In “Hot, Flat, and Crowded” one of the Thomas Friedman’s early points about global warming is that a degree or two makes a big difference in our environment.

That sentiment applies to the summer we are having here in Chicago. As I write this, we are on the verge of experiencing a summer with no 90 degree days for the first time. Our days have topped out at about 82 degrees, with nights that are rather cool. Air conditioning bills are down around the city as humid air has been replaced by conditions more akin to San Diego than to the Midwest.

This unexpected weather pattern makes Friedman’s point rather well. Here we are at the apex of summer, the time when we are generally used to sweating through a T-shirt by lunch, and the weather has been decidedly mild. It has changed how we go about our days this summer. For example, instead of running in the pre-daylight hours to avoid oppressive heat, runners are taking advantage of the lakefront trails all day and night.

All that has caused these changes is a 3-5 degree variation in the temperature outside. We have changed how we operate in response to this weather.

If global warming happens, and the average temperature of the planet goes up a couple of degrees, it is hard to see how it would not force use to make adjustments. Perhaps the adjustments would be welcome, but they could be adjustments we’d rather not make.

Regardless, this summer should remind us that regardless of our stance on the reality of global warming, a couple of degrees in either direction on our thermometers can make a tremendous difference in our lives and in our world.

Our world is hot, flat and crowded.  You kind of knew that already and maybe you’ve even made some progress towards reducing your impact- you’ve replaced the light bulbs in your house with CFLs.  You turn out the lights and unplug items not in use in your office and at home. But you can’t afford to buy a Prius or install a solar panel.  And you don’t control how energy is used across campus and are feeling a lack of control over what else you can do to have an impact on our climate.

There is one very simple thing every one of us can do, every day, that has an impact.  Recycle. Simply placing disposable items in one bin over another has an impact on our climate.  Many think of recycling as a way to preserve landfill space and control litter.  Really recycling is a way to more efficiently use our natural resources and to conserve energy used to make new products. And in turn reduce the impact on climate change.

According to the US EPA, “Increasing our national recycling rate from its current level of 27 percent to 35 percent would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 11.4 million metric tons of carbon equivalent (MTCE, the basic unit of measure for greenhouse gases) over landfilling the same material.”

Where are we at NU in this effort?  We recycle more than 1,500 tons each year on campus.  Last year, the total represented a 30% recycling rate.  This translates to:

• 690 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions avoided—equivalent to removing 604 cars from US roads
• 19.7 Million BTUs of energy saved – the electricity needed to power 193 homes
• 1065 tons of air emissions avoided
• 4.4 million gallons of water saved

Check out the NU Recycling Environmental Impact Report.  For more about the link between climate change, waste and recycling, click here.

Reduce your waste, reuse when possible and recycle all you can.  Recycling itself won’t stop climate change, change consumption or slow population growth.  But it WILL contribute to less energy usage, reduced demand on resources, and hopefully create a greater awareness of the impact of consumption and disposal.

Welcome to the blog for “One Book One Northwestern,” a campus-wide project at Northwestern University designed to foster common intellectual discourse among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members. During the 2009-2010 academic year, we are reading Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution – And How it Can Renew America by New York Times journalist and three-time Pulitzer Prize winner Thomas L. Friedman.

Hot, Flat, and Crowded considers several timely and compelling topics important to humankind and the natural world in which we live, including climate change, energy, economics, globalization, sustainability, ethics, and health to name a few. Accordingly, we’ve assembled a group of knowledgeable faculty, staff, students, and friends from the University community to highlight these and other topics, and discuss their thoughts and opinions with you. We invite you to participate in the One Book blog, keeping in mind our simple rule- please respect other participants at all times. Join us!