Solar panel fully functional, says Suffolk professor

Article by: Shoshana Akins

“We hope to demonstrate both the technical feasibility as well as a strong economic benefit for the adoption of solar panel electricity on buildings at Suffolk”

Four years ago, a group of Suffolk students and their trusty professor hiked up to the roof of the Archer building on a mission: to harness the rays of the sun with their very own, homemade solar panel. Toiling and tinkering, they set out to prove their knowledge and abilities worthy by taking their classroom experience to a whole new level.

Today, this project started by the Technology and Science Initiative (TaSI) is a success. The solar panels are now functioning and creating their own energy, along with proving as a perfect site for students to study real life application of renewable energy engineering.

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Hempest does more than blow smoke

Article by: Matthew Altieri

In 1996, Jon Napoli partnered with Mitch Rosenfield and moved Napoli’s “Hempest” store from Huntington Avenue to busy Newbury Street, located in downtown Boston. By doing so, co-founders Napoli and Rosenfield not only aimed to change the negative stigma of “Cannabis Sativa,” but also aims to show that the hemp plant is an environmentally sound product, producing some of the most eco-friendly food sources, hygienic materials, and clothing sources that this world has ever seen.

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How green is Suffolk?

See what measures Suffolk takes to make the campus more environmentally friendly…

• Techno Trash – Special recycling bins that can be found in the Sawyer lounge as well as the computer labs in Sawyer and Donahue. You can dispose of tapes, DVDs, VHS tapes, CDs, and transparencies.
• 150 Tremont, 10 West, and Miller Hall all now have “single stream” recycling. This is one bin in which students can place all recyclables without needing to sort them prior. This is to make recycling easier and more convenient.
• Suffolk’s annual waste reduction competition normally takes place only in the fall, but this year will also be held during the Spring.
• Organics recycling in the Donahue cafeteria – Allows diners to compost food instead of throwing it in with the trash. The composted food, along with the newly biodegradable cutlery, straws, and containers in the cafeterias, will go to a farm in Massachusetts to be sold as compost.
• In & Toner Cartridges – If you are a staff member, live in the residence halls, or attend Suffolk you can now bring empty cartridges to the mail room where an outside company will take them free of charge.

Suffolk Environmental Studies program growing in popularity

Article by: Angela Bray

“It is becoming increasingly important to be educated in environmental issues…”

Amid the growing field of environmental studies at Suffolk, students have the option of studying to obtain an interdisciplinary major and minor. The program, which began in the fall of 2007, allows for the development of skills in areas of natural and social sciences, ethics, and the humanities.

Environmental studies is especially beneficial to students who are interested in the environment. It gives them a deeper understanding of the environment,” said Dr. John C. Berg, a Professor. Berg is also Chair of the Government Department. “The courses will prepare a student to be a good advocate, as well as be able to write and educate about the environment.”

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Green plans for the Environmental Club

Article by: Derek Anderson

With a lot planned for the upcoming semester, Suffolk’s Environmental Club is taking action to make the university eco-friendly and aware.

To start off the new month, as well as Recycle Mania, a 10-week competition between schools country-wide to promote the act of recycling, the Environmental Club will be holding a Green Tea Party. The event will be throughout campus on Feb. 4 at 10:30 a.m. where members will be tabling, giving out green tea and travel mugs. The event will continue until resources run out.

Other events will be available for students to take part in throughout the semester, such as the Green Roundtable/Nexus Outing on Feb. 18 at 73 Tremont at 4:30 p.m. This group “is an independent non-profit organization whose mission is to mainstream green, healthy, efficient, and intentional building and development,” according to their website www.nexusboston.org .

“[We’ll have] the movie screening of Tapped,” said President of the Environmental Club, Andrea Thayer, 2012. The documentary covers the privatization of water and will be followed by a question and answer session with a panel of experts. The screening will take place on Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. in 73 Tremont, where snacks will be provided. “We’re all really looking forward to that, I’ve heard there’s a lot of interest in that.”

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