Students Going Green

Greening Your Workout

2012-02-11T16:29:00.001-06:00

Hi Everyone!

Here is a WebMD link on Greening your Workout! :-)

Naperville Composting

2012-02-08T09:11:00.001-06:00

Hi Everyone!

Here is an article on Naperville restaurants considering composting left over food at restaurants. North Central College & Jewel are already composting. Whole Foods have salad bar containers which are compostable. They also mention Pepsi is coming out with a bottle made entirely of plants products.

This is Psychology: Climate Change

2012-02-06T16:40:00.001-06:00

Hi Everyone!

I'm sooo excited! :-) I just received an email from the APA which is perfect timing for your Sustainability asgn! Check out this short video series called "This Is Psychology" discussing how Climate Change is in the field of Psychology & mentioning a special issue of the American Psychologist which came out this past May-June devoted to Climate Change. We do not have this publication in our LRC currently. The APA is sending it to me & I will let you know as soon as it is here & available for you to look at if you like. Here is a list of the articles in the issue.

The APA has a variety of resources I would like to offer you. The first is a brochure entitled Society's Grand Challenge: Global Climate Change. The brochure states, "most scientists recognize that human behavior is the main cause of today’s climate crisis. Understanding that behavior, and learning how to change it, is one of our best hopes for a solution. Whether the goal is to reduce carbon emissions or to help vulnerable populations deal with rising sea levels and changing weather patterns, it is clear that values, beliefs, thoughts, and social relationships are key." Further we discussed Altruism in our Social Modules. They state "for someone who holds altruistic values, the next step toward pro-environmental behavior is belief—the belief that nature is inherently fragile, interconnected, and threatened by human activity. The combination of altruistic values and an ecological worldview generates what Stern calls a personal norm—a sense of moral obligation to act. The combination of a person’s knowledge along with features of the social situation provide opportunities to act on those norms, resulting in behaviors ranging from turning off unneeded lights to buying energyefficient
cars and home appliances to signing petitions and voting for politicians who share one’s concerns." We have been discussing stress recently and they point out that "psychological research can provide insights into climate-change-related stress and coping that will help individuals and communities deal with changing conditions in healthy, productive ways.
"
The APA has a small article on "Changing Minds To Prevent Climate Change" and in it they describe a Task Force which was put together to "outlines ways psychology can help people adopt more environmentally friendly behaviors as well as ways policymakers can publicize such practices and, whenever appropriate, weave behavioral research into environmental laws and regulations to make them more effective." You may recall the video I showed you with Dr. Daniel Gilbert of Harvard University explaining how people error in estimating the odds of gains and the value of those gains. The task force points out "well-researched psychological principle that people tend to discount future gains and losses plays a large part in their unwillingness to take climate change seriously." This is exactly in line with what Dr. Gilbert explained. They state it is the field of psychology which looks into what motivates, or demotivates behavior, thus changing people's behavior related to climate change. In addition the task force discusses how ignornance of Climate Change & how effectively changing behavior hinders progress and the effects of not making changes will have be "psychologically devestating." It is for this reason the task force "suggests that information about environmental sustainability be infused into psychological curriculum so that budding psychologists are equipped with the right tools to encourage environmentally friendly behavior."

Though all subfields of psychology have interest in Climate Change, here is a short article on specific fields of psychology which are involved, in particular my degree Industrial Psychology. Here is an explanation about what Conservation Psychology is.

Hopefully, after looking at these materials you will understand even more why I have Sustainability as a part of this coursel. I also want you to realize this is will be very vital area of psychology in the future & one you might want to consider! Any questions let me know!

Kids Contest: The Lorax

2012-01-25T21:35:00.002-06:00

Hi Everyone!

Whole Foods has a contest for Kids who are helping our planet. "Grand Prize is aA private screening of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax for up to 200 friends and family in your local movie theater the night before the movie’s official release to the public!" Details on the link. Good Luck!

Recycling Holiday Decorations

2011-12-30T12:39:00.002-06:00

Hi Everyone!

Here is a small article on some idea on how to dispose of your Holiday decorations in a Green way! Perhaps we can get some of these ideas going in our location.

Dr. Wallace J. Nichols

2011-11-18T00:58:00.002-06:00

Hi Everyone!

Here is a article on an amazing biologist, Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, who is trying to get cognitive neuroscientists to research the brain's reaction to observing the ocean. He believes, "More data on rising sea temperatures or plastic pollution or disappearing creatures won’t do anything for ocean conservation. Instead, we need to study our own minds." From observing people's reactions of calm while they view the ocean, he feels it may be similiar to what happens to the brain when we meditate. He wants to combine neuroscience with conservation and call it "neuro-conservation."

Check out his idea of passing along Blue Marbles to everyone on his website.

Documentary: Tapped

2011-11-15T00:07:00.004-06:00

Hi Everyone...

One of my students recommended this documentary "Tapped" and it is AWESOME! It explains where the major bottled water distributors are getting the water, the difference in quality requirements, the consequences of the plastic in the bottles to our health and to the environment and what can be done about these concerns.

Please pass this along to others and consider getting a water filtration system for your tap water and using safe containers.

24 Hours of Reality

2011-09-14T14:47:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone!

As I’m finishing the final touches of your Sustainability Asgn in my office I was hearing former Vice President Al Gore’s voice? Literally! Ah oh! LOL! Actually, too funny, the tv outside my office had Al Gore on Talk of the Nation! What a coincidence!

So I went & searched on WKCC and they were playing Talk to the Nation and Al Gore was a guest!

If you go to this link you will be able to listen to it at approximately 5pm our time.

Also, I was not aware until just now…today starting at 7pm through tomorrow (for 24 hrs) they will host 24 presenters in 24 Time Zones in 13 Languages with 1 message! It is streamed on the link below! Check it out at some point.

http://climaterealityproject.org/

I also was not sure if you have seen our link on the KCC website on our Sustainability efforts and wanted to provide it for you.

Here is a link to our Sustainability Center in the LRC.

Here is a link to our Renewable Energy Technology program…scroll down to Specialized Tracks.

Here is a blog on our KCC website on Green Foods.

Take a look at these link as much as you can!

Green Car Show

2011-08-26T14:14:00.005-05:00

Hi Everyone!

Naperville is having a Green Car Show next Tues (Aug 30th) from 3-8pm. You can try the cars on the track! They will also discuss the Green Fuel Depot which will be opening in Naperville on Oct 27th.

Hope to see you there!

Governor Signs New Law

2011-08-13T00:10:00.005-05:00

Hi Everyone!

Governor Quinn just signed a law which allows more electronic equipment to be recycled. Computer Keyboards, VCRs, portable music devices etc can now be recycled. The new law will also increase e-industry jobs, increases manufacturer's recycling products to 40% and raises fines from violations from $1,000 to $7,000.

Saving the Spirit Bear

2011-07-26T22:48:00.004-05:00

Hi Everyone!

National Geographic's cover story out now is on the Spirit Bear of Canada. There are only 500 left in the wild and they are being threatened by a pipeline going right through their home. Take a look at what would be lost!

Eco Pets

2011-07-05T21:34:00.004-05:00

Hi Everyone!

I was just picking up a few things at Petco and bought 2 bowls for my baby that are made of recycled materials. The first is made of Bamboo and is microwave & dishwasher save! It is through Planet Petco.

The other is a Pure Ness Eco Bowl (scroll to right to see bowls). They are made of 100% plant materials and non-toxic. Check them out! I liked them also becaues they are rounded on the bottom for my 21 yr old cat who is having some depth perception issues! I'll let you know how they work! :-)

The Last Mountain

2011-06-25T00:33:00.002-05:00

Hi Everyone!

I had a INCREDIBLE opportunity to watch this movie last night and hear Robert Kennedy Jr speak afterwards! He was just soooo INSPIRATIONAL! This movie is a MUST SEE! Hopefully they will bring the movie to colleges and perhaps we can see it soon also!

I have the trailer & then another video here but if you go on the website you will see some other videoclips on the Video link!

Kitties Going Green

2011-04-09T19:03:00.004-05:00

Hi Everyone!

Even your Kitty can help save the planet with these Environmental friendly furniture products made out of cardboard and made in the USA by Catpod!

Home Green Home!

2011-04-09T18:40:00.004-05:00

Hi Everyone!

Check out these "Incredible Green Homes!" Houses built from recycled plastic coke bottles, one right in the dunes, and another from a retired airplane. My favortie is the Cabin! :-) What would you include in your design?

Trade-Ins

2009-10-25T14:09:00.003-05:00

Hi Everyone!

Home Depot has announced from Nov. 5th-15th they will take trade-ins for old strings of Christmas lights, giving $3 off for each trade-in for new LED lights. You will use 80% less energy with these new lights!

In addition up until Nov 8th you can trade in old or broken drills for 15% off new Lithium Ion Battery Drills which are better for our environment.

The Story of Stuff

2009-06-03T01:53:00.002-05:00

Hi Everyone!

Take a look at this Video "The Story of Stuff" it is quite enlightening! Next time you think about buying something either for yourself or a gift for someone's birthday or Christmas you just might want to reconsider your choice of purchase.

Daniel Goleman: Ecological Intelligence

2009-06-03T01:33:00.002-05:00

Hi Everyone!

Perhaps some of you may recall Daniel Goleman's Emotional Intelligence Theory from my Intro course? He has a new book on the stands now called Ecological Intelligence (read Chapter 1). Oprah's April Issue of O has an interview with him also. In the interview Daniel Goleman mentions GoodGuide.com which is currently available for IPhones. By texting the bar code you will receive a rating on the impact of the product on sustainability. He also mentions Skin Deep rates ingredients in cosmetics. Check them out!

Top 10 Myths About Sustainability

2009-05-30T12:38:00.003-05:00

Hi Everyone!

Scientific American had a Special Edition in March of 2009 called Earth 3.0 which has all kinds of wonderful articles! One in particular you might like to check out is "Top 10 Myths About Sustainability" by Michael D. Lemonick. Think Recycling is what it is all about? Think Ethanol is a great idea for Sustainability? Read and find out...you might be surprised!

New Blog

2009-05-21T22:46:00.005-05:00

Hi Everyone!

This past year my Social Psychology students have been working on Sustainability Projects and they have come up with AWESOME ideas! I thought using a blog I might be able to share some of their ideas with everyone. I'd like to created a place you can all come to for more ideas also. Anyone can contribute! If you find a great website, local resources etc just let me know.