Today, many universities offer a variety of sustainability “challenges” (for recycling, turning off lights, etc.) As a final project, each student will make a 4-6 minute verbal presentation supported by a powerpoint, a storyboard, or a model of a sustainable house. 53. 3. What a shame to waste it! The want for more items which may not necessarily be needed makes people acquire new things that end up as waste in no distant time.Repairing old or faulty items may help prevent this. The University of Oklahoma introduced a bike share program called … Use compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) instead of regular bulbs (and steer clear of those … Not only does it help offset carbon footprint, you will also find more unique purchases. 33. Also, the expenses really add up over the course of a semester. Buy the “ugly” fruit and vegetables at the market, because most of the time they go unsold and are thrown away. Contributions by SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Green Campus Initiative, 41. Imagine what your classroom could look like if your students were engaged in sustainability learning. From community service opportunities to campus recycling programs, there are plenty of ways your college can promote sustainability on campus. Conduct a routine check often and ensure you are in good shape. Get involved – Join an environmental group, or if there isn’t one already, form one! Take notes electronically – Instead of using paper notebooks and agendas, use your laptop to take notes and keep track of assignments and meetings. 8. Add solar powered tables to hot spots on your campus! 2. These sustainability project ideas can be realised by student groups, sustainability coordinators, offices and teams. Use less paper – If it is required for your classwork to be printed out, try reducing margins and spacing and print double-sided. From eco school supplies, bags and laptop sleeves to twin x-long organic sheets made for dorm room beds, we've got your green college student products covered! They learn to think ecologically, understand the interconnectedness of human and natural systems, and develop the capacity to apply this understanding so that human communities and natural ecosystems may thrive. Use less water – Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth and cut down on shower time as much as possible to conserve water. Students get to experience the power of sustainable productitivy. With many farmers using chemicals, it also affords the opportunity to eat healthily. To get students thinking green, The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Hi… 46. “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. 2. Zero Waste Cafeteria. 4. 47. https://www.greenofficemovement.org/sustainability-project-ideas 20. Reduce your consumption of meat – Meat production in America accounts for the creation of enormous amounts of the greenhouse gas Methane, which accelerates global warming. Recycle. Bottled Water. 45. Our excursions are: Cost effectiveness; Convenient location … They can identify opportunities for innovation and implement sustainable change. Our current economic model takes natural resources as inputs and creates waste as outputs. Instead, find a nice, reusable bottle (can be found at any pharmacy) to refill throughout the day. Develop your own impact-oriented sustainable development projects. If you’d like to see your school go green, you can make more of an impact than you might think. Faced with the dirty truth about how much trash they accumulate, students ar… ​​By signing up, you agree to our data policy. Here is how you can help to promote recycling at your university: Tip: Read our university recycling blogpost to learn more. Let them sit with you during quiet time and turn it into a game. 54. Shop sustainable and eco-friendly products for teens and dorms that also help to support various communities around the world. Taking a voluntary simplicity class inspired the author to start living a greener urban lifestyle in her hometown of Colorado Springs, Colo. It’s not.” – Lorax, Contributions from the U.S. Green Building Council. Many of the projects on this page are from the “Renewable Energy and the Sustainable Campus” course. Buy new things/Replace old materials only when necessary – ostentatious living is rather a major problem to conservation. The program focuses on energy and water conservation, recycling, composting and waste reduction. through buffet style dining options, to reduce food waste, Install solar cells on the university’s rooftops, Optimise the ventilation, air-conditioning and heating of building management systems, Reduce the brightness of computer screens, Install automatic movement sensors to switch off lights in buildings, Turn PCs off or into stand-by mode when idle, Build a campus garden with herbs and an insect hotel, Engage students and staff to plant a tiny forest close to the university, Construct green roofs and rooftop gardens to literally have a green university, Distribute free or subsidized public transit passes to students and staff, Install video conferencing software and train staff to use it, Rent out a cargo bike to students for free and subsidise bicycles for employees, Create a mobility policy, which makes it mandatory to compensate any flight-related greenhouse gas emissions, Introduce electric cars to the fleet of the university and provide recharging stations, Install water saving devices in toilets and tabs, Replace bottled water coolers with tap water coolers, A good sustainability project idea is to use rainwater to flush toilets, Set-up recycling stations for mobile phones, pens, markers and highlighters throughout the campus, Introduce double-sided printing to reduce paper waste, Implement an e-waste policy to properly recycle electronic waste, Donate old but still functioning electronic devices to charity, Promote the purchase of second hand furniture for university offices. Plotting the information they find into a “Life History of Stuff” timeline provides both teachers and students with a means to consider and discuss the … You can even create your own mini museum of antiques. Student Sustainable Living Guide. Invest in one good water bottle – Stop buying and using plastic water bottles. 19. Buy organic foods and eco-friendly materials. 23. 37. All of our consumption habits collectively make a major impact on our environment. Training custodians on effective cleaning processes is essential for helping schools keep kids healthy in school, and achieve their highest potential. 29. The activities and resources include methods for reducing waste and trash, information about product consumption, recycling tips, facts about pollution and its effects on the environment, global warming statistics, worksheets on different ecosystems, and plenty of projects for students to complete inside and outside the classroom. Other projects. 55. Teens for Planet Earth is a social network created by teens, for teens, to support their work to protect and improve the environment. 38. Check out projects you can start in your own town, or you can submit your own project or apply for monetary awards to help take your project to the next level. 10. Purchase reusable bags – Not only are these great for groceries, they can also be used to carry other classroom items and supplies. 24. Have some more ideas for this list? Burning off of waste is still commonplace as well. Others wonder how they can create an outdoor classroom environment given the recent worldwide change in working conditions. With jobs specifying the need for green building expertise, a LEED credential shows to employers a clear commitment to professional growth and healthy environments. Train custodians on green cleaning – Green cleaning products and approaches protect health and promotes better learning environments, reducing environmental and chemical hazards that negatively affect childhood growth and development. Following this example, students will choose a simple object and work in groups (3 – 4 students) to perform a life cycle analysis. If your room or building does not have a bin available, request one from your school. Fund commute ambassador student positions to promote and educate students about their sustainable transportation options; Educate new students on how to use transit with promotional activities during Try Transit Month in October; Bike-share programs- focus on cargo bikes, "bike-library" set up Below is a list of 20 activities that will teach kids about sustainability: 1. Teens Go Green! Since 2008, the program has been successful in bringing green practices to school systems that want to make the case, through proven results, for staff capacity to address sustainability. The Student Sustainability Associates (SSAs) is a peer-to-peer educational program that employs ten MBA students committed to promoting sustainable living among the student body. Even better ride a bike, or the bus! Time to get rid of this ancient energy source, and use energy more efficiently: Students visiting a new, more energy efficient building, ​​Sign-up to the ​FREE online course to establish your Green Office. Let us know and we may feature your suggestion. You can use old items as ornamentals within the house. Learn about these simple ideas for sustainable living. Create a campus garden – Plant a garden to beautify your space, or use it to grow some of your own vegetables. 52. This saves money in the long run and is better for our environment. Go on a ‘green team walk’ with your kids and bring along some gloves and a bag. The idea of a green university explicitly focuses on improving the impact that buildings and the campus have on the environment. If … Check your lighting – CFL or LED bulbs not only provide a better quality of light, but they also use less electricity. Ask students and staff which SDG they find most important. Buy green – Do your research on what products are green and good for the environment before you buy. 40. Get nested containers that fit into one another to save space in your backpack. 50. 31. Student presentations will incorporate any necessary research. Edible Landscaping. For more information on how you can help your campus “go green” with a Sunbolt solar table charging station, please contact us at info@gosunbolt.com. Throw cigarette waste into containers – if you choose to smoke, make sure your cigarette does not end up on the ground! 5. Pack a lunch – Buying food at the campus food court or from food trucks often results in un-recyclable waste from packaging. 26. 1. Buy local – See if there are any farmers’ markets or thrift stores in your area to use in place of malls and supermarkets. Also be aware of what you are buying: aerosol sprays and products with microbeads, for example, are very bad for the environment. Create and label recycling bins with your kids at home, so that the process is easier for everyone. Start eating organic and then show them you enjoy eating vegetables. Contributions by Jennifer Seydel, Greenschoolsnationalnetwork.org: 22. Check out how the Jacksonville Jaguars converted their business operations outdoors using sustainable Sunbolt solar tables! Unplug chargers and other cables that aren’t being used, because they are still using electricity by being plugged in! This is a communication project and is the most unstructured project … After a rainstorm, water is rushing right off of nearby buildings and pavement and back into the local waterways, bringing a whole lot of pollution with it. The Solar 4 Students team has been working on a project for 4 years, and their goal is to bring an solar-powered outdoor space for students to come together and promote sustainable living. Food. Buy used, online versions (if available) or check the library to see if there is a copy you can use for reference. Water is a beautiful resource that gives birth to life on this planet. Having a hard time finding recycling bins on campus? You can make a difference, by promoting sustainable food options: The burning of fossil fuels pollutes the air and contributes to global warming. For more information, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Green Campus Initiative, The LEED-AP or LEED Green Associate credential. Sooner or later, they’ll come around and join you in your activities. 16. The University of California, Riverside reprogrammed their campus with Sunbolt’s CampusXL workstations. Take Notes Electronically. To create a green university, you need to run projects on: Industrial agriculture harms animals and nature through the use of pesticides, artificial fertilisers and genetically modified crops. The … Buying used clothes from a local thrift store means you’re eliminating the need for all that resource use! If water quality is a problem, simply buy a filter for your sink, or a pitcher with a built-in water filter to keep in the refrigerator. You want to work towards a green university, but don’t know what sustainability projects you could do? We can cut down on our need to “show-off” our wealth. Buy reusable Tupperware and water bottles to use daily for lunches, or carrying home leftovers instead of a “to-go” container. Contributions by our friends at The Green Campus Initiative: 28. These plans span from building sustainable campuses to integrating education for sustainable development into their curriculum. We use cookies to ensure the best experience on our website. Many universities run sustainability projects about recycling. Some ideas to promote sustainable transport among students and staff: A student transport bike is a good sustainability project idea. If the earth is gone where will you continue your daily hustle? While there are a few commonly known practices, for the most part, it is relatively simple to maintain a “green” lifestyle; it is more just a matter of adjusting awareness and behavior. Sustainability stuff for teens. Some classes have final projects that focus on such research. Buy a set of silverware and plates to use whenever possible and opt for dishtowels that can be reused instead of paper. 32. Empowering and inspiring our students to become advocates for sustainable living and biodiversity conservation. Use old/unused materials for other purposes – don’t just throw away stuff that is old just because it’s old. Download this resource for tips on how you can Live Cardinal Green in your residence, at the dining hall, while getting around on campus and more. Student Projects Students often do the research that leads to positive sustainability changes on campus. 30. Now imagine that’s happening every day on nearly every campus worldwide.Bringing your own thermos with you reduces waste and sets a good example for those around you to be more thoughtful about their consumption habits. Looking for a smarter way to get rid of food waste? 13. Solar outdoor classrooms have become a new trend that many schools and businesses are implementing! Instead of buying paper plates and plastic cups, use compostables instead – Biodegradable eating and party items are much more eco-friendly. Then get your creative juices flowing by reading our list of 30 sustainability project ideas. Shop at thrift stores – Buying gently used clothes is the perfect way to keep your style fresh while conserving resources, not to mention preserving the funds in your wallet.Producing new clothes requires lots of energy and resources, such as water, and most clothes are made overseas, which creates an even greater carbon footprint. 15. Support green businesses – If you are really interested in going green, you should support sustainable businesses. Only use what you need – So much power goes to waste when we leave lights and devices on when they are not in use. 9. Free water taps allows students to refill water bottles. Recycle – One of the oldest tricks in the “sustainability book” is also one of the most effective. Put rainwater to use – According to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, during an average rainstorm more than 700 gallons of water run off the roof of a typical home. Grow your food – creating simple vegetable gardens in your backyard will go a long way in cutting down money spent on groceries. This will also help maintain an optimum budget. Offset this by biking or walking where possible, or take your campuses public transportation to classes. Apply for a Green Schools Fellowship – The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council places three-year sustainability directors in school districts through its Fellowship Program. Though students will be given time in class for directed research, students are also expected to work outside of class to complete the assignments. The goal of the school sustainability excursions is to provide ‘feel good – take action’ change activities for students with maximum exposure and interaction with sustainable living topics – the practical stuff you need to know! Repair damaged water/plumbing pipes in homes – we need not waste water buy leaving damaged pipes unattended to in buildings. It’s a good way to learn. The following universities have made a tremendous effort to Go Green with The Sunbolt: Here’s wishing you and your campus a happy & sustainable Earth Day 2021! You can try this to gain inspiration for Biomimicry and nature photography. (see attached assignment sheet and scoring rubric) Following student presentations, the class will return to the original potato example. Through the Sustainable Living Program, a voluntary, self-guided program coordinated by the Eco-Rep Leadership Program, students in residence halls and Greek houses can take the lead in making their living spaces and daily routines more sustainable. This involves a lot of travelling. This list is inspired by actual sustainability projects of universities in Brussels, Leuven, Greenwich, Utrecht, Delft, Maastricht, Ghent, VU Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Groningen, Kaiserslautern, Magdeburg, Hildesheim, UvA Amsterdam, Wageningen; photos by student-led sustainability offices at universities in Groningen, Leiden, Utrecht. There are over 30,0000 community members on the Stanford campus from custodians and professors to chefs and students. Sort your waste – waste sorting makes it easy to recycle materials. Institute a “ride-share” program. By capturing rainwater with rain barrels and water gardens, you can cut down on the amount of runoff going back into the environment, and even use the captured water to water your plants or for non-potable water uses. This project is more than just planting trees, it includes education, advocacy and growing community involvement ... Young Eco Leaders. Thankfully, the world is now digitally focused, and your studies can be, … 14. 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