Going Green

William and Mary had been harking upon the green, but you may ask, what has Residence Life been doing to be more sustainable?

What We Have Done

• Several years ago, when we renegotiated the laundry services contract, we replaced all of the top load washers for front loading models. Front loaders use less water and the spin cycle leaves the clothes drier - which mean less energy is required to dry the clothes. 
• In cooperation with Facilities Management we have replaced toilets, showerheads and sink aerators with low flow models designed to conserve water in all of our buildings. All of our current and replacement fixtures meet the low flow standard. 
• With the help of Facilities Management we have also replaced our public area lighting in the halls with fluorescent fixtures. 
• For several years now we have worked with the Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) and funded the distribution of a fluorescent light bulb (CFL) for every entering freshman at check-in. 
• During the summer of 2008 we partnered with the Residence Hall Association to place energy conservation stickers on light switch plates in all of our buildings. 
• Although the initial grant from the Student Assembly was exhausted years ago, we have continued to fund the purchase of blue recycling bins for each student room. 
• All of the refrigerators, microwaves and stoves that we purchase for use in our kitchens are "Energy Star" rated. 
• The Jamestown Residence Halls are LEED certified. This means that the construction, design, furnishings and upkeep meet specific standards in green construction and operations. 
• All new porch furniture and picnic tables are made of recycled plastic materials. 
• As much as possible, older furniture is recovered and repaired for use in the residence halls. The lounges in some of our buildings are completely furnished with refurbished items.
• We have worked with charities to find homes for older and obsolete room furniture. Working with a former resident and staff member, we were able to provide room furniture for a new halfway house for recovering drug abusers.
• We partnered with the College's Committee on Sustainability to provide hangers for public bathrooms encouraging students to strive for less than five minute showers.
• We are committed to reducing our own use of paper and have converted many of our operations to online processes.  Our staff is encouraged to print double-sided, double paged, and on recycled paper.
• In the spring 2008, we incorporated green cleaning solutions to replace 6 chemical solutions. The green products include True 7 (neutral cleaner), RAM (degreaser), Star (glass cleaner), and Tenacity (multipurpose cleaner). These products are part of a dilution system. We mix the product on site resulting in a considerable savings as well as being earth friendly.
• The toilet paper and paper towels used in all public restrooms in the residence halls are green seal products. We have been using them since 2005.
• Paper products purchased for use in the Programming Resource Center (PRC) are from recycled products. The copier paper is 30% post consumer waste, and the construction paper is 50% recycled fibers.

What we are doing now?

• With the help of the College's Energy Manager, Dan Patterson, we have found a good replacement fluorescent bulb (CFL) for the small incandescent lights in the decorative chandeliers in Barrett, Chandler and Landrum.
• As a pilot project in DuPont, we are working with students who are trying to determine if the addition of a dedicated trash container in each room (in addition to the recycling bin already there) will result in more recycling and less disposal of trash.
• We are looking into more efficient ways to recycle or reuse older furniture either through donations, reuse or recycling materials.
• As funding allows we are installing motion sensors in public spaces.  This will allow us to save energy by not burning lights in unoccupied rooms.
• In summer 2009 we installed new hand soap dispensers and a green soap - Symmetry.  a green product that foams when used. This is a replacement of the pink liquid soap in all public restrooms in the residence halls (except in the sororities). We will add this product in the sororities when we have depleted our pink soap inventory.
• We are investigating and testing new products which are green seal. They include floor stripper (RUBY) and floor finish (PEARL). These were used in Tazewell Hall over fall break and promise to give us more wear (several years between stripping times), better shine, and when removed, an earth friendly by-product. 
• A bulletin board competition for RAs is being held in the fall in conjunction with America Recycles Day.

What can you do?

• Make sure that the appliances you bring from home are energy efficient and carry the "energy star" rating.
• Turn off appliances when you aren't home.  Plug in all of your chargers into one power strip so that you can turn them  off when not in use - that way they won't be pulling power all day!
• If you have an approved window AC unit - turn it off or down when you aren't in the room.  It doesn't take long to cool a room and even though most people think you should always leave a room cool, you actually use less energy leaving the AC off while the room is unoccupied.
• Use the recycling container in your room to recycle paper, cans, and approved plastics.