UB Environmentalists Kick Off “Think Green” Campaign

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Members of the UB Green Office in University Facilities at the University at Buffalo have kicked off a "think green" campaign to urge members of the university community to save energy, recycle and reduce waste.

The purpose of the campaign is to encourage campus environmental stewardship and create partnerships between groups on campus in an effort to make campus operations less consuming of natural resources and less polluting of natural ecosystems. Campaigners also hope to raise environmental concerns to a more prominent place on the agenda of the university and its students, faculty and staff.

According to campaign literature, to "think green" is to be mindful of, and sensitive to, the natural environment in one's daily life.

The effort is being led by Walter Simpson, UB energy officer, and three students majoring in environmental studies: Erin Cala of Jamestown, Meghan Fay of Vestal and Stacey Vaeth of Fairport, who together make up the UB Green Office.

At a recent kick-off event, these and several other "green thinkers" outlined some of the efforts of different campus environmental organizations on campus and unveiled the new comprehensive UB Green Web site located at http://www.wings.buffalo.edu/ubgreen. They also introduced "think green. A UB guide to campus ecology," a book that contains suggestions for reducing waste, recycling, buying recycled paper, conserving energy, handling hazardous materials, and enjoying nature on campus.

"Raising environmental awareness is not something you do once and for all and are done. It is something you have to keep doing and we are continuously looking for new ideas," said Simpson, who has been promoting environmentally minded thinking and action at the university for 17 years. "Establishing environmental policies is a positive step, but they only will be effective if they are put into practice. Achieving greater environmental responsibility at UB depends on informed, voluntary cooperation and personal commitment from members of the UB community."

Simpson talked about environmental achievements at the university, including a network of 170 members of the university community called Building Conservation Contacts, or BCCs, who have volunteered to promote environmental stewardship in their areas. This network, Simpson said, has become a model for colleges and universities nationwide.

Fay, who concentrates her efforts on recycling, reported that while UB is recycling about 30 percent of its waste, the goal is to have the university recycling at least 50 percent of its solid waste stream. She noted that six, test recycling stations have been set up in various public areas on the North and South campuses to allow "one-stop shopping" for trash disposal and recycling of various materials.

The environmental advocates noted that the UB community throws away a shocking 1,155,550 foam and paper cups each year, a number that could be reduced greatly if students, faculty and staff began using reusable mugs.

They added that various environmental resources are available in the new UB Green Resource Room located in the Service Building at 220 Winspear Ave. on the South Campus.

Partners in the "think green" campaign include Computing and Information Technology, the Environmental Network, the Environmental Task Force, the Faculty-Student Association, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, Go Green, University Facilities, University Libraries, the Dymaxion Eco-House, and University Residence Halls and Apartments.

For more information on "think green," contact the UB Green Office at 716-829-3535 or enconser@acsu.buffalo.edu.