We have a heritage of Sustainability: Part 1

President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front. Deutsch: Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919), Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten von 1901 bis 1909, Friedensnobelpreisträger des Jahres 1906. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Over one hundred years ago, our then president, Theodore Roosevelt, was particular interested in our natural resources, the people and cultures of our country and the need to remind everyone that we should improve those resources for future generations. Please keep in mind that the term Sustainability had not been coined, but the desire to to the “right thing” was so clearly embedded in Roosevelt’s thoughts and deeds.

“Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children’s children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.”
~ Theodore Roosevelt

“To waste, to destroy our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so as to increase its usefulness, will result in undermining in the days of our children the very prosperity which we ought by right to hand down to them amplified and developed.”
~ Theodore Roosevelt

“We should not forget that it will be just as important to our descendants to be prosperous in their time as it is to us to be prosperous in our time.”
~ Theodore Roosevelt

I wonder what Roosevelt would have said in today’s context. Would he have been an environmental activist, a commander of industrial leaders, a rebel who would have had indigestion with international organizations and NGOs? We shall never know, but one thing we do know now is his love for this country, its people and the resources that stretch from one ocean to the next.

Related articles

• What 2012 can learn from Teddy Roosevelt (edition.cnn.com)
• Theodore Roosevelt – Noble Peace Prize 1906 (thegoodword.me)
• Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site Gets Some Breathing Room (buffalorising.com)

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Simple Sustainable Practices for the College of Charleston

College of Charleston Gym 011 (Photo credit: hdes.copeland)

Sustainable Practices are no longer unknown. So, too, many business owners are asking the same questions and often envisage utility expense reduction when institutionalized in their organizations. What can be done, with no or minimal costs, to reduce your impact on the environment? Well, this succinct list of suggestions from the College of Charleston Community is a very good start and can be easily applied to home and business use. Please pass along to your friends.
We all share an obligation to operate as sensibly as possible. That’s the essence of sustainability. So, please conserve energy where possible, reduce consumption when you can – and encourage your fellow students and employees to do likewise. Adopt the following practices and you’ll be helping all of us to move in the right direction:

Sustainable Tips for Students
•    Turn off lights, computers, printers, copiers, and other appliances that are not in use.
•    Keep the lights off when natural lighting is sufficient.
•    Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
•    Activate the hibernation settings on your computer.
•    Cycle, walk or carpool to class and work. Better yet, ride CARTA buses, they’re free!
•    Avoid packaged products. This starts with bringing your own coffee mug.
•    Lower the temperature of your dorm room and close the windows when the heat is on.
•    Reduce water usage: take fewer/shorter showers; turn off faucet when brushing teeth, washing your face, or shaving.
•    Reduce drying time when doing laundry (it saves energy and your clothes last longer).
•    Choose Energy Star appliances.
•    Re-use plastic bags, boxes, and jars.
•    Recycle paper, plastic bottles, aluminum cans and glass bottles, and don’t commingle.
•    When printing, use both sides of the page, and always purchase recycled paper.
•    Recycle your copy of The George St. Observer or read one that has been recycled.
•    Favor local products when you shop, especially food like that sold on Saturdays at the Charleston Farmers’ Market on Marion Square.
•    Share these tips with your roommates, classmates and friends.
•    Donate used items like clothing, furniture and appliances to charities instead of trashing them when the academic year ends.

Sustainable Tips for Employees
•    Turn off lights, computers, printers, copiers, and other appliances that are not in use.
•    Keep the lights off when natural lighting is sufficient during the day.
•    Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
•    Activate the hibernation settings on your computer.
•    Cycle or walk to work, or carpool. Better yet, ride CARTA – it’s free!
•    Avoid packaged products. This starts with carrying your own coffee mug.
•    Carry and use reusable shopping bags.
•    If the temperature in your work area isn’t comfortable, have the Physical Plant adjust it
•    before ordering and using a personal heater or fan.
•    If you purchase office appliances, choose Energy Star products.
•    If you purchase office paper, opt for recycled paper or high recycled content.
•    While on campus recycle paper, plastic bottles, aluminum cans and glass bottles, but don’t commingle.
•    Save paper by printing on both sides of a page.
•    If you purchase office furnishings, opt for sustainable products and companies by checking with Good Guide or the EPA website.

College of Charleston: http://sustainability.cofc.edu/sustainable-practices%20/index.php

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