RAS Basic Subject Areas

General Environment

  1. Champion the External Environment
  2. Inventory the Internal Environment
  3. Advocate for Air Pollution Measurements
  4. Install Privacy Barriers
  5. Plant Vegetative Noise Barriers
  6. Add Houseplants
  7. Create Smoke-Free Zones
  8. Remove Toxic Chemicals
    • Asbestos
    • Paints/solvents/formaldehyde
  9. Establish a Chemical-Free Interior
  10. Reduce Noise as a Greater Community Goal
  11. Create Quiet Zones
  12. Remove Visual Pollution

Physical Facilities

  1. Determine Space Needs/Analysis Storage Space
  2. Possible Green Housing
  3. Build Hermitages
  4. Use Native Materials/Recycled Materials
  5. Install Personal Safety Measures ADA
  6. Reserve Interior Sacred Space Worship Space
  7. Make Roadways Safer Roadways
  8. Consider Solar Entrance Signs Entrance
  9. Expand Recreational Facilities
    • Health Rooms
    • Walking/Jogging/Exercise Space
  10. Consider Green Construction Methods
  11. Use Rooms in Multiple Ways
  12. Tear Down Unused but Dangerous Building

Land Resources

  1. Develop a Land Use Plan
  2. Consider Fruit and Nut Trees and Trellises
  3. Remove Exotic Species
  4. Address Soil Erosion/cover crops
  5. Reduce Lawn/Create a Wildscape Wildscape
  6. Label Trees and Wildflower Areas
  7. Create a Labyrinth
  8. Redesign Cemetery Grounds Outdoor Sacred sites
  9. Consider Woodland Inventory/Remediation
  10. Initiate a Tree Planting Program
  11. Install a Prairie Meadow
  12. Create a Sustainable Forest Zone

Water Resources

  1. Introduce Aquaculture
  2. Refurbish Cisterns
  3. Consider Water Conservation Measures
  4. Restore Wetlands
  5. Build a Lake Lakes/Aquaculture
  6. Create a Harmony of land and water
    • Water Foundations Water Fountains
    • Garden Pools Garden Pool
    • Waterfalls ... Fish Tanks
  7. Install Water Purification Units
  8. Convert to Chlorine-free Water
  9. Use Lake Water for Irrigation
  10. Protect Fish Species in Lake
  11. Plant Native Wetland Species Around the Lake
  12. Celebrate Water Water Celebration

Wildlife Management

  1. Construct a Nature Trail
  2. Institute Wildlife Management Practices
  3. Create a Bird Sanctuary
  4. Inventory Local Wildlife
  5. Encourage Selected Wildlife
  6. Learn to Live with Abundant Wildlife
  7. Discourage Deer ...Geese ...Groundhogs
  8. Have a Migratory Bird Count
  9. Know the Local Insect Population
  10. What are Pests and What are Friends?

Energy Conservation and Alternatives

  1. Consider Solar Potential
    • Solar Greenhouses Solar Compost Toilets
    • Photovoltaics Solar Water Pumps
    • Space Heating Solar Food Dryers
    • Solar Water Heating Solar Food Cookers
  2. Consider Natural Conservation Measures
    • Wind Barriers
    • Shade Trees
  3. Install Energy Efficient Insulation
  4. Practice Energy Conservation in Appliances
    • Cooling AC Units
    • Heating
  5. Check for Energy Use in Lighting
  6. Establish Heating and Cooling Comfort Zones
  7. Champion Natural Ventilation
  8. Think Wind Power ... Wood Heating ...Geothermal
  9. Create Insulated Window Shades
  10. Replace Incandescent by Fluorescent Lighting
  11. Create an Energy Reduction Committee
  12. What About Heat Pumps?

Food and Gardening

  1. Use Locally Grown Organic Garden 11 Reasons
  2. Create an Edible Landscape
  3. Start Nutrition Awareness Programs
  4. Use Solar Cookers/Food Dryers
  5. Preserve Food in a Root Cellar Root Cellars
  6. Create a Floral/Veggie Garden
  7. Consider Food/Garden Celebrations
  8. Champion Herbal Gardens
  9. Promote Community Gardens ...CSAs
  10. Prune Fruit Trees

Waste Management

  1. Construct a Dry Compost Toilet
  2. Couple this with Constructed Wetlands
  3. Institute a Waste Recycling Program
  4. Purchase only Post-consumer Recycled Products
  5. Make Waste Collection Areas Visible
  6. Cut out Styrofoam Cups
  7. Compost Kitchen and Yard Wastes
  8. Have or Help Sponsor Annual Yard Sales
  9. Form a Litter Cleanup Committee
  10. Clean up Old Junk Place

Transportation

  1. Manage Automobiles Wisely
  2. Use Public Transportation
  3. Expand Use of Alternative Vehicles
    • Solar Electric
    • Hydrogen-Fueled
    • Natural Gas
  4. Plan Peak Load Parking
  5. Create Ecological Parking Spaces
  6. Promote Green Driving Methods
  7. Consider Virtual Travel Options ...Pilgrimage
  8. Consider Bikes on Campus
  9. Develop a Car-Pooling Program
  10. Buy Energy-efficient Vehicles

Community Relations & Planning

  1. Enlist Local Support/ Do Outreach
  2. Develop Outdoor Sacred Sites
  3. Plan for Community Fairs
  4. Celebrate the Natural Features Day
  5. Have a Public Tree-Planting Event
  6. Redo Uniform Signage
  7. Consider Alternative Land Options Entrustment
  8. Create a Heritage Area Community History
  9. Establish an Accessible Eco-Corner
  10. Host Community Environmental Concerns Meetings
Supplemental Subject Areas

for further information.