Sustainable Ways to Stay Cool This Summer

Woman laying on couch looking hot waving a fan to cool down.

1. Block out the Sun

One of the easiest ways to keep your space cooler is by managing sunlight. Use curtains or blinds during the hottest parts of the day to block direct sunlight, especially on east- and west-facing windows. In the evening and early morning, you can open your windows to let in a cool breeze. Creating cross-ventilation with windows on opposite sides of a room can help naturally lower temperatures.ย 

2. Use Fans Instead of Air Conditioning

Fans use significantly less energy than air conditioning and can make a room feel cooler quickly. Ceiling fans, box fans, or portable fans all help improve airflow. If you do use AC, set the thermostat to a moderate temperature and try to keep usage during peak hours (2-7 pm) to a minimum.

3. Regulate your Body Temperature

Wearing breathable, loose-fitting clothing and staying hydrated are simple ways to stay cool. Reusable water bottles are an easy way to stay hydrated, as there are refill stations all over campus and across town. Many campuses organizations often give out water bottles as freebies during the first week of school, keep your eyes out!

4. Unplug Heat-Producing Devices

Electronics, lights, nd appliances give off heat when on. Turn off or unplug devices when you’re not using them, especially during the day. Cooking with a microwave or eating no-cook meals like salads can also help reduce indoor heat compared to using a stove or oven.ย 

By making a few small adjustments, you can stay cool, lower your energy use, and reduce your carbon footprint.ย 

International House & University Village 1500 CAM-Unity August

Popular Fort Collins Events: August 2025

August 2 & 3 ย 
Fort Collins Art Festival
The Fort Collins Art Festival is northern Colorado’s biggest and best showcase of fine visual art and handcrafted goods along with live music and community fun. The Fort Collins Art Festival is an annual summer celebration that features high quality art, hand crafted goods, local merchants, live music, and a whole lot more.
Old Town Fort Collins (Linden Street)
Saturday: 11am to 7pm; Sunday 11am โ€“ 6pm
Source: coloradoevents.org/fortcollinsartfestival

August 16

Fort Collins Peach Festival

The Peach Festival, hosted by the Rotary Clubs of Fort Collins, is a fundraiser for Northern Colorado non-profit organizations. Hosted each year at Civic Center Park!ย 

The festival will feature live music, local beer & drink vendors, food trucks, local businesses & street vendors.

Time: 11am-7pm

Entry fee: $10.00

(Source: fortcollinspeachfestival.com)

August 23
Tour de Fat
โ€œBikes, Beer, and Bemusementโ€ is the slogan for this annual costumed bike and beer parade and festival taking place in August of 2025. Hosted by New Belgium Brewing, this bike parade gone wild is an annual event that draws crowds from near and far. Dress up in your craziest costumes, hop on a bike, and participate in this downtown bike parade ending in a celebration of New Belgium craft beer, bicycles, and music.
Time: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Photo credit: https://www.visitftcollins.com/

University Village 1600 & 1700 CAM-Unity August

Recipe: Ginger Chicken Karahi

One of those staple recipes from Pakistanโ€”this Ginger Chicken Karahi is bold, quick, and downright addictive. This restaurant-style recipe is an absolute hit every time I make it! Packed with bold ginger flavor and a rich tomato base, itโ€™s super quick (just 30 minutes!) and incredibly versatileโ€”add extra green chilies or black pepper if you like more heat.

ย 

Recipe Credit and Video: Aqsaโ€™s Cuisine

Ingredients:

  • Boneless Chicken 2lbs
  • Oil 1/2 cup
  • Ginger (2 1/2 inch pieces)ย 
  • Salt 3/4 tbsp
  • Tomato 900g
  • Black Pepper 1/2 tbsp
  • Green Chilies 8-10
  • Unsalted Butter 80g
  • Cilantro

Cooking Method:

  1. Add oil to a pan and add the sliced ginger to the oil and let it fry for a minute or so. Make sure the color of the ginger doesn’t change.
  2. Once the ginger has been fried, add the chicken and the sale. Mix the chicken on high heat and let it release its water.
  3. Let the dish cook on high flame to dry the water, stirring occasionally.
  4. Once the water is dry, add in the tomatoes and wait for them to release their water. Once the tomatoes release their water, cover the pan and let the dish cook on high heat for 5-8 minutes.
  5. Mix the chicken once the water reduces to about half. At this time, add black pepper (as per your taste preferences), the green chilies (sliced in half), and the unsalted butter.ย 
  6. Keep mixing until the butter has melted and teh gravy has been reduced.
  7. Add cilantro and mix it well once. Then cover and let it cook for another 5 minutes or till the oil is released.
  8. Once you see the oil, remove the cover and garnish with ginger, cilantro, and green chilies.

Residence Halls & Aggie Village CAM-Unity August

Sustainable Ways to Stay Cool This Summer

Woman laying on couch looking hot waving a fan to cool down.

Temperatures are high in Fort Collins, and you’re probably looking for some ways to stay cool. Here are four easy, energy-conscious ways to beat the heat while minimizing your environmental impact.

Logo for the Colorado State University Lagoon Concert Series. The words "Lagoon Concert Series" appear in teal, with the two "O"s in "Lagoon" stylized as musical notes. "Colorado State University" is written in smaller dark green text beneath the logo on a white background.

๐“๐ก๐ž ๐‹๐š๐ ๐จ๐จ๐ง ๐‚๐จ๐ง๐œ๐ž๐ซ๐ญ ๐’๐ž๐ซ๐ข๐ž๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฏ๐จ๐ญ๐ž๐ #๐Ÿ ๐๐ž๐ฌ๐ญ ๐Ž๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐จ๐จ๐ซ ๐‚๐จ๐ง๐œ๐ž๐ซ๐ญ! The lagoon is your midweek summer escape for great live music, food and fun. Located at the scenic lagoon at Colorado State University, the free Lagoon Summer Concert Series is a staple of the Northern Colorado music scene and is the place to be Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. โ€“ 8:30 p.m. June 11 through July 23! Select nights will feature youth openers from 6:00 p.m. โ€“ 6:20 p.m. From theme nights to delicious food trucks, interactive booths, and giveaways, thereโ€™s something for everyone to enjoy. Please see ourย FAQ pageย for more information on what to expect!

Residence Halls & Aggie Village CAM-Unity July

Logo for the Colorado State University Lagoon Concert Series. The words "Lagoon Concert Series" appear in teal, with the two "O"s in "Lagoon" stylized as musical notes. "Colorado State University" is written in smaller dark green text beneath the logo on a white background.

๐“๐ก๐ž ๐‹๐š๐ ๐จ๐จ๐ง ๐‚๐จ๐ง๐œ๐ž๐ซ๐ญ ๐’๐ž๐ซ๐ข๐ž๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฏ๐จ๐ญ๐ž๐ #๐Ÿ ๐๐ž๐ฌ๐ญ ๐Ž๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐จ๐จ๐ซ ๐‚๐จ๐ง๐œ๐ž๐ซ๐ญ! The lagoon is your midweek summer escape for great live music, food and fun. Located at the scenic lagoon at Colorado State University, the free Lagoon Summer Concert Series is a staple of the Northern Colorado music scene and is the place to be Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. โ€“ 8:30 p.m. June 11 through July 23! Select nights will feature youth openers from 6:00 p.m. โ€“ 6:20 p.m. From theme nights to delicious food trucks, interactive booths, and giveaways, thereโ€™s something for everyone to enjoy. Please see ourย FAQ pageย for more information on what to expect!

International House & University Village 1500 CAM-Unity July

July Newsletter

As the seasons shift from spring into summer, many of us have noticed Canada geese making themselves at home in our communityโ€”nesting near walkways, swimming in ponds, and crossing roads with fluffy goslings in tow. While these birds bring a unique connection to nature, we must understand how to coexist with them safely and respectfully throughout their seasonal cycles.

๐Ÿšซ Why We Shouldn't Feed the Geese

Though it might seem like a kind gesture to offer bread or snacks, feeding geese does far more harm than good.

  • Poor Nutrition:ย Human foods like bread and chips can lead to malnourishment and deformities, such as “angel wing”, especially in goslings.
  • Behavioral Problems: Fed geese may stop migrating, become aggressive, and crowd around people expecting handouts (food and water).
  • Environmental Impact: Feeding encourages overpopulation, which leads to excessive droppings on sidewalks, playgrounds, and nearby water, contributing to poor water quality.
  • Legal and Maintenance Concerns: In many areas, feeding wildlife is prohibited. It also burdens our ground staff with managing goose-related messes and damage.

๐Ÿฃ Don't Disturb Goose Eggs or Nests

During spring, geese build nests and fiercely protect their eggs. Canada geese are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, meaning:

  • Touching or moving eggs/nests is illegal without federal permission.
  • Even well-meaning actions like “relocating” a nest can cause harm.
  • Adult geese may become aggressive if they perceive a threat to their young.

If you see a nest in a problematic location (e.g., doorways, sidewalks, or play areas), notify community management immediately. Only licensed wildlife professionals are allowed to intervene.ย 

โ˜€๏ธ Summer Goose Safety: Sharing the Outdoors

By early summer, goslings grow quickly and explode under their parents’ watchful eyes. Meanwhile, adult geese enter a molting phase (June-July) where they cannot fly and may gather in shaded areas or near sprinklers.

Here’s how to enjoy summer safely:

  • ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™‚๏ธ Give geese space, especially parents with goslings.
  • ๐Ÿงบ Keep picnics goose-free by not leaving food or crumbs behind.
  • ๐Ÿง’ Teach kids to observe, not interact. No chasing or petting goslings.

โœ… How the Community Can Help

  • Admire wildlife from a distance.
  • Avoid feeding any wildlife.
  • Report concerns to the community coordinator on duty (970-567-6186)

๐ŸŽจ Paint-a-Goose! ๐Ÿชฟ
Show Your Creativity!

Join our “Paint a Goose” community art presentation this summer. Use your imagination to create a colorful, creative, or nature-inspired version of a goose. Below is an example of what can be used!

Submit your artwork to theย Community Desk by July 23rd!

Campus Resource Spotlight: Morgan Library

Tucked right in the heart of CSUโ€™s campus, the Morgan Library isnโ€™t just another buildingโ€”itโ€™s a dynamic hub of learning, creativity, and community!

With a massive collection of over 2 million books, journals, and online databases, itโ€™s the perfect place to power through research projects or crush your next big assignment. Need a study spot? Youโ€™re covered! Choose from quiet individual carrels for solo focus sessions or group study rooms for productive collaboration. Plus, the computer labs are packed with the latest software and tech, giving you all the digital tools you need to succeed.

And when you need a break? Swing by Morganโ€™s Grind, the cozy on-site cafรฉ, for a quick bite or a much-needed caffeine boost.

So why not stop by and see for yourself? Whether youโ€™re tracking down the perfect source, searching for a quiet nook to study, or just grabbing a latte between classes, the Morgan Library has everything you need. The friendly staff is always happy to help with research or answer questionsโ€”so donโ€™t hesitate to say hello! Make it a part of your CSU experience and take full advantage of this incredible resource.