SRC Going Green
The benefits we gain from regular physical exercise are unparalleled, but for most of us pursuing our fitness goals means consuming natural resources. We drive to the gym, purchase bottled water or a sports drink, use electricity on a cardio machine, swim in a heated pool, lift in an air-conditioned weight room, pick up a printed schedule or flyer, then shower after our workout and drive home. While using some of these resources can’t be entirely avoided, the SRC is doing what we can to increase personal wellness of our patrons in a way that takes the health of the planet into consideration as well.
ASU Sustainability Month
Sustainability Month at the SRC!
Each week during Sustainability Month the SRC will feature a different theme highlighting ways to improve sustainability at the SRC and in your own pursuit of physical fitness.
Week 1, March 24-28: Sustainability week at the SRC. To support sustainability at ASU, lights or partial lights in areas of the SRC that receive sunlight left will be left off during daylight hours. Leaving the lights off will save energy and reduce greenhouse emissions.
Week 2, March 31 to April 4: "Take Back The Tap!" Bring your own re-usable bottle this week. The SRC will provide water jugs around the building to make refilling easier!
Week 3, April 7 – 11: Recycle your old shoes! We all have pairs of old athletic shoes sitting in our closets that we plan to use next time we paint the house or mow the lawn. Clean out your closet this Spring and ensure your old shoes don’t just get thrown away by recycling them now! The SRC has a Nike Re-Use a Shoe recycling bin located in our lobby! Once the bin is full, it is collected for recycling and shipped to a Nike processing facility where shoes are processed into material used in sports surfaces like basketball courts, tennis courts, athletic fields, running tracks and playgrounds for young people around the world. Athletic shoes of any brand are accepted. Please keep in mind not to drop off shoes containing metal, cleats or dress shoes.
Week 4, April 14 -22: Green Your Fitness Routine! Ducksback, a vendor of the environmentally friendly Patagonia clothing line, will be at the SRC Tuesday and Wednesday April 15th and 16th! Come check-out fitness and outdoor clothing good for your workout and the earth
Hike to "A" Mountain! Get out of the gym and into the community!
Date: Thursday, April 17th
Time: 12:15pm
Meet in front of the SRC
This will be a moderate-to-high intensity cardio and strength session using bottles with sand for weights and using the environment for strength training! We’ll be doing lunges, dips on benches, squats, etc! Not to mention the hike up "A" mountain! All fitness levels are welcome!
Running or exercising outside instead of on a treadmill, or going for an actual bike ride outside not only saves electricity, it improves your connection with both the environment and the ASU community.
Bike or Walk to Work? Clean up at the SRC!
As part of ASU sustainability month, the SRC is offering free use of the locker rooms and shower facilities to faculty and staff members who bike or walk to work from March 24th to April 22. Bicycle racks are available in front of the building; just bring your own towel. Already an SRC member? Rent a locker to store all your necessities. Pro-rated locker prices are only $20 for faculty and staff! (ASU students are already automatic members of the SRC and have access to locker rooms/showers).
What the SRC is Doing
Lighting
To save electricity, we only light the outdoor fields, outdoor courts and large gyms when in use. Additionally, all lights in the SRC are high-efficiency flourcent lights. The SRC is equipped with "T5" light bulbs which are highly developed and technology-ridden bulbs that are designed to maximize the light output of the bulb, while using less energy than other bulbs.
T-5s are:
1) 40% more energy efficient
2) Cooler running
3) T-5HO overdriven can do ANYTHING a 250W MH can do.
4) Provide ven light spread
5) Longer bulb life
6) Can turn on and off with limited warm-up or cool-down time.
Heating the Pool
In an effort to combat the environmental factors affecting the temperature of the water, the SRC uses a combination of pool heaters, pool covers and aerators. During the cooler months of the year (October through April) the pool heaters are run to maintain a constant pool temperature. Beginning in late October or as the night time temperatures begin to drop into the 60's pool covers are placed on the pool each night and taken off before the pool opens in the morning.
Recycling
The SRC encourages all patrons to recycle their water bottles, paper and old running shoes by placing recycling bins in the lobby and in the gyms of our facility. Green bins are for bottles, blue bins are for cans, and black bins are for paper.
Nike Reuse-A-Shoe Program
The SRC is a drop-off site for the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program where worn athletic shoes are processed and recycled into material used in sports surfaces like basketball courts, tennis courts, athletic fields, running tracks and playgrounds for young people around the world. The shoe bin is located in our lobby, and drop off times are any time the building is open. Once the bin is full it is collected for recycling.
We choose to use real indoor plants vs artificial indoor plants:
Aside from better air quality indoor plants can provide, there area also studies that show that indoor plants could make a significant contribution to your psychological well-being mainly because looking at nature is proven to reduce stress and it also makes people more relaxed. There are scientific studies to back this claim as was proven when a university study showed that the participants‚ blood pressure and even emotions ware better condition compared with having no plants in a room. The result is better productivity in the workplace and a happier home.
White Boards
Rather than printing posters or flyers for every announcement, we utilize white boards in the lobby and hallway to reduce waste.
Web Site
By putting all announcements, schedules and program information online, and gearing our marketing materials towards the website, we are trying to reduce the need to print flyers, posters and brochures.
Professional Staff Offices
SRC professional staff members are doing what we can to go green by turning off our lights when out of the office, using only recycled paper and recycling used paper, turning off our computers at night and not printing emails.
Laundry Detergent
As we use up our current supply of laundry detergent (used to wash maintenance rags and towels) we are switching to Seventh Generation laundry detergent, which is more environmentally friendly.
What You Can Do
Use Tap Water
Bring your own reusable water bottle (or refill a plastic water bottle) with water from the SRC water fountains rather than buying a plastic bottle. It not only helps the planet, it also saves you money.
Get Outside!
Running or exercising outside instead of on a treadmill, or going for an actual bike ride outside not only saves electricity, it improves your connection with both the environment and the ASU community.
Map of ASU with walk/running routes
Dress the Part
When choosing your workout clothes and accessories, consider those made of organic cotton, bamboo or other natural fibers -- even coconut shells! You could also look for clothes and shoes made of recycled materials, such as sneakers with recycled rubber soles. (source MSNBC)