The UC system is green ““ not with envy, but with environmental goodness. The University of California system has been awarded an Excellence in Sustainability Showcase Award by the California Sustainability Alliance.
Two other institutions also received the award: Inland Empire Utilities Agency, for sustainability projects, and the Thomas Properties Group, for California sustainable development.
This accolade draws attention to the bounds that we’ve made in the green movement, but also asks what more we can do to improve the university’s sustainability efforts. It also exemplifies the impact that students can make on a broader scale and the possible role of higher education in such efforts. We need to take individual steps to reduce, reuse and recycle, and not just rely on an environmentally conscious university to pick up the slack when we create waste.
The UC system has improved its green standing with more energy-efficient buildings, more environmentally friendly transportation, clean energy, better waste management, and research on climate protection. These advancements all began with individuals but are now part of many of our daily lives.
This improvement is due to the 2003 passage of the UC system-wide Green Building Policy and Clean Energy Standards by the UC Board of Regents, which was initially led by students. Since then, energy efficient projects have saved ““ and will continue to save ““ $12 million per year.
Students helped initiate the green effort in the UC system. But with 220,000 students and 170,000 faculty and staff, more work can and should be done on an individual level.
Each of us throws away 1,200 pounds of trash a year ““ more than three pounds of garbage every single day. Americans also throw away 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups every year and 2.5 million plastic beverage bottles every hour.
There are simple and cheap ways to live sustainably. For instance, invest in a stainless steel water bottle and a Brita water filter. You will save money, waste less, and these bottles are safer because they don’t leach harmful chemicals.
Be more conscious of waste. Don’t just toss your newspaper after you’ve done the sudoku. Recycle it in one of the many bins on campus. This also goes for soda cans and computer paper. When grocery shopping, bring a backpack or reusable bags to carry purchases home. At the very least, ask for paper bags, or bring back your plastic ones for next time. Toss a reusable or plastic bag into your purse or bag to carry unexpected purchases when you go on campus or into Westwood. Or consider carrying the bottle of soda or greeting card instead of taking a new bag for it from the store. There’s a practical reason to becoming more conscious ““ cities like San Francisco have banned stores from giving out plastic bags. Many cities are looking at enacting a similar measure, so be prepared to ditch plastic entirely in the not-so-distant future.
Don’t leave your computer turned on all day when you’re not using it, and turn off the lights when you leave the room. Save gallons of water by turning the faucet off while brushing your teeth, shaving, and lathering your hands. The best part of living in Southern California is the year-round temperate weather. You don’t need to use the air conditioning or the heating, just open the windows or put on a sweater.
The point of all of this is simple ““ there are plenty of ways that each and every one of us can contribute to a greener earth. Make a belated New Year’s resolution to trim the fat from your daily waste.