Fordham University March 26th to April 2nd

Welcome to Fordhams first No Impact Week! The following pages are an addendum resource guide to increase awareness about how the way we live can positively or negatively impact the environment and to enable participants to live with more simplicity and quality. The guide outlines easy and creative strategies to assist you with each days challenge. Beginning on Monday, March 26th and ending the following Monday, April 2nd, No Impact Week is not about depriving yourself. Instead, this week will give you the opportunity to evaluate whether modern conveniences really make you happy. At the end of each day, make sure to post any comments, photos, suggestions, and ideas you have on our No Impact Week Facebook Page. But first make sure to register here and fill out a quick preweek survey here. Now lets start creating no impact!

Day 1 - Mon 3/26: Consumption

Strategy 1: Watch Story of Stuff Film. The Story of Stuff is an eye-opening tour of the real costs of our consumer driven culturefrom resource extraction to waste disposal. This short film will inform and shock you at the same time. Strategy 2: Make your own toiletries. Instead of constantly needing to consume, decide to make your own hygienic products from shampoo to face scrubs. Get the added benefit of knowing whats in your products and using only natural ingredients, free of preservatives, chemicals, penetration enhancers, and sulfates. For those more adventurous heres one final link.
Hand Soap Shampoo

Combine in a pump bottle: 1 cup water cup castile soap 10 drops tea tree oil liquid from 4 vitamin E capsules 10 drops essential oil

Combine in a squeeze bottle: 1 cup water cup castile soap 10 drops essential oil (chamomile, lavender, etc.)

Strategy 3: Explore the magic powder: Baking Soda! Baking soda can be used to make just about everything. Dont believe us: Check it out! Most impressive What youll need to make every is the baking soda exfoliating scrub, which, unlike common cleaner imaginable scrubs today, doesnt contain sketchy ingredientslike White vinegar Tea tree oil those little plastic balls. This DIY face wash is refreshing and Baking soda Hydrogen peroxide soothingand anti-acne, too. Strategy 4: Ditch industrialized cleaners. Say goodbye to buying your cleaning supplies. Make every type of cleaner you can think of with just a few ingredients. Instead of wondering what kinds of toxic chemicals you
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Lemon juice Olive oil Salt Castile soap Spray bottles Reusable rags

are inhaling, absorbing, or disposing of every time your dorm room needs a spit shine, stock up on a few things and get to work! Strategy 5: Repair it, dont throw it out! Break the cycle of buy, consume, and discard. Think instead of use, repair, and repeat. Support your local community by bringing your worn out items to local businesses to be repaired. Or become a Mr./Ms. Fix-it and do-it-yourself. If you are in need of tools, check out local thrift shops (below) or hardware stores (Day Five: Energy) for what youll need.
Shoe Repair Dino's Shoe Repair 1806 Broadway New York, NY 212-397-4066 dinosshoerepair.com David's Shoe Repair 411 West 58th St New York, NY 212-265-3925 Computers & Electronics Repair NY IT Tech Wireless Solutions Geek Squad 360 West 57th St 228A Columbus Ave 1880 Broadway New York, NY New York, NY New York, NY 718-360-2750 212-300-7939 212-246-9734 nyittech.com wirelesssolutionsny.com geeksquad.com

Strategy 6: Buy used. If you have to buy something, consider buying it used first. Online thrift shops, like eBay, craigslist, or Freecycle are great places to start. To save on shipping costs and carbon emissions, visit a local thrift shop. While you are on your way there, consider cleaning out your closet and donating your gently used items.
Local Thrift Stores Housing Works 306 Columbus Ave at 74th St 212-579-7566 Housing Works 730 9th Ave at 50th St 646-963-2665 Outcasts 660 10th Ave at 46th & 47th Sts 212-974-0121 Goodwill 217 W 79th St at B'way & Amsterdam 212-874-5050

Strategy 7: Buy sustainable. When you have to buy something new, its important to know what companies and products to choose from. These two The Sustainable Shopping Principles resources will help you as an environmentally conscious shopper. First, having a set of sustainable shopping 1) Buy less - reduce, reuse, recycle principles will help you identify an eco-safe product from 2) Read the label a green rip-off. 3) Support sustainable standards 4) Look for third-party verification Second, use this corporate sustainability scorecard at 5) Choose fewer ingredients Climate Counts to see how serious companies are about 6) Pick less packaging stopping climate change - and how they compare to their 7) Buy local sector competitors.

Day 2 Tue Mar 27: Trash

Strategy 1: Make a no-trash travel kit. Set yourself up for success today by making a No Trash Travel Kit, which includes utensils, a cup, reusable bags, cloth napkins, and Tupperware. Visit the thrift stores from Day One to get most of what youll need.

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Strategy 2: Compost! You will definitely notice this on Day Four: Food, but by living a less impactful life, most of your trash will be able to be composted. So why not compost it at High School of Environmental Studies within walking distance of campus? Or find another one using this map. That is, unless you love sharing your dorm space with wiggly, slimy things (read: worms). If this is you, then check out links here and here. Strategy 3: Reduce junk mail. Most of the mail we all get today is junk; we discard it immediately. We all hate it and dont think we have any control over it. But we do! Heres an easy win-win: Cut down on trash and save some trees to boot. In addition, sign up for paperless billing options with all your accounts. Strategy 4: Make snacking sustainable. I know, vending machines seem convenient, but do they really have your best interests at heart? They are overpriced and rarely have healthy options. In addition, the individual packaging is too wasteful for my taste. Create portable snacks that drastically reduce trash. Have the added benefit of taking control over your snacking, and snack healthy. Follow these sustainable snacking tips. Or try out these great snack ideas.
Make Your Own Trail Mix Combos Raw almonds, dried apricots and mini-sized shredded wheat cereal Cashews, dried cranberries, puffed rice and toasted coconut Walnuts, golden raisins, mini pretzels and dark chocolate chips Almonds, dried blueberries, oat cereal (such as Cheerios)

Day Three Wed 3/28: Transportation

Strategy 1: Bike! In the hierarchy of No Impact transportation, walking is king. But biking is a close second. With biking you have numerous options. If you see yourself biking a lot, consider buying a used bicycle. (Consult a buying guide to be safe). If not, then consider renting or helping to shape NYCs soon-to-be newest transit option, NYC Bike Share. Biking is another win-win. Get to where you want to go and get some exercise in the process! Just make sure that you are going in the right direction with this bike map.
Eddie's Bicycle Shop 490 Amsterdam Ave at 84th St 212-580-2011 eddiesbicycles.net Used Bike Stores Recycle-a-Bicycle 75 Ave C at 6th Street 212-475-1655 recycleabicycle.org Busy Bee Bike 437 E 6th St at First Ave 212-228-2347

Bike Rentals Master Bike Shop Al's Cycle Solutions 265 W 72nd St 693 10th Ave at West End Ave at 48th St 212-580-2355 212-247-3300 masterbikeshop.com alscyclesolutions.com

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Strategy 2: Use mass transit. We have no doubt that you know how to use New York City public transit. In the event that you dont, here is a map and the best transit directions website out there, Hop Stop. In addition, here are some helpful apps, like NYC Subway, Kickmap, and RailBandit Next. Strategy 3: Offset essential travel. Listen, we all need to travel home for the holidays to visit with family, get laundry done and eat some home cooking. To offset this travel, consider buying carbon credits, which invest in activities to counteract the carbon emissions associated with your travel. There are numerous options but Terrapass and Native Energy are some of the most reputable around. Visit their websites to learn more and to calculate how much you need to offset.

Day Four Thurs 3/29: Food

Strategy 1: Buy local and seasonal (and fresh). There are a number of different options to feed your need with local and seasonal foods. One great option is local farmers markets. They promote the local economy and agriculture and allow customers to speak directly with the growers. Additional benefits include a decentralization of the food system (read: less nationwide food recalls), less packaging, and more flavor. There are two markets within a 10-15 minute walking distance at Columbus Avenue & 66th Street and Columbus Avenue & 79th Street. Or check out this map for other locations. Another equally great option is a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share or local organic food delivery service. Outside of providing a weekly basket of the freshest foods, it provides a reliable demand and income for small farmers to keep their business going. Lastly, check out this New York metro seasonal food chart when planning your buying and menus. Strategy 2: Make the weekday veg pledge. Ever wonder about becoming a vegetarian? You know that eating meat has a devastating environmental impact, but you cant bear to think that youve eaten your last hamburger or barbecue dinner. Instead of thinking in absolutes, think about making the Weekday Veg Pledge. Its easy to remember and if we as a society eat half as much meat as we used to, its like 50% of us became vegetarians! Strategy 3: Pickle and dry, oh my! Living in New York, its a fact that at some point during the winter things just stop growing. How do we continue to eat seasonally? Why not try to pickle vegetables and dry fruit to extend the New York metro areas growing season and to provide tasty homemade options. Strategy 4: Become a farmer. Well not literally, at least not yet. But you can grow some of your own food in your dorm to help offset costs and to have a little fun at the same time. Here are some DIY indoor gardening options. Just make sure to stock up on seeds!

Day Five Fri 3/30: Energy

Strategy 1: Save energy. Keep the lights off when youre not in the room, change a few lights bulbs. Here are some quick and easy ways to save energy. If you are in need of anything stop by these favorably reviewed hardware stores in the area.
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Supreme Hardware 65 W 73rd St at Columbus Ave 212-362-3555 supremehardwareny.com

Columbus Hardware 852 9th Ave at 56th St 212-265-2425

Strategy 2: Make a candle. When you are powering down today, consider making candles to burn. Beeswax candles are the easiest and cheapest ones to make. And your dorm will smell like honey! Strategy 3: Cook by the sun. What is that you ask? Although you cant cook everything via sun rays, this is a great way to drastically reduce your impact. Try solar cooking for your next meal. You can build your solar oven with just a few easy-to-find materials. Strategy 4: Stomp your clothes clean. Another great way to reduce your energy use is to consider cleaning your clothes with your feet. Fill your tub, add dirty clothes, some castile soap and baking soda, and have a stomping party!

Day Six Sat 3/31: Water

Strategy 1: Calculate your water footprint. The average American uses nearly 2,000 gallons of H20 per day. How is this possible you say? Very little of totalonly five percentis from what we actually use via toilets, sinks, and garden hoses. Most of your water footprint is hidden in the food you eat, energy you use, products you buy, and services you rely on. Find out your water footprint, and commit to saving thousands of gallons. One way to do so is to understand what products we use, food we eat, or services we rely on use the most water to produce. Strategy 2: Change your water habits. Now that you know how you are using water, you can make a few changes to create a big impact. Consider becoming a weekday vegetarian (see Day Four: Food) or pledge to take cold or shorter showers each morning. This website provides tens of other ways to have an impact.

Day Seven Sun 4/1: Giving Back

Strategy 1: Share your experience. Whether it is with friends, family, strangers, the internet or all of the above, take this opportunity to explain what you have accomplished and why you are doing it. Log onto Fordhams No Impact Week Facebook Page. Talk about your successes, mistakes, opportunities, and barriers to the changes that you went through. Have fun and be creative! Strategy 2: Volunteer at an environmental organization. If you just want to continue doing only one thing after this week is over, make sure its volunteering. The following organizations have environmental projects that align with Fordhams No Impact Week.
New York Cares is a clearing house for all things volunteer in New York City. You can sign up for a one day project or find longer-term relationships with a plethora of organizations. This link provides you a search of all environmental volunteer opportunities currently available. Page | 5

GrowNYC is a hands-on non-profit which improves New York Citys quality of life through environmental programs, farmers markets, and green space preservation. City Harvest is a non-profit with several volunteering opportunities. You can help with general office duties, organize events and food rescue activities, distribute City Harvest literature, collect canned food, or help with fundraisers. One great program is Cooking Matters, which mobilizes culinary and nutrition professionals to teach cooking classes focusing on nutrition and food budgeting to people who are at risk of hunger and malnutrition in the City. New York Restoration Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring the Citys parks, community gardens and open spaces. You can take part in projects like park beautification to larger initiatives like MillionTreesNYC. Bronx River Alliance Project works to protect, improve and restore the Bronx River corridor so that it can be a healthy ecological, recreational, educational and economic resource. Volunteer opportunities include monitoring river conditions and doing ecological restoration projects that improve water quality, stabilize the riverbanks, and improve river habitat.

Day Eight Mon 4/2: Eco-Sabbath

Strategy 1: Take a walk. For your eco-Sabbath you will attempt to slow down and try to stay off the grid. What better way to do so than to take a walk? Discover the diversity of New Yorks neighborhoods through one of the following walks The High Line is one of the newest and now trendiest green spaces in New York City. Lifted some 30 feet in the air and winding through old factories, this old elevated train track runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues. Free Tours by Foot is a great resource of free walking tours by neighborhood. Other tours are listed here and here. Central Park Conservancy also offer self guided tours. Strategy 2: Read a book. This could be for homework, I guess. But try some reading for fun or for interest. It can actually help you relax and transport you away, sometimes to a far away land. Speaking of which, why not revisit your younger days and reread a young adult classic. Make sure to get your young adult classic at the Fordham University Library, which boasts over 2 million volumes or The Strand, the largest secondhand-book store in town. It claims it has eighteen miles of books and growing. Strategy 3: Unplug and plug into a discussion. Author Sherry Turkle describes the bleak reality many of us live in. We stare into our screens while our sensual, visceral lives pass us by. Our very emotional cores, she explains, are being altered in a very real way. But its not too late! Instead of watching the latest TV show or logging mindless hours on Facebook, have a discussion with friends or enemies. What do you like about the world? What do you not like? What can you do to change and construct a new and greener future? Make sure to keep the conversation positive and spend a
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day with more face to face human interaction. Strategy 4: Play a game. Remember steal the bacon, telephone or charades? Remember crazy eights, rummy or war? When was the last time you played any one of these games? Now is the time to do so. Here are some other takes on similar group or card games. Strategy 5: Visit a destination thrift shop. Make shopping a costeffective and altruistic hobby. Destination thrift shops offer donated designer or used vintage merchandise at unbeatable prices. Consumption isnt bad if its the right kind! Strategy 6: Transform trash into treasure. Look around your house and you will find objects that can be repurposed and transformed into something completely new. Get inspiration from the sources here and here and recycle, renew and reuse.
Spence-Chapin Thrift Shop 1850 2nd Ave New York, NY 10128 (212) 426-7643 spence-chapin.org Angel Street Thrift Shop 118 W 17th St New York, NY 10011 (212) 229-0546 angelthriftshop.org Arthritis Thrift Shop 1383 Third Avenue New York, NY 10021 (212) 772-8816 Vintage Thrift 286 3rd Ave New York, NY 10010 (212) 871-0777 vintagethriftshop.org

Congratulations!
Congratulate yourself and the new community that you have made! You have limited your consumption, eliminated your trash, eaten sustainably, conserved water, reduced your energy use, and given back to your community. Most of all, you have experienced what a remarkable difference low impact living can have on your quality of life.

But your work is not done! This is just the beginning. Take a moment to reflect on each challenge. What aspects would you like to become part of your life? What other aspects do you need to improve upon? Make sure to post comments, pictures, and videos to Fordhams No Impact Week Facebook Page. Also be sure to look out for the post-week survey from the No Impact Project. Should you have any questions, comments, feedback, or ideas regarding the No Impact Project contact Lilly at lilly@noimpactproject.org. Stay in touch with the project at www.noimpactproject.org or www.facebook.com/NoImpactProject .

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Resource Directory
No Impact Week Registration http://noimpactproject.org/experiment/university-no-impact-week-registration/ Fordham University No Impact Week Facebook Group http://www.facebook.com/FordhamUniversityNoImpactWeek Day 1: Consumption The Story of Stuff Video http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-stuff/ Simply Living: How to Make Your Own Toiletries http://simplycooking.wordpress.com/2008/08/06/how-to-make-your-own-Toiletries/#2 Almanac.com: Recipes for Homemade Toiletries: Soaps, Shampoos, and More http://www.almanac.com/content/recipes-homemade-toiletries-soaps-shampoos-and-more Good.is: How to Make Your Own Beauty Products from Scratch http://www.good.is/post/how-to-make-your-own-beauty-products-from-scratch/ Good.is: Seven Surprising Ways to Use Baking Soda http://www.good.is/post/seven-surprising-ways-to-use-baking-soda/ Good.is: How to Spring Clean With Nontoxic Home-made Products http://www.good.is/post/good-instructions-how-to-spring-clean-with-nontoxic-home-madeproducts/ iFixit.com http://www.ifixit.com/Guide Dinos Shoe Repair, 1806 Broadway, 212-397-4066 http://www.dinosshoerepair.com/ Davids Shoe Repair, 411 West 58th St, 212-265-3925 NY IT Tech, 360 West 57th St, 718-360-2750 http://www.nyittech.com/ Wireless Solutions, 228A Columbus Ave, 212-300-7939 http://www.wirelesssolutionsny.com/ Geek Squad, 1880 Broadway, 212-246-9734 http://www.geeksquad.com/
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eBay.com http://www.ebay.com/ craigslist.org http://newyork.craigslist.org/ Freecycle.org http://www.freecycle.org/ Housing Works, 306 Columbus Ave, 212-579-7566 Housing Works, 730 9th Ave, 646-963-2665 Outcasts, 660 10th Ave, 212-974-0121 Goodwill, 217 West 79th St, 212-874-5050 Big Green Purse Shopping Principles http://www.biggreenpurse.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=119&Itemid=302 Climate Counts: Scorecard Overview http://www.climatecounts.org/scorecard_overview.php Day 2: Trash NYC DOE: High School of Environmental Studies, 448 W. 56th St, (212) 262-8113 http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/02/M400/default.htm Green Apple Map: NYC Compost Map http://www.greenapplemap.org/gui/assets/pdf/green_map_compost_manh07.pdf NYC.gov: Low Cost Compost Bins for New York City Residents http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/html/compost/edu_equip_order.shtml NYC.gov: Indoor Composting http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/downloads/pdf/materials/wormbin.pdf Native Forest Network: Guide to Stop Junk Mail http://www.nativeforest.org/stop_junk_mail/nfn_junk_mail_guide.htm Clear Conscience Blog: Easy Tips for Sustainable Snacking http://clearconscienceblog.tumblr.com/post/10807766468/easy-tips-for-sustainable-snacking Eat Drink Better: My Top Ten Quick, Healthy, Sustainable Snacks http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/06/13/my-top-ten-quick-healthy-sustainable-snacks/
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Day 3: Transportation Time Out New York: Cheap Bikes!!! http://newyork.timeout.com/things-to-do/this-week-in-new-york/21961/cheap-bikes Brokelyn: How to Buy a Used Bike http://www.brokelyn.com/how-to-buy-a-used-bicycle/ NYC DOT: New York City Bike Share http://a841-tfpweb.nyc.gov/bikeshare/ NYC DOT: NYC Cycling Map http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/2011_bikemap.pdf Eddies Bicycle Shop, 490 Amsterdam Ave, 212-580-2011 http://eddiesbicycles.net/ Recycle-a-Bicycle, 75 Avenue C, 212-475-1655, 212-247-3300 http://www.recycleabicycle.org/ Busy Bee Bike, 437 E 6th St, 212-228-2347 Master Bike Shop, 265 W 72nd St, 212-580-2355 http://www.masterbikeshop.com/ Als Cycle Solutions, 639 10th Avenue, 212-247-3300 http://www.alscyclesolutions.com/ MTA: NYC Subway Map http://www.mta.info/nyct/maps/submap.htm Hop Stop: Get Directions in NYC http://www.hopstop.com/search?xfr=header MTA: App Center http://www.mta.info/apps/ Terrapass: Carbon Offsets http://store.terrapass.com/store/c/18-Carbon-offsets.html Native Energy: How Carbon Offsets Work http://www.nativeenergy.com/how-carbon-offsets-work.html

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Day 4: Food GrowNYC: Tucker Square Greenmarket, 66th Street & Columbus Ave http://www.grownyc.org/tuckergreenmarket GrowNYC: 79th Street Greenmarket, 79th Street & Columbus Ave http://www.grownyc.org/77greenmarket GrowNYC: Greenmarket Map http://www.grownyc.org/files/gmkt/map.pdf Merchants Gate CSA http://www.merchantsgatecsa.org/index.html Urban Organic Food Delivery http://www.urbanorganic.com/ Pride of New York: Harvest Dates http://www.prideofny.com/harvest.html TED.com: Why I'm a Weekday Vegetarian http://www.ted.com/talks/graham_hill_weekday_vegetarian.html Taste for Adventure: How to Pickle Vegetables http://taste-for-adventure.tablespoon.com/2011/08/27/how-to-pickle-vegetables/ wikiHow: How to Make Dried Fruit http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Dried-Fruit Good.is: Watch Your Garden Grow http://www.good.is/post/watch-your-garden-grow/ Harris Seeds http://www.harrisseeds.com/storefront/default.aspx Day 5: Energy Dominion Energy: Energy Saving Tips for Your Dorm Room http://e-conserve.blogspot.com/2009/08/energy-saving-tips-for-your-dorm-room.html Supreme Hardware, 65 W 73rd St, 212-362-3555 http://supremehardwareny.com/ Columbus Hardware, 852 9th Avenue, 212-265-2425

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Candleinstructions.com: How to Make Beeswax Candles http://candle-instructions.com/how-to-make-beeswax-candles/ How Stuff Works: How to Use a Solar Cooker http://home.howstuffworks.com/solar-cooker-tips-advice.htm Instructables: The $5 Solar Oven http://www.instructables.com/id/The-5-6-Solar-Oven/ Instructables: DIY Laundry Detergent http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-laundry-detergent-bathroom-cleaner-kitchen/ No Impact Man Blog: A Grape Stompers Laundry Day http://noimpactman.typepad.com/blog/2007/04/a_grape_stomper.html Day 6: Water National Geographic: Water Footprint Calculator http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/water-footprint-calculator/ The Guardian: The Hidden Cost of Your Food and Drink http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2008/aug/19/water.food?picture=336718185 Grace Communications: H20 Conserve, Water Savings Tips http://www.h2oconserve.org/?page_id=3&pd=tip Day 7: Giving Back Huffington Post: Inspirational Stories from No Impact Week http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/29/inspirational-stories-fro_n_335534.html Fordham University No Impact Week Facebook Group http://www.facebook.com/FordhamUniversityNoImpactWeek New York Cares http://www.nycares.org/volunteer/volunteer_opportunities/search_projects/index.php?projecttyp e=Environment&location=&neighborhood=&trains=&timeofday=&dow=&dateM=&dateD=&dateY= &description=&projname=&sortoption=date&omitFull=1&x=27&y=5&pass=1&page=1 GrowNYC http://www.grownyc.org/volunteer-opportunities City Harvest http://www.cityharvest.org/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities/

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New York Restoration Project http://www.nyrp.org/Greening_Sustainability/NYRP_Volunteer_Corps Bronx River Alliance Project http://bronxriver.org/?pg=content&p=getinvolved&m1=33 Day 8: Eco-Sabbath High Line http://www.thehighline.org/ Free Tours by Foot http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com/new-york-tours/default.asp New York Magazine: Walk This Way http://nymag.com/guides/cheap/walkingtours/ Walking Off the Big Apple http://www.walkingoffthebigapple.com/ Cincinnati Library: Classic Novels Book List http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org/booklists/?id=classics Fordham University Libraries http://www.library.fordham.edu/information/about.html The Strand http://www.strandbooks.com/ Solutions Journal http://www.thesolutionsjournal.com/ Helium: Part Game Review, Salad Bowl http://www.helium.com/items/1529317-party-game-review-of-salad-bowl
Bicycle Card Games http://www.bicyclecards.com/card-games/rules CBS New York: NYCs 5 Best Thrift Shops http://newyork.cbslocal.com/guide/nyc-guide-to-thrift-shopping/

Young House Love: Waste Not Want Not http://www.younghouselove.com/2009/02/waste-not-want-not/ DIY Inspired: Repurposing Ideas http://www.diyinspired.com/tag/repurposing-ideas/
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