And the winners are ...
Thanks to the over 250 employees and students who participated in the RISC "Tag it" Contest to identify a memorable tagline for our sustainable efforts.
The submissions were judged on the following: originality, versatility, conciseness, catchiness, and motivational factor.
After reviewing all creative taglines, the winner is:
As a winning team, let's stay green!
"The RSCCD sustainability program's new tagline captures the momentum that is starting to build behind sustainability efforts district-wide," said Raúl Rodríguez, RSCCD chancellor. "We are definitely all in this together!"
 The winning entry was submitted by Santiago Canyon College student Breanne Bediamol. She will receive a $25 iTunes gift card.
RISC would also like to thank all faculty and staff that participated in the RSCCD Sustainability Survey. As indicated in our communications, three winners were selected for sharing their input with ideas on how our college district can evolve into a more sustainable workplace.
We'd like to congratulate Debbie Perales, District Office; Michelle Parolise, Santa Ana College and Gloria Goss, Santiago Canyon College.
Each winner will have their choice of either a $25 iTunes gift card, or a $25 carbon offset certificate to go toward a charitable organization of their choice that decreases the impact of climate change or helps restore critical wildlife habitat. To learn more about this special program, please visit The Nature Conservancy online.
[ Return to top ]
The Green Corner
by Dr. Kimo Morris
Often we are led to believe that "being green" or living sustainably requires foregoing luxuries and sacrificing simple comforts. In fact it is quite easy to live a greener lifestyle without having to "go without." The Green Corner will give you new perspective and helpful tips towards a fulfilling life with a smaller environmental footprint.
 No doubt you have seen the three arrows in a triangle symbol, and recognize it as the "recycling symbol." Actually the symbol means "reduce - reuse - recycle" (in that order). "Reducing" and "reusing"
are the most effective solutions to shrinking your personal footprint. Notice, that "recycling" is last. While recycling should be a core behavior, only emphasizing recycling will not get us to our greener goals.
Here is something to consider: Rather than taking a plastic or paper shopping bag, even though you have vowed to recycle it, consider bringing your own shopping bag (thus reducing and reusing). After all, your goal was to just get your groceries home! Rather than using a takeout container from a restaurant, consider keeping a reusable container in the trunk of your car. Basically, you just wanted to get your leftovers home. In the end, you will enjoy your leftovers as before, but not contribute to the waste stream.
Look for more simple tips and perspective in future editions to help get you on the sustainability train!
Greenly Yours,
Dr. Kimo Morris
Assistant Professor of Biology
Santa Ana College
[ Return to top ]
|
Laurene Lugo uses her bike and Metrolink to get to work.
|
Interview with Laurene Lugo
How do you get to work?
I live in San Juan Capistrano about 27 miles south of the District Office where I work as an administrative secretary for RSCCD Child Development Services. I commute by car most days, but often ride my bike and the Metrolink to the station in Santa Ana, and then ride my bike through neighborhoods to the District Office.
Why do you choose to get to work that way?
I want to reduce my carbon footprint, for one! I've had the opportunity to participate in three CicLAvia events in Los Angeles. (CicLAvia is an event that makes the streets safe for people to walk, skate, play and ride bicycles.) After my first CicLAvia in which I walked, I asked one of my daughters to help me find a folding bike so that I could commute by train and ride my bike to and from work. We found an appropriate bicycle and I began my initiation into commuting to work without my car. At some point, I hope to be able to do this every day. Commuting by train/bicycle fulfills my exercise needs, as well as gives me time to read and visit with people.
Do you have any tips for someone that might want
to start using alternate transportation to work?
Talk to someone else who already does it to get pointers! If you would like to ride a bike like I do, start practicing by going to events or using bike trails. Get someone to buddy up with - at least at first. I've ended up making friends with people I didn't know before I started commuting.
One way to plot your trip is to go to OCTA's website and use their trip planner tool.
Metrolink's schedule can be found here: Metrolink Schedule
[ Return to top ]
Academic Opportunities
Our RSCCD campuses have opportunities for students to learn and engage around sustainability and gain a better understanding of our world's changing needs.
At Santa Ana College
Biology 200 - The Environment of Man: Sustainability is fundamental to the class, as it touches on environmental problems such as energy, resources, pollution, land use, population and food, including economic and political factors.
Environmental Geology 140 - This course focuses on the study of urban geologic hazards: earthquakes, groundwater pollution, flood potential, landslides and creep, soil expansion, coastal erosion, and volcanic hazards.
At Santiago Canyon College
Biology 200 - The Environment of Man: Sustainability is fundamental to the class, as it touches on environmental problems such as energy, resources, pollution, land use, population and food, including economic and political factors.
Biology 259 - Introduction to Environmental Biology: This course includes the study of ecosystems, population dynamics, classification, diversity of plant and animal species, effects of pollutants at both the cellular and organismal levels and principles of ecology.
Water Utility Science: The Water Utility Science program provides a great opportunity to be trained in a growing and important field around sustainability. This combination of professional/technical classes and hands-on experience makes the learning process important and dynamic! The certificate program is designed to prepare students for entry-level jobs in the water distribution, treatment and water reclamation industries. The associate of science degree provides coursework and internship experience designed to provide an overview of a wide range of environmental career opportunities. For more information, visit the Water Utility Science website.
If you know of an activity, club or class that relates to sustainability on your campus, please contact Maricela Sandoval by email and we'll include it in our next newsletter.
[ Return to top ]
Recommended Reading
Orange County Transit Authority - Plan a trip using public transportation, schedules, and fees.
Metro - Access information and guides for the Metro, including detailed map with bike lockers, and detailed bike route maps by community.
How to Go Green Index - Check out this plethora of handy guides to help you green your life with ease.
10 Ways to Go Green at Work - Check out these ten tips from the Sierra Club.
What's My Carbon Footprint? - Here's a handy tool from the Nature Conservancy that will help you calculate how many tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases your choices create each year.
[ Return to top ] |
