They say going green is a way of life, so naturally our sustainable practices are reflected in the spaces which we live. GreenSpace is the University of Rochester’s first special interest housing opportunity dedicated for students who wish to live a sustainable lifestyle. The 2011-2012 academic year has been the pilot year for GreenSpace. In addition to raising awareness for environmental issues on campus, the group members’ mission is to learn from each other and to build a more sustainable community together.
GreenSpace works in conjunction with University Facilities and Services to meet their mission for a more sustainable living space. Upon the group’s request, Facilities installed a water bottle refill-station right in the resident hall, to make reducing plastic bottle usage easier. The group also received permission to install shower timers that are set at five minutes in effort to conserve water usage.
The group has hosted several events on campus throughout the year, including their most successful effort, a sustainable fashion show. Recycle the Runway was held in honor of America Recycles Day and called on different student groups to create an ensemble made from materials that are commonly disposed of, to be modeled in front of an audience. The event blended fun with education; the show’s two masters of ceremonies explained whether or not the materials modeled could be recycled and why. The group was fortunate enough to receive coupons for 30 free burritos from Chipotle which was the prize awarded to the top winner.
Plans are in the works to host “Do it in the Dark”, an event co-sponsored by University Health Services. This unique event is dedicated to educating students not only on practicing safe sex, but also to do so in a sustainable manner. The event will feature green sex products and information on saving energy whilst having sex (i.e. turning off lights). The group also hopes to work with the student theatre group TOOP to have an energy-free outdoor play festival later this year.
GreenSpace currently has 37 members; 15 residential and 22 non-residential. The residents occupy one-half of the first floor of Burton Hall. Going forward, GreenSpace hopes to expand. The group is anticipating doubling in size during the 2012-2013 academic year, and will continue to live in Burton Hall. “I’d love to see GreenSpace get really big,” says GreenSpace Public Relations manager, Melissa Kullman. I think that the mission is currently so relevant to what’s going on in the world, and that we can serve an influential presence on campus in educating other students.”
For more information on GreenSpace, check out their Facebook page or https://sites.google.com/site/urgreenspace/.
I love to carve yard debris wood.The homeowners and arborists are happy to give it to me and avoid a trip to the landfill. These are such beautiful pieces, and such a great idea