Students and employees at North Iowa Area Community College have been preparing a variety of activities on campus to honor Earth Day 2011, which is April 22.|
Students and employees at North Iowa Area Community College have been preparing a variety of activities on campus to honor Earth Day 2011, which is April 22.
“In addition to our Earth Week activities, we are proud to say that we have been working diligently on reducing our environmental impact, our carbon footprint,” said Tony Pappas, NIACC director of facilities management and chair of the NIACC Sustainability Council. “For us, it’s Earth Day every day.”
Growing concern about global climate change, due to excessive fossil fuel use and other human activity-induced causes, has increased commitment to environmental stewardship and inspired institutions such as NIACC to address the warming of our planet.
“Moving toward sustainability hinges on our ability to inspire and maintain changes in behavior, expectations, and norms,” Pappas said. “We will accomplish little until people remember to turn off their computers, use energy efficient products, and recycle.”
Virtually every activity on the North Iowa Area Community College campus has an impact on the greenhouse gas emissions level we produce. From vehicular traffic to food served and the waste generated to where thermostats are set and how exhaust hoods are vented ñ all of these activities carry a measure of our carbon footprint, Pappas said.
In August, 2010, Dr. Debra Derr, NIACC President, signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment – a commitment to initiate the development of a comprehensive plan to address climate change in our curriculum and reduce our Green House Gas emissions here at the College. “Sustainability practices are not purely a cost, but an investment in our future,” said Derr.
At NIACC, steps are being taken to improve efforts in reducing, reusing and recycling. “We are doing more each year,” Pappas said.
In addition to reducing the college’s carbon footprint, NIACC students and staff are participating in the following activities for Earth Week. All events are open to the public:
Monday, April 18: Darren Siefken from Crawdaddy Outdoors will be on campus from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for kayaking on the NIACC pond. Anyone can come out to the NIACC pond by the dorms and test different types of kayaks for free.
Tuesday, April 19: Daniel Zimmerman provides a presentation on Iowa Farmers Market and buying local produce. Bring your lunch. Presentation begins at 9:00 a.m. in Activity Center room 101.
Wednesday, April 20: Barb Grabner-Kerns from Trees Forever will offer a presentation on tree pests. Presentation will be in the NIACC Careers Building room 106 at 9:00 am.
Clothing Swap: will be in AC upstairs area and room AC-213. Bring in clothes at 9:00 a.m. and swap clothes at Noon,
Thursday, April 21: Ron Eckoff will be speaking about the Isle Royal Moose and Wolfs and 3:00 pm in McAllister Hall room 205.
Prairie Burn will be at 4 pm, weather permitting.
Friday, April 22: Eco-quilt competition in the fine arts center. Quilts will be on display from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. The competition is open to students, faculty, and the public. For details on this event, contact rfranks@niacc.edu
