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| Join the Sustainability Committee educate UNCW about making Teal the new Green. Happy Sustainability Week 2012! |
Monday, April 16, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Don't Have to Bag Out with your Wag-Out!
UNCW Campus Dining does a great job of giving students several dining options- at any time during the day!
Wag-Out, attached to Wagoner Hall, is one of these great locations that offers a quick, grab-an-go type meal option. Whether you're in the mood for pasta, pizza, or sandwiches, Wag-Out has lunch choices that could please any UNCW student.
Last week, after our weekly HRL Sustainability Committee meeting, I went to Wag-Out to grab a lunch before completing the rest of my afternoon tasks. Our meeting was different last week as we had a representative of Campus Dining attend and inform us/remind us of all of the great ways Campus Dining is functioning sustainably. A topic of particular interest to me was our discussion on plastic bags being used at Wag-Out and the POD markets for items that could easily be stored in bookbags, purses, or even hands.
It was this conversation that inspired me to change my plastic bag habits.
At Wag-Out following the meeting, I went to the register to offer my OneCard as payment for my meal (a turkey sandwich, bag of pretzels, and a banana for anyone that's interested) and when asked if I wanted a bag, I declined politely, explaining that I could just carry it. A guy I knew was next to me in line and looked at me funny with my hands full. I smiled and nodded and suggested he should be sustainable do the same!
Guy: *laughs* Why?
Me: It's the right thing to do!
Later on, I logged onto my Facebook and had a wall post from the same guy:
As long as you can inspire one person, that's a start.
For statistics on plastic bag consumption and recycling (or lack thereof), visit:
http://inspirationgreen.com/plastic-bag-stats.html
Stay sustainable, Seahawks!
- Laura Beard
HRL Sustainability Committee Member
Wag-Out, attached to Wagoner Hall, is one of these great locations that offers a quick, grab-an-go type meal option. Whether you're in the mood for pasta, pizza, or sandwiches, Wag-Out has lunch choices that could please any UNCW student.
Last week, after our weekly HRL Sustainability Committee meeting, I went to Wag-Out to grab a lunch before completing the rest of my afternoon tasks. Our meeting was different last week as we had a representative of Campus Dining attend and inform us/remind us of all of the great ways Campus Dining is functioning sustainably. A topic of particular interest to me was our discussion on plastic bags being used at Wag-Out and the POD markets for items that could easily be stored in bookbags, purses, or even hands.
It was this conversation that inspired me to change my plastic bag habits.
At Wag-Out following the meeting, I went to the register to offer my OneCard as payment for my meal (a turkey sandwich, bag of pretzels, and a banana for anyone that's interested) and when asked if I wanted a bag, I declined politely, explaining that I could just carry it. A guy I knew was next to me in line and looked at me funny with my hands full. I smiled and nodded and suggested he should be sustainable do the same!
Guy: *laughs* Why?
Me: It's the right thing to do!
Later on, I logged onto my Facebook and had a wall post from the same guy:
As long as you can inspire one person, that's a start.
For statistics on plastic bag consumption and recycling (or lack thereof), visit:
http://inspirationgreen.com/plastic-bag-stats.html
Stay sustainable, Seahawks!
- Laura Beard
HRL Sustainability Committee Member
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Sustainable Spring Semester
Welcome back to school, Seahawks!
As we are sure you checked our last post on traveling sustainably, we are hoping you stayed green over the break and are ready to begin a new green initiative this semester! Here a few helpful tips in staying sustainable this spring:
For those of you that live in the Seahawk areas (Crossing, Village, Landing) and the University Suites, and are able to set your thermostat to your favorite temperature, remember it's always better to SAVE ENERGY.
Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs and for the university and to spare certain resources involved with the energy created to heat and cool our apartments!
Unplug appliances when you're not using them.
This eliminates the usage of "phantom" or "vampire" energy, a small amount of energy that is being wasted when our hair straighters, blow dryers, fans, and computers are not being used.
For those of you in traditional academic housing, utilize the green buttons when washing clothes. These functions typically wash the clothes in cold water. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
Also, feel free to use a drying rack when applicable in order to cut down on some of the energy associated with the dryer machines.
Less gas = more money (and better health!).
Walk or bike to class or work. This saves on gas and parking costs (and the cost of parking tickets! yikes!) while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
Eat smart.
If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs. Eating healthier just might help you in accomplishing your New Year's resolution!
If eating on campus, consider local and/or organic options like The Green Spot at Hawk's Nest or the Chef's Table at wag. These locations often offer locally raised, humane, and organic meet, eggs, and dairy products. The money used to purchase these products from local farmers means that we, as Seahawks, are keeping money in the local Wilmington and surrounding economies.
Skip the bottled water.
There are great reusable water bottles out there in stores available for purchase! Some include a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
Bring this reusable water bottle (preferably aluminum rather than plastic) with you to class, work, or meetings. It will keep you hydrated and eco-friendly!
Think before you buy.
Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products. This can be applied to textbooks ($$$$), clothes, room decor, and much more. This will save you money and more than likely keep money within the local economies.
When items can be borrowed, go for it!
Buy items in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
Invest in high quality, long lasting products. It will be worth it in the end when you don't have to replace the item as frequently.
In general, it is important to remember not to waste our resources. Take quicker showers, turn lights off behind you, and recycle items in the blue bins and designated containers in your residence areas.
If you have any additional tips you'd like to provide (maybe a certain way you've found has worked for you!), feel free to comment on this post and share with us.
Good luck this semester!
- HRL Sustainability Committee
As we are sure you checked our last post on traveling sustainably, we are hoping you stayed green over the break and are ready to begin a new green initiative this semester! Here a few helpful tips in staying sustainable this spring:
For those of you that live in the Seahawk areas (Crossing, Village, Landing) and the University Suites, and are able to set your thermostat to your favorite temperature, remember it's always better to SAVE ENERGY.
Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs and for the university and to spare certain resources involved with the energy created to heat and cool our apartments!
Unplug appliances when you're not using them.
This eliminates the usage of "phantom" or "vampire" energy, a small amount of energy that is being wasted when our hair straighters, blow dryers, fans, and computers are not being used.
For those of you in traditional academic housing, utilize the green buttons when washing clothes. These functions typically wash the clothes in cold water. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
Also, feel free to use a drying rack when applicable in order to cut down on some of the energy associated with the dryer machines.
Less gas = more money (and better health!).
Walk or bike to class or work. This saves on gas and parking costs (and the cost of parking tickets! yikes!) while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
Eat smart.
If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs. Eating healthier just might help you in accomplishing your New Year's resolution!
If eating on campus, consider local and/or organic options like The Green Spot at Hawk's Nest or the Chef's Table at wag. These locations often offer locally raised, humane, and organic meet, eggs, and dairy products. The money used to purchase these products from local farmers means that we, as Seahawks, are keeping money in the local Wilmington and surrounding economies.
Skip the bottled water.
There are great reusable water bottles out there in stores available for purchase! Some include a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
Bring this reusable water bottle (preferably aluminum rather than plastic) with you to class, work, or meetings. It will keep you hydrated and eco-friendly!
Think before you buy.
Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products. This can be applied to textbooks ($$$$), clothes, room decor, and much more. This will save you money and more than likely keep money within the local economies.
When items can be borrowed, go for it!
Buy items in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
Invest in high quality, long lasting products. It will be worth it in the end when you don't have to replace the item as frequently.
In general, it is important to remember not to waste our resources. Take quicker showers, turn lights off behind you, and recycle items in the blue bins and designated containers in your residence areas.
If you have any additional tips you'd like to provide (maybe a certain way you've found has worked for you!), feel free to comment on this post and share with us.
Good luck this semester!
- HRL Sustainability Committee
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