UMBC’s Eco-Ambassadors welcome you back to campus and the spring semester!  We will continue our "Turn Down Tuesdays" series this semester with energy saving fun facts and tips!

As the semester’s workload begins to take off, we probably find ourselves using our computers more often.  Set your computer to automatically go to sleep after 10-15 minutes to save energy.  

According to energy expert Michael Bluejay, an average laptop uses 15-60 watts during normal use, but uses only 0-6 watts in sleep mode and 0 watts in hibernate.  That may not seem like a lot of savings, but imagine if everyone did this…it would add up!

Also, skip the screen saver – instead of saving energy, it consumes energy.  Setting your computer to sleep will still allow you to start up quickly where you left off.

Seminars are held on Fridays at 2 PM in the Technology Research Center, Room 206, and are free and open to the public. Registration is not required. Visitor parking passes for the TRC lot may be purchased for $4.00 in the CUERE office in TRC 102/105 shortly before seminar.

January 30, 2015
Matthew Lambert
US EPA
"Bioavailability and Risk Management Decisions at Superfund Sites"

February 6, 2015
Dr. Krissy Hopkins
National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC)
University of Maryland
"From small watersheds to regions: Variation in hydrologic response to urbanization"

February 13, 2015
Dr. Neda Yaghoobian
"Building energy use and urban microclimate"

February 20, 2015   11 AM (Note time change)
Alimatou Seck
UMBC
Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
"A fully distributed integrated hydrologic model for quantifying groundwater dynamics in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed"

February 27, 2015
Dr. Allen Place
Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences
"Hydraulics and barley straw (Hordeum vulgare) as effective treatment options for a cyanotoxin-impacted lake"

March 6, 2015
Dr. Chris Hennigan
UMBC
Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
"Sources and Processes Affecting Particulate Matter in Denver, CO during DISCOVER-AQ"

March 13, 2015
Anna L. Johnson
UMBC, Dept of Geography and Environmental Systems
"The ecology of urban vacant lands: human-mediated local versus regional control on plant community assembly"

March 20, 2015
Spring break, no seminar


March 27, 2015
Dr. Miranda Mockrin
USDA Forest Service 
"Living in the wildland urban interface: growth of the WUI and policy response"

April 3, 2015
Dr. Lea Johnson
University of Maryland College Park

April 10, 2015
Zhengtao Cui
UMBC
Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering
"Development and application of a particle-tracking model for nitrogen transport and transformation in aquifers"

April 17, 2015
Dr. Stephanie Lansing
Environmental Science and Technology
UMD College Park

April 24, 2015
Dr. Cynthia Gilmour
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

May 1, 2015
Dr. John M. Sharp, Jr. 
NSF and University of Texas

May 8, 2015
TBA

Last year was my first carpooling experience at UMBC. I always wanted to be a part of it, but for some reason wasn’t finding people to car pool with. It wasn’t until I thought I was going to have knee surgery for my torn ACL that I looked a little deeper, put my availability down, and thoroughly searched the site. Until then, it was easy for me to be lazy and feel satisfied with skimpily searching the site; because, I knew I had other options. But, the knee surgery dilemma made me get serious! And it didn’t require much more effort. I’m glad I did.

I ended up connecting with Jasper, a photography student, who like me, is also an older student, with a unique view point on life, which made commuting a lot more fun. I was no longer traveling this grueling distance and combating annoying traffic alone to attend class at the crack of dawn. I was now commuting with a companion in the journey of completing school. And it felt less lonely. And strangely, she lived right up the road from me, not even 400 meters away, and on the rout that I already took for school. So what the hell, why not?

We first corresponded via email, and eventually we phoned. She wasn’t the first person who I connected with on the site but her location and schedule fit best mine best. She offered to give me money but I ended up declining, because she was on my way to school and It didn’t cost me any extra to pick her up (and oh I ended up not having the knee surgery, so I was able to do the  driving). 

We started with a suggestive time of pickup, which usually always ended up being a little later and I’d send her a txt message before arriving. Sometimes she would need a ride other times she wouldn’t and she’d either tell me in the morning or the night before. But sometimes she wouldn’t respond at all; so in those cases I would just head off to school alone. Near the end of the semester both of our schedules got a little more hectic so it was harder to keep up with each other and the ridesharing because our schedules weren’t exactly the same. I had classes earlier then she, and she ended with classes later than I. So there was a little bit of compromising with both of us being on campus longer than maybe we both desired but generally it worked out and it was a good time

I think with ride sharing it’s very important to be clear with what both parties need and are capable of providing. Communication and holding up your end of the agreement helps prevent conflicts and misunderstandings. Be careful not to overextend yourself and agree only to what you’re capable of doing. Label the rest as a possibility rather than a confirmation; because, if you say you can do something then that other person is counting on you. I’m sure you’d find it disappointing and frustrating if what you were counting on fell through.  So be considerate of others by communicating clearly!

Best of wishes

Hope you find a friend to commute with

Christine Garrahan

Geography & Environmental Systems

Biology Minor

Senior

What is RecycleMania?

RecycleMania is a competition between universities of all sizes to promote waste production on campuses across the country. Over 8 weeks UMBC will report our recycling and trash collection rates to RecycleMania Inc, a non-profit made up of various university sustainability coordinators. Our rates will be compared to other participants and ranked according to overall efficiency. Efficiency is determined by total amount of recyclables, least amount of trash, highest recycling rate, and other variables. For more information about the competition visit www.recyclemaniacs.org.

UMBC’s Goals

In 2014 UMBC was ranked in the top 100 of 273 participating universities and we want to continue towards the top of the heap. To accomplish this Sustainability Coordinators on campus are implementing new, permanent signage at trash sorting locations in the commons, residence halls, RAC, and other locations on campus. There will be a variety of celebrations and competitions on campus as well, running 8 weeks from the beginning of February. Faculty and staff in addition to clubs, residence halls, frats, and other student orgs will be participating over the course of the competition to promote sustainability on campus and move UMBC to the forefront of the national sustainability movement.

How Can You Help?

Check out sustainability.umbc.edu for any information you’ll need about sustainability on campus. The website contains various guides and links to help you go green at home, at school, and in life. For information on helping to coordinate the competition or other sustainability events during the year, email tanvig1@umbc.edu.

Event Schedule:

-Kickoff Fair on Commons Mainstreet – February 5th 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

-Weekly Recyclemania Tabling Events: Commons Mainstreet from 12-1 PM

• Monday 2/9: Exchange your plastic water bottles to receive a new   reusable one!
• Tuesday 2/17: "Trash on Your Back" Challenge sign-ups
• Wednesday 2/25: "Trash on Your Back" Photo competition booth
• Monday 3/2: Turn in plastic grocery bags for a surprise!
• Monday 3/9: Cupcake decorating
• Wednesday 3/25: TBD

I can't properly articulate my job description as a UMBC France-Merrick Foundation intern. The position certainly has sustainability and environmental consciousness at its core, but the responsibilities and privileges that come with it are so varied that its difficult to place them into boxes. I've been able to spearhead initiatives that are transforming the way UMBC students commute. I've been part of diverse teams that are evolving the way UMBC handles its waste. I've seen students transform ground-breaking ideas into projects that have earned funding and are going to become realities in the upcoming semester. The common denominator of the experience thus far, however, has been working with a community.

Working with the Sustainability Matters initiative has allowed me to become part of a community that seeks to make UMBC beautiful. We've been able to divert more waste from landfills to compost. We've created a new community for cyclists at UMBC by introducing new public facilities and more opportunities for students to get access to bikes through the Retriever Fleet. The Green Office Program has established a fantastic way for entire departments on campus to commit to energy conservation. We've organized festivals, classes and student groups committed to sustainability at UMBC. Fall 2014 was certainly a successful semester. 

I'm grateful to be a part of such an amazing program. I'm grateful to be able to lead and create. I'm grateful to be able to work with an amazing student body to create and crush innovative goals. 2015 is going to introduce new opportunities for commuters to have better parking access. The already upgraded cycling program is going to grow and evolve to suit the needs of more students. Healthier food options are going to continue to be introduced on campus and waste reduction programs are going to continue to grow until we've all but eliminated our landfill contributions. Simply put: we won't stop crushing it because we had a good year. 

Halfway through my inaugural year interning I'm reminded of a quote by one of my favorite authors, Albert Camus:

I'd like to invite you to make UMBC a privileged place. Join the Garden to grow and share organic, healthy produce right here on campus. Work with the Eco-Ambassadors to spread the word about sustainability and provide outreach for student orgs large and small. Sign up for projects led by Students for Environmental Awareness to get outside and keep our environment clean. Join the growing Sustainability community in 2015 if you haven't already, and become a part of a beautiful community. 

Happy New Year to you and other people around you,

DeVaughn Jerome Jones, France Merrick Sustainability Intern