TCC About Page

As a college student, there are plenty
of small things
you can do to help
the environment.

Here are
10 simple ideas.

1. Recycle everything, especially paper! Think about how many pieces of paper you go through in a semester. Class notes, scrap copies, term papers, daily school newspapers, and stuff printed out from the Internet. Look for a paper recycle bin on campus.

2. Walk, bike, and limit your use of a car. Ask yourself if you really need a car as a college student, because if you can get by without one, you can save a good deal of money on gas, repairs, and overpriced student car insurance. If you do own a car, try to use it as little as you can.

3. Use your printer wisely. You can save paper by printing on both sides of the page. Save pages that you've printed and use the backs to print out drafts and other things you don't have to turn in. In addition, many printers have multiple settings for print quality.

4. Limit the use of disposable cups and plates. If you're moving into your first off-campus apartment, it can be tempting to buy disposable cups and plates to save time. This adds up to a lot of waste and money. Buy yourself some inexpensive plates and wash them.

5. Limit the use of paper napkins. Since college students eat a good deal of fast food, napkin use can add up. It's good that you want to be clean, but one napkin will probably do the trick!

6. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs cost more, but they last longer and ultimately save you money. If you live in a dorm, get yourself a lamp and screw in one of these bulbs.

7. Buy green. Buy recycled products whenever you can, especially paper. Buy environmentally safe cleaning products as well. Some of these products cost more-- but many don't, or the price difference is negligible.

8. Carry a water bottle. Think of how many bottles of water get consumed on a campus every day. Save waste and money and carry a refillable bottle.

9. Use refillable binders instead of notebooks. This is a simple way to save waste. If you want to save your notes after the semester is over, take them out of the binder and staple them.

10. Buy used clothing. Lots of students do this to save money, but it's also a great thing to do for the environment. Reusing clothes decreases the use of resources to make clothing and puts a dent in the problem of worldwide sweatshops.

LEED Certification

LEED certification of Tahoe Community College was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the building itself and the broader community. Due to exceptional use of green technologies, Tahoe is more energy efficient than a standard building of its type:

Radiant heating and cooling ceiling panels introduce innovative HVAC technology to the United States that have proved to boost energy efficiency.

An operable building skin made of perforated stainless steel panels offset from a glass and aluminum window wall reduces the impact of heat radiation during the summer and insulates interior spaces during the winter.

A full-height atrium enables unique circulation for building occupants, improves the flow of air and provides increased interior day lighting.

A green roof insulates the building, reduces city "heat island" effect, stormwater runoff and pollutants; harvested water is reused.

A cogeneration plant provides additional power to the building, recovers waste heat and effectively cuts energy costs.

Flexible state-of-the-art laboratories, studios and classrooms are specifically designed with renewable, recycled and low emission materials that will accommodate pedagogical objectives, as well as current and future research activities.

The distinctive and architecturally bold building replaces almost 40 percent of the college's academic space. It was developed at a cost of $150 million and features sophisticated reconfigurable classrooms, laboratories, studios and public spaces.

Print Version

"For more than a century and a half, Tahoe Community College has been at the helm of academic, technological and civic leadership and transformation.

Mark Epstein

"Achieving LEED Gold status illustrates Tahoe's enduring dedication to creating exceptional academic facilities for its talented students and faculty, while we maintain the college's traditions of scholarly excellence and providing a full tuition scholarship to every student."

Mark Epstein
Chairman of the
Board of Trustees

As a college student, there are plenty of small things you can do to help the environment. Here are 10 simple ideas.

LEED Certification

As a college student, there are plenty
of small things
you can do to help
the environment.

Here are
10 simple ideas.