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EDUCAUSE 2008 Green Initiatives

You spoke, and we listened. Here are ways EDUCAUSE has committed to "go green" for this year's conference:

  • Reduce waste by having attendees self-stuff tote bags
  • Collect unwanted tote materials for reuse at other events
  • Use 100% recycled, reusable tote bags and name badge wallets
  • Print fewer items for totes, booth materials, and other uses; use recycled paper
  • Market through electronic means rather than print when possible
  • Post speaker materials online rather than using paper handouts
  • Distribute the daily conference newsletter online only
  • Buy U.S.-made materials when possible to save on shipping fuel costs
  • Use recycled/recyclable material for EDUCAUSE notepads and pens
  • Donate leftover notepads and gift items
  • Post registration lists online only
  • Ask hotels to participate in linen reuse programs and to provide in-room recycling

Carbon Offset Credits

CarbonFund.org - Reduce what you can, offset what you can't

Working with CarbonFund.org, we donated $5 of each registration to two projects that reduce carbon emissions: Upstate New York Solid Waste Management and IdleAire. According to CarbonFund.org, our total donation of 3885.45 metric tons (or 8,565,863 pounds) of CO2 to offset attendee travel makes EDUCAUSE 2008 "more than carbon neutral." Read the CarbonFund.org article.

Orange County Convention Center

  • Food and Beverage: Provides water in coolers and pitchers rather than bottles, uses corn-based compostable clamshell box lunches and flatware, serves condiments in bulk rather than individual packaging, and donates leftover food to a local food bank
  • Recycling: Received ISO 14001:2004 certification for its environmental management system; through EMS, recovered 80 percent of all dry waste and 40 percent of all waste in 2006, diverted 9,000 tons of material for remanufacture, and recycled 871 tons of cardboard and 5.8 tons of office paper
  • Energy: Converts existing lighting to solid state (LED) to reduce energy consumption and spent-bulb generation; continuously monitors and "load matches" HVAC systems to reduce energy consumption
  • Water: Installed metering water faucets and waterless urinals in restrooms to conserve water
  • Environmental: Uses environmentally friendly maintenance products, including biodegradable solvents and cleaners and non-oil-based painting products, and converted select landscape areas to xeriscape

Freeman (Show Decorator)

  • Posts exhibit kit online rather than providing a paper version
  • Fuels vehicles on show floor with 70% liquid propane natural gas
  • Recycles 100% of show carpet (converts to drainage pipes for septic systems to reduce landfill waste)
  • Uses recycled/recyclable aluminum entrance signs and decomposable, water-based banners that can be made into bags