Sustainability For RES

Residents For Environmental Sustainability Housing Toolkit
By: Trina La Susa, (414) 510 8532

Table of Contents
I. Food Sustainability
- What it is & Why it matters
- Film List
- Discussion
- Activities
II.Water Sustainability
- Film List
- Discussion
- Activities
III.Energy Sustainability
- Film List
- Discussion
- Activities
IV.Recycling/Waste Sustainability
A.What it is & Why it matters
B. Film List
C. Discussion
D.Activities

What It Is:
Food Sustainability refers to the idea that healthy food should be
produced, processed, bought, sold and eaten in ways that provide
social benefits, contribute to thriving local economies that create
good jobs and secure livelihoods, and enhance the health and variety
of both plants and animals (and the welfare of farmed and wild
creatures), protect natural resources such as water and soil, and help
to tackle climate change.1
Why It Matters:
In the modern day, we are often separated from the origins of our
food. The impacts of our food system are profound, global and
growing. As consumers, the choice of what food to eat is one of the
most important decisions we make. As businesses, food companies
face the complex challenge of delivering the high quality, consistent
and safe food that consumers demand while delivering both on
strong financial results and on health, environmental and social-
economic expectations. Food and agriculture in the United States is
critical to our economy (providing 10% of jobs), has a profound
impact on our health (69% of adults are considered overweight) and
makes a fundamental impact to the environment (agriculture
accounts for 10% of US CO2 emissions).2
https://www.sustainweb.org/sustainablefood/1
I. Food Sustainability
Residents For Environmental Sustainability Housing Toolkit

Food Sustainability Film List
Food King Corn (1hr 30 min, 2007)
This health and fitness documentary film shows how the corn industry has eliminated the image of the family
farm and replaced it with larger industrial farms. This trend in corn reflects a larger industrialization of the
North American food system. It discusses decisions relating to what crops are grown and how they are grown
are based on government manipulated economic considerations rather than their true economic,
environmental, or social ramifications.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr5HQrgg9mM Availability: DVD
The Search For General Tso (1 hr 15min, 2014)
This entertaining documentary film travels the globe to unravel a captivating culinary mystery. General Tso’s
chicken is a staple of Chinese-American cooking and a well-known presence on restaurant menus across the
country. Who was General Tso? How did his chicken become emblematic of an entire national cuisine? The
film takes its audience on a journey from Shanghai to New York to the American Midwest and beyond to
uncover the origins of this iconic dish.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue_722Bg9Tw Availability: Online via Netflix, DVD
Fed Up (1hr 32min, 2014)
This documentary investigates how the American food industry may be responsible for outbreaks of illness. It
examines the American obesity epidemic and the role of food industry in worsening it. It shows that people
have power to control what is going into their body.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCUbvOwwfWM Availability: Online via Netflix or DVD
Cowspiracy (1 hr 25 min, 2014)
This is an action documentary that addresses the effects of cattle on the environment and investigates the
policies of environmental organizations on this issue. Animal agriculture is the leading cause of deforestation,
water consumption and pollution. It is responsible for more greenhouse gases than the transportation industry,
and is a primary driver of rainforest destruction and species extinction. This film shows the impact of what
we choose to eat.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV04zyfLyN4 Availability: Online via Netflix or DVD

*Can be used in Hot Chocolate Hot Topics (or similar programs where food or
drink is provided), small or large ﬂoor discussions.*
Steps
1. Decide upon the discussion topic and what food or beverage will be served (consider picking
a healthy food or foods that are grown “in season” to adhere to the sustainability aspect of
this project). Ex: Chadbourne Residential College often hosts “Hot Chocolate, Hot Topic”
where students are provided hot chocolate and cookies when choose to come and discuss
2. Advertise this free food or drink event ahead of time by putting up flyers with location and
time, notify house fellows to reach out to residents, send out an email to residents, etc.
3. Read over information provided about the topic. Feel free to bring a bulleted list of points
you want to emphasize in the discussion or questions that you want to ask while leading the
discussion. Prepare the supplementary media or items ahead of time so that there can be
smooth transitions (watch videos ahead of time too).
4. Arrange the room so that there is seating available in a round table or circle formation. An
AV or projector should be available for media. You also may want to consider a white board
depending on discussion. The environment should be fairly relaxed.
5. Make sure that it is clear that food or drink is only for students who choose to stay and
discuss. Discussion information below is listed in order with possible questions and possible
supplementary media. These discussions have a loose structure so remember that questions
do not have to be perfectly relevant to one another and that when a question doesn’t appear
to be getting a lot of answers that the discussion leaders can say “Does anyone else have
anything to add or move to a different question.” Also consider breaking off into small
groups then leading back to large group discussions.
TOPICS
1. Carbon Footprint of Food
• Have everyone go around saying their favorite foods and names. Start with your own.
What is the Carbon Footprint of Food?
• Lead with this video that explains what the carbon footprint of food is and show video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoCVrkcaH6Q
Food’s carbon footprint, or foodprint, is the greenhouse gas emissions produced by growing,
rearing, farming, processing, transporting, storing, cooking and disposing of the food you eat.
So what you eat matters and it leaves an environmental impact.
Statistics From Video:
• 1/3 of world’s food is wasted, 1.3 billion tons of food!
Food Sustainability Discussions (45min-1hr)

• 28% of land grows wasted food and the water wasted could cover all of the world’s household
needs
• wasted food produces 3.3 gigaton of
greenhouse gases a year
Questions:
• Initial reactions to the video? How does it
make you feel? Have you heard of the
environmental impact of what you eat before?
• Do you think that food waste is imbedded in
our culture? Why?
• Are most of you conscious of what you eat and
where it comes from?
• Were you aware that what you eat, and
especially what you don’t, has such a large
impact on the environment?
Other impacts….
• Show 2nd video: https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=Md3ddmtja6s
Social & Economic Impacts of food sustainability :3
• Ensure individual farm business viability.
• Maintain farm household economic security.
• Maintain or increase the quality of life for farm families and workers.
• Affect levels of income, wealth, and distributional equity.
• Affect broader indicators of quality of life, such as working conditions, job satisfaction, and
freedom of choice to pursue taste and lifestyle preferences.
• Have associated impacts on worker health and well-being.
People are involved directly in agricultural food production, people are involved in the rest of the
food system (e.g., processing, manufacturing, food service, and retailing), and people are
consumers. Food production, processing, and availability also can affect community-level
measures, such as economic growth and social infrastructure. So although social and economic
dimensions of effects are distinct, they are more closely interrelated than other dimensions.
• 30% Global Food Production is lost or wasted after harvest
• $750 billion US dollars of food is wasted each year in producer prices or in retailer price over
$1 trillion which is twice the GDP of Norway
Questions:
• Initial reactions to the video? How does it make you feel?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK305168/3
Image Courtesy of Humanitarian Water And Food
Award Blog (http://blog.wafaward.org/food-projects/
food-security//)

• Did you realize that food waste affects not only the planet but also social and economic aspects
as well?
• Did looking at food waste in terms of hidden costs change the way you think about it? Does it
make it seem more important seeing the economic value of what is being wasted?
What can you do?
Show 3rd Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvZaykz58TU
Questions?
Reactions? Do you think individual actions matter?
What are some ways that we can reduce our own food carbon footprint on campus (optional:
write answers on whiteboard)?
Mention Low Carbon Food Tips (from “How Bad Are Bananas?” By: Mike Berners Lee)
1) Easiest thing you can do is eat what you buy—save the leftovers and check what needs to be
eaten first. Don’t buy more than you actually eat.
2) Reduce meat and dairy- not necessarily going vegan but it will be better for your body and the
environment if you reduce this consumption.
3) Buy seasonal, avoid large scale greenhouse production and air freight
www.eatwellguide.org/i.php?id=Seasonalfoodguides (type in Madiosn, WI to find what is
currently seasonal)
4) Reduce buying goods with a lot of packaging and recycle the packaging. Help the store reduce
waste- always take from the front and buy the reduced price items when you can!
5) Buy misshapen fruit and vegetables. There are over 141 trillion pounds of food waste per year
and the typical American consumer purchases perfect produce, so the misshapen items with the
same taste quality are put in the landfill.
6)Lower carbon cooking ex: use a pan lid when you can and use a microwave when appropriate
-around 60% savings if all concepts applied
• Offer link to calculate your own carbon footprint or provide slips with link to do it on own: -
http://www.eatlowcarbon.org/. Thank everyone for attending and tell them about future events.
2. Supply Chain Traceability of Food: Where Your Food Comes From
Matters!
• Have everyone go around saying their favorite place on campus to eat and names. Start with
your own.
Supply Chain Traceability
What is it? It’s the journey your food takes to get to your plate! It’s about knowing more about
where and how the ingredients in our foods are grown and processed. Food supply chain
performance outside the farm, during transport, processing, manufacturing or retailing usually
remains invisible to consumers.
• Show video on what food traceability is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnavNwNcohk

Questions:
• Initial reactions to the video? How does it make you feel? Have you considered how your food
gets to your plate before?
• Is where your food comes from a major impact on what you buy? Why or why not?
• What are some of the major factors you consider when purchasing food?
Bring it back to the campus level: The Secret Life of a popular dish on campus, A U South
Burger
• Show a short video documentary of retail handling of ground beef at UW-Madison's Union
South: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2qZFSDV8Eo
It’s important to realize hamburgers don’t just miraculously appear at Union South!
Questions:
• Before the hamburger meat go to the truck, where did it come from? Are energy and waste
produced in this process? (Optional: Give papers to students & split off into groups to see if
they can create their own supply chain of the hamburger. You can also use whiteboard)
• Stages of Hamburger: 1.Production stage: Pesticides are given to corn plants so they can
grow to feed the cow. Water is given to the plants and other farm inputs are used to care for
corn. The cattle requires food and water care. 2.Transport Stage: Fuel is used getting the
cows to facilities via plane or truck. 3. Processing Stage: The cows are butchered into beef,
requiring electricity and packaging. 4. Transport Stage: Fuel is used getting beef to the
Union via plane or truck. 5.Distribution Stage: Beef is put into plastic tube container to be
shipped off. 5. Transport Stage: Beef is shipped to Union South’s beef carrier, V. Marchese.
6. Retail Stage: Beef is kept in U South refrigerator fueled by electricity until purchased. 6.
Cooking Stage: In the cooking stage gas and electricity is used for cooking on grills and
with burners. 7. Waste Stage: After the hamburger is consumed there are direct emissions
from digestion and the wax paper or leftovers that will decompose in the landfill.
• Have you pondered the food supply chain before? Will you in the future?
• Do you think you should care where your food comes from? Why or why not?
Impact of Eating Locally:
• Show last video on eating locally: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErRHJlE4PGI
Questions:
• After seeing this video and reflecting on our discussion, what might be some reasons that a
consumer would want to know more about where there food comes from?
Example Image From General Mills: (http://www.blog.generalmills.com/2015/05/how-general-mills-is-
advancing-a-sustainable-supply-chain/)

• 3 Big Reasons:
• 1. Knowing where your food comes from bridges the gap between farm. It allows for the
understanding of how vegetables are grown, how cows are raised, or how whole wheat flour
is produced and accentuates that eating shouldn’t be a fast mindless action but rather an
experience which also nourishes the body.
• 2. You care about what you are putting into your body and your family’s bodies.Take a look
at an ingredients list. Shelf stable and processed foods typically translate into preservatives,
dangerous trans fats, loads of sodium and sugars. On the other hand, fresh, made from
scratch, whole foods most often times mean clean eating.
• 3. Eating local means a smaller carbon footprint. Eating locally means your food doesn’t
have to travel as far to get to your plate. Less travel means less carbon emissions negatively
impacting the environment. How big is the difference? Well, according to a study done at the
Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, a local carrot has to
travel only 27 miles while a conventionally sourced carrot has to travel 1,838 miles to get to
your plate. Eating local also means money stays in your local economy and businesses in
your neighborhood can thrive and offer products and services that fit your community’s
needs and wants as opposed to a corporate agenda.
• In the future will you be more conscientious of your food choices?
• Does anyone frequent the farmers market or have any local food restaurants they would like to
share?
Thank everyone for attending and tell them about future events.

1. Food Sustainability Organizations on Campus
Have one (or more) of these campus organizations give presentations or do activities with
a whole residence hall or floor of students:
Slow Food UW
“Slow Food UW is driven by the dedication of UW students volunteering to help promote
“good, clean and fair food for all”, and depends on both the campus and Madison
communities to create dialogues and bridge cultural differences by using food as a
universal experience. We work hard to make local, community-conscious foods
accessible and delicious!”
- Contact: (608) 616-0736, info@slowfoodmadison.org or SlowFoodMadison FB or
Twitter
- In the past residence halls have done a “Sustainable Dining” event where members of
Slow Food and students prepare a meal using local and seasonal food then enjoy their
hard work!
F.H. King
“F.H. King Students for Sustainable Agriculture is a student organization working to
promote sustainable agriculture at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Founded in
1979, F.H. King was named after a UW professor and author of the 1911 book Farmers of
Forty Centuries. Professor King was one of the first people to consider the sustainability
of North American farming, and this group meets in his honor to continue to work for
sustainable agriculture. This UW-Madison student organization is affiliated with CIAS.
The largest F.H. King project is a student farm at Eagle Heights where students learn
organic and sustainable gardening techniques. This 1.75 acre garden produces about 2900
pounds of vegetables, fruit, flowers and herbs each growing season. Most of the produce
is distributed free of charge to the campus community at Harvest Handouts.”
- Contact: (608) 262-5200
- F.H. King specializes in giving educational workshops on everything from gardening
to recipes, gives presentations on Full Cycle Freight composting (a community-wide
composting program that F.H. King introduced in 2010. From April to October, our
FCF interns pick up food scraps from local residencies, businesses, restaurants, and
cafés that are used for composting at their student farm), and provides tours of Eagle
Heights Garden, a rooftop garden at the Pyle Center and a vertical garden at the
Student Activities Center.
Food Sustainability Activities

2. Open Seat Food Pantry Drive
Open Set Mission Statement: “The Open Seat” strives to alleviate the stresses of food
insecurity by providing friendly and accessible sources of food for the students of The University
of Wisconsin – Madison.
Steps:
I. Create flyers, notify house fellows, announce on PA system and send out an email about food
drive competition amongst floors or other residence halls. Make sure to put the Open Seat
location and hours on these materials as well as how long the drive is and what can be
donated. Link to sustainability by encouraging students to giveaway non-perishables that
students wouldn’t want and might throw away. Also provides an opportunity to socially give
back to the campus community. Prize for most donated items can be a pizza party, etc.
II. Email Open Seat to notify them that you are doing a drive: thepantry@asm.wisc.edu. You
can also ask for a presentation on how this organization serves campus, food insecurity, who
these items are available to and how these donations make an impact.
III. Make sure you have boxes on each floor or at the front desk for donations.
IV. Put drive on for 2 weeks. At end of month bring items
What Can Be Donated?
Non-perishable, non-expired cans (cans must not be dented or rusted) and other
unopened packages (such as toiletries, toothpaste, dish soap, etc.). All items must be
unopened with the original, readable, sealed packaging.
Location of Open Seat
Located in room 4209, 4th floor
Student Activity Center (SAC)
Hours of Open Seat
Tuesday and Wednesday 5–8 pm; Friday Noon – 3pm; Saturday 11 am-2 pm

3. Carbon Footprint Food Ranking Game
Can be done as a floor activity or residence hall activity.

Steps:
I. Create 4-5 sets of notecards with these 16 food names from above.
II. Divide students into groups of 3-5 and have them introduce one another in the groups
(5 min)
III. The ask them to rank from what they think is the most carbon intensive to what they
think is least carbon intensive (5-10 min)
IV. Show them this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKSDmBe-mvE
V. Allow them to change their answers after watching the video (5-10 min)
VI. Team with the closest amount right to the original list wins free cookie or fruit
coupon.
VII.Discuss the activity as a large group. What did they learn from the activity? Does it
make them look at what they eat from a new perspective? Would they consider a
meatless Monday, why or why not? (10 min)
Background info: Food’s carbon footprint, is the greenhouse gas emissions
produced by growing, rearing, farming, processing, transporting, storing, cooking and
disposing of the food you eat. In the US, each household produces 48 tons of greenhouse
gases. Transport, housing and food have the three largest carbon footprints. Food
produces about 8 tons of emissions per household, or about 17% of the total. Worldwide,
new reports suggest that agriculture produces around a half of all man-made emissions.
Changing the foods that you eat can have a big impact on your carbon footprint and
reduce pollution, preserve the environment and slow global warming. Many of these
changes will also save you money, improve your health and even keep you fit! Livestock
farming produces from 20% to 50% of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions. Shrink
That Footprint’s chart shows that a meat lover has the highest carbon footprint at 3.3 tons
of greenhouse gas emissions. A vegan diet has the lowest carbon footprint at just 1.5 tons
CO2e (Carbon Dioxide Equivalent). You can reduce your carbon footprint by a quarter
just by cutting down on red meats such as beef and lamb. The carbon footprint of a
vegetarian diet is about half that of a meat-lover’s diet. ( http://www.greeneatz.com/
foods-carbon-footprint.html )

What It Is:
The definition of water sustainability usually involves a long-term
view towards water sufficiency. Water sustainability refers to the
sufficient availability of water into the foreseeable future.4
Why It Matters:
Water is, after all, a renewable resource, so sustaining its uses
should be possible, shouldn’t it? But it turns out that we can have
too much water or too little water to meet our needs. Water
availability is constrained by natural processes, water allocations
across jurisdictional boundaries, the infrastructure necessary to
deliver water for use, and human impacts on water quality and
quantity. Various forces affect the nature, timing, and availability of
water, which change throughout time. Population growth, climate
change, land use change and energy choices and global poverty have
caused precipitous changes in water quantity, availability, and
quality.5
http://nwri-usa.org/pdfs/2010ClarkePrizeLecture.pdf4
http://nwri-usa.org/pdfs/2010ClarkePrizeLecture.pdf5
II. Water Sustainability
Residents For Environmental Sustainability Housing

Water Sustainability Film List
Tapped (75min, 2009)
This documentary answers any questions about bottled water including the effects on the environment, how it
is bottled and where it really comes from. It allows us to challenge the idea that all bottled water is clean
water and what larger effects that plastic has on water.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72MCumz5lq4 Availability: Online via Youtube or DVD
Carbon for Water (23min, 2011)
In Kenya, water insecurity is a life-threatening reality, and water contamination is on the rise. This film
documents one company's attempt to change this by providing 900,000 water filters to the people of Kenya’s
Western Province, for free. This is the largest household water treatment program in the developing world,
and it’s being financed with carbon credits earned through the reduction in use of firewood. It will cut carbon
dioxide emissions by 2 million tons per year for a decade or more.
Trailer: http://carbonforwaterfilm.com/trailer/ Availability: Online or DVD
Blue Gold: World Water Wars (89min, 2008)
This is a documentary with a narrative style that covers control of water, use of it, selling of it, and problems
that are created because of the abuse of water. It shows the complicated balance between the Earth’s
resources and the existence of the human being.
Trailier: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ikb4WG8UJRw Availability: Online or DVD
The End Of The Line (1hr 30min, 2010)
Looks at the ecological devastation—on both global and local levels—caused by overfishing and sends out a
dire warning from scientists that we may have a fish-less ocean by 2048 if we don't implement sustainable
fishing practices soon
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6WOvY_C-_I Availability: Online or DVD

Steps
TOPICS
I. Bottled Water vs Tap Water
• Have everyone go around saying their favorite place on campus to study. Start with your own.
Water Does More Than Hydrate
Drinking water - tap, filtered, or bottled - is important for healthy hydration and plays a vital role
in people’s lives. We’re all here today because we all drink water and want to know more about
the debate between buying bottled water and tap.
• Show What If You Stopped Drinking Water?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=zCheAcpFkL8
Facts From Video
• 2.5% of water is fresh, less than 1% for drinking and 500 billion liters of it for agriculture and
500 billion for power plant cooling
• 783 million people do not have access to clean water
• March 22 Global Thirst Day!
Questions:
• Have you considered how important water is to daily life before or is it often taken for
granted?
Water Sustainability Discussions (45min-1hr)

• How do you usually get your daily serving of water? Juice or soft drink, bottled water, tap?
Why do you choose to get it from that source?
Bottled Water vs Tap Water Debate6
Public water systems (tap water) provide quality water for human consumption and other uses
(e.g., washing clothes, bathing, and industrial and commercial uses) through a piped distribution
system to specific communities. Public water systems are granted exclusive rights to provide
water to consumers in a particular geographic or municipal area. Consumers do not, therefore,
have a choice of which public water system will provide water to their homes or businesses.
Bottled water is a packaged food product sold in individual, sanitary, sealed containers. It is
intended solely for human consumption. Consumers have a variety of bottled water choices
available to satisfy their particular tastes and price preferences. It is sold in many different
package sizes, including 3- and 5-gallon containers used in bottled water coolers, 2.5-gallon
refrigerator-size containers, and “on-the go” half-liter, one-liter, and 1.5 liter convenience–size
packages. Consumers choose bottled water for several reasons: taste, quality, and convenience.
• Show Bottled Water vs. Tap Water Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUpB7dFCkqo
Video Statistics:
• US is 2nd Bottled Water Consumers in World after China
• Americans pay $1.33 a gallon, 300x cost of tap water
• Less than a third of plastic water bottles recycled in US
Questions:
• Were you aware how big of a plastic water bottle consumer the US is? Do you think bottled
water is a necessity in our society?
• Do you think tap water is a better choice than bottled water? Why or why not?
• What are some of the major cons of bottled water?
• Cons: Bottled water is often the same water that pours from your tap, Bottled water can be
more harmful than tap water (In North America, tap water faces stricter regulations than
bottled water), Plastic water bottles can be toxic (Bisphenol A in plastic water bottles is more
harmful than anything in tap water. It mimics estrogens and is linked to breast and ovarian
cancers, reproductive abnormalities, developmental problems, obesity, and diabetes), Bottled
water is sold at high prices, Bottled water is bad for the planet since its plastic does not
disintegrate, Bottled water violates the human right to a common resource (The bottled
water industry privatizes water, which should remain a public resource).
• Why do you buy water bottles? Why might others buy them?
• People buy bottled water for a variety of reasons, including convenience, fashion, and taste.
Some buy it once just for the bottle and then refill it from the tap. Some people buy bottled
water because they think it is safer than tap water
But Is bottled water tap water?
• Show video on CNN expose of Aquafina—https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=saSgpX186MM
Questions:
bottledwater.org6

• Do you trust the water bottle industry?
• Have your views on bottled water changed? Why or why not?
If possible, give reusable water bottles to students who attended this workshop and
encourage students to use the purified refill stations located in every hall. Thank
everyone for attending and tell them about future events.
2. Why Water Matters
Importance7
Water is, after all, a renewable resource, so sustaining its uses should be possible, shouldn’t it?
But it turns out that we can have too much water or too little water to meet our needs. Water
availability is constrained by natural processes, water allocations across jurisdictional
boundaries, the infrastructure necessary to deliver water for use, and human impacts on water
quality and quantity. Various forces affect the nature, timing, and availability of water, which
change throughout time. Population growth, climate change, land use change and energy choices
and global poverty have caused precipitous changes in water quantity, availability, and quality.
• Show video on water being most important resource: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=VIaw5mCjHPI
• Water supplies limited only 2.5% is fresh water but 2/3 is in icecaps
• Only 0.077 percent safe of water is safe for consumption, water not distributed evenly
• Amount is shared by over 7 billion people on planet
• Population had tripled, water consumption increased six fold though total water amount has
not changed
• Beef takes over 15,000 gallons of water to raise
Questions:
• Initial reactions to the video? How does it make you feel about your own water usage?
• Did you realize how interrelated water usage is with the food you eat? Did you realize how
much water beef takes? Is it surprising that vegetarian diets use much less water?
• Are you aware of the water crisis and droughts going on today? Is it shocking that most of the
water in our world is not fresh water and that most of it is used for our food?
Countries with Water Insecurity
• Show Video About Water Scarcity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCHhwxvQqxg
Water Scarcity Statistics (water.org):
• 1 in 10 people lack access to safe water
• Women and children spend 125 million hours each day collecting water
• 1 in 3 people lack access to a toilet
• Every 90 seconds a child dies from a water-related disease
• Every $1 invested in water and sanitation provides a $4 economic return
Questions:

• Did you consider how water shortages affect communities socially such as how women and
children spend time away from their education to gather water? Is this shocking?
• Have you been in parts of the country, like California, or worldwide where there are currently
water shortages?
• What do you think are possible solutions to the global water crisis?
How to Reduce Water Use
Realize that Water is a Privilege
As North Americans we tend to expect clean water to always just be there when we want it. We
forget that we are incredibly fortunate to live in a part of the world that does have fresh, clean
water for us to use daily and we act as though that water will be there forever. Although we are
usually advised to limit our water use, in Wisconsin we’ve never been in a situation where water
shortage became a reality.
“Although water covers about 70% of our planet’s surface, less than one percent of that is safe
and available for human use. That one percent must be shared among countries and continents
and between the many residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial and envrionmental needs
we all have. In the United States alone we demand 26 billion gallons of water every single day.
Thirteen percent of that is for residential use, with each person in the country averaging as much
as a hundred gallons of water per day. Because water consumption has increased threefold across
the planet in the last fifty years, people everywhere are suddenly feeling the pinch. In the United
States over the last five years, nearly every region of the country has experienced water
shortages. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, at least 40 states are expected to
experience local, regional, or statewide water shortages in the next 10 years.”
• Show video on how much water is used each day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=On9WRrFHVjY
Some Water Use Statistics:
In the shower– 4 to 7 gallons per minute, which means that your 5 min. shower uses 25 gallons
of water on average. A 10 minute shower uses an incredible 50 gallons!
In the sink– The typical bathroom faucet uses anywhere from 2-6 gallons per minute.
In the laundry– A washing machine can use as much as 30-35 gallons per load of wash!
Questions:
• (Break into small groups then back to large) What are some personal ways to conserve water
on campus?
• A few ways: 1. Only use the washing machine when you have a full load. 2.Time your
showers and once you’ve established your average shower time, begin to cut it back, one
minute at a time until you can do it in 5 minutes or less. 3.Report any leaks showers. 4.
Always turn the water off when brushing teeth, then just turn it back on for a quick rinse of
your brush. Same goes for when you’re washing your face, shaving, etc.
• Do you think individual actions in water conservation matter? Why or why not? Will you look
at your water usage from a different perspective and try to reduce it?
Close out with video on 10 things to conserve water: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=cV_Vr_xgrn0 Thank everyone for attending and tell them about future events.

1. Water Challenge
This activity can be done on individual floors or as a whole residence hall.
Steps:
I. Before the event, create 3-4 sets of notecards with the name of the activity on the front and
the number of gallons it uses on the back using info below:
II. Have students measure their personal water consumption using this National Geographic
water calculator: (http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/
change-the-course/water-footprint-calculator/). It can be accessed on smartphones or
laptops.
III. After taking the “water tour” through your home, yard, diet, energy, and consumer choices
talk about cutting your water footprint and help return more water to rivers, lakes, wetlands,
underground aquifers, and freshwater species.
A. Possible Discussion Questions from small group to large group: How high was you
water usage? Lower or higher than expected? Why? What was most surprising about
your water usage? What area is most of your water usage concentrated in? How can you
reduce water consumption?
IV. Split student off into 3-4 groups. Give them the cards and assign the team leader who will
hold the cards and ask how many gallons of water each activity takes. (10 min)
A. Possible Discussion Questions from small group to large group: Activity reactions? Was
the water usage for each food item or activity what you expected? Why or Why not?
How much water do you think you use a day?
V. Show video on water usage per day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On9WRrFHVjY
VI. Suggest a floor water consumption challenge: compete with floor, neighbors or housemates
to see who can take the shortest shower/use the least amount of water in a week/month. Tally
amount of plastic water bottles used by floor each week, lowest amount gets prize.House
fellows: put up flyers about reporting leaks,turning off water when brushing, using reusables
Water Sustainability Activities
Bath 40 gallons
5-minute shower 20 gallons
Brushing teeth with tap running 2 gallons/min
Brushing teeth with tap off .25 gallon
One toilet ﬂush 3 gallons
Other water use (drinking, cooking, etc.) 7 gallons
Washing machine 40 gallons
Dishwasher 10 gallons
Bread Loaf 20 gallons
1 lb Chicken 10 gallons
1 Cup Coffee 2 gallons
1 lb Corn 50 gallons
1 Egg 20 gallons
Hamburger 150 gallons
Cotton Shirt 100 gallons
Source: http://www.alternet.org/story/141751/how_much_water_do_you_use_here's_some_quick_numbers
http://water.usgs.gov/edu/activity-watercontent.html

2. Water Bottle/Recyclable Goods Sculpture
This activity can be done on individual floors or as a whole residence hall. Floors could
assemble it as a group during a house meeting with their house fellow, then there could
be a sculpture judging for each floor by the student staff and one of the floors could win a
pizza party.
Steps:
I. Collect empty water bottles(and other recyclable plastics if desired) from trash on
floors for a week, (no buying). Must be collected by PA or RES chair each night,
this is not the duty of a custodial staff member.
II. Set time, location and advertise for event via flyers, emails, house fellows, PAs.
Gather materials for building sculpture such as masking tape or duct tape and
scissors.
III. Have students work together to create a large water bottle sculpture. Use creative
freedom.
IV. Make sure to point out that this activity is meant to show how many recyclable
goods would have been used from each floor in a week's time.
V. Keep sculptures on each floor with fact signs about bottled water around them to
grab attention and spark discussions on water sustainability.
A. A List of Facts on Bottled Water Can Be Found Here: http://
www.onlineeducation.net/bottled_water
VI. After the sculptures have been up for a few weeks, make sure to RECYCLE them.

What It Is:
The definition of energy sustainability usually involves a long-
term view towards energy efficiency. Technologies that promote
sustainable energy include renewable energy sources, such as
hydroelectricity, solar energy, wind energy, wave power,
geothermal energy, bioenergy, tidal power and also technologies
designed to improve energy efficiency.8
Why It Matters:
Access to safe, clean and sustainable energy supplies is one of
the greatest challenges facing humanity during the twenty-first
century.Throughout history, the use of energy has been central to
the functioning and development of human societies. But during
the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, humanity learned how to
harness the highly concentrated forms of energy contained
within fossil fuels. These provided the power that drove the
industrial revolution, bringing unparalleled increases in
affluence and productivity to millions of people throughout the
world. As we enter the third millennium, however, there is a
growing realization that the world's energy systems will need to
be changed radically if they are to supply our energy needs
sustainably on a long-term basis.9
http://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/science/environmental-science/8
why-sustainable-energy-matters/content-section-1.1.1
http://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/science/environmental-science/9
why-sustainable-energy-matters/content-section-1.1.1
I. Energy Sustainability

Energy Sustainability Film List
Blind Spot (1hr 25m, 2008)
This powerful documentary shows journalists, scientists, politicians and others discussing the link between
energy, the economy and the environment. It explains the problem with our country’s massive reliance on
finite fossil fuels.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok4onUXvL8o Availability: Online or DVD
The Future of Energy: Lateral Power to the People (1hr 8m, 2013)
This documentary takes its audience on a guided tour through a seemingly typical Midwestern town in Kansas
with a population of just under a thousand. In 2007, a fierce tornado struck the town and annihilated the vast
majority of its buildings and infrastructure. The community decided to rebuild by harnessing the same power
that was once the cause of its destruction: wind. Today, it is entirely operated on 100% renewable wind
energy.
Trailer: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/here-comes-the-sun/ Availability: Online or DVD
Collapse (1hr 20min, 2009)
This political documentary looks at how the world’s economy is directly related to the energy that we
consume.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAyHIOg5aHk Availability: Online or DVD
The End Of The Line (1hr 30min, 2010)
Looks at the ecological devastation—on both global and local levels—caused by overfishing and sends out a
dire warning from scientists that we may have a fish-less ocean by 2048 if we don't implement sustainable
fishing practices soon
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6WOvY_C-_I Availability: Online or DVD

Steps
TOPICS
1. Renewable Energy
2 Types of Energy:
Renewable
• Renewable Energy: Renewable energy is any energy source that is naturally replenished, like
that derived from solar, wind, geothermal or hydroelectric action. Energy produced from the
refining of biomass is also often classified as renewable. Coal, oil or natural gas, on the other
hand, are finite sources.10
• Show video of renewable energy types:
Types of renewable:
• Wind Power: The U.S. can produce more than 10 times its energy needs through wind power,
one of the fastest-growing energy sources. Turbines use wind to generate electricity without
creating pollutants.
Show Wind Energy Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fep4CSRoreE
http://whatis.techtarget.com/deﬁnition/renewable-energy10
Energy Sustainability Discussions (45min-1hr)

• Solar Power: The sun will be a source of energy for billions of years. The current technology
to capture this energy includes photovoltaic panels, solar collectors and thin-film solar
sheeting. The solar cells turn sunlight into electricity directly, so there is no need for a
generator. It is a clean, non-polluting source of energy.
Show Solar Energy Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhcIJRdyrQg
• Biomass: This is the use of plant matter and animal waste to create electricity. When converted
properly, it is a low-carbon source of energy with little pollution.
Show Biomass Energy Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZoPNJGi6ig
• Geothermal Energy: This is the use of heated water and steam from the Earth to run power
stations, which turn the steam into electricity. California has more than 40 geothermal power
stations producing five percent of that state’s needs. The Philippines, Iceland and El Salvador
are all generating more than 25 percent of their electricity with geothermal plants.
Show Geothermal Energy Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D22Z_Ynz4fY
• Hydroelectric Power: This uses flowing water to move turbines which generate electricity.
Hydropower provides 20 percent of the world’s energy needs, according to the United States
Geological Survey.
Show Hydroelectric Energy Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx5rsUnFYmw
Questions:
• Initial reactions to the video? How does it make you feel about worldwide energy usage?
• What do you think are some of the benefits of renewable energy?
• Could one of these types replace our current reliance on fossil fuels? Why or why not? If
possible, which one do you think would work best? Why?
• What are the pros & cons of renewable energy?
Nonrenewable
• A nonrenewable resource: is a resource of economic value that cannot be readily replaced by
natural means on a level equal to its consumption. Most fossil fuels, such as oil, natural gas
and coal are considered nonrenewable resources in that their use is not sustainable because
their formation takes billions of years. (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/
nonrenewableresource.asp)
• Show Video of nonrenewable energy sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=SCg81A6kwg0
Types of nonrenewable :11
• Nuclear Power: Nuclear energy may get mentioned in the same breath with renewable
power sources like wind and solar because it is clean-burning and therefore more
environmentally sound than oil or coal. But nuclear energy is, in fact, a nonrenewable
resource. The problem lies in the element that enables nuclear power: uranium. The
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/examples-nonrenewable-energy-sources-78740.html11

element uranium is abundant, but only a certain type of uranium, U-235, is used to fuel
nuclear power. U-235 must be extracted from mined and processed uranium. Man cannot
reproduce this element; we have a limited natural supply.
• Petroleum (Oil): Petroleum is extracted and turned into a variety of fuel sources including
petrol or gasoline, diesel, propane, jet fuel, heating oil and paraffin wax. Also known as
crude oil, this fuel source is nonrenewable. Petroleum is made when organic matter settles
in water that has lost its dissolved oxygen and is then compressed under immense heat and
pressure for millions of years. There is no way for humans to reproduce this process for
mass production either in nature or in a lab, so once mankind has used the current supply of
petroleum, more will not be available for many centuries.
• Coal: Coal is also composed of organic matter --- matter that decomposed in peat bogs,
which then formed into carbon rock under immense pressure. Coal is generally highly
combustible and the world's most-used resource for electrical generation. However,
burning coal releases massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which is the
primary factor in the greenhouse effect. In addition to being greenhouse gas source, coal
cannot be reproduced.
• Natural Gas: Natural gas is mostly methane created as organic matter decays. Once
extracted, natural gas is processed to remove everything but the methane. This produces a
variety of other natural gases, such as ethane, propane and butane, which are also used as
fuels. These natural gases are used to heat homes and businesses and fuel stoves. While it is
a fairly clean-burning fossil fuel, it is a nonrenewable energy source because it is a
byproduct of thousands of years of decomposition within the earth's crust.
Questions:
• Initial reactions? How does it make you feel about worldwide energy usage?
• Is non-renewable energy really that bad? Why or why not?
• What do you think are factors holding us back from shifting to renewable energy? How? Why?
• Is it surprising to you that we aren’t trying to develop renewable energy more?
• What are the pros & cons of nonrenewable energy?
• Show video on nonrenewable vs renewable energy (note, sound is a little quiet, may want
cc): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzXZLeRSzuM
The debate:
Three Major Reasons Why We Haven’t Switched to Renewable :12
1. Inertia & Politics: The entire energy production industry is absolutely massive. That means
that there are a lot of powerful people who make their livings off of the way things are
currently done, and would be financially devastated should any drastic changes be made.
However, we’re not only talking about heartless robber-baron tycoons who want to bleed the
world dry just to line their wallets; we’re also talking about anyone involved in the mining,
shipping, pumping, transport, sale, and refinement of coal and fossil fuels. Add to that the
http://www.motherearthnews.com/renewable-energy/why-not-switch-to-alternative-energy-12
zbcz1401.aspx

various industries and employees who produce the equipment used in energy production, as
well as the myriad other parallel businesses who depend on the current methods of power
production, and you’ve got millions of people who are personally invested in the success of
conventional power. This makes it a very difficult issue politically. At the same time, a great
deal of effort and money would have to be expended in order to change the existing
infrastructure to accommodate newer energy sources.
2. Expense: With alternative energy still being a relatively new idea, it has yet to be made as
cost-effective as existing conventional power production methods. Before any widespread
changes can be implemented, a substantial amount of research must be done. Even for tested
and reliable technology such as that used in capturing solar power, the cost of production and
maintenance when compared to conventional coal-burning makes it a less attractive option.
And with the demand for electricity increasing everyday, governments are being forced to
choose the less expensive, if also more harmful, form of energy. However, solar power is
gaining something of a foothold among private property owners who want to cut back on
their electric bills, thanks to certain home automation providers.
3. No Pressing Need: Sure, the danger to the environment that is presented by global warming
is a dire one, but for most people it’s just not really a pressing issue. After all, even if the
polar ice caps are shrinking and temperatures are rising, most of us are still going about our
daily lives as though nothing has changed. The climate change problem is simply too big.
Sure, we’d like to do something to help if we could, but we’ve got more pressing concerns at
the moment.
Questions
• Initial reactions? How does it make you feel about worldwide energy debate?
• What do you think should be done in regard to worldwide energy? Why?
• What are some personal choices we can make to reduce energy usage?
• Examples from alliantenergy.com: 1. Unplug what you're not using. It's easy to unplug
toasters, coffee makers, and cell phone chargers when they're not in use. By doing so, you'll
stop phantom energy loss in its tracks. 2.Use a smart of switchable power strip for devices
that aren't easily unplugged, such as computers and home entertainment centers. These smart
power strips detect when you are not using your TV or computer and automatically cuts off
power.
Thank everyone for attending and tell them about future events.

1. Tours of Energy Efficient Buildings
Arrange a field trip with a whole residence hall or floor of students to one of these
campus locations. Remember to make arrangements at least 1-2 weeks in advance:
The Wisconsin Institute For Discovery
• Website: https://discovery.wisc.edu/about
Opened in 2010, the building has been recognized as best in class in several ways.
It garnered LEED gold certification for its successful integration of energy- and
water-saving systems and its reliance on smart features to automatically trigger
energy-saving practices. Everything about the building is designed for
collaboration, community and interaction. It encourages the people working and
visiting here to bump into each other and share ideas. It is strategically located in
the heart of campus, closely connected to the university’s core academic centers. A
robust science outreach program offers opportunities for visitors young and old to
experience the vibrancy of UW–Madison science and reaches tens of thousands of
community members annually.
• Contact Info: 608.316.4300
info@discovery.wisc.edu
The Charter St. Heating Plant
• Website: physicalplant.wisc.edu/
The Charter Street Heating Plant serves campus in producing electricity, steam for
heating and chilled water for cooling purposes. The primary fuels for the Charter
Street Heating Plant are natural gas and fuel oil. The Wisconsin Energy Initiative
program has been utilized to upgrade and maximize the electric and chilled water
production capacity of the Charter Plant. Renovations and upgrades were
completed in fall 2013, and included replacing outdated coal boilers with newer,
more energy efficient natural gas boilers.
• Contact Info: (608) 262-8835
ppcustomerservice@fpm.wisc.edu
Kris Ackerbauer, Director of Services
kris.ackerbauer@wisc.edu
(608)265-2758
Energy Sustainability Activities

Wisconsin Energy Institute
• Website: https://energy.wisc.edu/
The Wisconsin Energy Institute (WEI) supports the energy-related research of
more than 100 faculty and scientists on the University of Wisconsin–Madison
campus. As a nationally-recognized, interdisciplinary research institute, they:
• Discover and deploy innovative energy technologies and public policy solutions
• Provide a public forum in which to learn about and discuss energy challenges
• Engage industry in high-impact research collaborations
Their vision is to increase Wisconsin’s national leadership in identifying strategies
for clean, efficient, and cost-effective energy; to advance economic growth for the
state and the nation; and to continue UW-Madison’s legacy of solving large-scale
societal challenges.
• Contact Info: Tour Request Form @ https://wienergyinstitute.wufoo.com/forms/
wisconsin-energy-institute-tour-request/
Leopold Hall
• Website: https://www.housing.wisc.edu/residencehalls-halls-leopold.htm
Leopold Residence Hall brings a whole new meaning to sustainable living. Since
opening in August 2013, University Housing's newest residence hall has been
home to the GreenHouse Learning Community, which is designed for students
interested in thinking, working and living in more sustainable ways - principles
that guided Aldo Leopold's career. This community even has a 1,000 sq. ft.
greenhouse on the fourth floor of the building. How neat is that? Leopold earned
LEED Gold-level certification in July 2014, which further proves that it's making a
difference in efficiency and environmental quality on campus and in University
Housing. Efficiency is a theme of this residence hall, as Leopold has rooftop panels
to assist with hot water heating, as well as electricity and water consumption
monitors throughout the building.
• Contact Info: GreenHouse Learning Community Program Coordinator,
alan.turnquist@housing.wisc.edu

2. Energy Reduction Tour
This activity can be done on individual floors or as a whole residence hall.
Steps:
I. Explain why energy efficiency matters: Dollar savings to the university and
students
Energy savings that also reduce CO2
emissions since energy is from fossil
fuels
II. Optional: Consider using a lighting gun from the front desk to show students
how they can check the amount of wattage used by pointing it at lights around
the building. Different lighting fixtures release different amounts of energy,
consider pointing the gun at a light in a bathroom, a dorm room and lamps in
public living places. Let them know that this is an available resource to check
out if the are curious about the difference between LEDs(roughly 10 watts),
CFLs(14 watts) & Incandescent(60watts) light bulbs. This gun can be used to
identify the lighting types and perform simple calculations that can be found
online ex: (http://www.ushio.com/support/roicalculator.php). Also, look at this
video or feel free to show it for more of a distinction between types: https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=76SHiFQq4t0
III. First stop is in a dorm room, can either take student to a room to demonstrate
or verbally talk about these ways to save energy :13
Cooling
A. Close your exterior doors and windows tightly when the AC is on.
B. Raise the temperature on your thermostat by a few degrees to save energy,
dress cooler.
C. Block the sun from overheating your dorm! Use shades, blinds and drapes.
Heating
A. Cover all bare floors. Carpeting or rugs add to comfort and heat retention.
B. Lower your thermostat every time you leave the house.
C. Heat your dorm with the sun's help. Leave window shades or blinds open
during the daytime.
D. Put on a sweater instead of cranking the heat!
Lighting
A. Replace standard bulbs with CFLs in lamps. Compact fluorescent light
bulbs are more energy-efficient than regular bulbs, while giving off the
same amount of light.
(https://www.progress-energy.com/carolinas/home/save-energy-money/energy-saving-tips-13
calculators/100-tips.page?

Energy From Electronics
A. Plug electronics into a power strip, then turn the strip off when not in use to
save in energy costs.
B. Avoid phantom energy! Even when they’re turned off, electronics in
“standby” mode use energy to power features like clock displays, plugged
in chargers, lamps, etc.
C. Set your computer to sleep or hibernate mode instead of using a screen
saver so it uses less electricity during periods of inactivity.
D. Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged or the chargers
are not in use. Many chargers draw power continuously, even when the
device is not plugged into the charger.
IV. Laundry Room
A. Wash full loads of clothes when possible. When smaller loads are
necessary, use less water.
B. Clean the dryer lint filter before every load to keep your dryer running
efficiently.
C. Washing in cold will reduce energy needed to heat the water. I
V. The Kitchen
A. Keep the oven door closed while cooking – the temperature can drop by as
many as 25 degrees each time you open the oven door.
B. Use microwaves and toaster ovens to cook or warm leftovers. You’ll use
less energy than cooking with a conventional oven.
C. Bake in glass or ceramic vessels, which may reduce the oven temperature
as much as 25 degrees (13.88 degrees C).
D. Always turn off the light and kitchen fan before you leave.
VI. Den or Public Space
A. Explain what should be turned off before you leave & how to turn it off.
VII. Consider creating reminder sheets for each of these rooms on how to conserve
energy. Note that these places can be visited in an order.

3. Milkshake Bike Tour
This can be done in major trafficked areas like the large areas in Dejope, Gordons, Witte,
Sellery, and Chadbourne. This creates an interactive way for students to learn about
sustainability and enjoy a sweet treat sample
Steps
I. Arrange to rent the milkshake bike from WE CONSERVE or the Office of
Sustainability. Talk to Director of Housing for more info.
II. Traveling to each resident hall the milkshake bicycle will show students how much
energy it takes to make a milkshake using fruits and juices of your choice.

What It Is:
The definition of recycling and waste sustainability usually involves
a long-term view towards what can be reused and what is going into
the landfill. Recycling helps convert waste into new, useful
products. This is done to reduce the use of raw materials that would
have been used. Recycling also uses less energy and a great way of
controlling air, water and land pollution.14
Why It Matters:
Recycling is very important as waste has a huge negative impact on
the natural environment. Harmful chemicals and greenhouse gasses
are released from waste in landfill sites. Recycling helps to reduce
the pollution caused by waste. Recycling is one of the best ways for
you to have a positive impact on the world in which we live. We
must act because the amount of waste we create is increasing all the
time.
The amount of waste we create is increasing because :15
• Increasing wealth means that people are buying more products
and ultimately creating more waste.
• Increasing population means that there are more people on the
planet to create waste.
• New packaging and technological products are being developed,
much of these products contain materials that are not
biodegradable.
• New lifestyle changes, such as eating fast food, means that we
create additional waste that isn’t biodegradable.
http://www.eschooltoday.com/waste-recycling/what-is-recycling.html14
http://www.recycling-guide.org.uk/importance.html15
II. Recycling/Waste Sustainability

Recycling/Waste Sustainability Film List
Garbage Dreams (83min, 2009)
This film follows the Zaballeen trash trade. With a population of 18 million, Cairo, has no sanitation service. For
generations, the city’s residents have paid the Zaballeen a minimal amount to collect and recycle their garbage. Each
day they collect 4,000 tons of garbage and bring it for processing in their village, where plastic granulators, cloth-
grinders, and paper and cardboard compactors hum constantly. As the world's capacity to generate trash skyrockets,
Western cities boast of 30 percent recycling rates — admirable, until you compare it with the 80 percent recycling rate
the Zaballeen can claim.” -PBS.org
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b26dBL5tQPk Availability: DVD or Library Access
Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Plastic Patch (57 min, 2013)
"Plastic Paradise" is an independent documentary film that chronicles Angela Sun's personal journey of
discovery to one of the most remote places on Earth, Midway Atoll, to uncover the truth behind the mystery
of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Along the way she encounters scientists, celebrities, legislators and
activists who shed light on what our society's vast consumption of disposable plastic is doing to our oceans --
and what it may be doing to our health” -Plastic Paradise
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf5JI0b1L7k Availability: Online via Netflix/Hulu or DVD
The True Cost (2016)
What is the true cost of fast fashion? Look into the social, environmental and economic impacts of fast
fashion industries like H&M.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaGp5_Sfbss Availability: Online Netflix/Hulu or DVD
WasteLand (93min, 2010)
“Located just outside Rio de Janeiro, Jardim Gramacho, Brazil, is the world's largest garbage landfill.
Modern artist Vik Muniz works with the so-called catadores, the men and women who pick through the
refuse, to create art out of recycled materials. Muniz selects six of the garbage pickers to pose as subjects in a
series of photographs mimicking famous paintings. In his desire to assist the catadores and change their lives,
Muniz finds himself changed as well” -PBS.org
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNlwh8vT2NU Availability: Online via Netflix or DVD

Steps
TOPICS
1. Great Pacific Garbage Patch
• Have everyone go around saying their activity or event to go to on campus to study. Start with
your own.
What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch(also known as pacific trash vortex)?16
Show Video on What The Patch is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc6LvdsyJ4U
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a collection of marine debris in the North Pacific
Ocean. Marine debris is litter that ends up in oceans, seas, and other large bodies of
water. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, also known as the Pacific trash vortex, spans
waters from the West Coast of North America to Japan. The amount of debris in the Great
Pacific Garbage Patch accumulates because much of it is not biodegradable. Many
plastics, for instance, do not wear down; they simply break into tinier and tinier pieces.
About 80% of the debris in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch comes from land-based
activities in North America and Asia. Trash from the coast of North America takes about
six years to reach the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, while trash from Japan and other
http://nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/great-paciﬁc-garbage-patch/16
Waste/Recycling Sustainability Discussions (45min-1hr)

Asian countries takes about a year.The remaining 20% of debris in the Great Pacific
Garbage Patch comes from boaters, offshore oil rigs, and large cargo ships that dump or
lose debris directly into the water. The majority of this debris—about 705,000 tons—is
fishing nets. More unusual items, such as computer monitors and LEGOs, come from
dropped shipping containers.
Video Statistics:
Over 40% of our oceans are taken up by garbage
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is 90% plastic
Questions:
Initial reactions to the video? How does it make you feel about the Great Pacific Plastic
Patch and plastic consumerism in our culture?
Is plastic too embedded in our culture to stop using? Why or why not?
What plastics could we do without in our daily lives?
What can we do to help?
According to National Geographic, scientists and explorers agree that limiting or
eliminating our use of disposable plastics and increasing our use of biodegradable
resources will be the best way to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
• Show the raw facts & call to action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=rf5iHqT1Rzc
Questions:
• Initial reactions to the video? How does it make you feel about the Great Pacific Plastic
Patch and your current plastic use?
• What can we do to individually help the plastic patch?
Use Reusable Bags
Use a reusable water bottle, do not buy water bottles
Recycle properly
Be a smart consumer, do not buy items with excessive packaging
• Do you think it is possible to eliminate the Great Garbage Patch? Why or Why not?
• Do you think recycling makes a great difference in our society? Why or why not?
Does recycling really matter? What happens once items go into a bin?
• Show what happens when we recycle video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=b7GMpjx2jDQ
It makes a difference: Each pound of waste that you recycle is not only a pound saved
from many years in a landfill, but saves 2.5 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.
Considering that the average person recycles or composts 1.5 pounds of waste every day,
it can really add up; every ton of recycled waste saves 2.27 metric tons of carbon dioxide
emissions. And it doesn't stop there. As stated above, on average, we recycle about 1.5
out of 4.5 pounds of waste each day -- about one-third of our waste. If we get that number
closer to 50 percent, or half of our waste recycled, we'd save 2,400 pounds of carbon

dioxide emissions per household each year. (http://home.howstuffworks.com/green-
living/recycling-difference-green-impact.htm)
Questions:
• Initial reactions to the video? How does it make you feel about recycling?
• Is recycling important to you? Why or why not?
• Will you be more conscientious of what you throw away in the future?
Thank everyone for attending and tell them about future events. Send follow-up
email with link to the City of Madison Recycling Guide (https://
www.cityofmadison.com/streets/recycling/guidelines.cfm) and Office of
Sustainability recycling page (http://sustainability.wisc.edu/recycling/).
2. Trash Auditing Discussion
• Have everyone go around saying their activity or event to go to on campus to study. Start with
your own.
ABCs of Waste Project17
Trash Auditing is apart of the Office of Sustainability’s ABCs of Waste project on
campus, but audits are also done by We Conserve. WeConserve is a UW-Madison
program dedicated to conservation and waste elimination. The ABCs of Waste is an
initiative to improve recycling in UW–Madison academic buildings and reduce the
university’s contribution to landfill waste. The Office of Sustainability, in partnership
with WE CONSERVE and Facilities, Planning, and Management, is conducting trash
audits to assess the waste streams of different campus buildings for the amount and types
of recyclables that end up in the trash. With this information, they are working with
building managers and occupants to improve campus trash and recycling systems.
What is Trash Auditing & Why is it done?
A trash audit involves sorting through the waste of a particular building or living space to
determine what is being thrown away, whether or not waste is properly sorted, and which
items that could be recycled are not. It is also an opportunity to evaluate distinct waste
streams such as mixed paper, office paper and commingled recycling (cans, glass and
plastic).18
• Show Video on Trash Auditing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5EOH1YX7Vs
Questions:
• Initial reactions to the video? How does it make you feel about trash auditing?
• Would you consider suiting up and participating in a trash audit? Why or why not?
• Do you often think of what you throw away?
http://sustainability.wisc.edu/trash-audits/17
http://sustainability.wisc.edu/trash-audits/18

• Did you know that initiatives like this were in action on campus? What do you think of
them? Do you think they are helpful? Why or why not?
Single Stream vs Multi-Stream Recycling
The UW–Madison recycling program is separate from the City of Madison. The campus
recycling is multi-stream, which separates paper from plastics, glass and metals. If papers
and plastics are mixed in a multi-stream recycling system, the recycling is contaminated
and may not be processed. The City of Madison uses a single-stream recycling system, in
which all recyclable materials are combined in one recycling bin and sorted at a
processing plant.
• Show Image of Multi-Stream Recycling Guide From Office of Sustainability
Recycling Page:
http://sustainability.wisc.edu/content/uploads/2014/06/Housing_recycling_guide.pdf
Questions:
• Initial reactions? How does it make you feel about recycling?
• Did you know our campus was a multi-stream recycling system and that the City of
Madison uses single stream recycling? Does this impact your future recycling habits?
• What are some items that you are unsure of how to recycle?
• Top 3 mis-recycled items:
• Clothing and Shoes: Used and new clothing and shoes can be donated at College
Library, on the second floor of the Education building or sold at Re-threads or
Ragstock on State Street. Shoe donation locations are located in the Natatorium and
the SERF – ask the front desk for more information.
• Pizza Boxes: Pizza boxes are one of the trickier items to dispose of. However, it is
easier than you think. The greasy bottom of a pizza box can either be put into the
trash or shredded and then composted. The clean top of the pizza box can be
separated from the bottom and recycled with mixed paper.
• Coffee Cups: Coffee cups are generally non-recyclable. However, most coffee cup
lids and sleeves are recyclable and some cups are compostable. Coffee cup lids can
be recycled in any plastic or commingled recycling bin. Paper coffee sleeves can be
recycled in any mixed paper recycling bin.
• Do you think recycling is important to our campus community? What could be done to
promote recycling on campus or promote good recycling habits?
Thank everyone for attending and tell them about future events (and trash audit
opportunities!). Send follow-up email with link to the City of Madison Recycling
Guide (https://www.cityofmadison.com/streets/recycling/guidelines.cfm) and Office
of Sustainability recycling page (http://sustainability.wisc.edu/recycling/).

1. Trash Auditing
Can be done as a floor activity or residence hall activity.
Steps
I. Contact the Office of Sustainability and/or WEConserve to gain access to proper
safety materials such as Kevlar gloves, protective eyewear, suits, shoes, etc. A scale
will also be needed to weigh the trash. Safety is a priority when trash audits are
conducted. Plastic garbage bags will also be needed.
II. Create flyers, notify house fellows, announce on PA system and send out an email
about food drive competition amongst floors or other residence halls.
III. Take trash from local cafeterias such as Rhetas, Gordons & Deope. 1-3 bags per floor,
determine how many for larger groups.
IV. Form teams of 4 with the following roles:
A. Opener: open and sorts trash
B. Holder #1: Hold a new plastic bag for landfill items
C. Holder #2 (this can be split into more roles if desired): Holds a bag for plastic
recyclables, paper recyclables and compostable items
D. Reorder: Records data and weird items for team, helps out as needed
V. Sort trash into 1 of 3 categories:
A. Recyclable plastic and aluminum bag then a recyclable paper bag and have
separate trash bags
B. Garbage: Put this in a third trash bag
C. Items of Interest: Put in a box. They won’t be discarded until you know where
they go. Ex: silverware goes back to dining hall and batteries go to a separate
recycling container.
VI. When everything is sorted, weigh each bag from step 5. Enter weights on data sheet,
then calculate the amount of trash that could have been recycled by using this
formula: total lbs of [recyclables/(real trash + recyclables)].
VII. Dispose of suits and clean up. Then discuss what they found surprising about the
activities, their views on trash after auditing, what were some of the interesting things
found, etc.
VIII. Send follow-up email with final statistics. Also add a link to the City of Madison
Recycling Guide (https://www.cityofmadison.com/streets/recycling/guidelines.cfm)
and Office of Sustainability recycling page (http://sustainability.wisc.edu/recycling/)
to promote better recycling practices.
Energy Sustainability Activities

2. Recycling Demonstrations
Can be performed by a house fellow on their respective floor. The goal of this activity is
to show residents some of the commonly trashed recyclables.
Steps:
I. Go into the trash room to collect some of the commonly trashed recyclables: coffee
cups, clothes, water bottles, pizza boxes, plastic bags, sandwich bags, plastic wrap,
red solo cups,etc.
II. Prepare a trash bin, commingle bin (plastic & aluminum), and a mixed paper bin. Get
a pair or two of plastic gloves.
III. Ask students in the group which bin each item goes to, if they guess incorrectly polite
correct them and explain why the item goes there
IV. Here is a list of items and where they go, visit the City of Madison Recycling Guide
(https://www.cityofmadison.com/streets/recycling/guidelines.cfm) and Office of
Sustainability recycling page (http://sustainability.wisc.edu/recycling/) if you have
further questions.
A. Sandwich Bags, Straws, Plastic Wrap: Sadly the plastic in these materials is very
low grade and can get stuck in recycling machines. They must be put in the trash.
B. Plastic Bags: These bags must be throw away individually, but can be recycled in
plastics if many plastic bags are bunched into balls and put inside of one bag that
is then tied. For more information, visit City of Madison Recycling Guide.
C. Plastic Utensils: These are not recyclable in Madison. Landfill.
D. Red Solo Cups: These are not recyclable in Madison. Landfill.
E. Paper Milk, Paper Egg Cartons and Paper Juice Cartons: According to the City of
Madison Recycling Guide website, these items can go in the paper recyclables.
F. Clothing and Shoes: Used and new clothing and shoes can be donated at College
Library, on the second floor of the Education building or sold at Re-threads or
Ragstock on State Street. Shoe donation locations are located in the Natatorium
and the SERF – ask the front desk for more information.
G. Pizza Boxes: Pizza boxes are one of the trickier items to dispose of. However, it is
easier than you think. The greasy bottom of a pizza box can either be put into the
trash or shredded and then composted. The clean top of the pizza box can be
separated from the bottom and recycled with mixed paper.
H. Coffee Cups: Coffee cups are generally non-recyclable. However, most coffee cup
lids and sleeves are recyclable and some cups are compostable. Coffee cup lids
can be recycled in any plastic or commingled recycling bin. Paper coffee sleeves
can be recycled in any mixed paper recycling bin.
V. Inform students on Composting practices, there is a brown bin in each trash room for
this. If we compost organic materials including apple cores, banana peels, coffee
grounds, and bread crusts, we can reduce our contribution to landfill waste and

contribute instead to a supply of all natural, nutrient-rich campus dirt – used for both
research and landscape maintenance.
A. What’s compostable?
1. Breads and pastries
2. Coffee grounds and filters
3. Compostable packaging, including paper to-go containers
4. Egg shells
5. Fruits and vegetables
6. Grains and pasta
7. Napkins, uncoated paper plates
8. Tea bags
9. Wooden chopsticks
10. Cardboard (cut into small strips)
11. What’s not compostable?
B. What’s non-compostable
1. Plastic film and other food wrappers
2. Plastic utensils, cups, or containers (including compostable plastics)
3. Plastic-coated cups or plates
4. Styrofoam
VI. Send out a follow-up email on good recycling practices and its importance in the
residence halls. Provide a link to the City of Madison Recycling Guide (https://
www.cityofmadison.com/streets/recycling/guidelines.cfm) and Office of
Sustainability recycling page (http://sustainability.wisc.edu/recycling/) to promote
better recycling practices.

3. Pellitterri Recycling Plant Presentation
Have a representative from Pellitteri give presentations or do activities with a whole
residence hall or floor of students. Pelliterri may also offer a tour, but transportation
accommodations would need to be met.
Pellitteri Waste System
• Website: http://www.pellitteri.com/
Provides Superior Trash and Recycling Collection Service to Our Commercial, Industrial,
and Residential Customers in the Greater Madison Area and throughout Dane County.
What happens to recyclables at Pellitteri?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyzPvM_4sJ4
• Contact information: (608) 257-4285 or for general info info@pellitteri.com

4. Floor Design Contest
Can be performed by a house fellow on their respective floor. The goal of this
activity is to brainstorm materials that will promote sustainable practices in
residence halls.
Steps:
I. Gather markers, papers, crayons, etc to create promotional sustainable flyers
with.
II. Encourage residents to be creative about smart sustainable choices. Give
some examples:
A. Animated food items saying “Remember to compost me”
B. SAVE ELECTRICITY; You wouldn't like someone to turn you on & then
just leave.
C. Never use plastic silverware with a sad fork
D. Did you remember your plastic bag before to left to grocery shop?
III. Have students hand in their flyers by the end of the day to the house fellow’s
door. Have the resident put their name and room # on the back.
IV. All students who participate are gifted a free cookie or fruit coupon. The
winner of the most appealing design will receive a larger prize like a pizza
coupon or residence hall apparel. All flyers (or just the winner) can be used
for a sustainability bulletin board.

5. Waste Free Picnic
Can be done as a floor activity or residence hall activity. The purpose of this picnic is to
encourage the use of reusables and create a zero waste event.
Steps:
I. Create flyers, notify house fellows, announce on PA system and send out an email
about food drive competition amongst floors or other residence halls. Tell each
resident that this event requires them to bring their own plate/cup/napkin/fork/
reusable boxes/ blankets for carryout. Other waste free dishes are optional but not
required by residents to make it more of a potluck style. Make sure to get an
attendance count by a certain date so you know how much food to order.
II. The picnic should be held within walking distance of the Hall like in Botanical
Garden, Gordon Lawn, Dejope Lawn, or Allen Centennial Garden
III. Provide only foods that are package free such as fresh fruits, veggies, baked goods,
dishes, lemonade in a pitcher, etc. The food should be served in reusable items so
there is ZERO WASTE. The food can be set up on a large picnic blanket.
IV. Enjoy the food and socialize!
V. Everyone should go home with left overs to prevent food waste or everything should
be eaten. Then with zero packaging, clean-up should be a breeze!

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