If you’ve been to Case-Geyer this semester, you may have noticed something new - and no, we’re not talking about Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
New Elkay Water Bottle Refill Station located in Case-Geyer Library
Four state-of-the-art Elkay water refill stations have been added to the traditional drinking fountains on the first, third, fourth and fifth floors of Case-Geyer. These new filtered water stations have automatic sensors that make it easy for community members to quickly refill a reusable water bottle.
This project was a result of a May 2016 SGA proposal spearheaded by Roxanne Maduro '17, Nick Mather '16 and Ben Campbell '16. They specifically requested the installation of these new stations and their proposal focused on the waste reduction and environmental benefits of these devices. These stations deliver free, purified water to students while eliminating the production, delivery, and disposal of one-time-use plastic water bottles. Stations such as these have already replaced the equivalent of over 4 billion plastic water bottles, according to the Elkay website.
The proposal also highlighted the essential role the stations could play in encouraging sustainable behavior and showcasing sustainable living at Colgate.
The proposal was passed unanimously by the SGA on May 7th, 2016, and the implementation process began over the summer. The project was paid for entirely by the Sustainability Fund, created by the 2008 class gift that continues to be supported and replenished with donations. This fund has supported a number of other sustainability projects on campus such as the 8-acre willow field,the Green Bikes program, and new recycling stations throughout our buildings.
Be on the lookout for more refillable water stations at Colgate. The campus goal is to install them in all new buildings and major renovations.
Each station tracks the number of plastic bottles replaced and serves as a wonderful reminder that seemingly small, daily actions can have a profound impact on the environment.
Have you tried these stations yet? Tell us what you think!