18 Ways to Save Water
Use Water Wisely
When it comes to conserving water, small adjustments can have a big impact. Here are 18 easy water-saving tips…
- Designate one glass for your drinking water each day, or refill a water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.
- When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your non-edible plants.
- Don’t use running water to thaw food. For water efficiency and food safety, defrost food in the refrigerator.
- When washing your hands, turn the water off while you lather.
- If you accidentally drop ice cubes, don’t throw them in the sink. Drop them in a houseplant instead.
- Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. You’ll save up to 1,000 gallons per month.
- Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain.
- For hanging baskets, planters and pots, put ice cubes on top of the soil to give your plants a cool drink of water without overflow.
- Collect the water you use while rinsing fruit and vegetables. Use it to water houseplants.
- Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save up to 4 gallons a minute. That’s up to 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
- When you give your pet fresh water, don’t throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs.
- Plug the sink instead of running the water to rinse your razor and save up to 300 gallons a month.
- Water only when necessary. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering.
- Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Instead, compost vegetable food waste and save gallons every time.
- When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water.
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean patios, sidewalks and driveways, and save water every time.
- Cook food in as little water as possible. This will also retain more of the nutrients.
- Soak your pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
Resource: WaterUseItWisely.com
The Union Goes Platinum
Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union
The Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union has achieved LEED Platinum Certification for new construction! LEED®, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. The initial Union plans developed by student leaders and A.S. staff, included the goal of LEED® Platinum certification. To receive this certification, a building project must satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. After the year and a half process, the hard work of A.S. staff, our LEED® consultant, Marian Keeler and our contractor, Sundt, the Union achieved 83 points (80 were needed) and was certified LEED® Platinum — the highest level of certification. Certified buildings save money and resources and have a positive impact on the health of occupants, while promoting renewable, clean energy.
Some of the Union’s sustainable elements:
- Solar Panels – on-site renewable energy to reduce carbon consumption, including 356kW solar panels on Parking Structure 1
- Radiant Floor System – concrete structural slab provides heating and cooling mass
- Green Roof – reduces heat island effect while promoting a natural habitat
- Underground Storage Tank – collects rainwater, eliminating discharge into storm water system
- Storm Water Control - Underground stormceptor removes pollutants from water run-off
- Natural Daylighting – reduces dependence on artificial lighting
- Operable Windows – increases ventilation effectiveness and control
LEED®, and its related logo, is a trademark owned by the U.S. Green Building Council® and is used with permission.
Look in Your Kitchen Cabinets
Box Tops
When you get home tonight, open your kitchen cabinets…do you have
Lucky Charms
Cheerios
Wheaties
Green Giant Canned Vegetables
Ziploc Storage Bags
Betty Crocker Cake Mix
Progresso Soup
Scott Paper Towels
Chex Mix
Mott’s Applesauce
or
Hefty Cinch Sak Trash Bags?
If so, each of these items has a “Box Top” on it’s packaging that is worth 10¢ to the SDSU Children’s Center. There are hundreds of products in the Box Tops for Education program, visit childcare.sdsu.edu and click on “Box Tops” for a complete list of eligible products.
Here's how it works:
- Find Box Tops on any of the hundreds of products.
- Clip the Box Top from each package.
- Send the Box Tops to the Children’s Center.
- The Children’s Center gets 10¢ for each Box Top.
It’s that easy!
The Children’s Center will use these funds to purchase much needed supplies that the children use everyday, art supplies, library books, garden seeds and much more.
15 Questions
Barbara Bowen, SDSU Children’s Center Office Supervisor
What is your name and title?
Barbara Bowen, SDSU Children’s Center Office Supervisor
Which A.S. department do you work in?
I work at the SDSU Children’s Center. I help do the paperwork for the subsidized childcare program for low-income students plus the billing and other paperwork. But I also get to know the children at the center, which makes my job fun.
How many years have you worked for A.S.?
16 ½ years – wow – doesn’t seem that long.
What was the last movie you saw? Thumbs up or thumbs down?
“Mad Max: Fury Road.” It was a lot of action but not much of anything else — but what I wasn’t expecting, was that, Charlize Theron was beautiful even without hair and dirty. Rotten Tomatoes probably ruined it for me because it rated it too high at 98%, so thumbs down.
If you won $5 million what would you do with it?
If I won $5 million I would: Pay off all of my bills including my kids student loans, save enough to cover the rest of Eric’s college years, make some charitable donations, go on a big vacation with the family and save enough to retire a little early.
What is your favorite dessert?
I had a lemon meringue cheesecake not too long ago at Cheesecake Factory, which was amazing. It was creamy plus tangy — the best of both worlds.
What city would you most like to visit or visit again?
I would like to go back to Barcelona. I went by myself a couple of years ago to watch my oldest son play water polo. I would like to go again with my hubby because I had such a great time but it would be even better with him.
What is your favorite ride at an amusement park?
I used to love roller coasters but not so much anymore. I really like the boat rides where you get a little wet, which is so refreshing since we usually would go in the summer.
Would you rather build a sandcastle or a snowman?
I like sandcastles the best. I grew up in Arizona and moved to San Diego so I am not really big on snow.
What is your favorite book?
I love to read and don’t really have a favorite author but I like mysteries and cop novels. I will read almost anything in those categories. I do like Lee Child who writes the “Jack Reacher” novels. He really does create interesting characters.
What is your favorite sports team or who is your favorite individual athlete?
Well, other than my boys – Alex and Eric who play water polo for the USA and Princeton, I like the Padres. My favorite Padre right now is catcher, Derek Norris.
What type of pets do you have and what are their names?
I have a crazy older dog, named Max. He is a Shepherd Lab mix that is not a people ‘person,’ except that he loves me and goes bonkers when I come home.
Do you like to cook and what is your specialty?
I like to cook soups and one-pot meals. I make a really good Turkey Kielbasa Lentil Soup that is spicy and has tons of veggies in it.
If you could have a superhero power what would it be?
I would like to be able to see into the future because I am always wondering what is going to happen.
If you could be any color in a box of Crayola Crayons, what color would you be?
My favorite color is turquoise — I think Crayola has that color — or any combo between blue and green. I think it comes from my roots in Arizona and because my Dad was a rock hound.
Entertainment
at Viejas Arena and Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
Sunday, July 19, 7 p.m.
Barenaked Ladies
with Violent Femmes and Colin Hay
Tuesday, July 21, Time: 7:30 p.m.
Imagine Dragons with Metric
Saturday, July 25, 7 p.m.
Iration with Katchafire and Hirie
Visit viejasarena.com for tickets and show details.
Visit
calcoastopenairtheatre.com for tickets and show details.
Calendar
July 2015
Independence Day Observed, Campus Closed
Independence Day
Summer Bowling League, Aztec Lanes, 5:30pm
Summer Bowling League, Aztec Lanes, 5:30pm
National Moon Day - Moon Day commemorates the day man first walked on the moon. The Apollo Space program, begun by President John F. Kennedy, was created to put the first man on the moon. Apollo 11 fulfilled that dream, carrying astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin Aldrin, Jr. On July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 was launched from Cape Kennedy Space Center atop a huge Saturn V rocket. On July 20, 1969, the Lunar Module, nicknamed the “Eagle,” touched down on the surface of the moon at Tranquility Base. Upon landing, Apollo 11 Commander Neil Armstrong reported “The Eagle Has Landed.” A few hours later, he stepped off of the Eagle’s ladder, placed one foot upon the moon’s surface and proclaimed, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”
Summer Bowling League, Aztec Lanes, 5:30pm
Full-Time Staff End of Summer Party / Summer Bowling League, Aztec Lanes, 5:00pm