CAMPUS CLIMATE EXCHANGE

Campus Climate Exchange is a University initiative designed to raise awareness about the breadth of climate change and its many dimensions. The initiative builds on the Focus the Nation climate change awareness project.

This year, February 16-17, faculty from across campus will incorporate climate change into their curriculum. Faculty members please provide feedback on your class discussion by taking the Survey.

RENEWABLE ENERGY LOAN FUND (RELF)

The Revolving Energy Loan Fund (RELF) is now open for project proposals. This fund allows students to propose projects that save energy on campus using money generated through a $4 per semester optional student Sustainability Fee. Projects funded by the RELF must demonstrate quantifiable savings and a return on investment. Funded projects will reduce annual operating expenses, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and lower energy costs in campus buildings.

For more information contact Erica at asum.sustain@mso.umt.edu

Learn more about RELF: RELF

UM CLIMATE ACTION WEEK: OCT. 19th-23rd

To tackle climate change we need to move quickly, and we need to act in unison-and 2009 will be an absolutely crucial year.  This December, world leaders will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark to craft a new global treaty on cutting emissions. The problem is, the treaty currently on the table doesn't meet the severity of the climate crisis-it doesn't pass the 350 test. Our focus is on the number 350--as in parts per million, the level scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere. But 350 is more than a number--it's a symbol of where we need to head as a planet.

UM took part in a week of climate action from October 19th-October 24th. Below are the events that took place. Check out the pictures from that week at: ASUM Sustainability Center

Schedule of Events

October 19th, 7:00-8:30 pm UC Theatre: "Climate Change Across the Curriculum: Panel Discussion." To kick off the week we will host a panel of speakers from across campus as they talk about climate change within their discipline. Panelists include: Dr. Steve Running, Forestry; Dr. Dane Scott, Ethics; Dean Irma Russell, School of Law; graduate student Toby Meierbachtol and Keegan Eisenstadt, CEO of Missoula based non-profit Clear Sky Climate Solutions. Open discussion to follow.

October 20th, 7:00 pm UC Theatre: Amnesty International Human Rights Award winning documentary "Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai." This dramatic story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai whose simple act of planting trees grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, protect human rights and defend democracy.

October 21st, 5:00 pm UM FLAT: Letter writing and video making campaign. Show your support for the American Clean Energy and Security Act by writing letters to Senators Tester and Baucus and learning more about what is happening in Copenhagen in December.  

October 22nd, 10 am-2 pm, UM Oval: UM Climate Action Now "Dumpster Dive." Come help UM CAN showcase to the University just how much waste we produce and how much recycling ends up in the garbage. 

October 23rd, 10 am-2pm UM Oval: UM Day of Climate Action. Come to the rally where community climate change organziations and student groups will have booths, speakers will present and a chance to play games and win prizes. There might even be a polar bear! 

TAKE BACK THE TAP

UM's Free Water campaign began in September of 2008 and is aimed at making students, staff and campus visitors more aware of the harmful environmental & human health effects (& high cost) of single use (throw-away) water bottles. The campaign has distributed information on the energy & carbon footprint of these bottles, the land fill space used, the concerns about toxins leaching into drinking water in the bottles. Signs posted at water fountains advertise 'Free Water', point out the high annual cost of bottled water, and assure the reader of the high quality of Missoula's water.

This year the campaign's goals are to continue education about the negative effects of one time use bottled water, as well as provide more opportunities for students to purchase alternative options, such as BPA-free Nalgene bottles sold at cost. We also aim to gain campus support to discontinue the sale of bottled water in certain areas of campus. There has also been the opportunity for students to take a personal pledge, Take Back the Tap, to discontinue purchasing disposable bottles. Visit Take Back The Tap for more information.

SAFE & CLEAN DRINKING WATER

You may have noticed the FREE WATER signs around campus, and we have gotten great reactions from faculty and students who are enthusiastic about creating less waste and utilizing reusable water bottles rather than single use disposable ones. Recently, concerns have been expressed regarding water quality on various buildings here at UM. It's a fair concern; if you are going to be consuming the delicious H20 the campus serves up, you should probably be confident that you are actually downing something that's clean and good for you. So here are the facts...

Several years ago questions surfaced about lead levels being higher than the standard allowances. After several rounds of testing, tests proved that water quality in every building on campus is safe for drinking. Researchers discovered that lead levels would show higher counts when the water had been stagnant in the pipes for an extended period of time. For example, over the summer the dorms are rarely occupied therefore allowing the water to sit in the pipes for quite sometime. During the school year, dorm drinking fountains and faucets are frequently used preventing the water from gaining lead buildup in the pipes. So drink up, because most buildings are campus are visited everyday by students and staff who keep the water flowing, fresh and clean.

If you are still concerned about lead in the water, which is most important for young children and pregnant women, let the water run for a few minutes and wait until it cold. This will ensure you that it isn't water that has been sitting in the pipes and it is lead free.

The University of Montana receives the same drinking water the entire city does. In fact, UM's water is required to be tested more frequently than the water most of you drink in your homes because it is a distributor.

If you have any further questions feel free to take a look at: Drinking Water Health