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Substainable Living

What Can I Do in the Residence Halls?

Welcome to Viterbo, the Environmental Responsibility Committee would like you to consider the following practices now that you are a resident of Viterbo University.

Other Sustainable Practices

Year End Donations

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

Viterbo practices recycling. We recycle aluminum cans, plastic bottles, and paper. Each room has been provided a recycling container. Students are to use these containers to store their recyclables. Once the container is full, take the recyclables to a collection location established for your residence hall. If you have any questions about our recycling program, refer to the Recycling Guide or contact your resident assistant. Remember Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Recycling Guide

Energy

You can help reduce energy costs while helping the environment by making a few small changes to your daily routine:

Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs in your personal lamps only.
Turn off the TV if you aren’t watching it and the radio if you aren’t listening to it.
Turn of the lights when you leave any room.
Put your entertainment system, electronics, Xbox, iPod, or cell phone charger on a power strip and turn the power strip off when you leave the room.
Unplug chargers when not in use.
Set your computer to hibernate when not in use for 10 minutes; shut it down at the end of the day. Check with IIT help desk (796-3870) if you have questions about your settings.
Use a microwave or toaster oven in place of an oven whenever possible.
Use natural light instead of lamps or overhead lighting.
Use the stairs instead of the elevator.
Share the refrigerator with your roommates instead of each person using their own fridge.
Only wash and dry full loads of clothes, wash with cold water.
Turn your thermostats down in the colder months when you leave for the day. At breaks turn your thermostats to 62^o.
Do not block radiators or heating vents.
Close and lock all operable window, including storm windows when leaving the room.
Close drapes and blinds during hot days to keep the direct sunlight out, open during cold days to allow sunlight in.
Turn air conditioning off 30 minutes before you leave the room.
Limit opening the refrigerators.

Transportation

Practice sustainable transportation methods.

Try using your bicycle whenever possible. There are a number of bike racks across campus and Campus Security allows bicycle storage over the winter months for a nominal fee. In addition, Viterbo has established a bike rental program called Bike VU. This program allows students and staff to rent a bicycle for a small fee to use in and around the La Crosse area.
Take the bus if possible, Viterbo has made arrangements with the La Crosse Municipal Transit Authority (MTU) to offer free ridership to all Viterbo Students by showing your student ID. To check the MTU bus routes refer to La Crosse MTU Web page.
If you must drive try to carpool, in addition practice Eco Driving and check out Transportation and Fuel Efficiency Tips .

Water

There are many simple steps you can make to reduce your water consumption.

Shorten your showers by just 1-2 minutes.
Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Drink tap water from reusable containers rather than bottled water.
When washing dishes by hand, use a sink full of water instead of running the water.

Other Sustainable Practices

Use non-toxic cleaning materials.
Use reusable bags at stores.
Print on both sides of the paper. Across campus there are many printers that allow two sided printing.
Edit on screen not on your paper.
Store documents electronically.
Think before you print or copy.

Year End Donations

Before moving out of the residence halls at the end of the year consider donating your unwanted items to either Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Check with your RA to see if a pick up is scheduled with either organization.