Weekly Chat with Cara Owens, Sustainability Coordinator

Anytime I think about sustainability or recycling, the first thought that comes to mind is that song by Captain Compost-Heap on Nickelodeon's Rocko's Modern Life. You know, the one that goes, "R-E-C-Y-C-L-E, recycle. C-O-N-S-E-R-V-E, conserve. Don't you P-O-L-L-U-T-E the river, sky, or sea, or else you're gonna get, what you deserve."With the library starting to double-sided printing and GQ switching to reusable plastic baskets, it's clear that Muhlenberg is becoming more environmentally conscious. So, it seemed only natural to ask Cara Owens, Muhlenberg's own sustainability coordinator, what individuals can do here on campus in addition to learning what her job is in keeping Muhlenberg environmentally friendly.



What is your job as a sustainability coordinator?

I work with pretty much all types of groups on campus, the staff, students and faculty, to keep track of all of our environmental efforts. That includes water and energy conservation, a lot of which comes from working with Plant Opts. I've also worked with students to get things double-sided printing in computer labs. So it's a pretty broad job and we're working on getting a website up soon, which will provide more information.



Is this a new position here at Muhlenberg? And is it exclusive to Muhlenberg or a growing trend among colleges.

It was a new position, which I've been at since September. It was requested by the Greening Committee, which President Helm appointed soon after he came. This position is definitely a growing trend, both with colleges and corporations. A lot of businesses are hiring sustainability coordinators now, and Muhlenberg was fairly early in the trend.



You mentioned the library starting double-sided printing and students all seeing GQ now implementing reusable, plastic baskets. Are there any other environmental-friendly changes students should be on the lookout for?

There's been a lot going on lately. The big push that I've heard from students this semester is reducing bottled water consumption. It takes about three gallons to produce one gallons of water, plus issues of transportation and plastic by-products. And actually, EnAct had a taste test a couple weeks ago featuring bottled water versus filtered tap water. Most students couldn't tell the difference. So, we're looking into encouraging students to refill their own water bottles. Sodexho said they sold 130,000 bottles of water last year (8/06-8/07), not including catered affairs. That's a lot of waste since not all of it is getting recycled.

Another big project that Muhlenberg is looking into is a grant to install solar panels. It's not a definite yet but it's something we're interested in doing and it would be great to supplement the electricity.



What is your perception of Muhlenberg students and their environmental awareness?

I'm still getting to know a lot of students, but in general I've seen a positive response. And they seem to be pretty involved and interested. Actually, EnAct is one of the oldest environmental groups, relative to other colleges in the area. It's also important to remember that the administration here really listens, so the ideas that come from students do get a lot of attention.



What can students do to be more energy efficient when they are restricted by dorm life and energy issues outside their control?

Aside from refilling water bottles, there's a lot students can do. From reducing the length of showers to doing full loads of laundry, they can reduce water consumption. You can also reduce paper and use fluorescent light bulbs. But I think the biggest thing, is that if there is a problem out of their control, like a leaking faucet, be vocal. Let Plant Opts or Residential Services know.

There was actually an environmental communications class that put together a "Guide to Sustainable Living," which features tips for students. That's available on the Muhlenberg website at http://www.muhlenberg.edu/committees/greening/greenguide.pdf.

So a good place to start is that 'Guide to Sustainable Living." And outside campus there are a lot of conservation organizations around. Students should also check out aashe.org, which provides resources and conservation groups specific to higher education. Also, with it being an election year, it's important to vote as well as learn about these issues.

Cara Owens left me with one closing thought, which was to "unplug electronics when not in use. Even if products are off, they still draw electricity." So as everyone leaves for Spring Break, make sure you unplug your computer, TV, and other electronics to do your part to help sustainable living. After all, you don't want Captain Compost-Heap coming after you.