In keeping with the College’s commitment to environmental stewardship, the Mahaney Center for the Arts (MCFA) has made many changes to lessen the Arts’ resource footprint over the past several years.
Paper
All major Arts publications, including the Arts Calendar, the Arts at Middlebury Newsletter, Performing Arts Series programs, and posters are now printed on environmentally-friendly paper. The Mohawk Options paper is 100 percent post-consumer recycled content, process chlorine free, and manufactured with wind power. The environmental savings over the course of one year are impressive: over 72 trees, 30,000 gallons of wastewater, and 51,000,000 BTUs of energy.
We’re also tracking the distribution of our publications carefully, and making sure we only order what we’ll use. Rather than sending publications to everyone on campus, we now send paper publications only to those who have bought a ticket or otherwise expressed an interest in the arts. Many of our patrons have already made the switch to our electronic mailing list; our weekly email blast, “ArtsMail,” was redesigned in fall 2008 and now has over 1,200 subscribers. Would you like to join a mailing list or switch from paper to electronic? Send us an email here.
Recycling
The MCFA has always observed the College’s standard recycling policies. But in 2006, with help from an Environmental Council grant, we purchased special recycling cans (pictured) for each performance space, to encourage audience members to recycle their unwanted programs after the show. The cans’ design echoes the look of the recent Recyclemania campaign on campus, so they also help raise awareness of Middlebury’s commitment to environmental excellence.
Lighting
In 2007, a new solar-powered light was installed on the eastern face of the MCFA to light the exterior ARTS banner in the evenings. An Environmental Council Sustainability grant supported the solar light project.
Task lighting in several locations was refitted with compact fluorescent bulbs to save energy.
Green Mugs
In 2008, the Mahaney Center for the Arts launched the Green Mug Project. Specially-designed, reusable Green Mugs were purchased and distributed to the faculty and staff working at the Mahaney Center for the Arts (and neighboring buildings). Over 80 people work in the building, many of whom visit the Cafe daily. Switching from disposable cups to reusable mugs was an easy way to make a significant impact on our materials usage, while also calling attention to environmental issues.
The mugs were produced by a New-York based manufacturer that focuses on environmental sensitivity. The mugs are made of recycled materials—and have a biodegradability additive in the plastic, so they’re recyclable if they ever wear out. The mugs are also BPA free.
The Green Mug Project was supported by a grant for the Environmental Council.
DO YOUR PART
We're encouraging our patrons to help us "go green" by considering these strategies: • Carpool when attending arts events
• Share a program with a friend, and recycle it after the event
• Pick up your tickets at the box office, instead of having them mailed
• Let us know if there are any problems with your mailing address, or if you’d prefer to be on our electronic mailing list instead.
Do you have ideas for other ways the Mahaney Center for the Arts can “go green”?
Contact Liza Sacheli Lloyd at 802-443-3169 or liza.lloyd@middlebury.edu.
