How to be a sustainable human
Sustainability

Make your commute part of your commitment to sustainability.

• Explore the trails connecting campus to downtown, like the Sky Steps and Lamppost Trail (see the Durango Trails map).
• Apply for a free e-bike loan to make getting around easy and emissions-free.
• Ride Durango Transit—it’s free for students. Get your Free Transit Pass.  Faculty and staff pay just $30/year. 
• Use DuranGO!, the free after-hours student transit service.
• Recharge your electric vehicle at on-campus charging stations.
• Carpool with classmates or colleagues to reduce your carbon footprint.

Reduce, reuse, and rethink what you throw away.

• Visit the Environmental Center Free Store to “shop” for clothes or donate gently used items, Mon – Fri, 9 am–5 pm
• Check out local thrift stores like the Methodist, La Plata County Humane Society, and Dunn Deal.
• Refill shampoo and soap bottles at Grub Hub’s refill station, Student Union, RM 5. 
• Recycle correctly: no plastic bags, food, or greasy items (learn more about single stream recycling).
  • Not sure if or where to recycle something? Check out the City of Durango’s “What Goes Where” Wizard
• Drop off used batteries, ink, toner cartridges, and clean and dry plastic bags at the Environmental Center for proper recycling.

Eat consciously and waste less with these campus hacks:

• Use reusable to-go boxes and return them to the dining hall.
• Bring your own bag and container to Grub Hub, where you can shop for free (often local!) food and enjoy a hot lunch Monday through Friday, 11a.m. - 2p.m.
• Know that all dining hall food waste is composted through the Environmental Center’s Rocket Composter and Table to Farm services.
• Join the on-campus composting program for students or campus offices by emailing envcenter@fortlewis.edu.

Protect one of our most precious resources.

• Be mindful of water usage—a standard shower uses 2.5 gallons per minute.
• Catch cold water in a bucket while waiting for it to heat up and reuse it for plants or cleaning.
• Keep a filled water bottle in the fridge to avoid running the tap for cold water.
• Run only full loads in washing machines and dishwashers to save water and energy.

Be mindful of the energy you use every day.

• Turn off or unplug electronics when not in use; phantom energy adds up.
• Use heat efficiently on campus:
  • Keep windows closed when it’s cold out.
  • Add a layer before turning up the heat.
  • Avoid space heaters—they interfere with HVAC systems.
  • For heat concerns, contact your Residence Hall Director or submit a Physical Plant Services work order.
• Wash clothes on cold cycles to save energy.
• Reduce electricity usage between 7–9 pm, when greenhouse gas emissions are highest.