No Impact Experiment Week

2010

Sunday - Consumption | Monday - Trash | Tuesday - Transportation | Wednesday - Food | Thursday - Energy | Friday - Water | Saturday - Giving Back | Eco-Sabbath

Join The No Impact Experiment Week

What is the Experiment?

The No Impact Experiment is a one-week carbon cleanse. It is a chance for you to see what a difference no-impact living can have on your quality of life. It's not about giving up creature comforts but an opportunity for you to test whether the modern "conveniences" you take for granted are actually making you happier or just eating away at your time and money.

Joining is simple! Click here to sign up.

Visit How It Works for step-by-step instructions and download the How-To Manual for day-by-day guidelines. Watch inspiring videos from past participants about their lessons from the week and what motivated them to try it.

You will receive everything you need to participate in this experiment via e-mail from the people at the No Impact Project, including an addendum of the many different resources and activities that will be happening on the IWU campus throughout the week of Sept. 12-19.

Please register no later than Friday, Sept. 10. For more information, contact Wellness at (309) 556-3334 or wellness@iwu.edu.

 

Tuesday, September 7

Screening of Film: No Impact Man
Beckman Auditorium, The Ames Library, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, September 8

President’s Convocation
Speaker: Colin Beavan, The No Impact Man
11 a.m., Presser Hall, Westbrook Auditorium

Saturday, September 11

Live a fuller and happier life by buying less stuff
(Pre-event) Stop by Ecology Action Center’s Annual Free-For-All
9 a.m.-Noon, Anderson Park, Normal, everything is free
Bring something to share, take what you need!


Sunday, September 12: Consumption
Re-use:

In No Impact Man, Colin Beavan challenges us to reduce and re-use in all areas of our lives. Help fulfill this challenge by dropping off your copy of the summer reading book No Impact Man at The Ames Library between Sept. 12 and Sept. 19.  If you haven't read the book, and would like to pick up a copy, stop by the library and pick up a used copy!  Let’s keep spreading Beavan's message!

Local Thrift & Consignment Shops
Another way to reduce or re-use is by purchasing gently used items from thrift and consignment shops.

Campus Resource:

• Preshrunk: Ryan Johnson, advisor at rjohnso2@iwu.edu (309) 556-3370

Community Resources:

• BroMenn Thrift Shop, 1203 S Main St, Normal, IL , (309) 454-7074
• Goodwill Industries,  401 Greenbriar Dr, Normal, IL (309) 451-1010
• Mission Mart, 301 E Oakland Ave, Bloomington, IL, (309) 828-1530
• Midwest Exchange Incorporate,  512 IAA Dr #6, Bloomington, IL (309) 662-7296
• Monster Pawn, 607 S. Main St, Normal, IL (309) 452-5327
• McLean County Exchange, 2015 Ireland Grove Rd, Bloomington, IL (309) 661-1111
• Neighborhood Thrift Store, 406 N Main St Bloomington, IL (309) 827-2500
• Plato’s Closet,  1407 N. Veterans Pky, Bloomington, IL (309) 662-9844
• Penelope’s, 626 N Main St Bloomington, IL, (309) 828-9155
• Karen’s Kloset West, 1503 E College Ave, Ste H, Normal, IL, (309) 454-2800
• Cute As A Button, 1407 N Veterans Pkwy Ste 22, Bloomington, IL, (309) 663-7276
• Sweet Repeats, 310 Wylie Dr, Normal, IL


Monday, September 13: Trash

Get your reusable Chico Bag…
Need a handy dandy reusable bag that can travel anywhere with you? Wellness has a small Chico bag inventory that will be sold for just $1 each. The Chico bag folds into a convenient pouch and can clip onto a belt, or fit easily into a purse or backpack. Eliminate or reduce plastic bag use by carrying these convenient reusable bags to cart food or other items out of the store and home! To purchase a bag please stop by Wellness between 9 a.m. –Noon & 1-4 p.m. Sept. 12-17. These snazzy little bags also make great gifts. Limit 2 per person.

Community Resource:

Ecology Action Center (EAC)
202 W. College Ave, Normal, IL 61761
Phone: (309) 454-3169
www.ecologyactioncenter.org
www.facebook.com/EcologyActionCenter
www.twitter.com/ecoactioncenter

Interactive Recycling Center Map:
 http://www.ecologyactioncenter.org/waste-solutions/recyclemap.shtml


Tuesday, September 14: Transportation

The Go to Good Commuter Challenge is a weeklong event designed to encourage healthier lifestyles and promote the use of alternative transportation instead of driving alone.  The Challenge is a friendly competition between individuals, teams and workplaces to see who can rack up the most alternative transportation miles.  During the week, participants track and report their commutes online.  Public transit, walking, bicycling, car sharing, carpooling, vanpooling, and telecommuting all count for the competition.

The first challenge is scheduled for Sept. 13-17 and then annually the third week of May (May 16-20, 2011).  It’s open to anyone who lives, works, goes to school, or regularly commutes in or to McLean County. Register at http://www.wglt.org/goodtogo

Why participate? By driving less, we can all save money on gas and vehicle maintenance as well as reduce the vehicle emissions that cause air pollution.  Walking and biking also are good exercise, and carpooling and riding the bus are great ways to build community.  And if those aren’t good enough reasons…you can win prizes!  Sign up today for the Commuter Challenge and begin thinking about how you’ll spend your dollars that otherwise would have been pumped into the gas tank.

How does it work? Every participant establishes a profile and logs their commutes daily.  The information tracked for each commute includes:

• Mode of transit used
• Number of miles traveled
• Calories burned
• Money saved
• Avoided emissions

At the end of the week the results are tallied to determine the winners in each category.

What is a qualifying commute? A “commute” means any trip you would have otherwise driven in a car by yourself. In addition to work and school trips, examples include shopping, running errands, dentist visit, going to a place of worship, etc.

Second Annual Saucy Salsa Throwdown!
Tuesday, Sept. 14, Noon-1 p.m.
Davidson Room, Memorial Center

IWU Wellness and Multicultural Student Affairs are teaming up to bring you a Saucy Salsa Throwdown!  Use up the last of those summer tomatoes, put together your best salsa or salsas, and enter to win a gift certificate to your favorite local Hispanic restaurant. An extra challenge this year is to try to make your salsa with all local ingredients! Farmers’ markets will have what you need, if it doesn’t grow at home! All are welcome to taste test and help determine the winner!

To register your salsa, call ext. 3334 or e-mail us at wellness@iwu.edu by Sept. 11.

Workshop: Bicycle Maintenance & Repair with Chris Sweet
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: North side of Shirk Center between football stadium & Shirk

Own a bike? If you’re off campus, and within biking distance, ride to campus today. Or, if you are on campus, own a bike and commute about town, bring your bike down to Shirk Center and get some hands-on experience that will help you keep your bike in tip-top condition. If your bike cannot accompany you to campus, everyone is welcome. Please join Chris Sweet for this informative workshop.

Community Resources:

Bloomington/Normal Mass Transit
104 East Oakland Avenue
Bloomington, IL 61701-5248
(309) 828-7511
www.bnpts.com

Vitesse Cycle Shop
206 S. Linden St.
Normal, IL 61761
(309) 454-1541

Bloomington Cycle and Fitness
712 E. Empire St.
Bloomington, IL 61701
(309) 820-8036

Wilson’s Cycle
1001 West Market Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
(309) 829-6824


Wednesday, September 15: Food

Workshop: Looking for an easy (and delicious!) way to reduce your impact?  Eat Local!
Presented by Marsha Veninga from the Heartland Local Food Network
Wednesday, Sept. 15, Noon-1 p.m.
Cartwright Room, Memorial Center

Did you know that approximately 95% of the food we eat in Illinois is imported?  What’s more, the food on your plate has traveled an average of 1,500 miles!  Eating local, sustainably produced food is not only good for the planet, your body and the community, but is also easy!  Central Illinois farmers produce everything from fruits and vegetables, to milk, cheese, meat, fish, honey, maple syrup and popcorn.  There is no need to buy tomatoes in August that come all the way from California (or worse, China!)  We have grocery stores, farmers’ markets and CSAs where you can buy fresh, delicious, nutritious local food.  Don’t cook?  No problem! Many area restaurants are now serving local food.  Come find out what local food is and how it can help you reduce your impact.

Sodexo Organic Entrée for Faculty/Staff & Student Faculty/Staff Dining Room:
Lunch: Organic Baked Potato Bar featuring organic Idaho Potato, butter, broccoli and shredded cheese. Berthoff Commons, ETC-ETC Station Lunch and Dinner : Organic Baked Potato Bar featuring organic Idaho potatoes, butter, broccoli and shredded cheese.

Screening of Film: Food, Inc
Ames, Beckman Auditorium: 7 p.m. (91 minutes)

Community Resources:

Heartland Local Food Network
Sustainable.Local.Accesible
www.hlfn.org

Buy Fresh Buy Local Food Guide 2010-2011 Food Guide (pdf)

What’s FRESH at the FARMERS’ MARKET
Sept.18, 2010
7:30 a.m.-Noon on the Square in Downtown Bloomington rain or shine!


Thursday, September 16: Energy

Energy efficient washers come to IWU!
At IWU, students do more than 100 loads of laundry a day, and our recent shift to high efficiency washers will result in significant energy and water savings over prior years.  However, just because laundry machines are free doesn't mean they come without a cost! Check out your laundry room today to learn some specifics about the energy and water cost of our new machines, and some simple steps that you can take to reduce the impact of your laundry.

Screening of Film: Flow
Beckman Auditorium, The Ames Library, 7 p.m

Community Resource:

Heartland Community College: The Green Institute
Contact: Rebecca Rossi (309) 268-8402
2010 Illinois Energy Expo-Free Event
October 30, Residential Workshops & Expo
9 a.m.-3 p.m.

www.apec-online.org/2010_expo.html
http://www.ecologyactioncenter.org/energy/
http://smartenergy.arch.uiuc.edu/html/eeps.html


Friday, September 17: Water

Workshop: The Impact of Waste
Presented by Michael Brown, Director of The Ecology Action Center
Noon-1 p.m., Davidson Room, Memorial Center

How do your personal consumption and waste generation habits impact the environment?  How should you dispose of household chemicals, paints, and other potentially hazardous items?  Are "compostable" plastics better than Styrofoam?  Isn't composting a waste of time since these things biodegrade in the landfill anyway?  Why are mercury-containing Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) better for the environment than traditional incandescent bulbs? Michael Brown of the Ecology Action Center will address important issues of solid waste and protecting our local water supplies and dispel common misperceptions about the impacts of our choices.

H2O Hoax
Test your taste!  Can you differentiate between bottled, filtered and tap water?  Stop by the DugOut this afternoon to put your palate to the test and learn about the real costs involved with the production of potable water.

Drug Disposal Program comes to Illinois Wesleyan
Help keep our drinking water clean, dispose of drugs properly.

Many pharmaceuticals are getting past our wastewater treatment plants and getting into our drinking water. Scientists with the United States Geological Society conducted a study of over 130 rivers, streams, and other waterways in the U.S. and found the following pharmaceuticals in over 80 percent of those tested.

• Antibiotics
• Anti-depressants
• Birth control pills
• Seizure medication
• Cancer treatments
• Pain killers
• Tranquilizers
• Cholesterol-lowering compounds

In order to make it convenient to dispose of both prescription and over-the-counter drugs properly, IWU now has a drop-box located in the entry of the Security building at 110 E. Graham St. The drop-box site is open 24/7.

Guidelines for Disposal

Take unused and unwanted prescription and non-prescription drugs to IWU Security or other drop-off locations. Keep medications in original bottles or packaging if possible Mark out your name and address on prescription labels.

Drop-off sites routinely send collected medications to be incinerated as part of the ecological and safe disposal protocol. (Incinerated medications are able to create energy that is used to power homes and businesses.)

For more information please contact Wellness at ext. 3334 or wellness@iwu.edu.

Opportunity for Giving Back:
Friday Night Lights with Sierra Student Coalition (SSC)
Sept. 17, 5 p.m.
Location: Meet second floor of Shaw

Join SSC members as they go to Shaw, CLA and CNS to turn off lights, computers and other electronics that have been left on, that otherwise would be consuming energy the entire weekend, when people are typically not using those devices. For more information contact Emmy Grace at egrace@iwu.edu or feel free just to show up.

Community Resources:

Prairie Rivers Network
 http://prairierivers.org

Mission
Prairie Rivers Network strives to protect the rivers and streams of Illinois and to promote the lasting health and beauty of watershed communities. By providing information, sound science, and hands-on assistance, Prairie Rivers Network helps individuals and community groups become effective river conservation leaders.

Much of our work focuses on how laws such as the Clean Water Act are used in Illinois – ensuring that laws intended to protect our rivers, our environment, and ultimately, our health are followed and enforced as intended.

This focus involves keeping a statewide perspective on issues, but it also includes providing assistance to local people and working on local problems, where effective policies are often initiated and later adopted at the state level. Our work spans the range of clean water issues – from cleaning up our most polluted rivers and educating the public on water quality and wildlife to protecting our most pristine rivers – always with the goal of safeguarding our resources for future generations.

Other Resources on Water

http://www.ecologyactioncenter.org/stormwater-education/
http://www.ecologyactioncenter.org/clean-water/
http://water.epa.gov/action/


Saturday, September 18: Giving Back

Opportunities for Giving Back:

Funk's Grove Work Day with SSC

Saturday, Sept. 18
Meet at 8:30 a.m. in CNS Atrium.  Return around 11 a.m.
Help restore Illinois' native prairie at Funk's Grove.  Projects may include collecting seeds, removing invasive species or planting. Dress in long pants and sneakers or boots.
To sign up contact Emmy Grace from SSC at egrace@iwu.edu

Ecology Action Center

Storm Drain Stenciling
Raise awareness of water pollution causes and solutions through community outreach.  Help the EAC with storm drain stenciling efforts in Bloomington and Normal neighborhoods.  Volunteer at either 9:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. for a two and a half hour shift.  Must be able to provide your own transportation to designated meeting point.    To sign up, contact Michael Brown at mbrown@ecologyactioncenter.org or (309) 454-3169.

Bloomington Farmers’ Market

Volunteer Opportunities abound! The following are possible volunteer opportunities at our local Bloomington Farmers’ Market.

Kids' Corner: Help children find fun and creative ways to connect to the market. Volunteers can help visitors create public art and play games.

Vendor Assistant: Help vendors set up their booth, wait on customers, and/or break down their booth at the end of the day.

Token Table Volunteer: Staff the token table for one of two shifts (7:30-10 a.m. or 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.).  Accept Fresh Shares coupons, Link cards, and credit cards from customers.  Dispense tokens.  Answer questions from customers.
To sign up, contact Elaine Sebald at bloomington_farmersmarket@yahoo.com

ISU-IWU Habitat for Humanity Student Chapter (IWU)

Habitat ReStore (309) 454-6047 (Call to volunteer)
http://www.habitatmclean.org/restore/index.php
The Bloomington ReStore is part of the Illinois ReStore Network

West Bloomington Revitalization Project

Volunteer opportunities: westbloomington@gmail.com
http://www.westbloomington.org/


Sunday, September 19: Eco-Sabbath

Community Gathering for Sharing Experiences

A time to share stories about experiences with the Experiment!
Joslin Atrium, Memorial Center
Time: 2-3 p.m.
Snacks & beverages will be provided
What to bring: You and your stories about living with less impact!
RSVP: mdamschr@iwu.edu (please indicate if you can attend by Sept. 16.)