Sustainable Living
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Sustainability is widely reflected in Cal Poly Humboldt's vision and values.
Conserving resources, championing social responsibility, as well as reducing our overall carbon footprint, are goals of numerous initiatives and policies. We are deeply involved in creating a campus that operates with sustainability in mind. Read below to find out more about what housing does to help our residents live sustainably, and click the link below to visit the office of sustainability’s website.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Sustainable Living at Cal Poly Humboldt
Having a green room means choosing to reduce the amount of energy and water used, waste created, and consumption of limited natural resources. It also means being creative, staying healthy, saving money, making friends and having fun!
What does a Green Room look like? What should you bring - and not bring - from home to set up your own Green Room?
Go through the Green Room Certification program and get recognition for your sustainable practices!
Recycling, Composting, and Waste
More students than ever are recycling, composting and reducing their waste! See the resources below and join the movement!
Sign up for the Campus Resident Compost Program
Sign up here to join the Campus Resident Compost Program! You will receive a free countertop compost bin and instructions on how to participate. It's simple - use the countertop compost bin to collect any food scraps throughout the week. Then empty the collected compost into your resident areas' designated compost bin any day or time. This program is only for residents of Creekview, Cypress, Campus Apartments and College Creek. For residents of Redwood, Sunset or the Canyon, please put any food scraps in the compost buckets in the common kitchen of your building. Questions? Email the Resident Sustainability Advisor at rsa@humboldt.edu.
Passionate about Sustainability? Become an EcoRep!
EcoReps educate their peers about sustainable practices in the residence halls, from waste reduction to energy conservation and sustainable transportation. An initiative of Green Campus, EcoReps gain green workforce skills and knowledge as they engage campus residents through events, outreach campaigns and competitions. This is a paid student position.
> EcoReps Peer Sustainability Educator Application
Participate in Donation Dash
It’s easy to reduce your waste when moving out in May, and we are here to help! You can donate unwanted clothing, bedding, housewares, school supplies, dishware, unopened packaged food, etc. - Pretty much anything that is clean, not broken, and that can be reused can be donated! Check out this video to learn how to participate:
Download these Helpful Recycling, Composting & Waste Minimization Guides
Recycling, Compost and Landfill Waste Guide >>
Get Free and Low-Cost Supplies and Clothing on Campus!
Reusable Office Supply Exchange (ROSE) >> Student- run store on campus. Find or donate FREE, lightly used classroom, art & Office supplies.
Oh SNAP! Food Pantry and Thrift Store >> A campus food pantry and pop-up thrift store with household items and clothing.
Test Your Waste Sorting IQ!
Humboldt Waste Quiz >> How well do you know your waste? Take this two minute quiz and become a waste reduction champion! Go for the win, use the right bin!
Sustainable Transportation
Choosing smart transportation alternatives like bicycling and riding the bus will save you money, avoid parking frustrations and reduce carbon emissions. And with resources like Jack Pass, Zipcar, bikeshare and more, it’s easy to go car free!
Get Connected with a Carpool >>
Got a Bike? Get Free help fixing your bike >>
No Bike? No Problem. Rent a Bike with Discounted Bike Share >>
Wheels when you want them with guaranteed parking: ZipCar Car Share >>
Discounted transport to get you home for breaks and holidays >>
Got an EV? Here’s where you can charge up >>
Want help planning your commute? Sign up for a FREE consultation and check out these Commuter Resources >>
Go to the Sustainable Transportation webpage for more info and resources!
Go Cold for Green & Gold
It’s better for your clothes and better for the environment. Cold water reduces fading, shrinking, and bleeding colors in clothes. Even some stains like coffee or tea, chocolate, grass, or blood are removed better if treated with cold water (source). About 90% of the energy use in washing machines goes towards heating water (source). If a household switched to cold water washing for a year, they would save enough energy to charge an iPhone 4S 30,861 times (source).
We hope you join us in using cold water for your laundry and help to make our earth a little greener in the process!
Stay tuned for a competition between Residence Halls to save energy and water!
WHAT WE DO FOR YOU
Resident Sustainability Advisor
The primary objective of the Resident Sustainability Advisor is to reduce the ecological footprint of Cal Poly Humboldt by means of public education, energy conservation, and coordination with established environmentally conscious organizations. As well as provide residents with resources to reduce their carbon footprint, learn about sustainable practices, and start projects of their own.
Energy Campaign
Every year our Resident Sustainability Advisor (RSA) conducts an Energy Campaign to determine which residence hall community can reduce their energy use the most. The top three communities are awarded prizes.
How much energy are you using in your room? Find out by downloading this excel document with everything you need to conduct your own energy audit.
Green Restaurant
All of our dining locations on-campus are Green Restaurant Certified. This means that Dining at Cal Poly Humboldt is focused on ecological sustainability when making decisions about what foods to use, how food is served, prepared etc.. When you choose to eat on-campus, you are contributing to ecological sustainability. For more information please visit dinegreen.com/calpolyhumboldt.
Day-to-day Waste Reduction
In your room sort out recycling into the blue bin, trash into landfill bin, and compost into the compost bin. How well do you know your waste? Test your waste sorting IQ by taking this two-minute quiz. Go for the win, use the right bin and become a waste reduction champion!
Humboldt has a single stream recycling system. Paper, cardboard, bottles, cans, Plastics #1-7, tin, plastic grocery bags, paper milk and juice cartons, aluminum, and magazines can be thrown into the blue recycling bin. When full, empty the blue recycling bin in your room into the green dumpster outside your building marked "MIXED RECYCLING". (College Creek residents - recycling goes down the chute marked "MIXED RECYCLING").
Electronic waste is anything with a circuit board, such as cell phones, laptops, microwaves, and stereo equipment. For proper disposal of electronic waste, place them in the E-Cycler bin nearest you: 3rd floor JGC, main exit of the library, or in the alcove near the College Creek mailroom. Batteries, compact fluorescent light bulbs, CD/DVD discs and printer cartridges can also be thrown into E-cycler bins. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO PUT THESE ITEMS IN THE TRASH!
Are you currently using an incandescent bulb and want to exchange it? Residents have the ability to exchange any incandescent light bulb for a compact fluorescent light bulb for free. Housing will then properly dispose of any incandescent and broken CFLs for residents.
Sustainable Sourcing in the Office
When office supplies are purchased we do our best to purchase items that are recycled or made from post consumer waste. Housing’s custodial services use the most environmentally friendly cleaning products available that still meet campus safety standards. These cleaning products have been certified as environmentally friendly and or are Green Seal certified.
