How to be more green around grounds
Get the bus – when you can catch it
Like many other schools around the country, UVA is moving forward on a sustainable tract. We spoke with Althea Pickering, Greg Richmond, and Megan McDaniels, the Outreach Team Leaders for Sustainable Advocates about sustainability and why students should care.
Greg says, “Sustainability means making easy everyday choices that are good for the environment and the earth, and those everyday choices turn into a culture or way of living sustainable: being smart about what resources you use and conscious of our environment.”
As Megan says, “A school that is truly sustainable provides opportunities to learn about all facets of sustainability in the classroom through a variety of curriculum and beyond by supporting research, community partnerships, and student organizations that allow these lessons to be applied in a meaningful way.”
So what can you do to make a difference?
Here are the main eight ways, and you are probably doing half of them already:
- Take the bus (when you can catch it)
- Carpool
- Turn of the lights
- Unplug your chargers
- Use reusables
- Know what to recycle and how
- Go meatless (at least one day a week)
- Join Sustainable Advocates
Sustainability Advocates are students dedicated to promoting and organizing events on Grounds that promote and educate students on sustainable practices.
They put on many sustainable events to get students engage like Recyclemania, Game Day Challenge, Dorm Energy Race, World Water Day, and Earth Week.
Althea said her favorite event was “Earth week last year. We made a tree out of recyclables to collect ideas or pledges about for the Five Year Sustainability Plan.”
The Sustainability Advocates is a branch of the Office of Sustainability and in four years it has grown from a group of 20 to a mass of 75. Even though it is a huge program, it is comprised of small groups of about 10 people.
There are few requirements, but the program provides a lot of benefits such as networking opportunities, socializing with like-minded friends, and leadership roles.
Meetings are every other Tuesday at 6:15pm and participation is necessary at two of the many events they put on. The application is due this Friday so check out this link to learn more.
Let’s rely more on innovative energy sources and less on the ancient ones! You can make a change for greener Grounds today.