Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Where does ISU's energy come from?
  2. Why is ISU "going green?"
  3. Who's using the most energy on campus?
  4. My teachers keep telling me they are printing less, are we really saving paper?
  5. How can I tell how much energy I'm using every day?
  6. Do you need any Live Green! volunteers?
  7. Why are we still burning coal at the ISU Power Plant?
  8. Are there any "green" clubs at ISU?
  9. What does sustainability mean?
  10. It seems like ISU has been doing sustainable things for while, is that true?
  11. Why don't we put a wind turbine on campus for our power source?
  12. I live off campus, is there anything I can do to support ISU Live Green?
  13. How many green cars does Iowa State have?
  14. What is a "green" building?
  15. Can I recycle at Iowa State?
  16. What is the easiest way to reduce my energy-use in my apartment?
  17. Why doesn't "The Daily" go paperless?
  18. Why doesn't Parking Services ride bikes around campus?
  19. There seems to be a lot of wasted food on campus, are we doing anything about that?
  20. What can I do to get involved with Live Green?
  21. Are there "green classes" at ISU?
  22. Are there any upcoming green events?
  23. When did the Live Green! Initiative start?
  24. What's next for Live Green! and ISU?
  1. Where does ISU's energy come from?
     Iowa State University has the distinction of having its own co-generation power plant that ensures ongoing power, heating and cooling to campus year-round. Read more about its operations.
  2. Why is ISU "going green?"
    Actually, sustainability is not a new trend for Iowa State. Read more about past sustainability efforts in #10 (below). In 2008, ISU officially recognized its dedication to sustainability by declaring a goal of sustainability leadership for the university and kicking off the Live Green! Initiative. Read more about the initiative and what Iowa State is doing toward becoming a green leader!
  3. Who's using the most energy on campus?
    We're all in this together. Every building, student, faculty, and staff person has a direct link to the energy used here on campus. But there are definitely some buildings that use more energy than others. You can directly affect the energy used on campus by limiting your use, suggesting energy saving ideas and always being conscious of your consumption. Learn more about being a proactive energy consumer.
  4. My teachers keep telling me they are printing less, are we really saving paper?
    We are saving in a number of ways. Over the past five years, Iowa State has purchased an average of just over 300 tons of white recycled copy paper. Of that, ISU has recycled an average of 42 percent - equal to 128.28 tons! And our savings have grown. From fiscal year 2008 to 2009 we purchased 20,000 reams less paper (49 tons) and recycled 5 percent more of the paper we used. We are also paying less for paper by using 30% recycled fiber in our standard copy paper. Click here to learn more about ISU's paper recycling and other recycling efforts.
  5. How can I tell how much energy I'm using every day?
     If you live on campus it is very easy to track how much energy your building is using. You can also look at buildings you use frequently, such as buildings where you work, have class, work on projects or hang out. Visit this site.

    If you live off campus, talk to your energy provider to track how much energy you consume daily. The City of Ames also provides a great site with resources on how much energy your typical appliances are using.
  6. Do you need any Live Green! volunteers?
     Of course! We can always use the help of students, faculty, or staff to further our efforts. There are a variety of opportunities for those wishing to get involved and be part of the green difference. Click here to sign up and be included on the Live Green alert list.
  7. Why are we still burning coal at the ISU Power Plant?
     Although the ISU Power Plant continues to burn coal, burning is done in a very thoughtful and responsible manner and improvements are always being considered to limit its use and emissions. The Power Plant is making strides towards alternative energy it is an ongoing process of balancing the desire for alternative energy with the high cost of providing it to consumers. The requirement of continuous energy production, by the power plant, in order to effectively and seamlessly supply campus demand (producing steam, electricity and chilled water through its cogeneration system makes the amount of coal being burned directly dependent upon energy demanded. Students, faculty and staff have the ability to personally control ISU's carbon footprint and coal use. Learn more about the ISU Power Plant.
  8. Are there any "green" clubs at ISU?
     Absolutely, there are over 40 groups on campus whose activities and projects support sustainability and "green" living. Their specific areas of focus range from sustainable agriculture and green building to environmental studies and cycling! Click here to see the list of all the clubs and their events and activities.
  9. What does sustainability mean?
     Sustainability can have many different meanings depending upon your interests, experiences and perspectives. Overall sustainability is about being mindful of the state of our natural world and leaving it in good condition for generations that come after us. Iowa State University, the Board of Regents and the Governor all recognize sustainability under the definition provided by the 1987 Bruntland Commission (a United Nations world commission focused on environment and development), "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." This definition is also widely adopted throughout the world. To learn more about the history of sustainability click here.
  10. It seems like ISU has been doing sustainable things for while, is that true?
     Yes, ISU has been doing a number of things to support sustainability since it was founded in 1858. Some of these include lowering Power Plant emissions since the 1970s, recycling for over 15 years, reuse through surplus for 25 years, a decade of green cleaning, the incorporation of green building principles into construction and renovation projects and alternate transportation. Now ISU is focusing on becoming a leader and expanding on all of our great efforts through the Live Green! Initiative. Read more about what's happening.
  11. Why don't we put a wind turbine on campus for our power source?
     There are many considerations related to having our own wind turbine on or near campus. These include: an airport close to campus, safety hazards with heavily populated areas, migratory bird flight patterns and finding a location for optimal output. With all these in mind, the power plant has recently joined forces with the City of Ames to enter into a joint contract for purchasing wind energy beginning January 2010. NextEra Energy, is currently completing construction on a wind farm north of Ames, near Zearing. Through this contract, Iowa State University will purchase up to 6 megawatts of wind energy from the NextEra wind farm. This amount of wind energy will be equivalent to approximately 10% of the university's annual electrical usage. This allows ISU the opportunity to reduce our use of coal, increase our use of renewable energy, and work directly with a local provider with expertise in wind turbine operation and maintenance.
  12. I live off campus, is there anything I can do to support ISU Live Green?
     There is always something you can do to support Live Green! When you're on campus you can impact energy demands and the greening of our campus by decreasing your energy use. You can also consider joining a group on campus or in the community in which you live or reading our weekly green tips to get ideas on how to reduce your energy use and increase your sustainable actions both on and off campus!
  13. How many green cars does Iowa State have?
     We have a variety of fuel-efficient cars in our transportation fleet. We have four electric vehicles, nine hybrid vehicles and 139 flex fuel (E85) vehicles. Transportation services also offer a vanpool service currently from four different locations (Des Moines, Boone, Story City and a rural route) to campus and able to accommodate more.
  14. What is a "green" building?
     Green buildings are those that are environmentally efficient on many levels. There is a national system that ranks these buildings, helping developers and consumers achieve a common knowledge, understanding, and evaluation of green building practices.

    Currently, ISU has one LEED Certified building on campus. Morrill Hall has LEED Silver Certification. LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a Green Building Rating SystemTM developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The System rates buildings from points earned in five categories (with an option for additional credits for innovation) and ranks them (if they meet the point requirements) as LEED Certified, LEED Silver, LEED Gold or LEED Platinum. Read more about LEED.

    Though no other buildings are officially certified on campus, three buildings, the Alumni Center, Coover Hall and Snedecor Hall have met all certification criteria. The College of Design's new King Pavilion is striving for LEED Platinum. In addition, multiple buildings and projects have incorporated a variety of green building principles toward a more sustainable construction footprint.
  15. Can I recycle at Iowa State?
     Absolutely! Campus recycling officially started in 1992, when a group of graduate students and ISU staff initiated the white paper recycling program. Since 1992, our programs have expanded to include phone books, newspapers, cardboard, batteries, cell phones, scrap metal, glass, chemicals, light bulbs, oil filters, oil, tires, and toner and ink cartridges. In addition, ISU Central Stores operates a Surplus and Excess Equipment retail outlet, the Iowa State Dairy Farm has a compost operation and Facilities Planning and Management has a wood/pallet give-away program and recycles ash from the university Power Plant. Learn more about what's recycled and where to recycle.
  16. What is the easiest way to reduce my energy-use in my apartment?
     There are a number of easy ways you can greatly reduce your energy use in your home. Using compact fluorescent bulbs, reducing the number of "duplicates" you have such as TVs, and turning your thermostat up in the summer and down in the winter, even a few degrees can save a lot of energy and can save you money. Also, try unplugging electronics when you're not using them. For other tips about energy conservation, check out our weekly green tips or visit the City of Ames energy website
  17. Why doesn't "The Daily" go paperless?
     Actually it is... but maybe not in the way you'd expect. The Iowa State Daily is working to serve its audience in the best possible way which includes having full online content and using new media to reach out to its readers. However, the Daily has found an ongoing demand for physical newspapers and realizes there may always be a demand and desire for the traditional paper on campus, as well as a very non-traditional one.

    The Daily also works to reduce pre-consumer paper use and post-consumer paper waste by closely monitoring leftover papers at distribution outlets across campus and throughout Ames and reducing papers produced as well as recycling excess papers. You can help by recycling your Daily after reading it or only making use of it in the paperless form online. Learn more about the Daily's services and operations by visiting their website.
  18. Why doesn't Parking Services ride bikes around campus?
    They do, but not exclusively. ISU Parking Division employees are responsible for a number of functions and activities while on the job. This requires them to be on call for delivering large items, helping with stranded vehicles, transporting individuals as part of the safety escort program, etc. Their limited staff must be able to arrive at locations quickly and be ready to help in whatever way needed, thus making consistent bike utilization a challenge. Parking Services is exploring opportunities to continue to decrease their reliance on trucks and increase the presence of bikes on campus - while still ensuring they are providing timely and exceptional service to their customers.
  19. There seems to be a lot of wasted food on campus, are we doing anything about that?
     Yes! Iowa State has an all-university composting facility that can handle more than 10,000 tons of organic wastes annually. The facility is designed to handle solid organic waste including yard waste, manure and bedding from ISU farms, organic greenhouse waste, biomass research waste and -- beginning fall '09 -- food waste from campus dining facilities. ISU Dining is also looking into new measures to stop waste at its source: the consumer. Currently, projects and experiments like tray-less dining centers and buying more local foods to decrease transportation cost and our carbon footprint are underway.
  20. What can I do to get involved with Live Green?
     There are many ways to be a part of the President's Live Green! Initiative! Consider joining an established group or start your own group within your college, department or community! Click here for current groups seeking members. Even just being more thoughtful in your daily actions can make a big difference - Click here for tips and ideas.
  21. Are there "green classes" at ISU?
     There are over 350 "green" courses at ISU that focus on sustainability and living green related to agriculture, water quality and more. Every college and nearly every department has at least one "green" course to offer. In addition, Iowa State also has a degree program in Sustainable Agriculture, both undergraduate and graduate. Click here to see the full list of courses
  22. Are there any upcoming green events?
     There is always something going on that supports Live Green either on campus or nearby! Visit our events calendar for more information.
  23. When did the Live Green! Initiative start?
     Live Green! is President Geoffroy's personal initiative and call to action for all students, faculty and staff that was officially kicked off in 2008. Read more about the goals, history and progress of Live Green!
  24. What's next for Live Green! and ISU?
     President Geoffroy has noted his sustainability vision for Iowa State University through the following goal:

    "Our goal is to be an exemplary university in promoting energy efficiency and sustainability and minimizing our impact on global climate change, through education, research, & extension, and collaborating..."

    The President's Advisory Committee on Energy Conservation and Global Climate Change and the Director of Sustainability are working with the President to finalize an official sustainability policy for ISU as well as a five year action plan. Participants in the 2008 Sustainability Symposium were also involved in charting ISU's sustainable future.