Campus Center for Appropriate Technology Newsletter, Fall 2005

8/9/2019 Campus Center for Appropriate Technology Newsletter, Fall 2005

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Campus Center for Appropriate Technology Humboldt State University, California


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The mission of CCAT is to demonstrate appropriate technology in a residentialsetting, to provide hands-on experiential learning opportunities to Humboldt StateUniversity and the surrounding community, to collect and disseminate informationabout appropriate technology, to examine the ethical and social consequencesof technology, and to dispel the myth that living lightly on the earth is difficultor burdensome. CCAT is dedicated to sustainability and seeks to help others livelikewise.

Our Mission...

The AT Transfer is the newsletter for the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology, which is funded primarily by the Associated

Students of Humboldt State University. The views and concerns are not censored or reviewed by the Associated Students .

All correspondences may be adressed to: The AT Transfer, CCAT HSU, Arcata, CA 95521. HSU supports AA/EO

Left to Right, Front Row: Shirine Azimianaraki (AT Transfer Editor), Jeff Adams (Project Manager), Sara Dykman (Grounds), Tatton

White (Events Publicist), Chris Stones (Web Administrator), Noelle Melchizedek (Co-Director) Second Row: Patrick McAuley

(Co-Director), Peter Lynch (Maintenance), Rosie Records (Info Request Coordinator), Erin Ryon (Gardener/ Teacher), Ellie Austin(Tour Guide), Theresa Ricketts (Office Coordinator), KJ Coop (Web Master), Zachary Mermel (Future Co-Director) Center: Glenn

Howe (Co-Director), On top of Couch: Jasper Peach (Maintenance)

Not Pictured: Brennan Lagasse (Grantwriter), Cole Shatto (Librarian), Matt Smith (AT Transfer Editor), Lisa Murgatroyd

(Outreach Coordinator), Zack Ziegler (Tour Guide), Bell Lumbert (Groundskeeper), Liz Kimbrough (Housekeeper), Scott Willingham

(Maintenance), Shail Pec-Crouse (Herb Gardener)

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Co-Director Change...3

CCAT Move.....4CCAT/LEED....5

Appropriate Vs. Alternative...6

Global Warming Editorial...7

CCAT Week....8

Ask Rosie....9

Green Apartment...10-11

Courses and Projects...12

Recycling Electronics...13

Natural Beauty....14

Poem and Thank You...15

PRODUCTION

Co-Editors:

Shirine Azimianaraki

Matt Smith

Layout: Shirine Azimianaraki

Contributing Writers:

Rosie Records, KJ Koop, Pat-

rick McAuley, Tatton White,

Zachary Mermel, Noelle

Melchizedek,

Theresa Ricketts, Lisa

Murgatroyd, Ellie Austin, Jeff

Adams, Glenn Howe

Graphics: Shirine

Azimianaraki

Pictures: Various CCAT

employees

Printing Courtsey ofBug Press. Thank you!

1461 M Street, Arcata, CA

95521. (707) 822-2001. fax

(707) 822-8609.

You Say Goodbye, I Say HelloI became a Co-Director because

I wanted to challenge myself

and surround myself with a

community of inspiring, motivated

people from whom I could learn

and grow. Since the beginning of

my term in January 2005, I have

grown as an individual more than

I ever imagined. I have become

stronger in facing my personal,

professional, and intellectual

struggles. I am now more

prepared to teach, to learn, to lead,

to follow, to live, and to love. IfIve learned anything at CCAT,

Ive learned this: If we stand up

to challenges that we may think

Greetings CCATers! My name is

Zach, and I will be starting my term

as a Co-Director of this wonderful

community in January. I first

discovered HSU during a summer

college tour after my junior year in

high school. Of the eleven colleges

that we visited that summer, Humboldt

stuck out like a green thumb; its

focus on environmental and social

responsibility was something that

other colleges, unfortunately, lacked.

After attending the University of

Hawaii at Hilo for two years, I came

to HSU via the National Student

Exchange program. This semester

marks my third enlightening year at

Hills and Stairs University. Like somany other people, the Campus Center

for Appropriate Technology was a

central part of my decision to attend

Humboldt State.

What draws people to be a part of

CCAT? Is it our world-renowned

facility demonstrating the joys of

living lightly on the earth? Maybe. Is

it CCATs proactive mantra: students

teaching students? Or maybe it is

DepartingCo-DirectorGlenn Howe

IncomingCo-DirectorZachary

Mermel

CCATs inherent uniqueness in an all-

too-homogenized world. More than

anything else, CCAT is a COMMUNITY.

Comprised of employees, visitors,

volunteers, and community members,CCAT provides a place where like-minded

individuals can cooperatively manifest the

change they want to see in the world.

I view the upcoming year as an open

canvas of possibilities for CCAT. What

challenges, adventures and creations await

us? Who will be touched by CCAT? The

imminent creation of the new CCAT house

is but one of many exciting prospects for

this incredible educational institution.

impossible to meet, we will become

capable of greater things than we everdreamed, and we will indeed accomplish

what we thought impossible. Think

positively, and challenge yourself!!!

AT Transfer


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Committee met with David Pierce

of DPA (David Pierce Architects) todesign a site plan and place our house

in its new home. CCAT will also

be involved with other contractors to

move the project forward and reach

our goal of a foundation/basement

with the Buck House strapped down

on top, utilities reconnected, and a

habitable space for the co-directors.

The timeline? Two weeks before Fall

06 semester begins, we hope to be

moved into our new/old facility. We

couldnt do it without our community

and supporters staff, administration,

faculty, current students, our dedicatedemployees and volunteers CCAT

thrives because of this community,

and we thank you for all your help and

love.

Preliminary work has already begun.

A rough-dig foundation, next to our

current location in the Jenkins House,

was completed in the early weeks of

the semester. The Buck House awaits

Noelle Melchizedek, Liz Kimbrough, and Jeff Adams

taking a break by the future site of CCAT

By Noelle Melchizedek

The current generation of Co-

Directors, as well as last years team,

has experienced the CCAT world

a little differently than most of the

co-ds of the past. Still located in

a temporary house, but remaining

an active and strong presence on the

HSU campus, we have had to find

new and creative ways to implement

student projects on our grounds. Wed

say its been a resounding success;

from CCATs move-in

to the Jenkins House

#99 a year and a half

ago, weve made

amazing progress on

our grounds, clearing

out invasive plants,

restoring the land,

working on a holistic

and permaculture

approach to land

management . . . andmaking a home for new

student projects such as

a cob bench and oven, a

solar fountain, creating

a Resource Recovery

Center, and more.

Workshops, free to the

campus community and public,

on a variety of topics, are offered

every month; we have monthly movie

nights and potlucks; and continue to

offer five classes taught by students atCCAT.

The CCAT Move Project, getting the

house moved and designing the new

CCAT, has been an incredible learning

experience for all involved. CCAT

has been working collaboratively with

Facilities Management of HSU on

this project. Over the summer, the co-

directors and members of our Steering

moving one final time to its permanent

site, now written onto HSUs MasterPlan. What are we doing in the

meantime? Were researching

materials that have less of an impact

on the Earth, creating daylighting

models to maximize natural light

into the building, and are working

towards getting CCAT Leadership in

Energy and Environmental Design

(LEED) certified. The LEED

certification process draws attention

to different aspects of building and

addresses environmental impacts ofconstruction, including the site

selection, local transportation

availability, erosion control,

water and energy conservation

measures, and more. There

are different certification tiers:

Certified, Bronze, Silver,

Gold, and Platinum. This

student-initiated project may

be the first in the nation to be

certified LEED Platinum bystudents with the assistance of

professionals and HSU faculty,

and staff.

Now is one of the most

exciting phases we get to

design our grounds with a

holistic, permaculture approach,

really integrating our mission and

vision into the very soil and land

we now inhabit. The designs for

the new CCAT grounds are not yetcomplete; now is the time to learn

how to place a grey water marsh; to

find the most practical location for

a rainwater catchment system; to

decide how we should structure the

gardens; and find out what we can do

with our imaginations, creativity, and

home. There are so many new design

elements possible!

Making Progress:The CCAT Move

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CCAT is continuing the long lasting effort of re-building the

original house where CCAT was started 27 years ago, the Buck

House (House 97). This milestone in the program will provide

excellent opportunities for a diverse spectrum of students to

engage in service learning and real-life hands-on experience.Our method of design involves uniting students, faculty,

administration, staff, facilities management and local community

members and professionals to work together, integrating their

respective expertise, knowledge and resources.

One tool we are using to help us design and implement a

sustainable residential house is the LEED rating system. LEED

stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and

like miles per gallon is a rating of cars, the LEED certification

is a rating of green buildings. There are four levels and CCAT

is striving for the highest, Platinum. The LEED certification

is new, exciting, and greatly increasing in popularity since its

inception and is pushing all aspects of the building industry

to become more energy efficient, more health conscious

and environmentally aware. With this growing interest and

popularity in industry and the real world, CCAT is responding

by providing LEED experience to a large and diverse group of

interested students. This invaluable academic experience is one

of a kind. As far as I have been able to find, this is the first ever

student initiated and administered LEED project. Furthermore,

this will be the first LEED Platinum building in the CSU system,

the largest college system in the nation with 23 campuses and

400,000 students.

Universities are like cities within cities and service as a

model and example to society through fresh, innovative thinking

and creative problem solving. We here are CCAT are trying todemonstrate just that. The new house will be equipped with

sustainable technologies for the 21st century. An exciting new

feature to the new basement is the waterless urinal and the dual

flush toilet. These fixtures will dramatically reduce the amount of

potable water used for flushing #1, no matter what gender. There

are even future plans to bring rainwater into the toilets, since

flushing doesnt require potable drinking water, which is very

energy intensive.

Another one of the Appropriate Technologies (AT) that

will be implemented is the use of Insulated Concrete Forms

(ICF), which will reduce almost all the use of plywood. ICFs

also include insulation for the concrete basement, which will be

used as a large class room for the many workshops and classesfacilitated by CCAT. The basement will also provide an office,

bathroom, and an equipment room that will be easily accessed by

tours so visitors can see behind the scenes of these technologies.

Some other projects students are working on now are the

daylighting model, which will analyze the amount of natural light

being captured by strategically placed and sized windows and

doors. Another student is building a model of the greenhouse,

which will attach to the previously mentioned model, and design

the system of heating the second story of the house with the

greenhouse.

CCAT is LEEDing the Way by Patrick McAuleyCo-DirectorIn the Spring Semester 2006, students and community

members will have the opportunity to get class credit for

participating in this project and the creation of this model for

sustainability. Building materials will be researched and selected

as well as providing documentation for the certification. The newclass will be offered through CCAT along with the current five

classes. See our website (www.humboldt.edu/~ccat) or call us for

more information and registration (707-826-3551).

Once the house is fixed back on the new basement, students

will be able to install AT systems, that they have been designing

including solar power panels (PV), solar hot water panels,

greywater marsh, rainwater catchment, composting toilet, and

the new greenhouse, which still needs a donor. Organic food

production, native landscaping, and a herb garden will also be

designed and implemented by students in the future.

We are not far into the process of LEED and the selection of

sustainable materials and we need your help. CCAT is faced with

a tight budget and to make the sustainable home we want to share

for decades, we need your support now. Your tax-deductible

donations can be made through our website (www.humboldt.

edu/~ccat/supportccat/) or you can send a check or money order

payable to CCAT and mailed to:

CCAT. 1 Harpst St., Arcata CA 95521

Artistic

concep-

tion of the

future Buck

House, by

Garrett

McSorley,

former

CCAT Co-

Director

Previous

Buck House

in all its

glory. (2003)

Old Buck

House before

renovtion
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At CCAT, we seek to

demonstrate that living lightly on

the Earth is both practical and

rewarding.

One question that I always askfolks passing through CCAT is,What do you think appropriatetechnology is? Most will referencephotovoltaics, reducing solid waste,using less energy, and utilizingwater conservation measuressuch as a grey water marsh. Allof these answers are examples ofappropriate technologies. What

it doesnt necessarily answer,however, is what constitutesan appropriate technology. Thepurpose of this article is not todefine appropriate technology.Rather, the question is: do wehave appropriate technology inthe United States, or can thetechnology currently in place

Whats Appropriate about CCAT?

Appropriate vs. Alternative Technology in the United States

CCAT Employees using the Cob oven

Bart demonstrates solar cooking using a

parabolic dish

CCATs Mobile Energy Operations Wagon

By Noelle Melchizedek, Co-Director

6

throughout our nation in fact becalled alternative?

Small, simple, cheap, and non-violent. These are the fourcriteria that E.F. Schumacher,the progenitor of appropriatetechnology, said should be usedto determine an appropriatetechnology. These words

themselves can raise morequestions than are immediatelyanswered. Small compared towhat? Simple to repair by eachindividual who uses it, or simpleenough that local resources canbe used by a local expert? Whatdoes cheap mean? More oftenthan not, there is a misconceptionof all appropriate technologies, which is that they are moreexpensive than conventional

technologies. Cheap refers moreto the initial capital required toinvest in the manufacture of thattechnology. As for non-violent, whatmeasures are there to protect theuse, maintenance, manufacture,and ownership of that technology?Consensus decisions, litigation, lawenforcement, ordinances, weaponsof defense and on the list goes.

In American society we havecreated a whole slew of technogadgetry to make life easier.

Structured energy grid systems,subsidies that support foodproduction, social services,drinkable water on the list goes.In America, we have a choice toparticipate in the system, what tobuy, what to consume, and whereto buy goods locally ownedbusinesses or conglomerates.Does having an option mean thatan unconventional technology is analternative technology?

Is the method of production that thetechnology uses the appropriatepart, and the technology itselfalternative? Is a technologyappropriate when it is integral tomeeting the health needs of anindividual, a community, a country,and an alternative technology morean option among many systems?Health in the bodily or spiritualsense? Or both? These are thequestions that must be asked in ourongoing exploration of technology.

Think of the technologies in yourhome and how they arrived there whether you live in a communalhouse, a dorm, an apartment,or a household. What systems(repair, manufacturing, education,resources) must be in place forthat technology to function? AtCCAT, we strive to be consciousof our consumer choices; we lookfor different methods to implementin our own household in order

to reduce waste and energyconsumption. Most importantly, wetry to maintain a practical mindsetwhen presenting these ideas tothe general public. Perhaps whatis appropriate is the method ofliving and the ideology, and whatis alternative is the technologyitself. After all, in the United States,options abound for meeting boththe wants and needs of thepopulation.


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By Ellie Austin

CCAT Tour Guide

Except for a few devious individuals-namely

the Bush Administration, the scientists they have in their

pockets, and a couple of other scatterbrained pseudo-scientists here and there-the overwhelmingmajority of

scientists who have studied the phenomenon known as

global warming (somewhere on the order of 99.9%) agree

that it is real, and that humans deserve most of the blame for

its continued proliferation. Yes, it is caused by both natural

and anthropogenic forces, but the

bulk of greenhouse gasses-which

cause heat to get trapped in earths

atmosphere, creating a general

warming effect-are emitted by

humans and our activities, such as

driving, heating and cooling our

homes, and manufacturing in the

mass quantities that we do.

All that plastic you have

around-derived from petroleum,

the raw material for many

chemical products, including

solvents, fertilizers, pesticides,

and plastics. About three-quarters

of the anthropogenic emissions of

CO2

to the atmosphere during the

past 20 years is due to fossil fuel

burning (wikipedia.org). As if

anyone would doubt it, Americans

are the top Carbon Dioxide emitters in the world, releasing

5.37 tons/person/year. Even compared to China-a country

in the midst of industrialization and polluting like crazy-we

are still hogs! They come in at only .76 tons/person/year.

Although the collective impact of their 1.4 billionpeople

may be larger than the U.S., China is home to over 4 times

the American population, and they dont have us beat by that

much. The plain fact of the matter is that 4.6% of humans

are responsible for 25% of the worlds Carbon emissions.

Perhaps we should think about evening out that balance.Evidence supporting global warming is plentiful.

Where shall I begin? How about: 19 of the 20 hottest

years on record (since 1860) occurred after 1980. Climate

models, driven by estimates of increasing carbon dioxide

predict that temperatures will increase (with a range of 1.4

to 5.8 C) between 1990 and 2100(wikipedia.org). Or this:

species of warm water fish are being found in new areas,

regions previously too cold for them to inhabit. Two miles

deep in the ocean, water temperatures have risen 1/10 of

a degree Celsius, which doesnt sound alarming, but due

An Alarmist Monologue on the Earths Dwindling Health

FOCUS: Global Warming

to the fact that no sunlight reaches that depth, and it

takes an extreme amount of energy to heat water, 1/10

of a degree is actually quite frightening. Those livingon a coast should pay particular attention to this scary

observation: the sea level is rising! In California alone it

is predicted to rise 8.7-12.7cm by 2050. This is due to at

least two phenomena: polar ice caps melting, and thermal

expansion (aka, when water is heated, it expands). Heat

seems a likely culprit in

melting ice; likewise for

inciting thermal expansion.

Sowho still

disputes global warming?

Rush Limbaugh for one,

who was nominated forMiddlebury Colleges 2005

Flat Earth Award to

be given to an individual

who vehemently denies

the scientific consensus

about global warming

(Middlebury.edu). In

his critically-shunned

novel See, I Told You

So, Limbaugh states that

despite the hysterics of a

few pseudo-scientists, there

is no reason to believe in

global warming. Mankind is not responsible for depleting

the ozone layer. His evidence for these claims? Missing,

along with his science degree! (Well keep you posted

if anything turns up). Texas A&M campus journalist

Mike Walters is another skeptic. The evidence he uses to

dispute virtual scientific consensus? Slim-to-none, once

again.

Although questioning the answers is an

encouraged scientific practice, there comes a time when

acceptance of the results is necessary. This is one of those

times. Even if global warming isnt as bad as predicted,

isnt it better to protect ourselves and all other life than

to continue on in our destructive ways and witness the

demise of earth? Isnt it better to be safe than sorry when

life is at stake? There are easy and fun ways to reduce

our impact on earth immediately, even though a complete

reworking of our countrys ideology is needed in the long

term. Drive less! Bike more! Reuse before recycling! Buy

in bulk! Reduce your consumption! Visit CCAT for more

ideas!

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8/16

By Tatton White

If you were around HSU at the end of October youprobably caught wind of something called CCAT

Week. Whether a flyer or a friend informed you about

this series of events, it was hard not to know that

something was happening at the Campus Center for

Appropriate Technology. You may have wondered what

CCAT is, and what a whole week of it might consist

of. Perhaps a colorful sign pointing in the direction of

free workshops, discussions, films, food, and music

is what caught your attention. If you made it to any

of the CCAT week events you would have discovered

what this extravaganza is all about. It is the Campus

Center for Appropriate Technologys annual effort toraise awareness about its program, provide educational

opportunities, and build community ties.

This years CCAT week took place

from October 24th 28th and brought

in nearly 500 participants to a total of

68 different events.

A workshop on how to make thermal curtains was

the best-attended event. A former CCAT co-director,

Sean Armstrong, has his own business designing,constructing, and installing thermal curtains. He gave

a crash course on this energy saving technology to a

crowded room of folks interested in warming up their

homes without hiking up their bills. Thermal curtains

are highly insulative and can increase the R-value

(insulative quality) of a single-pained window from 1

to 6 or 7. They are quite an appropriate technology for

older homes in Humboldt County, which loose a lot of

heat due to poor insulation and old windows. Among

other popular workshops were those on raw foods,

composting, and mead making.

Other highlights of the week included tours of CCAT,

a showing and discussion of the film 4th World War,

some great bluegrass music, and a potluck to top it

all off. The ultimate success and beauty of CCAT

week was its community building nature. It brought

together a varied group of students and other members

of the community to share knowledge network with

each other, dance, and smile! CCAT week is sure to

improve, gain prominence and build its reputation in

the years to come.

From top to bot-

tom: Attendees

making cob, Raw

Foods workshop

presented by

GreenLife, Shail

Pec-Crose finishes

a workshop on

home made men-

strual pads, The

HSU JammersLeague plays in

the CCAT living

room, Co-Director

Patrick McAuley

gets interviewed by

the local press dur-

ing CCAT Week,

The Bucky Walters

plays on Friday in

the CCAT living

room.

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9/16

Hi, I am a university student in Australia, and I want to know

about pedal power. Hello, I am a young man from the Kyrgyz

Republic, and I am interested in an internship in biodiesel.

Dear Sir or Madam, I am the executive director of an organicfarm in Nepal. Do you know of any sustainable agriculture PhD

programs for which I might apply?

Dear CCAT, I am an HSU graduate living in an off-the-grid

cabin in British Columbia and I remember that you used to

have this electricity-free refrigerator called the cold box

These are just some of the questions I have received in thefour months I have worked as CCATs Information RequestCoordinator. My job is to research and respond to yourquestions about appropriate technologyfrom solar panelsto pedal power to compost bins. Although most informationrequests come from Humboldt State students and local

community members, many others arrive from all over theglobe. Id like to take you on a brief tour of three informationrequest topicsthe most popular, the strangest, and mypersonal favorite--and the best resources I know of for each.

1. How Can I Build a Pedal Power Device? TheMost Popular

Pedal power (using the energy from a bicycle tomechanically or electrically power a device--such as ablender or washing machine) is by far the most popularinformation request. Correspondents plans are as wildlydifferent and wonderful as their locations: someoneorganizing a pedal powered dance party in New York,an organic farmer in New Mexico hoping to run a drillpress with a bicycle, a Belgian man who wants to play hisrecords with an alternative power source, a middle schoolstudent in Hawaii making a science fair project.

For an overview and photos of the many home andworkshop appliances you can run with pedal power,glossaries, and more, see CCATs pedal power web page:

http://www.humboldt.edu/~ccat/pedalpower/frames.html

To learn how to build your own pedal power appliance, seePedal Power in Work, Leisure, and Transportation, editedby James C. McCullagh. It is not complete, but is the best

resource currently available. (See the CCAT reference library.)

2. Help! Where can I find a bear-proof composting

bin? (one of) the StrangestDarn grizzlies munching on your potato peelings again?Maybe youre a super carpenter and you can make abear-proof compost bin on your own, but if youd rather

just buy one, the Bear Smart Society has the goods: threedifferent containers from three different companies, all onone website:

http://www.bearsmart.com/bearsBackyard/BearProofContainers.html

Key to Map of selected CCAT Information Requests

1. British Columbia: CCAT cold box

2. Iowa: Green dorms

3. Georgia: vermiculture

4. Florida: pedal power for zoos

5. Costa Rica: rainwater catchment

6. Belgium: pedal power

7. Italy: CCAT website

8. Kyrgz Republic: biodiesel

9. Nepal: Sustainable agriculture training programs

10. India: Sustainable agriculture PhDs

11. Australia: Pedal power

3. How can I find out about volunteeropportunities in Natural Building? Rosies Pick

If youre looking to build locally, word of mouth is probably thebest way. Check the CCAT bulletin boards or send an e-mail tothe CCAT account. But if you want to build a strawbale schoolin Oaxaca or raise an earthen meditation hall in New Zealand,theres still resources to help you. Try Organic Volunteers andsearch more than 250 listings in Alternative Building: http://www.organicvolunteers.com

Or go to http://www.idealist.org and search more than 10,000volunteer opportunities and 1,000 internships by subject or

keyword.

CCAT is here for you. Your information requests make my(Rosies) day, if not my week. So ask those questions! Whatdo you want to know about appropriate technology? Do youhave questions about CCAT? Are you looking for the bestbook on solar panels, or a flier on native plants? Is there aworkshop youd like CCAT to offer, or something thats missingfrom our website? Do you know the best book or website everon composting or rainwater catchment, and want to share theknowledge? E-mail me at [email protected] , or call 707-826-7874 . Keep asking questions. ~Rosie Records

ASK ROSIEBy Rosie Records

CCAT Information Request Coordinator

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10/16

1. Buy Bulk Food: cut down on excessive packaging by buying in bulk and reusing your bagsand twist ties. Remember, youre not after that nifty packaging, youre after whats inside thepackaging! Store food in glass jars (reuse juice bottles, for example, or head to the thrift storefor some good deals) for easy access and to protect quality. Group buying will further decreasepackaging, create economies of scale, and develop a sense of community.

2. Household Cleaners: Natural household cleaners work great and are also a great way to save onpackaging and harmful chemicals! Most chemicals contained in conventional household cleanersare tested for acute symptoms those that are immediately noticeable and not the long-termeffects. Using simple ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, and borax can be just aseffective as conventional cleaners. Theyre better for your eyes, lungs, skin, and environment.

3. Compact Florescent Bulbs: reduce the energy demand of your lighting source by investingin efficient bulbs. They last longer than conventional bulbs, meaning that the energy savedeventually pays for the slightly higher cost of the bulb.

4. Compost bucket or Worm Bin: put your food scraps back into the cycle of nature by turningthem into valuable, nutrient-rich compost. Dont have a drop-off site at your building? The HSU

Campus Recycling Program has one located on campus! Call them at 826-4162 to find out more.

5. Thermal Curtains: help to stop cold drafts from coming in through your windows and valuableheat from escaping. Thermal curtains are must less expensive than double paned windows, andlets face it, landlords and ladies arent always that inclined to put them in! Instead, make yourown personalized thermal curtains and change the R Value of a single paned window from 1 toseven. Thats more than a double paned window! See the CCAT website for more info: www.humboldt.edu/~ccat.

6. Keep the Refrigerator and freezer full: hold in coldness thereby decreasing the frequency ofcooling cycles (use of energy). Even if you cant keep your fridge full of food, jugs of water can

be used if necessary. Also, keeping the coils clean and proving a ventilation space will increaseefficiency.

7. Container Gardens: grow some of your own herbs and foods in containers that can be movedeasily as needed. Also, indoor plants will help with air quality and aesthetics, and can also bemedicinal and/or culinary.

8. Reduce Home Water Usage: Water is arguably our most precious resource. Purchase faucetaerators from your local hardware store for $2-5 apiece. A high-efficiency showerhead costs lessthan $20, and gives GREAT showers! You will recoup the money spent on these upgrades in lessthan a year through reduced utility bills.

17 Ways to GreenLiving in a dorm or apartment situation can make green living seem difficult.

Thats not true! Here are a few easy steps to making your apartment a little more

environmentally friendly.

by Jeff Adams, additions by Noelle Melchizedek and Zachary Mermel

10


11/16

up your Apartment

9. Recycled Material Furniture: tap into the urban waste stream to make home furnishings sucha wood pallet mattress box springs or milk crate shelving. Or check thrift stores for moreconventional furnishings.

10. Free yourself from Junk Mail: World paper consumption has increased by 74% since 1980.More than five million tons of junk mail is generated every year in the U.S. Go to http://www.dmaconsumers.org/consumerassistance.html to stop getting junk mail!

11. Invest in a programmable thermostat: Heating and cooling your home represents the largestimpact you have on climate change. The average single family home costs over $600 to heatand cool each year, emitting nearly 13,000 pounds of carbon dioxide. Purchase a programmable

thermostat for $25, and set it to sleep mode during work and sleep hours.

12. Reduce, Reuse, Rethink, Recycle: Look for ways to reduce your consumption, use of wateretc, and ways to reuse the byproducts of your consumption (i.e. reuse cans and bottles, dodishes in portable bucket so grey water can be used for landscape irrigation etc.). Rethink yourlifestyle patterns and needs to see if there are excesses that can be avoided in the future or ifalternatives exist. Recycle everything that you can as a last option after reducing, reusing andrethinking.

13. Be conscious of your energy use (i.e. turn things off when not in use) and aware of phantomloads. Phantom loads occur when electrical devices that continue to draw power even when off.

For example, anything that has a lighted clock built in is a phantom load. The solution is to eitherunplug certain electronics or have a power strip that can be switched off.

14. Question Your Meat Consumption: Almost 70 percent of the worlds fisheries have beendecimated due to overfishing. Producing one pound of California feedlot beef requires more than2,400 pounds of water and five pounds of grain. It also causes five pounds of topsoil to be lostto erosion. Concerned? Choosing a protein-rich vegetarian meal in lieu of a meat meal once aweek can make a big difference!

15. Ride a bike, walk, take the bus, or car pool. All these are ways to decrease your consumptionof fossil fuels, and in Arcata, were lucky to have free local public transportation. If you live

further away, there are reduced price-bus tickets for sale at the HSU Ticket Office located in theBookstore.

16. Inspire your friends: Post this article in a conspicuous place in your home. Encourage yourfriends and housemates to adopt these earth-friendly practices.

17. Support your neighbors: buy locally grown and/or produced items whenever possible.

It may not be possible to follow every step, but by rethinking our current lifestyle practices, we all canmake our steps that much lighter on the Earth!

11


12/16

Engineering Courses

ENGR 280: Sustainable Technology Seminar

(1)January 23-March 6th/ Mondays 3 pm 5 pm,location: CCAT, instructor: Noelle Melchizedek,

25 students. This seven-week seminar serieswill cover a range of technologies and their

applications. Potential topics include alternativebuilding, campus recycling, gray water systems,energy, biodiesel as a fuel, and more.

ENGR 280: Lost Arts of Living (1) - Jan 24th

Mar 7th /Tuesdays 1pm-4pm, location: CCAT,

instructors: Jeffrey Adams and Zach Mermel, 16

students. A seven-week series of experiential andexploratory workshops (held at the Campus Centerfor Appropriate Technology- Hs 99) covering skills,crafts, and natural patterns. Potential topics includeecopsychology, bioregional eating, solar mapping,and tracking.

ENGR 280: Appropriate Technology and Kids

(1) April 8-9/Saturday 9-4, Sunday 10-4, locationCCAT, instructor: Noelle Melchizedek, 25 students.

A weekend workshop for aspiring and practicingenvironmental educators. Learn techniques forteaching Appropriate Technology concepts to kidsthrough hands-on and interactive activities.

12

Here are just some of the many projects worked on this semester with which CCAT has collaborated. This is one of

many ways you could get involved at CCAT!

v CCAT Tool Lending Library: need a tool? Check it out from CCAT!

v Forest Restoration Project: restoring our forest to native Redwood habitat.

vMaking Biodiesel: dependent on petroleum? Not anymore!

v Solar-powered Fountain

v Cob Bench: well have a newly constructed cob bench

v Cob Oven: the finishing touches on our turtle-shaped oven are almost completed!

v Living Roof: placed over the cob oven, this is an innovative growing space

v Mechanical Blender: human powered no electricity required.

v Bicycle Trailer: a great green way to haul recycling.

v Daylighting model of the new CCAT facility

v Greenhouse model for the new CCAT facility

v Organic Gardening: want to know what you can grow during the rainy season? Take our Organic Gardening class.

v Permaculture Design

v Resource Recovery Center

CCAT STUDENT PROJECTS

Environmental Science Courses

ENVS 480: CCAT Design and Construction

(1) January 23rd-May 5th, Mondays 5-6 pm. Thiscourse will be a hands-on experience creating anddesigning the CCAT facility and grounds. Studentswill select green building materials, designAppropriate Technology systems, and monitor thethe new CCAT construction.

ENVS 480: Organic Gardening (1) January

24th May 5th/ Tuesdays 10 am - 1 pm, location

CCAT, instructor: Kiva Mahoney, 20 students. Thiscourse teaches small-scale food-production withouthe use of chemicals. Gain hands-on experiencein soil preparation, plant propagation, gardenplanning, greenhouse management, and more.

ENVS 480: Herbalism (1) Feb 10th - March 31st/

Fridays 3 pm 5 pm, location: CCAT, instructor:Allison Poklemba, 20 students. Learn the useof herbs as medicine how they can be used tomaintain better health. Learn herb cultivationand propagation, herbal remedy creation, andalternative healing methods.

~Spring Courses at CCAT~

To register for a course, email or call CCAT for a

magic number.

The Campus Center for Appropriate TechnologyHSU, Jenkins House 99

http://www.humboldt.edu/[email protected] 707-826-3551
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


13/16

Electronics

Before deciding to recycle electronic

trash, take a moment to determine whether

or not it is really trash. If it still works,

there is probably someone out there who

wants it. Consider posting it to our localCraigslist (http://humboldt.craigslist.org)

or Freecycle (http://finance.groups.yahoo.

com/group/humboldt-freecycle/ to sign

up).

Locally, The Koop recycles most

electronic goods. According to their sign

out front, If it has a cord or a battery, we

can recycle it. Computer Monitors and

TVs cost $12, and computer towers cost

$2. Other prices are not specified.

Alternately, CRT screens (TVs

and old fashioned, bulky computer

monitors) sets can be recycled for $12 atthe Humboldt Waste Management Facility

in Eureka. Their address is:

1059 West Hawthorne

Street

Eureka, CA 95501

See also: http://www.eiae.org/reuse_

recycle/state.cfm?id=467&state=CA&stat

e_name=California&sortby=name

According to their web site,

GreenDisk will soon be offering Secure

Computer and Component Recycling

Service. What exactly that means I dont

know, but Ill bet their web page will have

all the details when theyre available:

http://www.greendisk.com/gdsite/

comprecycling.aspx

If you are part of an organization

that may have a great many electronic

devices to get rid of, it may be worth

looking into GreenDisks Techcnotrash

Can, which is essentially an empty box

you fill with your electronics, and send

back. The $30 cost includes shipping both

ways and recycling of electronics shipped

back. For more information, check out:http://www.greendisk.com/gdsite/

technotrash.aspx

Important! Before you get rid of any

anything, make sure it has no readable

sensitive data! At minimum, be sure to

format any disks (hard drives, floppies,

CDRWs). CDRs which cannot be

formatted can be broken up into little

pieces, or placed in the microwave for

no more than two seconds. This second

method also results in a light show which

is fun for the whole family.

Recycling Electronic TrasHAccessories

Working electronic accessories such as

transparencies, floppy disks and blank

CDs can be donated to ROSE to be

redistributed throughout the campus

community. E-mail [email protected] toarrange donations.

Similar to their Technotrash

Can, GreenDisk also offer recycling of

up to 20 pounds of lesser electronic

equipment for $6. Equipment includes

print cartridges, cell phones, pagers,

PDAs, Diskettes, CDs, DVDs, and their

cases, video, audio, computer tapes and

their cases, re-chargers and rechargeable

batteries. Additional weight can be

purchased at $0.25 per pound.

http://www.greendisk.com/gdsite/pack-

ITservices.aspxEarth911 has a semi-reliable list

of businesses organizations which recycle

assorted goods. In researching this article,

I couple calls indicated few organizations

on the list to still be accepting recyclables.

The organizations listed below have

confirmed via telephone their willingness

to accept the items cited.

The list of questionable repute

is available at: http://www.earth911.org/

master.asp?s=lib&a=electronics/comp_

comprec.asp

CDs and DVDs can be sent to:

Plastic Recycling

2015 S. Pennsylvania

Indianapolis, IN 46225

(317)780-6100

Floppies

Limited quantities of floppy disks can be

sent to:

Peripheral Manufacturing, Inc.

4775 Paris St

Denver, CO 80239(303) 371-8651

A word on floppies: Dont. According

to Help Desk staff Dan Cleaves, one in

twelve floppies is defective straight out of

the box. Even those that work initially will

eventually fail, and its anybodys guess

when.

The Help Desk recommends USB

sticks in place of floppies. Although more

expensive initially, they are more reliable

and resilient to wear and tear. The storage

By KJ Coop

Web Master

size varies, even the smallest ones also

store an order of magnitude more data

than floppies.

If you must use floppies, consider

checking some out from ROSE. Brief

testing indicated a 7 in 10 failure rate, socheck out a few.

Ink Cartridges

Some Kinkos/FedEx locations accept used

ink cartridges of all kinds from printers

and fax machines. Some local locations

are:

1618 G Street

Arcata, CA 95521

2021 5th St # C

Eureka, CA 95501

Transparencies

According to http://www.3m.com/

meetings/product_catalog/trans_recycle.

jhtml:

Just ship your used 3M

transparencies (no paper) to

our recycling partner (polyester

recovery company) at the following

address (be sure to clearly mark

your name and organization for

record keeping purposes):

3M Recycle Programc/o Gemark

99 Stevens Lane

Exeter, PA 18643

Videotapes

Follow the instructions on the bottom of:

http://www.actrecycling.org/donations/

howtodonate.asp

For a cache of bizarre recyclables, check

out: http://www.obviously.com/recycle/

guides/hard.html

http://www.ci.fort-collins.co.us/recycling/centers.php?ID=69

GreenDisk sells recycled floppies and

CDs, helping you to close the loop.

Because as we all know, youre not

recycling unless youre buying recycled.

http://www.greendisk.com/gdsite/

products.aspx

13
http://www.greendisk.com/gdsite/pack-ITservices.aspxhttp://www.greendisk.com/gdsite/pack-ITservices.aspxhttp://www.greendisk.com/gdsite/pack-ITservices.aspxhttp://www.greendisk.com/gdsite/pack-ITservices.aspx


14/16

Beauty is visual pleasantness of a

person, animal, object or scene, andalso pleasantness of sound, especially

music. A common theory says that

beauty is the appearance of things

and people that are good. This has

many supporting examples. Most of

us judge healthy, symmetric, fertile

or virile human beings as beautiful.

Symmetry may be important because

it is evidence that the person grew

up in a healthy way,

without visible

genetic defects.

The earliest evidence

of cosmetics

(makeup) found by

archeologists was

being used in Egypt

dating back to the

fourth millennium

BC. Ancient artifacts were found of

eye makeup and objects used for the

application of scented unguents.The alteration of appearance through

the use of cosmetics has been a

practice for thousands of years.

Oils and fragrances have been used

for ceremonies and religious rites

for just as long. In Ancient Egypt

aristocrats applied minerals to their

faces to provide color and definition of

features. The Greeks were also known

to paint their faces and the Romans

used oil-based perfumes in baths and

fountains, and even applied them to

their weapons. The Roman Lucian is

noted to have talked about women and

cosmetics in his time, referring to their

polishing their teeth and eyebrows.

Ingredients like flowers, roots, fruits,

rinds or barks, were used to make

perfumes. This process was incredibly

labor-intensive requiring enormous

amounts of natural ingredients to

By Therese Ricketts

Office Coordinator

14

Get Involved

With CCATCCAT offers a variety ofopportunities for students

to get invovled with theorganization. This is anexcellent way to recievehands-on knowlegde andskill about many aspectsof appropiate technology inaction.

WorkshopsWeekly workshops are freeand open to the publlic

ToursCCAT holds free, guided

tours weekly or you may take a self guided touranytime during busisnesshours

WorkdaysOn Friday afternoons,

volunteers help make CCATlook beautiful and work onprojects

PotlucksEvery month, everyone isinvited to share a meal atCCAT.

CoursesRecieve credit at HSU byenrolling in classes taughtat CCAT.

LibraryCheck out a book fromCCATs exensive librarycollection.

Visit CCATs website atwww.humboldt.edu/~ccator call (707) 826-3551for more information anda wealth of resources.

produce small quantities of fragrance.

By the nineteenth century chemical

processes were developed to replace

the natural methods.

Throughout history a whitening

agent was used for the face. This

was composed of carbonate,

hydroxide, and lead oxide. These

agents, cumulatively stored in the

body with each use, were responsible

for numerous physical problems,

resulting in cases such as muscle

paralysis or death. By

the nineteenth century

zinc oxide became

widely used as a facial

powder, replacing this

more deadly mixture.

Other poisonous

substances were used

in eyeshadow (lead and

antimony sulfide), lip

reddeners (mercuric

sulfide), and to make ones eyes

sparkle (belladonna, or deadly

nightshade).

Today the American cosmetics and

beauty aid industry totals over $20

billion in sales and is dominated by

hair and skin care products that are

heavily advertised in print and on

television.

Recipes and Resources: Locally

you can find necessary ingredients

to create your natural beauty recipes

at Moonrise Herbs in Arcata orHumboldt Herbals in Eureka. Both

stores have containers to store your

creations and wonderful customer

service.

Lip Balm and Healing Salve: used

for chapped lips, sores, wounds and

burns.

Ingredients: Beeswax, essential oil of

choice, almond oil.

NATURAL BEAUTYHistory, Folklore and Recipes


15/16

I.You have no choice.if your soul is to survivethis placeand the beating it takes

in the modern materialist worldwith its markets in charge,insisting, relentless,valueless are the moments between,the working and the buying,

the moments,

when dreaming begins,lovers are touched,and children grow older.

Though it is never spoken aloud,

individual observation tells me,use for a soul,

in our economics, our politics,in the digital skyscraper of our culture,

is currently unnecessary.

I am thankful you cannot commodifykinship, sacred touch, prayer.We need these to survive this.II.If our souls are to survivethis erahere

Hope is necessity.

III.days seemingly unmonumentoushope will surface, you listen.A morning oceans dark blanket,glistening humpback surfaces,trust again what opens in youbigger than your life, your politics, your activism

these times of cultural winter,spirits know they are not leaving us,but burrowing deep to seek more hospitable homes

IV.

Hope in a moment.

watching your lovers face rouse in the orange dawn,children and foot games in the street, inventing the world,old woman on the bus speaks of sweet vision, carryingsouls home,your old dogs sleep at your ankles, dreaming of chasingbirds.

Without our superstar volunteers and

supporters, CCAT couldnt be nearlyas successful. We give sincere thanks

to those students, staff, faculty,

administrators, and community members

who make our organization possible.

Glenn Howe, Patrick McAuley, Noelle

Melchizedek

CCAT Co-Directors, Fall 05

Diolch Spasibo TujechheKhawp khun Gracias Mahad

sanid

THANK YOU!! Dakujems Faafetai Domo

arigato Mamnuun Mahalo

Hope As Necessity by Lisa MurgatroydOutreach Coordinator


16/16

Campus Center for

Appropriate Technology

CCAT, HSU

Arcata, CA 95521

(707)826-3551

Email:[email protected]

http://www.humboldt.edu/~ccat

Be the Change You Want to See in the World- Mahatma Ghandi

Printed on recycled paper

Campus Center for Appropriate Technology Newsletter, Fall 2005

Documents

Transcript of Campus Center for Appropriate Technology Newsletter, Fall 2005