People are starting to realize the negative effects of plastic bags on the environment; cities are starting to ban the use of plastic bags in stores. Since plastic lasts for an indefinite amount of time, they will end up in landfills or being carried around by nature into the ocean (take a look at our earlier post about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch). Animals might ingest plastic products which might lead to injuries and even death. Join the movement to ban plastic grocery bags in New York, with your help, we might be able to completely stop the usage of plastic products one step at a time.

To learn the facts of plastic, click here.

Please sign one of the two petitions to ban plastic grocery bags in New York City.

Citibank and MasterCard are sponsoring a new program, Citi Bike, which will allow people to rent bicycles in selected locations. The primary usage for these bikes is to provide an alternative form of transportation for people commuting to work. The Citi Bike program places 600 stations and over 10,000 bikes to be rented 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Citi Bikes are to be used primarily for trips under 3 miles, and under 30 or 45 minutes per trip (additional fees apply for longer times). 24-Hour and 7-Day access passes are to be purchased at the bike stations prior to rental, there is also an annual pass to be purchased online.

It is a good idea to implement easy to access bicycles for people to rent. Bicycles produce no pollution, such as carbon dioxide, and are compact. For a city like New York, where there are automobiles everywhere, riding a bike to work not only reduces the amount of automobile pollution but also traffic jams. And to add onto those benefits, you get some exercise out of it.

For more information on the Citi Bike program, check out its website.

Citi Bikes

To check out whether or not the bike stations are convenient for you, click here.

For the pricing, click here.

For a list of upcoming demonstrations, click here.

We would like to hear about your comments about this program.

Electricity Peak Load Management
Reduction Event

Thursday June 21, 2012
12:00 pm TO 6:00 pm

 Baruch College is participating in The New York Power Authority’s Peak Load Management Program, which requires the curtailment of Electricity

• All departments must turn off all non-essential equipment such as lights, computers, printers, copy machines, etc.
• Escalator and Elevator service will be limited.
• All windows must be closed.
• Window AC set points should be raised to 77F.

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions or comments, please call the Office of Campus Facilities and Operations at 646-660-6030
or Buildings and Grounds Office at 646-660-6630.