Pop Quiz!

How many loads of laundry does Endicott do annually?

How many gallons of water does the Endicott campus consume annually?

How many pounds per week does Dining Services collect for composting?

Last week, we launched another thoughtful exhibit in the Halle Library Archive & Museum Gallery. Curated by Archives Director Barbara Broudo, with assistance from Office of Sustainability Director Sarah Creighton, Endicott Goes Green looks at how the College operates in an environmentally responsible manner and what steps we take to incorporate sustainability into our students’ academic and residential experience.  You’ll see statistics on both usage and savings of resources, chronicles of Endicott’s active sustainability practices, examples of green methodology, and inspiration to continue this mission into the future.

Endicott places sustainability in high priority, implementing comprehensive recycling, energy efficiency, and green operations in the form of projects like bringing Zipcar shared vehicles to campus, wind feasibility studies, and the installation of a green roof.

Here are a few ways Endicott has been implementing sustainable practices:

-          Dining: Endicott’s dining services implemented a trayless program in 2010, reducing food waste by 30%.  In January 2012 dining services implemented a re-usable To-Go container.   Students who wish to take-out food can provide a deposit for a reusable container.  On their next visit, they can return the used container for a clean one.  This has eliminated the use of thousands of styrofoam containers.

-          Energy: Endicott has studied a number of sites for small and large-scale photovoltaic installations and is working with local and state organizations to implement an installation once the studies are complete.

-          Lighting: A recent comprehensive lighting project in two buildings will reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions by 130 tons/year.

-          Landscaping: 100% of yard waste is composted on site and the nutrient-rich soil is returned to campus gardens.

-          Benchmarks: Endicott participates in Recyclemania, a competition between colleges and universities across North America to reduce solid waste and increase the recycling to trash ratio. Last year, Endicott’s entry reported:

• Endicott College’s recycling to trash ratio was close to 40%.
• Over 90% of the construction waste from Marblehead hall was recycled!
• About 40 tons of waste was recycled from the demolition of the West Center.
• The Callahan Dining Hall is collecting food waste for composting (@ 4,000 lbs/week!). Unused food is donated to local charities.

Learn more about Endicott’s sustainability efforts by visiting our website: http://www.endicott.edu/AboutEndicott/Sustainability.aspx

Below is a snapshot from the exhibit, showing just a few of our annual activities that impact the air, land, and water around us:

Annual Usage

32,000,000 gallons of water

3,500,000 copies and laser printed pages

1,800 miles of paper towels and toilet paper

15,000 gallons of gasoline

1,000 gallons of paint

42,000 loads of laundry

139,000 trash bags

11,400 pounds of used electronics

9,500,000 kilo-watt-hours of electricity

900,000+ square feet of heated space

The exhibit will be on display through July 17, 2013 in the Halle Library Archive & Museum Gallery. Exhibit is free and open to the public, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information contact Barbara Broudo at 978-232-2257.