Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 21, 2000)
Warm and windy alternatives are powerful ■The United States consu mes 26 percent of the world’s energy, but there are some less wasteful solutions By Eleanor Pierce for the Emerald Because of the impact tradition al sources of energy such as oil, coal and nuclear power have on the environment, many eco-con scious individuals and organiza tions are practicing and encourag ing energy conservation as well as a shift to renewable energy sources. Energy usage accounts for ap proximately 80 percent of air pol lution, according to the Alliance to Save Energy. The 1996-1997 American Almanac states that while Americans account for only 5 percent of the world’s population, we consume about 26 percent of the world’s energy. Renewable energy sources re ceive praise because they have a much lower environmental im pact than coal, oil power, hydro electric power or nuclear power plants, according to the ASE. Two sources of renewable power that consumers in Eugene can use in their homes are solar power and wind power, according to the Eu gene Water and Electric Board. One way in which people use the sun’s energy is by building structures that use the sun to heat water for bathing and laundry. Commonly, a solar collector plate placed on the roof of the home heats water, which is then stored in a well-insulated tank. Because these systems can’t work when the sun is not shining, most homes installed with solar water heating systems also have backup systems, according to EWEB. The energy of the sun can also be made into electricity by using photovoltaic cells, also known as PV cells. PV cells are used in cal culators and watches, but can also be used on a much larger scale for business and personal use. PV power is most commonly used in remote locations where power is not readily available. The alternative power source is also limited by the fact that it cannot work when the sun is down, ac cording to the American Almanac. Wind power, however, is not as limited as solar energy. In addition, wind power is not produced at in dividual homes, and therefore does not require any special equipment at the home of the consumer. For that reason, wind power could be classified as a more viable choice for consumers than solar energy, ac cording to theASE. EWEB offers its customers the option of requesting that a per centage of their electricity be pro vided by wind power generated in Wyoming. Individuals can reduce their en ergy consumption in a number of ways without changing to a re newable energy source. For col lege students in particular, a solar panel may not be an option. Simple changes such as turning down heat at night, however, and making sure lights are off in rooms not in use can make a difference in the amount of energy that is used, according to EWEB. For people who are concerned about energy consumption, there are volunteer opportunities avail able for students who wish to get involved. One avenue for involve ment is the Solar Information Cen ter, which is focused on alterna tive forms of energy use. The SIC is also useful to people who are just looking for information about renewable energy. “We’re actively seeking volun teers,” SIC co-director Benjamin Gates said. The SIC is a student group fund ed primarily by the ASUO and EWEB. The SIC is associated with the University’s school of archi tecture,and functions as a re search, education and informa tion center on solar and alternative energy sources. The SIC sponsors a number of speakers and events regarding al ternative energy throughout the academic year. These events are generally held on Tuesdays. More information is available in the Winter/Spring 2000 SIC newsletter, which can be found outside the SIC, located in 219 Lawrence. Energy use decisions “definitely fall on the individual consumer,” said Stacey Weinkauf, the SIC’s ed ucational outreach coordinator. Free Frees In honor of Barth Pay Sundance will give away 1000 fir seedlings 12-7PM Saturday April 22nd Sprouts - easy and fun to grow and eat Sundance's extensive collection of sprouting seeds includes alfalfa, broccoli, clover, cabbage, fenugreek, lentils, mung, whole peas, radish, sunflower, and hard red wheat NATURAL FOODS Open Daily 7am-11pm • 24th & Hilyard 343-9142 Sprouting Lids 3-packs $2.99 reg $3.39 Offers Good April 20- April 30 Nourishing Our Community since 1971 Center rejuvenates awareness ■The Recycling Center now collects 40 percent of campus waste, making UO one of the nation’s most active By Alana Lynn for the Emerald Recycling is one of the best methods for waste management that is simple and affordable for students. Recyclable goods can be plastic, paper, bottles, cans, metals, cardboard, batteries and even food. The University's Recycling Center is responsible for the more than 1,501) recycling collec tion points located around cam pus. Oftentimes, it is easy to for get that the green bins strategically placed around cam pus are not there for efficiency but rather in an effort to control our waste stream. The Recycling Center was founded by a group of students in 1991 who were adamant about controlling the waste stream on campus. “People have taken ownership of this program,” program man ager Karyn Kaplan said. “This program is built on the energy of the students.” The Recycling Center is fund ed by student incidental fees, the University administration, Uni versity Housing and the revenue generated from recycled paper. In 1991, the Recycling Center was collecting 10 percent of the University waste stream in recy clable goods, now the program is recovering 40 percent, Kaplan said. This increase can be con tributed to the increase of recy cling points around campus, and the increased awareness of the impact that we have on the preservation of the earth. Currently, Americans throw away 260 million trees worth of paper every year, she said. The need to change our habits about environmental awareness is be ing addressed. “People are becoming more progressive and are noticing their impact on the earth,” said Pete Chism, student recycling coordinator. By simply recycling paper and other recyclable goods, we can save energy and cause a reduction in acid rain, global warming and air pollu tion, he said. Kaplan says that while recy cling does help to curb the prob lem of the increasing waste stream, it is not the only solution “There are many ways that we can reduce our waste,” she said. Some small ways that can add up big are to buy packages with minimal packaging, use cloth bags when at the grocery store and avoid products that are not recyclable. “One of the biggest contributors to waste that I see on this campus is coffee cups that are left on the ground,” said Dylan Darling, a junior journalism major. K|%|l| • pipyble The Recycling Center stresses that student involveipent in the recycling program offers tremen dous job and leadership opportu nities. “This job offers students not just a job but learning opportuni ty,” Kaplan said. The Student Recycling Pro gram offers an array of opportu nities for students and employs a student staff of 45 to collect the recycled material. Jobs, intern ships, and volunteer opportuni ties are all available through the Recycling Center. The recycling program is in volved in the University Recy cling Council, which was organ ized in 1992 as an information exchange between universities in the Northwest quadrant to learn more about "waste reduc tion, recycling and waste man agement issues. Through this council, the Stu dent Recycling Program has ex panded its knowledge to help the University become one of the most active recycling campuses in the United States. Darling em phasized that everyday changes can make a significant difference { ( One of the biggest contributions to waste that I see on this campus is coffee cups that are left on the ground. Dylan Daring junior, journalism major coordinator ▲4 in the recycling effort. “The key is to learn the guide lines and rules of recycling,” Darling said. “By simply using a refillable coffee cup and recy cling the paper we use on a daily basis, we can help control the waste stream” With Earth Day arriving Satur day, the Recycling Center is working in a joint effort with the Survival Center to help stress the importance of recycling. The theme of this year’s Earth Day celebration is “Solutions” with an emphasis on sustainable living and presentations on recy cling and reducing consumption. • Recycle * Recycle,
