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Program for Sustainable Studies:UCSM and The New Community Coalition (TNCC) have partnered to create a new completion program in sustainable studies. This program has two required classes (Introduction to Sustainability and the Capstone class) combined with at least four electives that the student chooses to develop their own interests and expertise in combination with sustainability. These topics could include, but are not limited to: business, construction, development, education, conservation, art, public policy, the ski area, agriculture, energy, politics, etc. For completion, the student will prepare a written proposal and present their work to the community. Please contact UCSM for more information.
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Sustainable: Capable of being continued with minimal long-term effect on the environmentSustain: 1. To keep in existence; maintain. 2. To supply with necessities or nourishment; provide for. 3. To support from below; keep from falling or sinking; prop. 4. To support the spirits, vitality, or resolution of; encourage. 5. To bear up under; withstand(Definitions from Dictionary.com) |
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This allows UCSM to offer classes at discounted rates without requiring a campus or another designated space. By partnering with other organizations and institutions, the impact on the environment is minimized. This is only possible with the collaboration of our many partners throughout the San Miguel Watershed. Our donated classrooms include but are not limited to: the Wilkinson Public Library, the Town of Mountain Village, the Town of Telluride, San Miguel County, Naturita Elementary School, Telluride Middle and High School, Bright Futures, and Redvale Community Center.
UCSM offers a variety of classes that add to the education of the local workforce and residents. Our classes include topics such as cultural awareness, the local environment, and sustainable living practices, as well as second language courses to support cross cultural relationships. We believe that education is the foundation to a more sustainable and just community and world. We are grateful to be part of a region that has a strong history of valuing the environment and sustainable solutions. Check out our current courses.
UCSM believes and practices the motto: reduce, reuse, recycle. We are doing this by: computerizing as much as we can of the administrative paperwork, minimizing our use of electricity, encouraging staff to walk, bike, use public transportation, and reduce commutes, utilizing local businesses, and encouraging others to also engage in making every decision count.
4. Support a Sustainable Business Alliance for Telluride
We would support a sustainable business and organization group that would encourage and support sustainable practices such as buying in bulk, ride sharing, increasing public awareness of which businesses and products to support, etc.
1. Turn off equipment when it's not being used. This can reduce the energy used by 25 percent; turning off the computers at the end of the day can save an additional 50 percent. Turn off the lights – natural sunlight is more pleasant or use florescent bulbs if needed.
2. Use clearly defined recycling stations and encourages your employees to recycle paper, plastics, aluminum, glass, etc.
3. Encourage communications by email, and read email messages onscreen to determine whether it's necessary to print them. If it's not, don't!
4. Find a paper supplier with maximum available recyclable content.
5. Do not leave faucets dripping; always close them tightly after use. (One drop per second wastes over 2500 gallons per year)
6. Replace or have your cleaning service replace trash liners only when they are soiled from wet trash or ripped or broken.
7. If you have a water cooler or offer coffee and teas at workplace, encourage employees to bring in a personal mug.
8. Buy recycled material products. Purchase garbage bags or liners that contain at least 10% post consumer used material.
9. Encourage your cleaning company to use non-toxic cleaning solutions or methods.
10. Produce double sided documents whenever possible.
11. Digitize documents and send emails instead of letters when possible.
12. Greening the commute American workers spend an average of 47 hours per year commuting through rush hour traffic. This adds up to 3.7 billion hours and 23 billion gallons of gas wasted in traffic each year. We can ease some of this strain by carpooling, taking public transit, biking, or walking.
13. Green sleeves – buy used, organic, or recylced clothing, and everything possible.
14. Work from home if possible, or four ten-hour days instead of five.
15.. Pack your lunch to avoid unhealthy food products and packaging.
16. Get others in on the act. Share your ideas, and be a LOUD EXAMPLE.
Once: the number of times that most of the more than 25 billion cartons manufactured in the U.S. are used.
55: percentage of water saved by producing recycled paper as compared to virgin paper. Recycled paper also takes 60-70% less energy to produce than paper from virgin pulp.
120: tons of steel saved if every UK office worker used one less staple a day.
8 billion: gallons of gas saved if every commuter car in the U.S. carried just one more person.