Eco Action’s first Tree Ceremony!

For our final executive meeting, the Eco Action executive board gifted past president, Haley Stauffer with a beautiful White Oak that they then planted on Old Main’s lawn.

Members acknowledged the growth that they have all experienced throughout their time in Eco Action and how they wish to continue to nourish more learning opportunities within the club. Adviser, Derek Kalp, landscape architect at Penn State was able to acquire the tree and it is still growing strong!

Eco Action’s executive team plant the first of many trees to come for an annual tree planting ceremony on Old Main’s lawn.

On Wednesday April 17th, Haley Stauffer was also presented with the first ever Senior Champion of Sustainability Award offered by the Sustainability Institute. Haley was nominated by her friend, and co-president Ben Lyman as well as her academic adviser, Tom Richard, and Student Sustainability Advisory Council member Janelle Thompson.

Haley receiving her award with nominators Janelle Thompson and Ben Lyman as well as Council of Sustainable Leaders directors Sam Anawalt and Madison Mitchell

 

 

 

 

 

 

More information about this award can be accessed here: https://news.psu.edu/story/570680/2019/04/23/campus-life/penn-state-gives-out-first-ever-student-sustainability-awards

Haley is truly honored by the tremendous amount of support received from her Penn State community, attributing a great amount of her success to her deep love and appreciation for the people and mission of Eco Action.

Thank you!

Sustainable Happiness event with Devamrita Swami

On Wednesday April 24th, Eco Action teamed up with the Vedic Society during our regular club meeting to discuss the concept of maintaining happiness in one’s life.

Devamrita Swami, director of the Gita Nagari Eco Farm and traveling monk speaks to Eco Action about the concept of sustainable happiness at the Wednesday April 24th meeting

Devamrita Swami is a world-traveling monk, a graduate of Yale, and the director of the Gita Nagari Eco Farm. Gita Nagari is the only USDA-certified slaughter free commercial dairy farm. None of the cows are ever sold or killed. Devamrita will be sharing this philosophy of his ecological vision because he believes that it can be applied to all environmental disciple and inspire genuine environmental activism.

Devamrita Swami discussed his new book and brought us closer to our inner wisdom, stating that humans much elevate their consciousness in order to save ourselves. It was interesting how Swami’s view was not one of overly optimistic or pessimistic about the reality of our decline in human ecological consciousness, but rather one of realistic action. Swami went over steps on how to embody our greater selves and to therefore live a truly sustainable, and happy, life.

Devamrita Swami talks with interested participants following the talk.
Members were able to enjoy a fantastic vegan dinner prepared by the Vedic Society following the talk

 

 

 

 

 

 

We got most of the Stuckeman building to chant with us and then enjoy a meal together with deeper contemplative discussions. This was a great partnership with the Vedic Society and we look forward to hosting events with them in the future.

The event was organized by Lydia Blinn, Interim Treasurer of Eco Action.

 

Earth Day Celebration 2019

On a rainy Friday April 19th, 2019, Eco Action held their annual Earth Day Celebration in the HUB Robeson center from 3-8 pm.

Tables from environmentally conscious organizations throughout Penn State and the State College community were present. Organizations included the Vegetarian Club, the Student Farm, Lion Launchpad, Habitat for Humanity, and the Sierra Club.

Lion Launchpad members pose in front of their stand at the Earth Day Celebration

 

 

 

Participants got to make button at the Lion Launchpad stand. All tabling organizations had an interactive component to their presentations.

 

 

 

The vegetarian club showcases the impact that conventional animal farming has on our global resource expenditure. Tasty fish meat alternatives were provided for participants!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The night ended with a performance by two local bands. One of the members in the first band, Low Jack, is an Eco Action alumni!

Local band Low Jack plays in the HUB at Penn State for Eco Action’s Earth Day Celebration on Friday April 19th

Although the event was smaller than previous years, Eco Action is still very much involved with spreading sustainability and environmentally conscious initiatives within the University and beyond- not just on Earth Day, but every day.

We are looking forward to next Earth Day to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this wonderful tradition!

Eco Action tours Penn State’s East Power Plant as part of monthly focus on pollution

FebruAIRy was all about pollution and the impacts of various forms of energy use on the earth’s atmospheric conditions. As part of this month’s series, members traveled to the East Campus Power Plant to receive a tour from the Superintendent of Steam Services, Paul Moser and learn about Penn State’s energy history, the current status, and future energy focus. Paul spent over an hour with members, taking us through the control room and showing us the boilers and storage units throughout the facility. An open discussion on the sustainability of natural gas was brought to light and reflected upon, as Eco Action has a history of persisting that Penn State take action to invest in more renewable energy (see History page and Paul’s standpoint on this issue here).

Co-president Amelia Geiser looks at the system database screen outlining the plant’s production line.

Members are taken through the plant and shown the different boilers as well as the floor operating system

Noted facts from the visit included:

  • The Steam Power Plants at Penn State, University Park (East and West location) run at 80% efficiency, significantly better than electricity sourced from the grid
  • Combined Heat and Power plants generally operate the best when they are close to buildings and can have high pressure lines running directly to buildings.
  • In Penn State’s system, green means that the boiler is not running, while red means that the boiler is on and is “dangerous”.
  • The East Power Plant produces heat first and then electric to the east side of campus and the West Power Plant produces electric first and then heat to the west side of campus- utilizing both thermodynamic cycles
  • The East Power Plant distributes 58 KKPH to buildings at the University
  • The objective of the power plant is to establish optimal efficiency by releasing the lowest temperature steam possible- the current temperature of the air released from the power plant is 308 F
  • There is a plan to build a biomass plant that will process wood chips, animal waste, and other biomass through anaerobic digestion into biogas for the University behind the East Campus Power Plant.
  • Paul is in support of a carbon tax incentive stating, “If you’re not paying for carbon you’re not going anywhere”

Following this visit, a new understanding of the educational and infrastructure challenges that Penn State is facing as they transition their energy sourcing became more apparent to members. There are considerable trade-offs when choosing the most economic and environmentally practical energy source for the present, while also thinking about meeting long term sustainability goals set by the University.  We appreciate Paul Moser and other Power Plant workers for taking the time to give us a tour of their operations- we are looking forward to the next visit!

Why YOU Should Care About Plants: Eco Action Presents at the Easterly Elementary Science Fair

On Monday, February 25th, Eco Action showcased the power of plants at the Easterly Elementary annual Science Fair. Our first time tabling at the event, Eco Action members were able to show their stuff as they explained to elementary students, and other science fair attendees, the ability of plants to sequester carbon and act as drawdown solutions by “rolling back global greenhouse gas emissions” (Paul Hawken, Project Drawdown).

Through five different interactive stations, participants were able to learn more about the photosynthesis of plants. Students saw colored water being taken up by the capillaries in celery stalks, turning the plants’ leaves different colors. Participants learned that plants, such as a log used for demonstration, receive their mass from carbon dioxide. In addition, respiration was expressed through the use of a hand mirror to show the appearance of condensation and oxygen bubbles were seen surrounding a plant leaf in a test tube. Participants were also able to feel how the increasing levels of carbon dioxide released into our atmosphere can heat up the earth and create for an unpleasant experience, as demonstrated through a think-lined blanket that we wrapped around participants.

President Ben Lyman explains to students that the mass of plants come from carbon dioxide

The overall event was highly successful and Eco Action was glad to participate in this community event. We are looking forward to helping again next year! To learn more about the event, and other participants, you can follow the Easterly Parkway facebook page here.