Sustainability at Mines
The mission of the Colorado School of Mines is education and research in engineering and science to solve the world’s challenges related to the earth, energy, and environment.
Earth Day at Mines!
Join the Mines Sustainability Committee, MAC, and EarthWorks this April for the first annual Mines Earth Day Fair! Events will be held around campus throughout the week of April 22nd to commemorate Earth Day and a more sustainable future for the whole Mines campus.
See the Earth Day Fair page for more details! We look forward to seeing you there!
Additionally, each year, the Earth Day Network selects a theme for Earth Day. This year’s theme is Save Our Species! For more details on Earth Day 2019 – Save Our Species, see here!
For more tips on how to make your Earth Day a bit greener, see here!
Sustainable Lab Opportunity – Shut the Sash!
In Colorado, a single open fume hood can consume as much energy as one home! The high energy use is due to fresh, conditioned air constantly being exhausted through them to the outdoors. An easy way to reduce the energy consumption of a fume hood is to SHUT THE SASH when not in use.
Sustainability News
- A data center and technology campus that takes advantage of the cool, dry climate at 10,300 feet was the winning idea in the inaugural Henderson Sustainability Challenge.
- NREL and Mines launch new graduate program in advanced energy systems. More details.
- A pair of Colorado School of Mines-led teams have been awarded more than $2 million by the U.S. Department of Energy for research that could lower the cost of solar electricity.
- Mines Energy Awareness Campaign Featured on KUNC — Mines is partnering with McKinstry to increase energy awareness and savings on campus and KUNC, Northern Colorado’s public radio station, recently covered the story on air.
- Mines Solar Decathlon in Africa — Learn about how the Mines Solar Decathlon team is preparing for competition in Africa in 2019. Mines Solar Decathlon Team’s home featured in U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon Sustainability Expo.
- Mines Students Compete in Clean River Design Challenge — Students at Colorado School of Mines, Metropolitan State University of Denver and University of Colorado Denver are helping tackle a major problem facing urban waterways in Denver.
- Solar Disinfection System Wins CECS Design Fair — Check out how Mines students are designing a solar-powered water disinfection system for use in rural Uganda.
Mines Park – Green Your Move Out!
Mines Park has more than 100 apartment residences. Help the Sustainability Office and Green Team “green” your move out this May by donating your furniture, small appliances, cookware, and other items for reuse by students moving into Mines Park in the Fall. If you are interested in helping us keep those items out of the landfill by donating or volunteering to help, sign up using the links below!
Curious About Recycling in Colorado?
Are you curious about what actually happens to your recyclables after it is whisked away by Alpine Waste? Do you wonder what is actually recyclable or whether or not that bit of peanut butter in the jar makes it unrecyclable?
If these are questions you normally find yourself asking, see here for an article by Xandra McMahon about how Colorado’s single-stream recycling infrastructure actually works.