• unPLUg
• Min-Grants
• Fellowships
• Student Groups
• Community Garden

unPLUg

Do your part in the year-long unPLUg competition.  PLU buys their energy from parkland Light and Water, a co-op that distributes power from BPA.  The majority of electricity is generated from hydropower, a renewable resource by definition, but still extremely damaging to water ecosystems.  In addition, with the growth that the state of Washington is experiencing, utilities are expecting to need to increase transmission lines within 20 years, another energy intensive, expensive and environmentally degrading practice.  You can help by limiting your power usage to only what you need.  About 56% of all the energy produced in the United States is WASTED, due to a combination of waste that occurs during energy production, but also inefficient technology and design.  (http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2008/04/06/weekinreview/06revkin.html)  So your savings are actually more than what is on the bill.

This energy reduction competition will run the entire academic year through a bracket system.  Residence Halls will be paired up in bracket 1 from September 28^th to October 27^th. 

• Pflueger vs. Hinderlie
• Hong vs. Foss
• Harstad vs. Tinglestad
• Stuen vs. Ordal

The possibilities for cutting out this waste are limitless.  One HUGE example is the phantom load being generating by anything that plugs into an outlet.  Simply unplugging, or switching off a powerstrip controls this.  Let others know how you are reducing energy on the PLU Sustainability Blog.

At the end of the 1rst bracket, the energy utility bill will be translated into kWh usage per student, and compared against that same number from the previous year.  The largest percent decrease per pair will advance to the next bracket.  Winners will be announced in mid-November after the utility bill has been received.  Those winners will then each receive a smartstrip to help them in round two. 

The second bracket will take place the month of February.  Again, utilities will be judged against the previous year.  Winners this time will receive an individual prize.  Those final two resident halls will then compete once more in the month of April for the grand prize.  The grand prize will be awarded in May.

Puget Sound Energy Foundation - PLU Sustainability Mini-Grant Program

PLU is working to be a local and national leader in environmental sustainability, not only for its urban campus, but also for the planet.  Recognizing that students with an interest in the environment often need a small amount of funding to carry out their ideas for sustainability initiatives, the University applied for and received funding from the Puget Sound Energy Foundation for a Sustainability Mini-Grant Program.  The aim of the grant is to encourage student creativity, initiative and ownership of campus environmental efforts.

A subcommittee of the PLU Sustainability Committee will award two or more grants for student projects.  Grants are likely range from about $500 to $1000 and are intended to cover expenses associated with conducting and creating the project(s). Students may request a stipend of up to $400 (which, unlike expenses, would be subject to income tax).  Faculty advisors will be eligible to receive a stipend of $200 (in addition to the budget of the selected projects).  The funds will be awarded based on:

• creativity
• potential Environmental benefit
• educational opportunities
• impact of the project (to the campus or beyond)

The grant is designed to focus on environmental education and conservation.  Possible projects might be an educational green office, novel energy conservation campaigns, computerized energy management, or research projects. To upload a document with the information about the mini-grants, click here.

Time Frame

Applications accepted through Friday, December 4, 2009.

Decision: within two weeks

Reports due January 1 - July 31, 2010

Each awarded project will submit a final report to PLU's Office of Development, commenting on the successes and/or challenges of the project. These reports will be forwarded to the Puget Sound Energy Foundation

Payments: As billed, last payment on receipt of final report.

Questions?  Please contact Marion Sharp (msharp@plu.edu or 253-535-8426)

Submit applications to:

Marion Sharp, Office of Development
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA  98447

Or via email ( msharp@plu.edu )

Fellowships

Purpose

The Student Sustainability Fellowships are intended to provide an opportunity for students of any discipline to participate in furthering the sustainability efforts on the PLU campus. Students will actively engage in research about existing practices and uses of resources on the PLU campus and examine best practices on other college and university campuses and other facilities in the local area. They will also investigate and propose strategies and solutions to address sustainability practices on the PLU campus and help identify funding agencies or opportunities for the projects. The fellowships are also intended to continue the collaboration between students, faculty and staff around issues of sustainability while building the skills of the students. Example final research reports from past fellows are available upon request.

Objectives for Students

• To pursue new knowledge in the area of sustainability with the focused, sustained support of faculty and staff mentors
• To learn the issues, approaches, and techniques of a particular field
• To develop written communication and collaboration skills
• To lay the foundation for future professional development
• To increase the sustainability practices on the PLU campus
• To increase the collaboration between students, faculty, and staff

Objectives for Faculty

• To bring academic rigor to the decision-making process of sustainable practices at PLU
• To increase the sustainability practices on the PLU campus
• To increase the collaboration between faculty, staff and students
• To develop, maintain, and expand active research programs that involve undergraduates

Objectives for Adminstrative Staff

• To bring knowledge of and experience with the management and operations of the PLU campus
• To increase the sustainability practices on the PLU campus
• To increase the collaboration between staff, faculty and students

Proposals are now being accepted!  If you are a staff or faculty member who has an idea for a sustainability fellowship, please fill out this form with your thoughts.

Student Groups

PLU's students are highly involved in PLU's journey to sustainability.  It shows through the many green efforts in student organizations.

• GREAN
• ASPLU
• RHA
  
• AIGA

Community Garden

The PLU Community Garden is a completely student, faculty and community run vegetable garden dedicated to providing fresh, local produce to members of the Parkland community. Currently the Garden donates nearly two tons of carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, broccoli, squash, onions, kale, and many other varieties of vegetables and herbs to the Trinity Lutheran Food Pantry. As well, the Garden provides the PLU Dining and Culinary Services with hand-picked local herbs for use in the University Center.