues. Doing so can help UNH and society as a whole better address the complex problems and issues we face today. From energy security to food security, climate change to reimerging ecological and human diseases, the issues we face today cannot be boxed into neat disciplines - and our research to address them shouldn't be either. Examples of such integrated, interdisciplinary curricula and research at UNH include the following:
- Biocrop and biofuel efforts at UNH
- Community Food Nutrition Profile (CFNP)
- New Hampshire Center for a Food Secure Future (NHCFSF)
- UNH Ecology, Climate, and Health Working Group
- UNH Masters of Public Health Program Public Health Ecology focus
Give your cell to a soldier
Since 2004, UNH has been collecting cell phones for the program Cell Phones for Soldiers. Donate your old cell phones today! Simply look for the basket with the American flag that sits at the UNH Memorial Union Building (MUB) Information Center, which is a drop-off point for anyone wanting to donate to Cell Phones for Soldiers.
Integrate sustainability throughout your teaching
Incorporate the princples sustainability throughout your teaching; get your students thinking critically and asking questions. Inherently interdisciplinary, sustainability can be integrated throughout every discipline - from engineering to literature, hospitality management to philosophy. What's more, sustainability can serve as a framework for helping students better understand issues, topics, and problems that cross disciplinary boundaries. (After all, the lines we draw between the sciences, social sciences, and humanities are just that - socially and culturally derived lines that human beings have drawn.)
Learn about sustainability at UNH
- See our Calendar to learn about upcoming sustaiability-related events at UNH and around our local community, state, and region.
- And of course...
Sign up for our newsletter!
Our newsletter highlights how sustainability principles and practices are being integrated throughout UNH’s curriculum, operations, research, and engagement with local, regional, national, and international partners. Each issue we share interesting "Did You Know?" facts, an easy-to-do "Tip of the Month," an inspiring "Profile in Sustainability" highlighting the sustainability work of UNH faculty, staff, and students, a "Calendar of Events," and much more. From our exciting work to the great work of others, if it’s related to sustainability at UNH, you’ll hear about it from us! Visit our Contact Us page to sign up.
Support public arts
Attend lectures, films, dinners, performing arts events, Cultural Excursions, and other events on campus. Support these local groups with your time, resources, and appreciation. Local arts sustain our humanity and are integral to sustainability.
