Photo Illustration by Abbie Baker
AL STRAIN STAFF WRITER
Wartburg College’s sustainability statistics for 2009 have been released, just in time for the second annual energy challenge.
Last year, Wartburg recycled more than 41 tons of material, which was enough to save 701 trees and over 3,600 cubic feet in a landfill.
“The fact that we recycled forty one and a quarter tons in one year has shown that recycling has really come into its own at Wartburg,” Jen Wendland, assistant sustainability coordinator, said.
Wartburg also conserved enough electricity to provide power to over 20 homes for an entire year.
Wendland said she was happy to see how far Wartburg has come from as late as the 1990’s when there was no recycling program on campus.
The sustainability statistics being released go with Wartburg’s upcoming “Greenathon,” a month long event that will encourage students to practice environmentally friendly ideals.
The “Greenathon” will feature four weeklong themes.
The themes are aimed at water conservation, saving electricity by unplugging appliances or leaving lights off and an overall theme of sustainability.
The “Greenathon” will be very similar to last year’s energy challenge with one major change. Wendland said that Luther wouldn’t be participating this year because of new people at the head of their sustainability efforts.
Students should be on the look out for what are being dubbed “Eco Tags.” These green ribbons will be seen on students’ backpacks with environmental issues written on them.
“The hope is that people will see these green tags and that conversation will start and that will snowball into action,” Wendland said.
Other events during the “Greenathon” include: a pledge table in the student center, a panel discussion from Students for Peace and Justice and a speaker sponsored by Campus Ministry to address environmental justice.
These aspects were added to the “Greenathon” to spur a call to action on the part of students.
The overall goal of the project was to make connections to a marathon.
She wants to see students build a regiment based on environmentally friendly principles.
Wendland said she wants to see students do better in their sustainability efforts than last February, a month that saw the college save more than an estimated $8,000.
“I’m hoping it’s not just a competition, it’s not just something that happens for one month,” Wendland said.