Advice for Incoming Students
Dear New Student,
As a student at Pomona, you are now a part of our effort to make campus more sustainable. Pomona has a strong history of environmental stewardship, and there are many opportunities for you to be involved. This letter outlines several ways in which you can contribute before you arrive on campus and during your first few weeks here.
Please Don't Buy
All Pomona first year and transfer residence hall rooms come with a full-length mirror. Each room in Wig and Lyon has a dry erase whiteboard on its door. Hangers are available for free at the ReCoop Fall Sale (see below) while supplies last. All new students will receive a durable, BPA-free water bottle from the Alumni Association and so we encourage you to not bring bottled water to campus. Water filter pitchers made by Brita, Pur and other companies can improve the taste of our tap water if that's a concern. Laundry drying racks are located in the Blaisdell, Mudd, and Harwood laundry rooms, and portable drying racks can be checked out from the Sustainability Integration Office for the duration of the semester. We encourage you to talk with your roommate (if you have one) to be sure that you don't duplicate appliances. Double purchasing is not only unnecessary, but also wastes space and energy!
Please Do Buy
Please consider purchasing compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) instead of standard incandescent bulbs for any lamps you bring to campus. CFLs use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last ten times as long. The Sustainability Integration Office also gives out CFLs for free, at the ReCoop Fall Sale and other events. Consider purchasing a power strip or two in which to plug appliances such as computers, cell-phone chargers, and other electronics. Placing your power strip in an easily accessible location will allow you to fully shut off all of these devices at once, thus eliminating the "phantom load" of electricity they would otherwise consume when turned "off."
ReCoop Fall Sale
The ReCoop, Pomona's student-run thrift store, has a fall sale especially for new students. Each year's ReCoop Fall Sale will be held in front of Pendleton Pool (behind the first-year residence halls) 8-5 on move-in day. Items for sale, all donated by students in past semesters, include refrigerators, microwaves, lamps, plastic storage bins, fans, couches, and many other items. As mentioned above, the ReCoop also gives away free hangers (while supplies last). Buying from the ReCoop not only saves money, but keeps items from going to the landfill and reduces your consumption impact.
EnergyStar appliances and MicroFridge combination units
Keep in mind that all residence halls include a kitchen with a stove, oven, microwave, communal fridge, and sink that all are welcome to use. If you decide to purchase a lamp, fridge, microwave, television, speakers, or other electronic appliance, we encourage you to purchase one that achieves the EnergyStar rating. The EnergyStar certification is awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to products that use less energy, save money and are better for the environment. When shopping, look for appliances that bear the Energy Star label. You can also view a list of EnergyStar products here. Alternatively, students may rent a MicroFridge-an Energy Star all-in-one microwave, refrigerator, and freezer-from Collegiate Concept. Collegiate Concepts will deliver your MicroFridge to your room. MicroFridges may be ordered here.
Bikes
Students are encouraged to bring bikes to campus and ample bike parking is provided adjacent to each residence hall. The College recommends that you purchase a high quality U-lock to reduce the chance of bike theft. Pomona's Green Bikes program loans via lottery system a fleet of approximately 60-80 bikes to students free-of-charge on a semester basis. Green Bikes also provides free bike tune-ups and labor for repairs, as well as bike parts at cost. Look for information about the shop, bike giveaway, and training and employment opportunities when you arrive.
Once you arrive on campus we hope you will join in our effort to make Pomona a leader in campus sustainability. Simple things such as recycling, buying used or recycled products, and turning off your computer at night will also go a long way in reducing our impact on the environment. Please peruse this website to find more information about our programs and projects and what you can do to help. I look forward to meeting you soon!
Sincerely,
Bowen Close
Coordinator, Sustainability Integration Office