sustainability@BUGeneva

It’s what you do

In line with Boston University’s sustainability drive the Geneva program has put into practice ten sustainability actions.  Staff and students are asked to apply these practices while on the program to help the environment.  Please read on and do your part to save the planet.

in your hands

1)   Bring Your Own Bottle or Thermos

bring your own bottle

The average American office worker uses 500 disposable cups a year. Americans throw away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour.  Help reduce this waste by using a reusable bottle or thermos.

 

 

2)   Only print when necessary.

think before you print

Nearly 900,000,000 trees are cut down annually to provide raw materials for American paper and pulp mills.  Using 1- ton of recycled paper saves 380 gallons of oil, 3 cubic yards of landfill and 24 trees.

 

 

3)   Turn Off the Lights

turn off

If you turn off the lights whenever you leave a room, you can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 0.15 pounds per hour.

 

 

 

 

4)   Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

reuse reduce recycle

We are consuming the resources of 1½ planets –while only having one to live on.

 

 

 

5)   Unplug your power cords

unplug

Electrical appliances that are constantly plugged in, even if they are switched off, drain electricity that can account for as much as 10% of household energy use.  Unplug items when they are not in use or switch off at the power strip.

 

 

6)   Power down computers

power down

Set computers to enter system standby or hibernate after 30 to 60 minutes of inactivity. You can save up to $75 or more per computer by doing this. Set monitors to enter sleep mode after 5 minutes of inactivity.

 

 

 

7)   Take Shorter Showers

showers

If you shorten your shower by 2 minutes, you can cut your water use by 10 gallons.

 

 

 

 

8)   Eat Less Meat

eat less meat

Animal products with the highest CO2 emissions include lamb, beef, cheese and farmed salmon because producing them requires the most resources.  Discarded food accounts for at least 20% on average of the emissions associated with meat and dairy products.

 

9)   Wash Clothes at 40oC.

40oc

Most of the energy used to wash clothes, around 90%, comes from heating the water.

 

 

 

 

10)    Be careful with heating.   STOP CO2!

heating

Keep your radiators on “3”.  Wear warmer clothes.  Sleep in pajamas and with more blankets.  Air your room for 10 minutes once a day in the winter.  Don’t leave windows and doors open.

 

 

 

 

graphPerformance indicators for sustainability