What Can You Do?

Participate in the Otterbike Sharing Program
Go to the Library front desk and ask to check out a bike (up to 3 days rental) – show your cardinal card. You must sign the liability waiver and pay a $10.00 fee before you rent a bike the first time. After that you will just need to show your card. For more information, click here.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Click here for a list of items you can recycle.

IT Recycles Computer Equipment
Otterbein's Information Technology department recycled approximately 180 monitor and 90 computers. Click here to see photos.

Join Plan-It Earth
Are you interested in reducing your ecological footprint? Do you want to encourage others to do the same? This student-led organization works to develop environmentally friendly practices on campus and in the community. Plan-It Earth meets weekly to plan activities to give back to our earth, such as recycling projects, volunteering at Otterbein Lake, and picking up litter on campus.

Sustainable Living
Residence Life has some quick tips to help you live more sustainably on campus. Just by turning the water off while brushing your teeth, replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones, turning off electronic devices when not in use, and of course recycling can significantly reduce your impact on the environment.

10 Ways to Use Electricity More Efficiently

1. Replace 25% of your light bulbs in high-use areas with compact fluorescent bulbs, and you can reduce energy used for lighting by 50% or more.
2. Turn off the lights, TV, radio, and computer when you are through using them.
3. Repair leaky faucets and install low-flow faucets and showerheads. Water heating is a home's third largest energy expense.
4. Put on a sweater instead of turning up the thermostat. Heating uses about half the energy in your home.
5. Run your dishwasher only with a full load. Use the energy-saving setting to dry the dishes. Don't use heat when drying.
6. Ask for a home energy inspection to find out where your home is poorly insulated or energy-inefficient.
7. Walk, bike, carpool, or use mass transit whenever possible.
8. Use the microwave oven to save energy by reducing cook time.
9. Decide what you want to eat before you open the refrigerator door. The more cool air that escapes the more energy will be needed to replace it.
10. Set your thermostat as  high as comfortably possible in the summer. The less difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.
    (courtesy of Westerville Electric Division)