Saturday, April 19, 2014

CSU Earth Day has role for Ritter's Energy policy

Colorado State University is celebrating Earth Week with a week of green events Thursday, April 17, through Friday, April 25. “This year’s Earth Week line-up demonstrates the impressive breadth of sustainability education, research, and engagement at CSU,” said Tonie Miyamoto, director of Communications and Sustainability for CSU’s Housing and Dining Services. “Events range from guest lectures to tours to tree planting and festivals – there is something for everyone.” Events happening during Earth Week include: Thursday, April 17 The grand opening of the Powerhouse Energy Campus will be held 3-5 p.m. at 430 N. College Ave. in Fort Collins. Home to the CSU Energy Institute, the Powerhouse Energy Campus is a 65,000-square-foot expansion of the CSU Engines and Energy Conversion Lab. The facility houses offices for all of the research centers affiliated with the Institute, and is a model of cutting-edge energy research in itself. Monday, April 21 CSU U.S. Green Building Council and the Design-Build Institute of America will cohost guest speaker Nancy Kralik, senior director of Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) and Sustainability at Fluor Corporation 6-8 p.m. in the Pre-Construction Building, Room 122. She is a licensed civil and environmental engineer with more than 30 years of experience in the development and application of HSE policies and procedures in a global arena. She serves as chair of Fluor's executive-level sustainability committee. She also chairs the Construction Industry Institute's research team on sustainability in construction and recently led an Engineers Without Borders team on an El Salvadoran water project. CSU's Warner College of Natural Resources will host renowned Colorado nature photographer John Fielder at 7 p.m. in the UCA’s Griffin Concert Hall, 1400 Remington St. Fielder will showcase his photography of Colorado’s wilderness as part of the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. Tuesday, April 22 Holding onto some old or outdated electronics for a while? Bring them to the all-day e-Waste Collection on 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Surplus Property Warehouse. The event is sponsored by CSU’s Surplus Property department. The Earth Day Festival, 10 a.m.-2p.m., is a celebration of sustainability at CSU and in the community. Staff, students, and faculty are all welcome to the event. Live music, baked goods from the bakeshop and much more will be at this year's festival. Stop by the trees at Meridian Avenue and Plum Street to learn about more about the sustainability community at CSU. The event is sponsored by Housing and Dining Services, the Live Green Team, Parking and Transportation Services and the Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Advisory Committee. Biodiversity Ignite! is an evening of fun and informative five-minute talks that showcase and recognize the range of biodiversity research conducted at CSU. Sponsored by the School of Global Environmental Sustainability Biodiversity Working Group, the event is 5-7 p.m. at Avogadro’s Number, 605 S. Mason St. in Fort Collins. On Earth Day, CSU Sustainable Remediation Forum and the Student Sustainability Center are co-hosting a free screening of the documentary "Gasland II" at 7:30 p.m. in the Behavioral Sciences Building, Room 131. The Gasland film series takes a deep look at the dangers of fracking, hydraulic fracturing and power behind the oil and gas companies. Wednesday, April 23 A panel of conservation practitioners will discuss how to achieve big goals through dynamic partnerships from the mountains to the plains at 6 p.m. in Behavioral Sciences Building, Room A101. The event will kick off with a presentation, "Conservation from the Past to the Future," by conservation philanthropist Ed Warner. Panelists include Heather Knight, The Nature Conservancy; Noe Marymor, Natural Resource Conservation Service; and Bob Sturtevant, Colorado State Forest Service. There will be a post-panel mixer at 7:30 p.m. in the atrium of the Natural Resources Building. Thursday, April 24 The Ranching and a West that Works Conference, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. in the Lory Student Center Theatre, will discuss the reality of ranching and explore the transformative ideas ranching will pass through during this century. The event continues 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. April 25. The Earth, Sun and Fire Tour of the Foothills Campus, 1-3 p.m., includes a tour of the 5.3-megawatt, 30-acre solar plant; the in-vessel composter; and the biomass boiler. RSVPs are required for this free event; email RamTrax@colostate.edu. The event is sponsored by RamTrax, Facilities Management and Housing and Dining Services. Friday, April 25 The Ranching and a West that Works Conference continues 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the Lory Student Center Theatre. The conference will discuss the reality of ranching and explore the transformative ideas ranching will pass through during this century. Celebrate Colorado State University's third year being recognized as a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Foundation by helping to plant new trees 9:30 a.m.-noon at the University Center for the Arts, 1400 Remington St. Planting instruction will be provided by CSU Facilities and the Colorado State Forest Service. CSU student groups interested in planting trees should contact Luke Finn at Luke.Finn@rams.colostate.edu to sign up. The event is sponsored by the Center for Collaborative Conservation, Colorado State Forest Service, Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, numerous student organizations and the Warner College of Natural Resources. Holding onto some old or outdated electronics for a while and are not sure what to do with them? Want to pick up some CSU compost for your garden? Bring up to two e-waste items to recycle at no cost and two buckets to the Compost Giveaway/e-Waste Collection between 1 and 3 p.m. Friday, to the parking lot at College Avenue and Lake Street (Lot #575). The event is sponsored by Surplus Property, Facilities Management and Housing and Dining Services.