town hall 2010 - sustainablecorvallis.orgsustainablecorvallis.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/... ·...

Town Hall 2010:

A Model Sustainable EventSteps Taken and Our Findings

Compiled by Andrea Norris, OSU Campus RecyclingAndrea.Norris@oregonstate.edu or (541) 737-5398

A Model Sustainable Event :

Waste

• OSU Campus Recycling managed six recycling stations located throughout the event; volunteers helped sort into compost and recycle bins

• All trash cans removed from building (except in restrooms)

• Everything served by OSU Catering was compostable (no wrapped items, plastic, etc)

Steps Taken:

A Model Sustainable Event :

Waste

• Compostable serving ware generously donated by EcNow Tech

• Bathroom paper towels collected for composting

• Exhibitors and attendees asked to avoid bringing or distributing non-recyclable items

• Borrowed nametag holders from University Events and returned for reuse

Steps Taken:

A Model Sustainable Event :

Waste

• Met our goal of being zero waste!

• Only collected 0.1 lbs of material (recycling + compostables) per person, meaning very little went to waste

• Diverted 51 lbs from the landfill!

Recycle, 16, 31%

Compost, 35, 69%

Trash, 0, 0%

Results:

A Model Sustainable Event :

Waste

• The majority of recyclables collected were paper products (meeting materials)

• Volunteers reported turning away a few trash items, including tape, a couple coffee cups, a candy wrapper, and gum

Results:

A Model Sustainable Event :

Energy

• OSU Sustainability Office controlled lighting levels during the event to conserve energy

• OSU Sustainability Office took meter readings to compare this event to others

• 1,250 kWh of renewable energy generously provided by Pacific Power Blue Sky

• 413 therms of natural gas offsets generously provided by NW Natural Smart Energy

Steps Taken:

A Model Sustainable Event :

Energy

• Energy used was unexpectedly higher than average

• Factors that could have affected this are weather (it was colder on our event day) and the accuracy of attendee numbers

• Entire facility is on one meter, so not all energy used was related to the events

Metric Town Hall Estimate

Av. from Other Events

Electricity 2.33kWh/person

1.46kWh/person

Natural Gas

87 Cu ft/person

49 Cu ft/person

Results:

• We may not always meet our target but now have a baseline to beat next year!

A Model Sustainable Event :

Energy

• We know we reduced energy by reducing lighting at the event

• Offsets covered nearly all energy used and will avoid 6,075 lbs of CO2, which is equivalent to not driving 6,155 miles or planting 69 trees!

Results:

A Model Sustainable Event :

Food

• Menu features many Local 6 foods; menu developed by OSU Catering and First Alternative Co-Op

• Compostable serving ware generously donated by EcNow Tech

• Municipal tap water provided for beverage service (rather than bottled or shipped water)

• Signage on catering table and walls to identify local foods

Steps Taken:

A Model Sustainable Event :

Food

• Bread from Big River, Corvallis• Eggs from Golden Egg, Philomath• Sunchokes from Gathering Together Farm, Philomath• Feta Spread from Feast Alternative, Corvallis• Leeks from Gathering Together Farms, Philomath• Cabbage from Denison Farm, Corvallis• Garlic from Elmira• Tortilla Chips from Carmen’s, Eugene• Blueberries from Stahlbush Island, Corvallis• Beans from Truitt Brothers, Salem• Pumpkin from Farmers Market Foods, Corvallis• Wheat from Stalford Farm, Tangent

Local Foods:

Kate Hickok Feldman photo 2010

A Model Sustainable Event :

Water

• Bathroom faucet flow rates were labeled so attendees could choose by efficiency

• Restrooms had only low flow toilets and urinals and were labeled as such

• OSU Sustainability Office took meter readings to compare this event to others

Steps Taken:

A Model Sustainable Event :

Water

• Water use was 40% lower than average

• Factors that could have affected this are sink signage and the caterer’s nearby facility, reducing their onsite water need

Metric Town Hall Estimate

Av. from Other Events

Water 0.13Cu ft/person

0.22Cu ft/person

Results:

A Model Sustainable Event :

Transportation

• Marketing materials promoted alternative transportation

• Survey used to determine modes of transportation used by attendees

Steps Taken:

A Model Sustainable Event :

Transportation

• Only 1/3 drove alone while 2/3took alternative modes!

• 37% came car free!• 389 participated in the survey

Results:

34%

25%

4%

19%15%

3% Single carCarpoolElectric CarBicycleWalkTransit

A Model Sustainable Event :

Social

• Primary marketing materials provided in English and Spanish

• Educational signage posted so attendees learned how to duplicate efforts

Steps Taken:

A Model Sustainable Event :

Economic

• Purchased and promoted local food and serving ware

• Provided a venue to promote local businesses and organizations

Steps Taken:

Town Hall 2010

Questions?

Contact:Andrea NorrisOSU Campus RecyclingAndrea.Norris@oregonstate.edu(541) 737-5398