1

GREEN EM !

2014 • 2015

SUSTAINABILITY GUIDE

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTINCampus Environmental CenterBROUGHT TO YOU BY

Studen t Se r v i c e s Bu i l d i ng Su i t e 1.302 | In fo@UTEnv i r onmen t . o r g

WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN SUSTAINABILITY GUIDE!......

THIS PUBLICATION IS YOUR TOOL TOLIFE AS A SUSTAINABLE LONGHORN.

WITH OVER 50,000

STUDENTS

LIVING ON & OFF CAMPUS UT BOASTS A

BIGSPIRIT

BUTWE DON’T HAVE TO BOAST A BIG ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT.

This guide highlights what you as an individual can do to reduce your impact, as well as highlights steps that UT is taking to be more environmentally engaged and responsible as a campus community.

We realize that changing your lifestyle can sound intimidating, but we hope that this guide provides you with tips and insights on how small changes in your daily habits can have a big impact on the environment, and on our campus. As your fellow students, we hope you’ll find these tips, steps, and facts informative, and easy and rewarding to follow.

Green ‘Em,The Campus Environmental Center (CEC)

Have any questions? Contact us at info@utenvironment.org or visit us on the web at www.utenvironment.org

- TABLE OF CONTENTS - Food

Transportation

Energy & Water

Recycling& Waste

Campus Hot Spots

Austin Activities

Get Involved on Campus

Resources

1

4

7

9

12

17

20

23

1

FOODSUSTAINABILITY & YOU

When buying food the following recommendations can help make your food choices more sustainable:

• Buy local

• Look for 3rd party certifications (Fair Trade, MSC, organic, etc.)

• Take only what you’ll eat

• Eat less meat

• Grow your own at UT’s student run gardens and farms

SUSTAINABLE DINING ON CAMPUS

Division Of Housing & Food Services (Dhfs)DHFS has made eating healthy and sustainably easier than ever! Check out some of their initiatives:

• Produce from UT Concho Community Garden and the UT Microfarm is utilized throughout DHFS.

• Kinsolving and Jester have their own herb and vegetable gardens that supplies foods to the campus dining facilities.

• Over 22% of DHFS’s budget is used to purchase local food.

• DHFS uses 3rd party certification including Marine Stewardship Council and Fair Trade in their food purchases.

• Want your food to-go? DHFS now offers reusable to-go

FOODFOOD

HECK IT OUT!DHFS’s dining halls are tray free, which has resulted in a 48% decrease in post-consumer waste since Spring 2007!

2

program called ECO2Go that will save you 5% on your meal.

• Not sure if you can eat something? DHFS instituted a new icon labeling system in 2012 that identifies the top 8 food allergens, along with food items that are avoided for religious and personal

reasons. These icons can be found on the DHFS online menu, via nutrition information centers in all DHFS dining locations, and on pre-packaged DHFS food items.

O’s CaféAll coffee served at O’s is organic, fair-trade and locally roasted

SUSTAINABLE DINING OFF-CAMPUS

Wheatsville Co-opLocated at 3101 Guadalupe Street, Wheatsville Food Co-op is a full service, natural foods cooperative grocery store, which has been serving the central Austin community since 1976. Wheatsville is the only retail food cooperative in Texas and has over 12,000 invested owners. Wheatsville is open to all shoppers and offers the same prices to everyone, regardless of ownership investment.

in.gredientsLocated a short distance from campus at 2610 Manor Road, in.gredients is a neighborhood microgrocer that sells local, package-free food. The first package-free grocercy in the country, in.gredients’ goal is to support local business and farmers while eliminating food waste and avoiding artificial additives.

HARVEST DINNERS AT J2 & KINSOLVINGEvery year DFHS has a meal in which everything served was either grown or produced within 150 miles of UT!

3

Whole Foods Market Starting out as one small store in Austin, Texas in 1980, Whole Foods has steadily grown to now have more than 340 stores located in North America and the U.K. For locations and a wealth of other great information, visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com.

Farmers’ Markets Austin is lucky to have the largest growers only farmers market in the state of Texas! Take a trip to your local market to support local farmers while getting the freshest fruits and vegetables Austin has to offer!

Locations include:

Downtown 400 West Guadalupe Street (Republic Square Park)Saturdays, 9am-1pm

The Triangle 4600 Lamar Blvd (Triangle Park)Wednesdays, 3pm-7pm

East2835 East Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd (MLK and Miriam Ave)Tuesdays, 3pm-7pm

FOODFOOD CONT.

While it may seem nice to feed the squirrels on campus, doing so makes them dependent on people for food, making them unable to find food for themselves.

In March 2013, the city of Austin went bag free! Bring your own bag to the grocery store and receive discounts at Wheatsville and Whole Foods.

GREEN TIPS

4

TRAN

SPORTA

TION

Sustainability & You

UT and Austin have a variety of ways to get around without coming in a single-occupancy vehicle. Whether driving downtown, to the grocery, going home for the semester, or going to class consider the following:

• Use the bus whenever possible- not only do you avoid driving in Austin traffic, but it is free to all students, faculty, and staff!

• If you need to go somewhere around Austin without the bus, combine trips, carpool, or use the car services Car2Go or Zipcar

• Bikes are a popular way to get around campus and Austin.

• When going home, you can use the Texas Express shuttle system from UT to Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.

5

On Campus

UT Bus System:The UT bus system, run by Cap Metro, is a service that provides free transportation for students from their apartments to locations throughout campus. These reliable shuttles eliminate the need for costly parking and allow you to avoid expensive parking tickets. Look for the buses decked out in UT orange and visit http://www.capmetro.org/schedulemap-ut.aspx to see if you live near a stop.

Biking:UT is a bike friendly campus with many resources for bicyclists available on campus. Kickstand (located on Speedway) allows you to purchase items for your bike, register your bike, and use air pumps while Orange Bike Project (located in Guadalupe Garage) operates semester and short term bike rentals as well as provides a space to do your own bike repairs with a bike repair expert nearby.

TRANSPORTATIONTRANSPORTATION

BIKE UTHosted by Parking and Transportation Services, the annual Bike to UT day features free food, t-shirts, and bike maintenance for all faculty, staff and students that cycle to campus.

GREEN TIPPTS publishes a bike map to show you where you can park your bike on campus, check out the map at: http://www.utexas.edu/parking/bike/maps.html

6

Off Campus

Car Sharing: Zipcar and Car2GoThere are two car sharing services located in and near the UT campus. You can rent a Zipcar for $8.50 an hour and are located at Jester Center, Gregory Gym, and Littlefield Dorm. For more information about Zipcar visit: http://www.utexas.edu/parking/transportation/carshare/. Car2Go are easily recognized as the blue and white smart cars around town. These cars are parked throughout the city of Austin (there are a few Car2Go parking spots located on Dean Keeton). More information can be found at: https://www.car2go.com/en/austin/.

CapMetro: Greater AustinIn addition to offering free UT shuttles for campus, CapMetro also provides all of its transportation services for free for all UT students, faculty, and staff. Some of the bus routes that may be of interest to students are: the E-bus which runs from campus to downtown from 9pm-3am Thursday-Saturday and the Airport bus which runs from the stadium to ABIA multiple times a day. For more information visit: http://www.capmetro.org/default.aspx.

Long Distance ShuttlesGoing home for the weekend or the semester? Look into taking one of the several shuttle systems between Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston. One of these shuttles systems is the Texas Express which is offered exclusively to UT students, faculty, staff and their friends and family. These buses depart from Jester on Friday afternoon and return on Sunday afternoon. For more information visit: http://www.utexas.edu/parking/transportation/texasexpress/

Cap Metro is FREE for all students, faculty and staff with your ID!

GREEN TIP

7

Sustainability & YouWhether in your dorm, apartment, or at school your energy and water saving choices add up! Keep these things in mind to save money and the environment:

• If you see a water leak on campus call 471-2020.• Unplug electronics when not charging.• Don’t use automatic door openers if you don’t need them. Not only do they use energy to open and close, but since they are open for a longer period of time, it allows air conditioning to leave the building.

Energy & Water Initiatives on Campus

Energy and Water Conservation Program (EWC)The EWC program at UT strives to reduce campus demand side energy and water consumption by optimizing building systems while engaging and educating building occupants. Their goal is to achieve 20% reduction by 2020.

HECK IT OUT!What’s up with all the cold classrooms across campus? As opposed to your AC units at home, UT actually saves money and energy by keeping the buildings cold. The system works by chilling air to 55 degrees to remove all the humidity and then heating the dry air to a comfortable temperature for use in the buildings.

ENERGY & WATER

Longhorn Lights OutOn the last Friday of the month, the EWC team and campus volunteers campaign for building occupants to turn off lights, reduce plug loads, and turn off computers and monitors. Longhorn Lights Out- “Join the Dark Side”- has seen excellent volunteer participation and on average reduces campus electrical demand by 87kW during the event. Join the EWC for the next event!

Dorm Energy CompetitionsIn the spring 2014 semester, residence halls on campus participated Campus Conservation Nationals- a nation-wide competition between universities. Keep an eye out for this competition during the year!

8

Green LabsThe Office of Sustainability in collaboration with Environmental Health and Safety with support from the Vice Presidents for Research and University Operations have developed a voluntary program called Green Laboratories. The EWC has created two programs to reduce lab energy use including: Horns Up, Sash Down which encourages researchers to shut the sash on their fume hoods when not in use and Ultra-low Freezer Loaner Program which allows researchers to transfer samples while they clean out, defrost, and perform preventative maintenance tasks

Division of Housing and Food Services• Across campus dorms are now using Energy Star rated dishwashers, microfridges, TVs, and laundry units, saving the University money and resources!• Instant hot water generators have been installed in Moore Hill, Blanton, Prather, Kinsolving, and several other residence halls. • Vending machines use 50% less electricity than typical machines.

HECK IT OUT!During the 2013 holiday breaks (Thanksgiving and winter), the EWC program helped UT save the equivalent of the annual energy consumption of 213 Texas homes in only 18 days!

Interested in how you can conserve at home? Check out the EWC webpage to see practical tips to reduce your energy and water use both on campus and at home: https://www.utexas.edu/facilities/sustainability/EWC.html#EnergyTips

As you walk around campus you may notice that landmark fountains, like the Littlefield Fountain on 21st, are not spouting their usual majestic streams. This shut-off saves upwards of 300,000 gallons of water each month. That’s 200,000 toilet flushes that are avoided every month!

You may also notice the bright blue and yellow solar panel stations on the RLM and PCL plazas—these SolarPump stations were installed by a student group funded through the Green Fee program, and are available for anyone on campus to charge their electronics! Check out our campus hotspots map to see their exact locations!

... .. .

9

WASTE & RECYCLINGSustainability & YouAustin is known for being green, and recycling on campus has never been easier! Recycling and reusing items is easy and can have a large impact, so do your part, and bleed green! Here are some tips for recycling right at UT: • UT now uses single stream recycling! Check out the signs on each bin for how to recycle properly. • DHFS composts food waste—be on the look out for bins in the dining halls! • Remember to take a reusable bag when you go shopping! Single use plastic bags were banned in Austin by city ordinance in March of 2013• Don’t want that t-shirt anymore? Donate your used items in the dorms during move-out week, and check out the Trash to Treasure re-use sale on campus each semester!

Reuse helps divert thousands of pounds of waste from landfills, so be sure to use your reusable bag around Austin and grab your reusable bottle for discounts at DHFS!

GREEN TIP

Trash to Treasure SaleThe Campus Environmental Center (CEC) and other local charities collect used, unwanted items from students during dorm move out. The items are then sold in Trash to Treasure garage sale that supports the CEC. Anything left after the sale is donated to Goodwill or a similar charity. Everything at the sale is only ONE DOLLAR, so come check it out!

10

11

Recycling and Reuse Initiatives on Campus

Division of Housing and Food Services • Used cooking oil is recycled into biodiesel.• E-waste recycling is available at dormitory main desks• DHFS Administrative office has significantly reduced paper usage vby changing housing reservations, billing, newsletters and report generation to electronic forms. All together, these changes save an estimated 300,000 sheets of paper per year.• All residents in Fall 2011 have been given a reusable bottle for discounted soda and tea refills in our retail dining locations.• Recycle and compost stations are located at all DHFS dining locations. These units are made from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs.• Dining facilities use 100% recycled napkins and paper towels. Napkin dispensers are designed to create minimal usage of paper products.

Athletics• The Tailgate Recycling Crew attends every home game and provides clear-streams for the convenience of the fans attending UT games. Volunteers help to educate about the importance of recycling at UT games. Tailgate Recycling volunteers are eligible for 3 – 6 volunteer/ community service hours approved by the Tailgate Recycling Coordinator.

Green Greeks• The Campus Environmental Center (CEC) Recycling Coordinator and Committee began a project in 2013 to work with fraternities and sororities to recycle at their events, as well as practice green living in their houses• Check out the Green Fee website for more information about this initiative, or contact the CEC at recycling@utenvironment.org!

WASTE & RECYCLING

12

CAMPUS HOTSPOTS

Waller Creek: Waller Creek is an urban watershed running from North Austin into Lady Bird Lake downtown. Even though it’s in the middle of the city, the creek is home to a great diversity of wildlife including the Great Blue Heron.

Turtle Pond: Built between 1934 and 1939, the turtle pond is home to a variety of turtle species, including red-eared slider and snapping turtle. The turtles commonly lay their eggs around the pond in grassy areas under trees and bushes, so if you see one out of the water, be aware that it isn’t necessarily lost!

Oldest Tree:UT Austin was one of the first three campuses in the country to become a Tree Campus USA, with over 4,900 trees on its main campus. One of the gems of the campus includes the 58-foot-tall deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara) on the lawn of the historic Littlefield House. Native to the western Himalayas and the largest of its kind in Austin, the tree has been part of the campus since 1893, when Major George W. Littlefield had it imported and planted next to his home.

South Mall and Medians:The grassy South Mall, stretching from Main Mall to Littlefield Fountain is a favorite place for many students to socialize, host events, and study. The medians on University Avenue, south of the mall, cared for by UT’s Landscape Services, won an award for their sustainable design in spring of 2013.

Power Plant: The 140-megawatt, award winning, Hal C. Weaver Power Plant meets the university’s needs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Although the campus has grown since 1996, due to sustainable power plant and energy management, UT Austin has continued to

meet the needs of this growth without increasing fuel needs.

CAMPUS HOTSPOTS

13

CEC OfficeThe Campus Environmental Center (CEC) is the largest organization on campus for UT students interested in the environment, and the only student org sponsored by Campus Planning and Facilities Management. CEC works to empower the UT Austin community to create a culture of sustainability and reduce negative environmental impacts.

Orange Bike: The Orange Bike Project was created by the Campus Environmental Center, but is now sponsored by Parking and Transportation. Orange Bike provides short term and semester bike rentals as well as provides a space (aka, “The Cage”) to repair your bike with help from Orange Bike student leaders. The Cage is located in the Guadalupe Parking Garage on the ground floor in the southeast corner.

Solar Charging Stations:A student-led group, funded by Green Fee money, installed a leased SolarPump charging station in front of the PCL in March of 2012, and another in front of the RLM in 2013. Designed by a UT alum, the solar stations are available for anyone on campus to use to charge their electronics.

Kinsolving:The Kinsolving Dining Hall exemplifies many of the Division of Housing and Food Service’s (DHFS) commitment to sustainability. Local & sustainable food purchases make up over 22% of the division’s $8M annual food budget, and is increasingly visible

While the South Mall and other green areas on campus are inviting places to socialize and relax, please be aware that compacting the soil around the aging oak tree roots is harmful to the trees. So, enjoy the grass, but give the trees their space!

GREEN TIP

14

throughout the eateries. You can now take your food to-go in a reusable container and can compost your leftovers throughout DHFS facilities.

Concho Community Garden: As UT’s first community garden, the UT Concho Community Garden was constructed by volunteers in Spring 2011. The garden consists of 19 individual plots, 3 demonstration plots, 3 plots for food and herbs to be utilized in UT dining halls, and 3 student organization plots.

Micro Farm:Funded by Green Fee, the UT Micro Farm first season is Summer 2013 and aims to efficiently and productively grow vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers for UT dining halls, a campus farm stand, and a neighborhood food shelter.

LEED BUILDINGS* Belo Center for New Media

• Jackson School of Geology Remodel/Addition

• Student Activity Center

• Liberal Arts Building

• AT&T Center

• Norman Hackerman Building

• Larry R. Faulkner Nano Science and Technology Building

• William Randolph Hearst Building (Communications)

• Biomedical Engineering Building

• Gates Dell Complex

GREEN EVENTSThe Campus Environmental Center runs an event consulting service for all student orgs called Green Events—look out for our recycling bins at events around campus, and contact the CEC to learn more about making your event sustainable!

15

E. Dean Keeton St.

I.H. 3

5

15th Street

Martin Luther King Blvd

Gua

dalu

pe

27th Street

21st Street

24th Street

Spee

dway

San

Jaci

nto

23rd Street

Robe

rt De

dman

Dr.

Manor Rd.

21st Street

20th Street

HOT SPOTSWaller CreekTurtle PondOldest Tree South Mall and MediansPower PlantCEC OfficeOrange BikeSolar Charging StationsKinsolvingConcho Community GardenMicro Farm

LEED BUILDINGS Belo Center for New MediaJackson School of Geology Remodel/Addition Student Activity Center Liberal Arts Building AT&T Center Norman Hackerman Building Larry R. Faulkner Nano Science and Technology BuildingWilliam Randolph Hearst Building (Communications) Biomedical Engineering BuildingGates Dell Complex

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

A

B

C

H

G

F

E

D

J

I

2

9

6

4

7

3

A

E

H

FG

I

16

E. Dean Keeton St.I.H

. 35

15th Street

Martin Luther King Blvd

Gua

dalu

pe

27th Street

21st Street

24th Street

Spee

dway

San

Jaci

nto

23rd Street

Robe

rt De

dman

Dr.

Manor Rd.

21st Street

20th Street

5

10

11

8

C

JB

D

17

Lady Bird LakeLady Bird Lake is a reservoir on the Colorado River in Downtown Austin. You can take a walk or a run around the lake on the Butler Hike & Bike trail or enjoy paddle boarding, canoeing and kayaking out on the water! Check out the docks by Austin High, or by Barton Springs, for affordable rentals.

Butler Hike & Bike TrailCircling Lady Bird Lake, the Ann and Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail provides 3, 4, 6, and 10 mile loops that are perfect for strolling, jogging, biking, or just taking in views of downtown. Park at Austin High School just off of MoPac or just south of the Lamar Bridge. Check out http://www.townlaketrail.org/index.cfm for trail maps and information about how to get involved with maintaining this urban gem!

Zilker Park:Nature Center, Botanical Gardens and More! Situated alongside Lady Bird Lake, outsiders most notably know Zilker Park as the venue for the Austin City Limits Music Festival. However, there are a plethora of other activities happening in the park throughout the year! Play soccer or disc golf, pack a picnic, or bring a book! The park is also home to the Zilker Holiday Tree, which is lit every December, the annual Kite Festival that takes place each March, and the Zilker Hillside Theater that hosts performances throughout the year. The park also boasts the Zilker Zephyr miniature train, the Umlauf Sculpture Garden, the Zilker Botanical Gardens, and the Austin Nature & Science Center!

Pease Park Stretching along Lamar and Shoal Creek just off campus, Pease Park is the perfect place to take a short study break! The park features a hike and bike trail, picnic tables, and sand volleyball courts. The park is also home to the annual Eeyore’s Birthday Party, and the Austin Jazz Festival.

AUSTIN ACTIVITIES

18

Congress Bridge BatsDid you know that the Congress Bridge is home to the world’s largest urban bat colony? The 1.5 million bats that live under the bridge are Mexican free-tailed bats. They migrate each spring from central Mexico to various roosting sites throughout the southwestern U.S. Most of the colony is female, and in early June each one gives birth to a single baby bat, called a pup. The bats eat roughly 10,000 pounds of insects (including pests!) every night, and are harmless unless handled. Stop by the Austin American Statesman Observation Center to watch the bats emerge at dusk, and check out Bat Conservation International for more information! http://batcon.org/index.php/get-involved/visit-a-bat-location/congress-avenue-bridge.html

The GreenbeltWith over 6 miles of hiking trails and a perfect watering hole for swimming, the Barton Creek Greenbelt is the perfect place to hike, study outdoors, or go for a dip (water level permitting)! The main entrance is just a short walk from Zilker Park and Barton Springs and does not require access by car. Another popular and scenic point of access is just off of Loop 360 at 3755-B Capital of Texas Hwy.

Mt. Bonnell Located in North Central Austin at 3800 Mt Bonnell Rd, Austin, TX 78731, Mt. Bonnell (also known as Covert Park) is a beautiful overlook that is perfect for taking in views of the Colorado River, and enjoying a taste of the outdoors in urban Austin. The park is open till 10PM each day, so grab a picnic and take the short walk to the top for beautiful views of the Texas sunset.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower CenterLocated Southwest of Austin at 4801 La Crosse Ave. Austin, Texas 78739, the mission of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is to increase the sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants and landscapes. The short drive down south is well worth the trails, gardens, exhibits and volunteer opportunities! The center is also home to UT’s Ecosystem Design Team’s research initiative, and provides educational opportunities for kids from kindergarten to graduate school! Check out http://www.wildflower.org for more information.

19

Buffalo ExchangeLocated near the corner of 29th and Guadalupe, the Austin Buffalo Exchange is one of over 20 Buffalo stores throughout the country. Founded in 1974 in Tuscon, AZ, the mission of the store is to lead the re-sale fashion and provide clothing by the community for the community in a sustainable way. You can sell old clothing, shoes and accessories, and find great treasures in their racks! Remember to bring your re-useable bag!

Thrift Shopping on South CongressIf you’re headed down south to check out Austin’s famous food trailers on SoCo, bring your shopping bag and take advantage of some of the best re-sale shopping in Austin! Stores such as Uncommon Objects and Flashback have an array of interesting items where you’re sure to find a new outfit, or something unique

Nearby State Parks: Pedernales, Guadalupe, Enchanted Rock, Bastrop. Visit http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/ for more information!

GREEN TIPS

Check out http://www.austinparks.org for maps and more detailed information about the parks mentioned here, and many more!

You don’t have to constrain your volunteer activities to the 40 acres! Check out Keep Austin Beautiful, The Trail Foundation, Urban Roots Farm, Greengate Farm, Johnson’s Backyard Garden, Boggy Creek Farm, and the Wildflower Center for volunteer opportunities around Austin!

20

Campus Environmental Center The Campus Environmental Center is the largest organization on campus for UT students interested in the environment. We are a sponsored student organization under Campus Planning and Facilities Management. The mission of the CEC is to empower the UT community to reduce its environmental impact and to foster a culture of sustainability on campus through collaborative and constructive means. Visit http://www.utenvironment.org, drop by our office in SSB 1.302, or email info@utenvironment.org for more information on how to get involved.

Food Studies Project Food Studies Project (FSP) is an organization that raises awareness of the importance of understanding food from an interdisciplinary approach. Our biweekly meetings on Wednesday at 7 pm bring students, faculty, staff, and local food enthusiasts to explore food from various aspects. Visit www.studyfood.wordpress.com or email foodstudents@utexas.edu for more information.

Engineers for a Sustainable WorldESW mobilizes students through education, technical projects, and collaborative action to impact local and global sustainability challenges. They accept both engineers and non-engineers, and work on a variety of projects, ranging from the installation of a solar panel on a local high school, to participation in campus-wide events. Visit http://eswutstorage.wix.com/esw-ut to learn more.

Environmental Science InstituteESI is a multi-disciplinary institute for environmental studies and research. They sponsor the Hot Science- Cool Talks lecture series which brings in scientists from around the country to discuss pressing environmental issues. For more information visit: www.esi.utexas.edu and sign up for their newsletter.

GET INVOLVED ON CAMPUS

21

Student Engineering CouncilThe Student Engineering Council at the University of Texas at Austin, or SEC for short, is an organization composed of engineering students whose purpose is to represent students of the Cockrell School of Engineering on campus and in its surrounding communities. The Council’s Service Committee has a Sustainability subcommittee responsible for promoting and advocating greater sustainability within the Cockrell School of Engineering. The subcommittee encourages its members to brainstorm and participate in sustainability initiatives on behalf of the University and the greater Austin area. Visit http://sec.engr.utexas.edu/sustainability/ or email sustainability@sec.engr.utexas.edu for more information.

Geological Energy and Environmental Leadership Organization (GEELO)

GEELO is a student-founded, student-run initiative that aims to educate the student body on topics that may not be fully expressed in other student organizations, and to also connect members to career contacts. GEELO holds bi-monthly lectures and events, which focus on energy mitigation and investment,hydrology, climatic changes, future job opportunities and the link between science and policy.

If you want to start your own sustainability-oriented project on campus, apply for Green Fee funding! $5 of every student’s tuition contributes to the Green Fee Fund, and a committee of faculty, staff and students reviews possible projects once a year. Check out http://www.utexas.edu/sustainability/greenfee.php for more info, and to apply!

GREEN TIPS

If you want to make your organization’s event more sustainable, consult with the Campus Environmental Center’s Green Events coordinators. They will happily work with you to apply sustainable solutions to everything from catering to t-shirt orders! Email them at greenevents@utenvironment.org to set up a consultation.

22

Global Environmental BrigadesThe UT chapter of Global Environmental Brigades aims to empower students to promote sustainable solutions in rural communities in Panama in order to reverse degradation and preserve the natural environment through reforestation, sustainable agriculture, waste management, and educational programs.Volunteers travel to rural Panama each year to participate in environmental brigades. The rest of the year, members participate in fundraisers, workshops, socials, and local volunteer events. For more information, visit http://www.empowered.org/Environmental-Brigades-at-the-University-of-Texas,-Austin

Bridging Disciplines Program (Environment) UT’s Bridging Disciplines Program (BDP) awards participating students certification demonstrating a secondary area of specialization after completing 19 credit hours of coursework, research, and internship experiences. The Environment BDP has a natural science interdisciplinary focus, and prepares students to address environmental issues in careers as researchers, writers, policy makers, sustainable business leaders, and educators. Check out http://www.utexas.edu/ugs/bdp/prospective for more information.

Club for Environemental OutreachCEO is a service organization that focuses on volunteering in the Austin area and educating the public about a wide range of environmental topics. CEO participates in serveral environmental volunteering events each month and holds weekly meetings to discuss current environmental issues and to challenge each other to live more sustainably. CEO also holds multiple on-campus envets each semester aimed at educating the student

OTHER EVENTS TO WATCH OUT FOR:• Earth Week events• Trash to Treasure sale and donation drive• Hot Science Cool Talks lecture series • Science Under the Stars at Brackenridge Field Laboratory

23

Office of Sustainability http://www.utexas.edu/operations/sustainability/

DHFShttp://www.utexas.edu/student/housing/?site=16&scode=0&id=1901

Sustainability Portalhttp://www.utexas.edu/sustainability/

Green Feehttp://www.utexas.edu/sustainability/greenfee.php

UT Recyclinghttp://www.utexas.edu/facilities/services/recycle/

Swing Out Awardshttp://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/lei/swingout.php

SIGN UP FOR CEC, ESI, OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND HOT SCIENCE COOL TALKS LISTSERVS TO KEEP UP WITH EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES!

RESOURCES

24UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTINCampus Environmental Center

With support from:

Divis ion of Housing and Food Service

Off ice of Sustainabi l i ty

Energy and Water Conservat ion

Faci l i ty Services

UT Athlet ics

and many more.

CAMPUSENVIRONM E N TA L C E N T E R

CREATED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS

STUDENT SERVICES BUILDING SUITE 1.302

I N F O @ U T E N V I R O N M E N T. O R G