The Blog

As you begin your first full week of holding true to your New Year’s resolution, you might start stumbling across some confusing grey areas with your resolution. For instance, I vowed to eat at more local restaurants rather than chains. But where do local franchises fall in this instance? Are they considered a loop hole? Well, we’ve helped clear up some confusion surrounding food systems last week, so this week we will tackle energy consumption.

True or false: Your TV isn’t using electricity when it is off.

False.

The same goes for your phone charger that isn’t charging a phone, and your radio that isn’t playing. The TV is using electricity to power the sensor that will turn the TV on when you press the button. The phone charger is using electricity to maintain a charge so it can begin charging your phone as soon as it is plugged in. And the radio, it may not be playing music, but it is using electricity to power its clock interface.

 

I recently got the chance to chat with SUNY Fredonia’s Sustainability Committee Chair, Sarah Laurie (SL). As a recent graduate of Ithaca College, I was excited to talk about what Fredonia is doing to be greener. Sarah was able to shed some insight on the importance of green initiatives on college campuses. Today’s college students are much more in tune with environmental issues, and their college choices often reflect this. If a college isn’t practicing sustainable habits, it may be a con on the student’s list of university choices. So how is SUNY Fredonia bringing sustainability down to a personal level? Read on to find out!

 

Many would consider the Welland Canal, right in our backyard, to be one of the world's greatest man-made wonders. It is important because of its ability to move cargo ships up and down the Niagara Escarpment, which consequently contributes to the economic growth and development of Canada and the United States. Approximately 40 million metric tons of cargo is carried through the Welland Canal annually.

The transportation of goods is not the Welland Canal's only purpose. The canal's founding father, William Hamilton Merritt, originally envisioned the canal as a way of providing a consistent source of water for local mills. Today, that purpose still holds true with the canal's water being a major resource for industry in Niagara, as well as providing water to people for everyday use. It also provides a source for recreational activity with people watching the big ships, fishing, hiking and boating all summer long.