cartoon illustration of mascot in a park during summer

Help us Create a Sustainable Summer!

The Mission of Chestnut Hill College is to provide students with holistic education in an inclusive Catholic community marked by academic excellence, shared responsibility, personal and professional growth, service to one another, to the global community, and concern for the Earth. With students largely off campus, Chestnut Hill College staff will embrace a sustainable summer, with limited personnel and in-person office hours (the library will be closed) between June 29 – July 31. The College will tax its resources less while conserving more energy, supporting both our mission and the practice of environmental stewardship as we all are called to be active participants in Earth’s conservation.

Please note, we are still open in an operational capacity for summer classes as well as campus tours. We are always happy to welcome prospective students and families in all three of our divisions, to campus!

Book a campus tour this summer!

We encourage all CHC students, staff, faculty, administration, Board members, and alumni, to join us in protecting Earth’s resources this summer. As the late Pope Francis once said, “we are stewards, not masters of our Earth.” Let’s plan to join together to cool down while conserving more as we protect ourselves, our Dear Neighbors, and most importantly, our one and only planet.

Tips for Embracing Planetary Stewardship this Summer

Don’t over-tax natural resources – utilize the 5 Rs this summer

Our world does not contain limitless resources. Those resources are used every day by billions of people, oftentimes creating environmental waste. Consider the 5Rs this summer.

  • Refuse – Just because something is free, doesn’t mean you have to take it. This summer, as you attend festivals, sporting events, concerts, and more, consider saying no to that free keychain you’ll just throw away later or that outfit you ordered just to wear once and then have it sit in a closet. Refusing is more than just saying no, it’s considering why you want/need the item and how you might utilize it. Amazon ships approximately 1.6 million packages DAILY. If you do decide you need something, consider having things shipped together to cut down on the number of deliveries made to you in a given week. Chances are, whatever you are ordering, you don’t need it that day.
  • Reduce – Sometimes, it’s helpful just to cut back. Maybe that means switching your billing to paperless, or perhaps it’s ordering something in manufacturer’s packaging without the extra Amazon box. In our daily lives, there are simple and easy ways we can reduce waste, most of which we’d barely even notice. Take a self-inventory to see how much trash you throw away in a given week. Which of those items could be avoided? Could you use a refillable water bottle instead of plastic bottles or skip the straw when you go out to eat? Could you turn your water off while washing dishes, or brushing your teeth? Simple changes like this not only benefit the planet but can also sometimes help in saving you money.
  • Reuse – Not only can thrifting be a fun way to try something new, it’s also great for the planet. Re-using items, whether yours or someone else’s, helps cut down on the amount of ‘new’ that is producing each day. Summer is the perfect time to check out a local yard sale or discover something on Facebook marketplace. You might be surprised to learn you could find that item you’re looking for in great refurbished condition and cheaper than buying it new. Resources can also be reused such as using refillable water bottles instead of plastic at the pool, bringing containers to summer BBQs instead of plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or utilizing reusable grocery bags instead of paper or plastic. Much like reducing, there are easy ways to practicing re-using this summer that will positively impact your lifestyle.
  • Repurpose – Almost everything can have a second life. Take leftovers for example. Leftovers are a great way to save money and reduce food waste. If you’re tired of eating the same meal over and over, jazz it up. Most leftover food can become a unique second meal with a few additions. And on that topic of food, instead of throwing out those apple cores, banana peels or old coffee grinds, consider finding ways to compost them in your garden instead and make sure to donate extra harvest goods you aren’t using to families, friends, or local food banks. Non-food items can be repurposed as well. Maybe you tore a hole in your clothes that is too big to fix. Find a different use for that fabric around the house. Repurposing allows you to have fun and get creative all while helping sustain our planetary resources. It’s a win, win!
  • Recycle – Anything that can’t be reused or repurposed, you should aim to recycle. Make sure you check your township’s rules before dumping things into your blue cans however as different communities may treat recycling differently. Some may want you to separate first, others may be single-stream. And if your community, workplace, or friend’s house, doesn’t have an option to recycle, take it upon yourself. Most people won’t care that you are collecting soda cans in order to take them to a recycling facility later. In that same vein, consider using or purchasing resources that have been created from recycled materials. Upcycling is a great way that we can all help care for Earth.

Cool off by conserving energy (when possible)

Summer heat can be brutal especially in warmer climates and cities, where lack of tree cover and other factors contribute to smoldering conditions. Excessive heat can be dangerous to one’s health so make sure you are aware of ongoing heatwaves and check on those at the highest risk of heatstroke such as children, the elderly, and pets. Understanding it may not always be possible to simply turn the AC off in a car or at home, there are still ways to cool down that may not require blasting the air conditioner all day. One option is to moderate your AC use, turning the air down when you get chilly such as at night or in the early morning.

Another way is to try to stay cool naturally. Find a public space, like a park or library, to spend time cooling down. Pull down shades during the daytime or use blackout curtains to help prevent natural sunlight from coming in. Open windows early in the morning and late at night to allow for a breeze. Wear lighter or warmer colors, avoiding blacks and dark shades. Utilize your own cooling methods – add extra ice to your water bottle, carry a sun umbrella, wear caps or hats with long brims to create a self-shading device. Avoid running high-energy appliances during the day, especially stoves and ovens as they create unwanted extra heat. Finally, check your local community. Most cities have cooling centers or public pools. These can be great resources to help cool down but also meet new people. Spend more time with family and friends too – one house running AC is better than two or three!

Whatever you do, make sure to put your health and safety, and those in your care first. It’s important to have a plan to cool down, especially if you work outside or are spending time outdoors in the heat of the summer.

Try to avoid high usage during peak hours

Chances are, if it’s 100 degrees outside, everyone has their AC on – at home, at the office, and in their cars. In addition to the electricity that supports our lives every day, air conditioning often puts a burden on our already overly-taxed grids. It’s why our electric bills can sometimes double over hot summer months.

There’s a way to help prevent this however, allowing you to save money and save planetary resources. Here are some things you can do in order to help lower your personal energy consumption during peak hours and days.

  • Pre-cool your living space and use alternates to AC – Most peaks occur between 5-9PM in the summer months so plan to utilize your AC in advance of that. When its peak time, turn that AC down or even off, if you can. If you can turn your air conditioning off, use alternatives to stay cool such as fans (solar-powered ones work great) or drawn blinds. Consider running your out-of-house errands during peak hours as well.
  • Don’t run high-energy appliances – While one may think it’s better to run the dishwasher or laundry machine at night when it’s cooler out, try to avoid doing so during peak hours. If laundry is a must, wash your clothes in a cold-water cycle.
  • Unplug appliances, devices when not in use – The idea of phantom power is not a myth. Whether it’s a phone charger left in from the night before, the PlayStation you haven’t touched in a few days, or the lamp in the guest room, our living spaces are often producing wasted power we don’t even think about on a daily basis. Consider unplugging some of these appliances when you are away from home.

Care and concern for the Earth requires all of us to do our part yearlong. While it may seem tougher to embrace a lower energy lifestyle in the summer, the rewards are plentiful. Not only will you know you are helping prolong the longevity of the planet, but you might also enjoy some other benefits in your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.