Green alternatives brought onto campus

The MHCC water refill stations have saved approximately 169,632 purchased water bottles since they were installed at the end of the last academic school year, the Associated Student Government announced recently.

There are seven stations located around MHCC’s Gresham campus: outside the library, by the Allied Health buildings, in the aquatic center building, the IT building, the Student Union, and two in the gym.

According to ASG Vice President Antonio Guerrero, officials chose to locate them “where there is the most student activity.”

The most-used station is outside the library; as of May 31, it had saved 48,263 purchased bottles. The least-used station is in the IT department, with 3,539 bottles saved.

According to Doug Schleichert, lead maintenance mechanic, five new stations will be installed by the beginning of the next academic school year. He said they will be located in the mezzanine of the library, the fish hatchery, the Visual Arts Theater, the College Theater and at the Maywood Park campus.

The Maywood Park water refill station has already been installed and, according to the site coordinator Dorothy Bray, it had saved 64 bottles as of May 31.

These stations are made by the company ELKAY and work by sensing when a bottle is below the spout. After about 16 ounces of water is poured, the machine counts a bottle as being saved. However, this counting system is not entirely accurate. If one person gets 8 ounces of water and then someone else gets 8 ounces, the machine will count only one bottle saved.

Guerrero said these refill systems are a legacy project and “the idea is the following years would continue and expand on it.” He added that the stations were bought with student fees from this year and students are going to be benefitting from them in years to come.

He said a legacy project doesn’t become an agenda project until the beginning or end of spring term because the idea is that it would be implemented at the end of that administration so it can be passed on.

Guerrero said the ASG wanted to “leave something for the years to come, a legacy, and something solid that students could utilize.”

He said the former ASG director of public safety and campus sustainability, Linda Hoppes, was really big on “going green.” She led this project in the last academic school year and also worked on other environmental initiatives. Last year new bike racks were purchased and a bicycle fix-it station was also installed.

“She was really passionate about it,” said Guerrero.

 

Solar tables make debut

 

As another legacy gift to support conservation, ASG also has partnered with EnerFusion Inc. to install three colorful Solar Dok picnic tables that double as solar-powered charging stations for electronic devices.

The tables were installed on the Gresham campus this week, by the Student Union, in the Main Mall and the 1700 building courtyard. Each table has four standard electrical outlets and two USB ports.

The tables will be illuminated at night and are constructed, in part, from 1,200 recycled milk cartons.

ounces, the machine will count only one bottle saved.

Guerrero said these refill systems are a legacy project and “the idea is the following years would continue and expand on it.” He added that the stations were bought with student fees from this year and students are going to be benefitting from them in years to come.

He said a legacy project doesnít become an agenda project until the beginning or end of spring term because the idea is that it would be implemented at the end of that administration so it can be passed on.

Asked about the reasoning behind purchasing these stations, Guerrero said the ASG wanted to ìleave something for the years to come, a legacy, and something solid that students could utilizeî.

Guerrero said the former ASG director of public safety and campus sustainability, Linda Hoppes, was really big on ìgoing green.î She led this project in the last academic school year and also worked on other environmental initiatives. Last year new bike racks were purchased while being headed by the same person and a bicycle fix-it station was also installed. ìShe was really passionate about it,î said Guerrero.