Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / April 30, 2008, edition 1 / Page 5
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HOW TO BE GREEN April SO, 2008 5 Haute Totes and Reusable Bags Elizabeth McLean Contributing Writer Each year American's use an average of 100 bil lion plastic bags, in the process using 12 million barrels of oil in their pro duction. When plastic bags were introduced to consumers roughly 25 years ago, no one fore saw the lasting negative impact they would have on our planet. These bags will persist in our landfills, just waiting to melt away, and continue to destroy the earth for 1,000 years. On average, an American family can gather almost 100 bags in about 5 trips to the grocery store. Plastic bags, like paper, can be recycled, but locations are mostly limited to gro cery stores. Ireland, Taiwan and Australia have fought to keep plastic bag con sumption to a minimum by placing taxes on bag consumption and giving incentives to those who bring their ov/n bags from home. Locally, you as a consumer can purchase reusable bags from Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Harris Teeter, Earth Fare, Target and oth ers. Retailers have also joined the boat. Raleigh's Ubiquities gives out canvas tote bags with the slogan "Green is the New Black" rather than their traditional yellow bags. Neiman Marcus has an entire section in their kitchenware of reus able bags, and celebrities can be seen toting them aroimd to buy groceries and designer duds. But it doesn't take a million dollar budget for you to do your part. The next time you go to the store, take a large purse or some totes with you. Instead of paper or plastic, why not use your own bags? I hope more people will eventu ally catch on, but if we all start small and do our part, we can cut down plastic bag consump tion and oil production together. Meredith College Buildings Going Green with LEED Certification on New Apartments Elizabeth McLean Contributing Writer As Meredith strives to achieve a place of distinction in the com munity and to instill in her students the concepts of responsibility, service and excellence, she is reaching new heights and going down a path yet to be traveled. First came the surveyors, then the emails about the impend ing construction, and finally the moving of the Meredith mile. As many of us drive over the new blacktop, we look over to this once-underdevel oped part of campus and can only visualize what will soon start to take shape. As Meredith begins building its next phase of expansion through Choate Construction, a physical change will start to occur on the grounds of Meredith, but so too is an idealogical change taking place—a precedent is being set. The new on-campus apartments for upper classmen will be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified build ings. The decision to go with the LEED certifica tion comes from the idea that, as Meredith is teach ing young women to be leaders, so to should the college be a community leader. Future buildings on campus will strive to also be LEED certified. It will be harder to bring existing buildings up to LEED certification stan dards, but as students, faculty and members of the Meredith commu nity we should voice our opinions that building funds should be devoted towards gaining LEED certifications on new development. As the class of 2008 prepares to graduate and become alumnae, I encour age them to donate to Meredith after their time here is over and to sup port Meredith in building designs that create sus tainable environments, thereby demonstrating to the community that Meredith wants to be a leader in environmental issues. Please visit the model of the new apartments located in the front of Johnson Hall. But It's Just So Much Easier to Drive... Elizabeth McLean Contributing Writer Living on campus? Own a car? Think about how many times a day you may get in your car and leave Meredith. But how many of those little trips could be avoided by using your feet? So here are a few scenarios that you could possibly try. You might find you like what you found and had a little fun doing it, and all the while you are cutting down your fuel emissions and helping to do your part saving the environment. It is Wednesday eve ning and you are in the library. You know you are going to be up for hours memorizing your Chaucer lines and are in need of a caffeine jolt. The coffee in the library is not going to cut it, and you know you are going to have to have that gourmet blend with fresh whipped cream... mrrunmm, Starbucks. So you grab your keys and start heading for BFG- but wait. Remember that delectable little joint across the street? It is even run by a MC alum. They've got frequent shopper cards, free inter net, and have gourmet sandwiches brought in everyday from Catering Works. If you hit up Royal Bean, you save yourself money in gas, help out a fellow MC gal, get a better prod uct (possibly supported multiple local establish ments if you go for the Catering Works eats) and most importantly you cut down your fuel emis sions. It is Friday night and the middle of the ACC tournament. You and your friends want a little change from BDH. You could all pile into two cars and drive a little fur ther down Hillsborough street or into Cameron Village, but hey there is a bunch of you. There is Playmakers across the street-great menu, lots of space, big TVs and with in close walking distance. It is Saturday after- noon-pay day was Friday and your newly fattened wallet is burning a hole in your pocket. Option A is to get in your car and head over to Crabtree Valley Mall, but there's a new boutique in town that is selling things you cannot find anywhere else. Located at 3114 Hillsborough Street, Tough Love is just a short walk out your front door. Cars and driving are a part of our Meredith culture. We all seem to go somewhere every day, but, if we took a step back and looked for places to which we could walk and carpool, then we will each be doing our part to cut fuel emissions and help out the envirorunent. Who knows—you could help out a locally owned busi ness or bond with some one new along the way. So put on your walking shoes and get going! Other places within walking distance you might want to try include Whole Foods, Brugger's Bagels, Tripp's, Waffle House, Bean Sprout, Sushi Tsune, Snoopy’s Cup-a-Joe and more.
Meredith College Student Newspaper
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April 30, 2008, edition 1
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