Stay Informed with ‘Think Green’ Blog

If you haven’t visited the Think Green blog lately, you’re missing out on some important information about the College’s sustainability efforts. The blog can be accessed at http://mc3green.wordpress.com and is updated several times per month.

Click on the links below to read some recent posts.

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RecycleMania Week 1 and Week 2 Recaps
Feb. 17 and Feb. 24, 2012

Be sure to visit Think Green each week during RecycleMania for updates on the amount of trash and recycling being collected. Totals for the first two weeks are 20,701 pounds of trash and 12,410 pounds of recycling.

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Campus Shuttle Reaches 10,000 Riders!
Feb. 13, 2012

The College celebrated the 10,000th rider on its Campus Shuttle on Feb. 13 during the 6:45 a.m. run from West to Central campus. When the Shuttle arrived at the Central Campus at 7:45 a.m., College officials presented 10,000th Shuttle rider Alysa Murray, of Pottstown, with a tray of bagels and danishes, five CulinArt meal cards (valued at up to $8 each), and a Montgomery County Community College blanket. Continue Reading

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New Filtered Water Station Available at ATC Bridge
Feb. 8, 2012

Grab your cups and water bottles! Last week, the Central Campus Facilities team installed a filtered water station on the second floor of the Advanced Technology Center, next to the bridge that connects the ATC with the Science Center. The station even tracks the number of plastic bottles saved — 65 to date!  Click for Photo

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DEP Records Now Part of College Archives
Feb. 6, 2012

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Schuylkill River cleanup records have a new home in Montgomery County Community College’s Archives. The records detail the multi-year cleanup effort that is often cited as the birth of the modern environmental movement. Continue Reading

Stay Informed with ‘Think Green’ Blog

If you haven’t visited the Think Green blog lately, you’re missing out on some important information about the College’s sustainability efforts. The blog can be accessed at http://mc3green.wordpress.com and is updated several times per month.

Click on the links below to read some recent posts.

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Student Essay: Go Green, Buy Green — The Benefits of Local Produce
Jan. 1, 2012

In today’s harsh economy, it seems like a large amount of money only goes a short way.  With a growing population and decreasing employment opportunities, many families struggle to provide enough food for their household without turning to inexpensive and often unhealthy foods made by large companies across the country.  These problems could easily be solved by buying local produce.

Farmers markets are often less costly than produce found at major grocery stores because the produce doesn’t need to be shipped.  This also means that what consumers spend on produce goes directly into local farmers’ pockets and then back into the environment and the community.  At a time when small businesses are in trouble, paying nearby farmers for their crops is much more supportive to a consumer’s hometown because it preserves farmland and green areas. Continue Reading

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New Geology, Geography Sustainability Courses Introduced at West Campus
Dec. 12, 2011

For all the debate about global warming, one thing’s certain: Today’s students will live with the outcome, so it’s wise to look ahead.

That’s why two faculty members at Montgomery County Community College’s West Campus have launched a pair of courses to spark thinking and planning about the earth’s future.

“This is going to emerge as one of our greatest challenges,” says Assistant Professor of Geography Sam Wallace. “Students should address it before leaving college.”

In “Sustainable Climate Communities,” Wallace examines the cultural and economic impact of global warming, as well as mitigation and adaption strategies.

Geology Professor Rob Kuhlman delves into the geophysical basis of climate change and the impact human behavior has on it in the other course, “The Science of Climate Change.”

“I think it’s exciting. I think Montco is cutting-edge,” says Kuhlman. “It’s a contemporary and socially important suite of courses to meet future needs.” Continue Reading

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Student Essay: In Celebration of the Schuylkill River
Nov. 18, 2011

People are drawn to the beauty of the Schuylkill River for various reasons. The river offers recreation, history, art and nature, to name a few. It is just a hop and skip down the road from the Montgomery County Community College’s West Campus in Pottstown, and it snakes its way through Chester, Berks and Philadelphia counties.

The Schuylkill River plays an important role in Pottstown’s history, and its beauty is celebrated by nature enthusiasts and artists alike. Continue Reading

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‘Green’ Standards Set for Paper Products
Nov. 8, 2011

As part of its ongoing effort to implement green best practices, the College has developed new specifications for its purchase of “Green Seal Certified” paper towels and toilet tissue. The process to make these products is 100% recycled, meaning that all materials are recovered after the papermaking process and nothing is discarded. Continue Reading

Stay Informed with ‘Think Green’ Blog

If you haven’t visited the Think Green blog lately, you’re missing out on some important information about the College’s sustainability efforts. The blog can be accessed at http://mc3green.wordpress.com and is updated weekly.

Click on the links below to read some recent posts.

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Energy Efficient Measure Generate Funds for Greener Campuses
Sept. 23, 2011

The College recently entered into a Guaranteed Energy Services Agreement with Siemens Industry Inc., Blue Bell, for the implementation of a self-funding energy conservation project.

With the energy improvements, the College expects a total guaranteed savings over the next 15 years of approximately $6,383,434 or 19 percent in energy savings. The total cost of the construction and installation is $4,051,751, which will be paid by the annual energy savings generated. Read More

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New Containers Encourage Recycling on Campus
Sept. 6, 2011

To promote recycling efforts at the College’s Central Campus in Blue Bell, the Facilities Department — in coordination with the President’s Climate Council — purchased and installed new recycling and trash containers around campus.

The rationale behind the new system is that uniform and clearly-labeled containers will encourage recycling among the College’s students, faculty and staff. Read More

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Instructor Develops Economics of Sustainability Course with Library of Congress Grant
Aug. 14, 2011

The Library of Congress has awarded Montgomery County Community College and Economics Instructor Jill Beccaris-Pescatore a Teaching with Primary Sources grant in the amount of $7,500 to support the development and implementation of an Introduction to Environmental Economics course.

Students enrolled in the course will connect primary sources, available through the Library of Congress, to issues of scarcity and choice in the area of environmental and natural resource economics. Read More

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Compost Pile Yields First ‘Crop’ on Top Dressing
Aug. 8, 2011

For the first time since Grounds Supervisor Phil Capinski and his team created a compost pile for the College’s leaves, grass clippings other green waste, that compost will be used as top dressing around the Central Campus.

The College is working with Livezey Landscaping Inc. to process the contents of the pile through a screener, which separates and further refines usable compost from rocks and materials that have not yet sufficiently broken down. Read More

Stay Updated on Sustainability Initiative

Stay up-to-date on the latest efforts of the President’s Climate Council and the College’s Sustainability Initiative by visiting the ‘Think Green’ Blog. This week’s entry, written by student Teresa Harris, looks at how Assistant Professor Tom Donlan’s “Intro to Public Relations” students get real-world experience while engaging the community in the College’s sustainability work. Also, don’t miss regular updates about the work of the College’s Facilities team in making our campuses greener. Click the image below to visit the blog!