The world is obsessed with “Going Green”. Hopefully, it’s not a fad, but a change of awareness. UB is an “urban campus” so truly changing the surrounding area is more difficult for us than say, UMD’s College Park campus, which has acres of tree and grass covered areas. The challenge that faces us is different but I get the feeling that challenge is not something that frightens UB’s student body and faculty. We are a school whose mission is all about overcoming obstacles.
An exciting development which I believe will help the efforts of a green campus is the new buildings at Fitzgerald. Having shops and bookstores like the new Barnes & Noble within walking distance will encourage students and teachers to drive less and walk more. There’s also talk of including green building materials and lighting on the construction of new facilities. Already, the renovation of the 1300 N. Charles Street building included energy-efficient windows and floors made of recycled materials. In addition, recently you may have noticed the new recycling trash bins around campus. Though the labeling could be improved on the bins, since as of now they don’t say what is and is not allowed in the bins, it’s a step in a good direction.
In my Business Ethics class last week, our Professor asked the class for ideas of everyday ways to live more green. The classroom sat in silence. Our Professor then asked us all to do a homework assignment. Bring 2 ideas to class at our next meeting. They could be as simple as using cloth grocery bags for shopping or unplugging your appliances. So, now I pose this assignment to you, UB Students: What are some ways we can all live a little greener? After all, this school will be around long after we graduate and leave campus and I hope to leave a legacy that is a reminder of our consideration for our environment. Don’t you all feel the same?
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2 comments:
Thanks for bringing this up, Sarah! A ton of information about UB's green and sustainable initiatives are at www.ubalt.edu/green. And info about the Fitzgerald at UB Midtown can be found at www.ubalt.edu/changingcampus. I agree we need to do more to publicize the new expanded recycling program.
Agreed. The Fitzgerald project is registered with USGBC and projected to be LEED Silver (Certified at a minimum). Lots of great features including (1) TOD/Urban/Brownfield Site, (2) 40% water savings, (3) energy star throughout, (4) fluorescent fixtures throughout - particularly garage, (5) energy efficiency and indoor air quality requirements, (6) non-smoking property, (7) green roof and reflective (white) roofs, (8) recycling facilities/programs, (9) ample/secure bicycle parking, (10) hybrid spaces, (11) low VOC materials such as paint, carpet, and adhesives/sealants, (12) green cleaning programs, (13) renewable energy usage, and more. Designed to coordinate with UB's sustainable campus initiatives.
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