#STOTW –
The idea of “Going Green” is becoming increasingly more popular, as we begin to understand the anthropogenic impact on the environment. This has taken the form of a growing number of initiatives on the local and global scale. It has also translated to the classroom, largely in higher education. Below are some of the ways colleges and universities have joined the sustainable movement:
- Sustainable Housing – Floors or dorms with a sustainable focus, or retrofitted buildings to meet green standards
- Environmental Degrees -Majors like sustainable agriculture, natural resource conservation, and more that allow students to focus on the environment
- Green Buildings – Follow green regulations, like the LEED rating system
- Offering and Emphasizing Alternative Transport – Encouraging students to ride their bikes around campus, use ride-sharing programs, or bike rental programs
- Shuttle Busses – Many colleges use shuttle busses to get students around campus, so that they don’t need cars
- Greening of the Energy Supply – Divesting from fossil fuels, and switching to cleaner forms of energy to power the school
- Recycling Programs – College students produce a lot of waste each year, so a comprehensible recycling and waste program is important
- Water Bottle Refill Stations – Having refill stations around campus encourages students to use their reusable water bottles
And here are some ways students can take action on their own:
- Joining Bike/Ride-Sharing Programs
- Using reusable bags for groceries/shopping
- Unplugging all devices when not in use
- Reusable water bottles and mugs
- LED bulbs
- Watching your water usage
- Reduce, reuse, recycle!
Sources – “Going Green at School” and “Going Green on Campus”
Written by: Teddi Shapiro, class of 2018
Image thanks to Pixabay