Going Green @ Haverford

Think it’s no big deal if you leave your computer on when you leave the office? Think again. Haverford’s Director of Facilities Managetment Ron Tola, with the help of Mary Ellen Luongo, Director of Administrative Computing, recently calculated the energy costs of running the College’s computers. Here’s what they determined:

Every Haverford employee who remembers to turn off their computer at the end of the work day, saves the College .56 cents per day in energy costs.  If an employee works 200 days per year that amounts to a savings of $112 in energy costs per year.

If all 186 administrative computers were turned off at the end of the work day,  the total savings in energy costs each year would come to $20, 832.

Add in the weekend and the savings are even bigger. Turning off  all 186 administrative computers for the weekend would save the College $50,294 in energy costs each year.

New signs are going up in the Koshland Integrated Natural Sciences Center aimed at alerting students, faculty and staff to an easy way to help the College save energy, money–and the planet.  “Turn off computers before leaving,” posters were created by visiting assistant professor of physics Anna Sajina, and Bruce Boyes, the KINSC’s research machinist, who are both members of the Committee on Environmental Responsibility.

“We have many computers right here in the KINSC,” says Boyes, “and I’m sure there are more locations on campus  where this message could be posted.”

Want a few to post in your campus building as a friendly green reminder?  email bboyes@haverford.edu

Anna Sajina

The Committee for Environmental Responsibility recently welcomed Anna Sajina as its newest member. Sajina, who holds a doctorate in Astronomy from the University of British Columbia, is a postdoctoral research associate and visiting assistant professor of Physics at Haverford.

“I have been interested in environmental issues for quite some time, and we have adopted many environmentally-friendly practices in our home,” says Sajina. “I am particularly interested in passive heating/cooling and water recycling.”

Sajina learned a great deal about about these issues last summer during a stay with other Haverford faculty in an earthship house in New Mexico. Highly energy-efficient, earthship homes are constructed using old tires and rammed earth.

Says Sajina, “I look forward to working with the other CER members toward greater sustainability at Haverford.”