NUS - Going (more) green

Couple of weeks ago, the University adopted a 25 degree Celsius central air-conditioning policy as part of the move towards being more environmentally friendly. I could not be happier because now I don't have to freeze in the LTs anymore and my heart don't have to ache so much at the thought of how much more unnecessary gases are released into the atmosphere, just so that shops like "Winter Wear" can earn more.

Anyway, received NUS Students' Union newsletter in my mail just now. Here are parts of the email:

Rebate2Earth Campaign – Reduce the Use of Plastic Bags on Campus

Surveys have shown that about 40,000 plastic bags were used per month in the past year in the NUS Co-op stores alone....

... NUSSU Students Against the Violation of the Earth (NUSSU SAVE), in collaboration with the Office of the Provost, the Campus Sustainability Committee and NUS Co-op, will launch its Rebate2Earth Campaign on Monday 4th February 2008.

With effect from next Monday, NUS Co-op will no longer be dispensing free plastic bags for purchases made at its stores. Instead, plastic bags will be available at $0.10 each. The proceeds collected from the sale of plastic bags will be deposited into a coin box at the cashier’s counter and will go towards supporting future environmental projects in NUS.

Over the next few months, more partners, stores and canteens in the University will participate in the Rebate2Earth Campaign....

So from 29th January onwards, if you want to either save your 10 cents or contribute a little to saving the environment, remember to bring your own bag to the Co-op when you all buy things ok! If bringing a bag/plastic bag/extra bag is too embarrassing, actually you can just stuff your books into your normal school bag.

I realized there are actually quite a few environmentally-conscious ones among those I know. Never thought I'd hear my friend tell me we should recycle the plastic microwave containers that the food we bought from the canteen were stored in.

The Recycling Bean may emphasize on recycling, but he also approves of any other green moves