What We're Doing at
NOLS Alaska

Recycling

• We recycle all accepted items at the local center, where NOLS is a member and some staff regularly volunteer.

Being Organic

• All our kitchen vegetable leftovers are composted. The compost is used in the garden and on lawns.
• We use organic fertilizers on the lawn and have an organic garden that produces over 1000 pounds of produce per year for use in our kitchen. We are expanding the garden in 2008.
• We are buying much of our food locally, including potatoes, carrots and organically raised beef.

Efficiency

• All of our exit sign lights now use low-voltage, long lasting bulbs.
• We have been using compact florescent light bulbs (low wattage) for many years.
• Our bathrooms are all equipped with low-flow showerheads and pressure-assisted toilets.
• Summer community housing (non-electrified cabins and wall tents) and shared cooking is located on-site to create lower than average per capita energy consumption.
• Wastewater from our newly installed cleaning area goes into the septic system.

Projects

• Photo: Don Ford

  Our staff house is being remodeled. Some of the environmental features include soy-based foam insulation, a high efficiency gas furnace, insulated windows which will match the historical look of the original house, and a waterless urinal. All the old siding is being reused in other building projects, we recycled the old copper wiring, and we're saving the original windows for a future greenhouse.

Goals

• Install AC wind generator.
• Investigate using bio diesel in buses.
• Investigate solar power for water heating in the summer.