TH E
TIN US
Y OF TEXA T I S SA R E TA IV N U
GREEN EM !
SUSTAINABILITY GUIDE 2012 • 2013 BROUGHT TO YOU BY
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
Campus Environmental Center
St u de nt S e r v ice s Building Suite 1. 302 | Inf o@ UT E nv ir on m en t. or g1
WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN SUSTAINABILITY THIS PUBLICATION IS YOUR TOOL TO GUIDE! LIFE AS A SUSTAINABLE LONGHORN.
... WITH ... OVER 50,000
- TABLE OF CONTENTS 1
Transportation
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Energy & Water
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Recycling& Waste
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Campus Hot Spots
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Austin Activities
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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.
Get Involved on Campus
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Green ‘Em,
Resources
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& UT BOASTS A LIVING ON
OFF CAMPUS WE DON’T HAVE TO BOAST A BIG ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT.
BUT
SPIRIT
BIG
STUDENTS
Food
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.
The Campus Environmental Center (CEC) Have any questions? Contact us at info@utenvironment.org or visit us on the web at www.utenvironment.org
FOOD SUSTAINABILITY & 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.)
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 Café
All coffee served at O’s is organic, fair-trade and locally roasted
HECK IT OUT! DHFS’s dining halls are tray free, which has resulted in a 48% decrease in post-consumer waste since Spring 2007!
• Take only what you’ll eat • Eat less meat HARVEST DINNERS AT J2 & KINSOLVING Every semester DFHS has a meal in which everything served was either grown or produced within 150 miles of UT!
• 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 sold throughout DHFS. • Kinsolving has its own herb garden that supplies foods to the campus dining facilities. • 20% 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 containers that 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
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SUSTAINABLE DINING OFF-CAMPUS Wheatsville Co-op
Located 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.gredients
Located 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.
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GREEN TIPS 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.
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 East 2835 East Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd (MLK and Miriam Ave) Tuesdays, 3pm-7pm
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TRANSPORTATION
FOOD CONT.
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 or 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.
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TRANSPORTATION
Off Campus
On Campus
There 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/.
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 Speedway 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. It is important to note that you biking around campus can prove to be dangerous when there are a lot of students walking around between classes. Always beware of your surroundings and also when it is a good time to get off your bike and walk through the crowds.
BIKE UT Hosted 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 TIP
PTS 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
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Car Sharing: Zipcar and Car2Go
CapMetro: Greater Austin
In 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 Shuttles
Going 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/
GREEN TIP Cap Metro is FREE for all students, faculty and staff with your ID!
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Sustainability & You
Whether 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 471-6888. • 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.
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 Initiatives on Campus Energy Stewards
The 4 Energy Stewards at UT work to suggest building retrofits, encourage energy reduction and host public awareness events to help the University reach its goal of reducing energy and water consumption by 20% by 2020. Longhorn Lights Out In celebration of Earth Day the Energy Stewards host Longhorn Lights Out, a campus wide initiative to turn off lights and electronics for one hour. In 2013 this initiative saved 676 kilowatts! Dorm Energy Competitions In the 2012-2013 school year, residence halls on campus participated in two different energy competitions: the Quad Energy Challenge- created by a student using the UT Green Fee, and Campus Conservation Nationals- a nation-wide competition between universities. Keep an eye out for these competitions during the year!
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Green Labs
Laboratories are the largest consumer of utilities and resources on campus including the generation of a significant amount of hazardous and non-hazardous waste. The 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.
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! • DHFS participated in a university-wide lighting retrofit to T12 fluorescent bulbs • Instant hot water generators have been installed in Moore Hill, Blanton, Prather, and Kinsolving residence halls. • Vending machines use 50% less electricity than typical machines.
HECK IT OUT!
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ENERGY & WATER
During the 2012- 2013 winter holiday break, the Energy Stewards help UT save the equivalent of the annual energy consumption of 29 Texas homes in only 11 days! Interested in how you can conserve at home? Check out UTakeCharge to see practical tips to reduce your energy and water use. https://www.utexas.edu/utakecharge/tips.html 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 is in compliance with the City of Austin’s Stage 2 drought restrictions, and 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!
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WASTE & RECYCLING Sustainability & You
Austin 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 is switching to single stream recycling in Fall 2013! 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!
GREEN TIP 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!
Trash to Treasure Sale The Campus Environmental Center (CEC) and other local charities collect used, unwanted items from students during dorm move out. The items are then sold in the once-per-semester 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!
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WASTE & RECYCLING
CAMPUS HOTSPOTS
Recycling and Reuse Initiatives on Campus
CAMPUS HOTSPOTS
Division of Housing and Food Services
Waller Creek:
• 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 those attending UT games. Volunteers help to educate about UT recycling. 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!
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 on the lawn of the historic Littlefield House. Native to the western Himalayas and the only one 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 just 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 significantly 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.
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GREEN TIP While the South Mall and other green areas on campus are inviting places to socialize and relax, please be aware that compacting the dirt around the aging oak tree roots is harmful to the trees. So, enjoy the grass, but give the trees their space!
CEC Office
The 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 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
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.
• Liberal Arts Building
Solar Charging Stations:
• Biomedical Engineering Building
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 19% of the division’s $8M food budget, and is increasingly visible throughout
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• AT&T Center • Norman Hackerman Building • Larry R. Faulkner Nano Science and Technology Building • William Randolph Hearst Building (Communications) • Gates Dell Complex
GREEN EVENTS The 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!
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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
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HOT SPOTS Waller Creek Turtle Pond Oldest Tree South Mall and Medians Power Plant CEC Office Orange Bike Solar Charging Stations Kinsolving Concho Community Garden Micro Farm
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AUSTIN ACTIVITIES Lady Bird Lake
Lady 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 Trail
Circling 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.
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Congress Bridge Bats
Did 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-batlocation/congress-avenue-bridge.html
The Greenbelt
With 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)! One 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 Center
Located 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.
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Buffalo Exchange
Located 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 Congress
If 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 for your dorm room or apartment!
GREEN TIPS Nearby State Parks: Pedernales, Guadalupe, Enchanted Rock, Bastrop. Visit http://www.tpwd. state.tx.us/state-parks/ for more information! 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!
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GET INVOLVED ON CAMPUS 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, in the University Operations portfolio. The mission of the CEC is to empower the UT community to reduce its negative environmental impact and to foster a genuine 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. General meetings are held every Wednesday from 6-7:30PM.
Food Studies Project
Food Studies is a student initiated project to raise awareness about the importance of understanding food from an interdisciplinary approach, with a future vision of creating a Food Studies Institute at The University of Texas at Austin to complement a variety of academic disciplines. Visit www. studyfood.wordpress.com for more information.
Engineers for a Sustainable World
ESW 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.
Student Engineering Council
The 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
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its surrounding communities. The Council’s Sustainability Committee is responsible for promoting and advocating greater sustainability within the Cockrell School of Engineering. The committee 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.
GREEN TIPS If you want to start your own sustainabilityoriented 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! 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, or visit them on the web at http://utenvironment.org/our_projects/ green_events
year, members participate in fundraisers, workshops, socials, and local volunteer events. For more information, visit http://www. empowered.org/Environmental-Brigades-at-the-University-ofTexas,-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.
Environmental Science Institute
ESI 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.
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.
Global Environmental Brigades
The 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 a couple times each year to participate in environmental brigades. The rest of the
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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
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RESOURCES Office of Sustainability
http://www.utexas.edu/operations/sustainability/
DHFS
http://www.utexas.edu/student/housing/?site=16&scode=0& id=1901
Sustainability Portal
http://www.utexas.edu/sustainability/
Green Fee
http://www.utexas.edu/sustainability/greenfee.php
UT Recycling
http://www.utexas.edu/facilities/services/recycle/ Swing Out Awards http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/lei/ swingout.php
SIGN UP FOR CEC, ESI AND HOT SCIENCE COOL TALKS LISTSERVS TO KEEP UP WITH EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES!
C R E AT E D B Y T H E U N I V E R S I TY O F T E X A S
CAMPUS ENVIRON M E N TA L CENTER
S T U D E N T S ER V IC ES B UILDIN G S UIT E 1 .3 0 2
I N F O @ U T E N V I R O N M E N T. O R G
Emily Mixon
Resource Conservation Coordinator
Sara Gonzalez
Graphic Designer
Brittany Morgan,
Gardening Assistant Director
Wesley Beckner
Green Events Coordinator
Jeanne Eckhart
Graduate Assistant
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UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
Campus Environmental Center
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