Office of Sustainability

Context

The electricity Auburn University purchases consist of 70% fossil fuels.  Burning fossil fuels contributes to air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change. Thankfully, individual behavior changes can add up to a substantial savings of energy. During energy reduction competitions at Auburn University, over half of the residence halls reduced energy use by more than 10% with some halls reducing usage up to 38%! Making residents aware of the impacts of energy consumption and how they can cut back on energy use can be fun and engaging.

Changing how we use energy can also save money, help keep tuition rates from increasing, and improve the health of our planet and ourselves. We can make a difference by simply turning off electronics and lights when not in use, and using energy efficient products. We use most of our energy in buildings through heating and cooling; however, plugged in electronics also contribute to our consumption.

Programming Options

ENERGY SCAVENGER HUNT

The scavenger hunt brings awareness to the amount of energy electronics use when plugged into the wall, whether they are on or off. The Office of Sustainability loans out small meters that you plug your electronic item into, and then it plugs into the wall. It measures the amount of money spent and greenhouse gases emitted per month and year for that electronic. Participants measure a variety of items, and can be challenged to find particular energy users, such as: who can find an item that uses the most energy; a phone charger that uses energy even though the phone is not even plugged in; how much do the gaming consoles use when off and when on?

ENERGY BIKE

Pedal a bike to turn on a light! The energy bike connects the energy residents make through pedaling to a display of light bulbs. Three different switches on the display turn on three different kinds of lightbulbs: incandescent, CFLs (compact florescent lamp), and LEDs (light-emitting diode). Riders feel the stark difference between the energy it takes to turn on the different types of bulbs. Realize the difference that even one light bulb can make! Reserve the energy bike through the Office of Sustainability.

ENERGY TRIVIA CHALLENGE

Gather residents together for a fun and engaging night of trivia! Use the Energy Trivia PowerPoint to present the questions and answers. A set of trivia buzzers are available through the Office of Sustainability. To reserve the buzzers contact the Office of Sustainability.

ENERGY VIDEO

There are many videos related to energy and climate. The trick is finding ones that leave one with the tools to make a difference and inspire action. Watch the trailers of the videos below to find one that interests your group and then host a discussion. Here are some possible film discussion questions for each film to get you started.

• Carbon Nation (Library)
• Kilowatt Ours (Office of Sustainability, Amazon Prime)
• Story of Cap and Trade (online)
• Story of Electronics (online)

NO-BAKE COOKIES

There are a number of no-bake cookie recipes on the internet. Get residents together to make cookies and talk about the connection between energy and food and the importance of conserving energy.

Actions to Take

Residents will want to know what the top actions they can take to reduce their energy use. Here are a few suggestions.

• Make small adjustments to start saving energy now! This includes turning off the lights, setting the room temperature to rely less on the air conditioner/heater, turning off computers, utilizing power-saving settings, etc.
• Purchase energy-efficient products from companies that include environmental responsibility in their missions. Search for producers that make their products in ways that require less energy in the process of production and transportation.
• Hold a discussion forum and gather signatures of support for installing energy-saving devices in the residence halls such as energy-efficient appliances and switches with occupancy sensors, and share it with management.
• Bike or walk to and around campus. Drive less. Make fewer trips, carpool with friends, or ride Tiger Transit.
• Wash clothes on COLD. This reduces energy needed to wash a load by 80%, and cleans clothes just as effectively.
• Change light bulbs from incandescent to LED bulbs, which are more efficient and have a longer lifespan.
• Unplug appliances such as TVs, computers, laptops, microwaves, etc. when not in use. These items may continue to draw energy, even when they are not being used.

Spread the word, share what you know, and lead by example.

Bulletin Board Information

• Do you have a TV, stereo, gaming system or other electronic in your room that displays a little light when not on? Did you know the light means it is still drawing electricity? A phantom load refers to energy being used by an electronic item when plugged in, even though the item is not turned on. Usually electronics displaying a small light when the machine is off are still pulling substantial energy. Common culprits include TVs, video gaming consoles, and stereos. All these items should be unplugged when not in use. Using a surge strip makes turning things off easy.
• Many cell phones chargers still use energy when plugged in even though the phone is not attached.
• Have you heard of Energy Star certifications for electronics? When purchasing new electronics, please buy Energy Star certified electronics.
• Can you describe how well you think your heating and cooling system in your room is working? Are your windows drafty? One of the quickest ways heated or cooled air escapes the room is through windows and doors that do not seal well. If you have issues with this, please turn in a work order and perhaps try using blinds or curtains when you want it warmer or brighter. Curtail the flow.
• Observable effects from climate change include: increase in droughts and intensity of heat waves; more severe storms, blizzards, and flooding; increase in forest fires; changes in plant and animal ranges; increase in spread of diseases; and loss of sea ice and glaciers, among others.

Resources:

• Email the Office of Sustainability to check out energy meters to test electronics to see their energy use and if they have a phantom load (see the Energy In-Hall Event).
• NASA provides resources that explain the evidence, causes, and effects of climate change in a consumable manner.

Context

Local food supports you, the local economy, and the environment. Local food tends to be fresher, higher in nutrients, more flavorful, and less energy-intensive, largely because it is picked at its prime and not shipped hundreds or thousands of miles to get to your plate.  The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 defines local as “less than or equal to 400 miles”. Auburn University offers both local and organic food, as well as options for people with dietary restrictions, such as allergen and vegetarian needs. Food-related events can be fun, tasty, and educational. What we put into our mouths not only affects our own health, but also affects the health of society, the local economy, and the environment. Factors to think about include:

• How far away was your food grown?
• How sustainable were the farming practices used to produce your food?
• What is the impact on the local economy?
• How does the production of it affect farm workers and the environment?
• What are some of the sustainability issues related to this type of food?

In addition to the event ideas below, please keep in mind the Office of Sustainability interns and staff are also available to speak at events.

Programming Options

NO-BAKE COOKIES

There are a number of no-bake cookie recipes on the internet. Get residents together to make cookies and talk about the connection between energy and food and the importance of conserving energy. You could also talk about purchasing local and organic ingredients when possible, and what Fair Trade chocolate is.

TASTE TEST

Prepare a taste test for residents. Are residents wasting money on purchasing bottled water? Have them take a taste test with WEGL water, tap water, and bottled water. Have residents discovered where to buy locally grown produce? Have them taste the difference between different kinds of produce from the grocery store or from a local producer. The difference in flavor will amaze them! Try tomatoes and carrots, and whatever else you can find locally in season.

VISIT FROM THE DIETITION

Did you know that Health Promotion and Wellness Services has a registered dietitian and nutritionists on staff? The dietitian assists with grocery shopping and meal planning, weight management, food allergies and intolerances, eating disorder recovery, and much more. Request the staff to speak to your residents at a program!

ICE CREAM BALL

Everyone loves ice cream! Fill the ice cream ball with ingredients, sit in a circle, and roll the ball from person to person. Toss it! Bowl with it! Will make great ice cream and also encourage conversation between residents. You could also read labels from other ice cream containers. What is actually in the ice cream, any mystery ingredients? You could also use the activity to discuss the connections between food and energy.  If there is interest in this activity the Office of Sustainability will purchase ice cream balls that can be checked out by RAs. Ingredients are not included.

VEGAN MEAL EVENT

What do you think of when you hear the word vegan? Most people may turn up their nose or laugh off the idea of eating vegan.  While simply going vegan won’t save the world, eating a little less meat can greatly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. For this event, create a couple of vegan dishes to show your residents how tasty it can be. This event can lead to discussions on how eating just a little less meat conserves water, reduces our carbon footprint, and also makes us more sustainable. Check out these great Vegan Meals.

SUSTAINABLE IRON CHEF

This is a great event to get residents from your hall and another hall to get to know each other over some good food. To do this, team up with an RA from another building and have a sustainable cook off! Have your residents prepare some of their favorite foods using sustainable ingredients that you could buy locally such as from the farmer’s market. In the end, have all the residents come together to taste what each hall has created.

FOOD TRIVIA CHALLENGE

Gather residents together for a fun and engaging night of trivia! Use the Food Trivia PowerPoint to present the questions and answers. A set of trivia buzzers are available through the Office of Sustainability. To reserve the buzzers contact the Office of Sustainability.

MOVIES

There are so many great food-related movies! You can find some online, some at the Office of Sustainability, and others can be rented. Watch the trailers of the videos below to find one that interests your group and then host a discussion. Here are some possible film discussion questions for each film to get you started.

• Fed Up (Library)
• Food Chains (online)
• Food Inc. (Library)
• Food Matters (Amazon Prime, Youtube, etc.)
• Forks over Knives (online)
• Future of Food (Office of Sustainability, online)
• King Corn (Office of Sustainability, online)
• Tapped (Library)

Actions to Take

• Eat at the Edge and Tiger Zone as they serve locally and/or organically grown food.
• Install the “Dirty Dozen” app on your phone to see what foods you should consider purchasing organic.
• Install the “Seafood Finder” app from the Marine Stewardship Council to find fish and seafood that is both healthy for you and for fish populations.
• Read the labels when you buy food. Buy food with ingredients that you recognize and know are healthy.
• Buy produce when it is in season locally. Not sure what’s in season? Go to the farmer’s market!
• Purchase foods from local farmers and vendors.
• Avoid purchasing bottled water.
• See if the foods you are eating are in season to verify freshness and quality.

Bulletin Board Information

• Tiger Dining provides many food options that are locally sourced and labels them  Auburn Foods, indicating the food was grown by the Auburn Family.
• You can find lettuce produced on campus by the Vertical Gardens in the Edge Central Dining.
• The Edge Central Dining accommodates for allergens and dietary restrictions at their Allergen Station.

Resources

• Tiger Dining provides great resources for students needing to find food that fits their needs.
• The dietician at Campus Rec and Wellness counsels individuals on their specific dietary needs.
• The Office of Sustainability provides an overview of sustainable food sources in the Auburn-Opelika area.
• If you or a resident are experiencing food insecurity, visit the Campus Food Pantry.

Context

Vehicles powered by gas or diesel fuel directly contribute to climate change.  You help curb harmful greenhouse gasses and other air pollutants when you take public transit, carpool, bike, or walk. Biking and walking can also help you fit exercise in your day while getting you to your destination.  Luckily you don’t really need a car at Auburn, due to the many options available for getting where you need to go.

Bulletin Board Information

• How do you get around town? Tiger Transit shuttles students on Friday nights alternating between Tiger Town and Walmart. ETA Spot, available online and through the app store, shows the location of all university buses in real-time.
• Are you aware of other transit options such as: Campus Security Shuttle, Auburn Lyft Late Night, and the Lee-Russell Public Transit (door to door service, reservation required)?
  • The Campus Security Shuttle offers rides between on-campus destinations 7 days a week from 6 PM – 8 AM when classes are in session. Call 334-844-7400.
  • Auburn Lyft Late Night Smart Ride Program ensures students can safely travel from campus to their on- or off-campus residence. Rides run on weekdays from select campus locations 8 PM – 12 AM and on weekends from designated downtown locations 8 PM – 1 PM.
  • Lee-Russel Public Transit provides free curb-to-curb service within the Auburn/Opelika area to Auburn students and free to/from campus services for employees. Trips must be scheduled at least 24 hours prior but may be scheduled up to 2 weeks in advance.
• Did you know you need to register your bike through Parking Services? It’s free!
• In Spring 2023, Auburn University in partnership with Spin brought electric bikes and scooters onto campus for students, faculty, staff, and visitors to use as a means of transportation. The bikes and scooters are available from 5 am – midnight daily.

Resources

• The Office of Sustainability offers an online Auburn Sustainable Transportation Guide with more details on transportation options around Auburn, including how to travel back and forth from home.
• Parking Services handles the AU Parking app, the bike share program, and biking and parking permits.
• jAUnt is a door-to-door golf cart service for students, faculty, and staff with a disability or medical condition that makes traveling around campus difficult.

Context

The Office of Sustainability staff and student interns are available to come give interactive talks in your residence hall covering a range of topics. Presentations include both background content on the issue, but more importantly, information on what you can do to have a positive impact.  Please see below for topic ideas, but feel free to reach out if you, or your residents, have a specific topic in mind that’s not on our list.

Topics for Conversation

CLIMATE CHANGE

What is it, what causes it, and what are the consequences? What can you do to make the greatest positive difference to reduce the causes of climate change? Learn about actions you can take as an individual and the role you play in society.

COSMETICS

Did you know there are no regulations on the safety of body products in the United States of America? In fact, many products sold in the United States contain ingredients that are illegal to put in body products sold in many European countries. Identify dangerous ingredients in your products and discover phone apps that guide you to purchase safe products.

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

How can I get involved with sustainability on campus and make a difference? Come learn about sustainability –related student organizations, volunteer opportunities, internship opportunities, upcoming events, and more.

GROCERY SHOPPING

The purchases we make have a huge impact on our community and the environment. How can you make a positive impact? What do we need to consider as a responsible shopper? Learn about certifications, labeling, and phone apps that can guide you to responsible purchasing decisions at the supermarket.

TRANSPORTATION

With so many choices to get around Auburn, discover how to use the various forms of transportation to get where you need to go. Learn about Tiger Transit, Lee-Russell County Transit, and more.

Actions to Take

Each presentation encourages different action items related to the topic covered.

Resources

If you have any questions or would like more information, reach out to the Office of Sustainability.

Context

Regular exercise and eating right help keep your body healthy, reduce stress, and sharpen your mind. Our mental and emotional health also affects our ability to thrive in society. Taking care of yourself allows you to give to others and your community.

Bulletin Board Information

• Are you aware of the resources available on campus for individual and group counseling? Information on the different options offered can be found on Student Counseling & Psychological Services’ webpage.
• Campus Rec and Wellness Center has resources such as a dietitian, personal trainers, and CPR classes.
• If you are concerned about another’s or your own alcohol and drug use contact Health Promotion and Wellness Services. They also have resources for interpersonal violence, depression and suicide prevention, and sexual health and wellness.
• What type of outdoor activities interests you? Hiking? Boating? Biking? Auburn Outdoors at the Campus Rec and Wellness Center offers clinics and half-day and extended trips, in addition to equipment rentals.

Resources

• Medical Clinic
• Campus Rec and Wellness
• Involvement Ambassadors

Context

Let these great documentaries lead you right into an engaging conversation. Watch the trailers of the videos below to find one that interests your group and then host a discussion. Here are some possible film discussion questions for each film to get you started.

Free Movie Options for Programming

• Blue Gold (Library)
• Carbon Nation (Library)
• Eating Alabama (Library)
• Fed Up (Library)
• Food Chains (online)
• Food Inc. (Library)
• Forks over Knives (online)
• Future of Food (Office of Sustainability, online)
• Happy (Tubi)
• Home (online)
• Kilowatt Ours (Office of Sustainability)
• King Corn (Office of Sustainability, online)
• Last Call at the Oasis (Online)
• No Impact Man (Office of Sustainability, online)
• Plastic Paradise (online)
• Story of Broke (online)
• Story of Change (online)
• Story of Citizens United vs. FEC (online)
• Story of Cosmetics (online)
• Story of Solutions (online)
• Tapped (Library)
• Walmart (Office of Sustainability, online)

Additional Movies Requiring Purchase or Subscription

• Among Giants (online)
• Food Matters (Amazon Prime, Youtube, etc.)
• Happy (Amazon Prime, Youtube, Apple TV, etc.)
• Kilowatt Ours (Amazon Prime)
• Years of Living Dangerously (Sling TV)

Actions to Take

Each movie encourages its own topical actions.

Context

‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’, we hear it all the time!  It’s all about keeping waste out of landfills and incinerators, and for maximum effect should be done in that order. First, you reduce the amount of trash and recycling you create through purchasing decisions. Do you really need it, or can you borrow or rent it? What is it packaged in? Can you purchase that same item somewhere else without all the packaging? Next, reuse what you can by finding a new purpose for things. Finally, recycle all the packaging and materials you can after you are done with it.  It’s important to know what you can and can’t recycle because keeping trash out of the recycling bins avoids contamination. To further support recycling, one can purchase items made of recycled materials. The three Rs keeps more waste out of the landfills, giving them a longer usable life and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Implementing these practices also benefits the environment by conserving energy, preserving natural resources, and reducing air and ground pollution. So have fun with the activities below, and learn about what you can recycle here at Auburn.

Programming Options

REPURPOSE WITH PURPOSE

• Tired of having your cell phone lying on the ground? Make a cell phone holder for charging your cell phone from an empty lotion bottle/soda bottle or an old pair of jeans
• Need another reusable shopping bag? Create your own from a T-shirt you no longer wear.

RECYCLEABLES SORTING RELAY

Start by explaining what can and cannot be recycled at Auburn University. Divide into relay teams and compete to see which team recycles more accurately. Each team starts with an equal assortment of items that are, or are not, recyclable at Auburn, and has their own recycling and waste bins at the far end of the room. Players take turns running and sorting materials into the appropriate bins. After the relay, go to the bins and talk about your findings. Is everything in the right spot? What do people find confusing?

BEAN BAG TOSS RECYCLING GAME

Have fun playing the bean bag toss game while learning what is recyclable and what is not. RAs email the Waste Reduction and Recycling Department to check out their Bean Bag Toss game. Similar to corn hole, the bags you toss have pictures of things that are or are not recyclable (a can, a banana peel, etc). One board is labeled recycling and the other waste.  You must toss the bags into the correct holes to score points.

FILMS

Watch the trailers of the videos below to find one that interests your group and then host a discussion. Here are some possible film discussion questions for each film to get you started.

• No Impact Man (Office of Sustainability, online)
• Plastic Paradise (online)
• Story of Bottled Water (online)
• Story of Broke (online)
• Story of Stuff (online)
• Walmart (Office of Sustainability, online)

Actions to Take

• Consider packaging when purchasing. For example: Do you really need corn on the cob wrapped in plastic when it already comes wrapped in husks? Can the packaging be recycled?
• A conscious consumer thinks about the need, quality, and sourcing of their products before purchasing. See the Sustainable Student Packing Guide for details.
• Donate items that are usable, but you no longer, need to charity.
• Visit the Waste Reduction and Recycling Department page to see what can and can’t be recycled on campus.
• Fill your backpack with essentials that will help you prevent waste while on the go: reusable utensils, reusable shopping bag, and a water bottle to name a few.

Bulletin Board Information

• Residents have to carry their recycling out to the recycling bins located outside the residence halls near the trash bins.
• The number of the plastic is typically located on the bottom of the container, tiny in size, and inside the recycling symbol.
• Auburn University recycles the following:
  • Plastics #1-#7
  • Tin and aluminum cans
  • Mixed paper
  • Cardboard (flattened)
• Glass and cooking oil can be recycled through the city of Auburn. These items can be dropped of at the Auburn Recycling Center.

Resources

• The Waste Reduction and Recycling Department is responsible for recycling on campus. Visit their website to see what can be recycled at Auburn University.
• The City of Auburn recycles on Donahue Street and accepts additional items, including glass.

Context

The cartoon shorts below each tell an important story. It all started with the 20-minute ‘Story of Stuff’, released in 2007, which tells the story of how we make, use, and throw away stuff. Creator Annie Leonard discovered there was high demand for honest conversations about the impacts of our culture on people and the planet. This gave way to the other stories listed below. Watch the trailers of the videos below to find one that interests your residents and then host a discussion. Here are some possible film discussion questions for each film to get you started.

Film Options (all online)

• Story of Bottled Water
• Let’s Ban the Bead
• Story of Broke
• Story of Cap and Trade
• Story of Change
• Story of Citizens United vs. FEC
• Story of Cosmetics
• Story of Electronics
• Story of Solutions
• Story of Stuff

Actions to Take

• The Story of Stuff Project webpage has great resources to get everyone involved by teaching them to build their skills, take action, and help spread the word.
• Take the Changemaker Personality Quiz to find out what kind of change maker you are!
• Participate in the Citizen Muscle Boot Camp to be part of making the world a better place.

Context

In 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were established by the United Nations General Assembly to be achieved by 2030. There are 17 SDGs covering varying topics that call for urgent action from all countries. The goals are designed to be steps toward achieving peace and prosperity for all within the limits of the natural world. The 17 goals include: (1) No Poverty; (2) Zero Hunger; (3) Good Health and Well-Being; (4) Quality Education; (5) Gender Equality; (6) Clean Water and Sanitation; (7) Affordable and Clean Energy; (8) Decent Work and Economic Growth; (9) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; (10) Reduced Inequalities; (11) Sustainable Cities and Communities; (12) Responsible Consumption and Production; (13) Climate Action; (14) Life Below Water; (15) Life On Land; (16) Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions; and (17) Partnerships for the Goals.

Programming Options

BRACELET MAKING

Show your favorite SDGs! Have residents pick out clear beads and paint them the colors of their favorite goals then string the beads together to make bracelets. Discuss why they picked the specific SDGs and how they can implement positive changes in their lives to promote the goals.

TRIVIA

Test your SDG based knowledge with this digital board game. Click on the white circles and quiz each other with the set of questions associated for each goal.

PEACE DOVES

Using modeling clay, have residents make their own symbols of peace. Have them think about what peace means to them and how they should illustrate this in their dove design. They can put these in their rooms to encourage them to work toward goal 16 of Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

GROUP FITNESS

Auburn’s Campus Recreation provides group fitness classes and every month offers a free class that you can register for without a group fitness class pass. Organize a trip to the rec with your residents to take one of these classes to promote goal 3, Good Health and Well-being.

BOOK DRIVE

To promote goal 4, Quality Education, have a hall wide book exchange. This program can be a one time event where people can leave and take books or this can be executed through a semester long lending library.

GREEN DOT

Have Green Dot come teach residents about the bystander effect and how they can prevent violence. This promotes goal 5, Gender Equality.

VOTER REGISTRATION

Help residents register to vote by walking them through the online process. This promotes goal 16, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

EVENTS AT THE ARB

The Donald E. Davis Arboretum has events such as Mindfulness Meditation and more. Take your residents to these programs to promote goal 3, Good Health and Well-being.

Actions to Take

• Familiarize yourself with the goals and ways to make positive changes in your every day to work toward the goals. There are many options for actions to take in this category.
• Read the Lazy Person’s Guide to Saving the World.
• Broadly, use your voice to speak for change, be a responsible consumer, and find alternatives that are more sustainable.

Bulletin Board Information 

• Goal 1: 836 million people still live in extreme poverty. About 1 in 5 persons in developing countries live on less than $1.25 a day.
• Goal 2: 795 million people in the world are undernourished. That’s 1 in 9 people.
• Goal 3: More than 6 million children die before they turn 5 every year.
• Goal 4: Between 1990 and 2015, literacy rates have improved globally from 83% to 91% among those ages 15 to 24.
• Goal 5: Women now hold more than 30% of seats in national parliament in 46 countries.
• Goal 6: 2.5 billion people do not have access to basic sanitation services (eg. toilets).
• Goal 7: Energy accounts for about 60% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it a dominant contributor to climate change.
• Goal 8: Between 2007 and 2012, global unemployment increased from 170 million to nearly 202 million.
• Goal 9: Almost 2.6 billion people face difficulty accessing electricity full time.
• Goal 10: Women in rural areas are up to 3 times more likely to die giving birth compared with women in urban areas.
• Goal 11: Cities account for 2% of the Earth’s land but 60 – 80% of the energy consumed and 75% of the carbon emissions.
• Goal 12: 1.3 tones of food are wasted each year.
• Goal 13: Using technological measures and by changing our behaviors, it is still possible to limit the increase in global mean temperature to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
• Goal 14: There are nearly 200,000 identified species in the oceans but actual numbers may be closer to millions.
• Goal 15: 13 million hectares of forests are being lost every year.
• Goal 16: 50% of children in conflict-affected areas left primary school in 2011, amounting to 28.5 million children no longer able to pursue education.
• Goal 17: 30% of the world’s youth have been active online for at least 5 years, making them digital natives.

Resources 

• The United Nations
• The United Nations Association of the USA
• Health Promotion & Wellness Services
• Auburn Campus Recreation
• Donald E. Davis Arboretum

Context

Challenge the other halls in your neighborhood to a trivia competition! Check out the quiz buzzers from the Office of Sustainability to host your own trivia night with questions covering a variety of sustainability topics. Please follow the links below to view and download trivia PowerPoint files on the following topics: food and water, energy, society, and overall sustainability.

Programming Details

• The office has buzzers for up to 20 teams.
• Trivia questions and answers are both given in the PowerPoint files.
• After the trivia competition, teams challenge each other to take action on something that would make a positive difference.

Trivia PowerPoint Files

• Food and Water Trivia
• Energy Trivia
• General Sustainability Trivia

Context

Water provides the basis for all life, and we must conserve and protect it. Only 2.5 % of the water on the Earth is fresh water. Of that, 70% is frozen in the icecaps, and most of the remainder exists as soil moisture or in aquifers not accessible to human use. That leaves only 1% of the fresh water available for direct human use.  Even though the Southeast has more rainfall every year than other regions of the United States, it is still important to conserve water to ensure an available supply, healthy ecosystems, and to conserve the energy it takes to purify and transport it to our faucets.

Bulletin Board Information

• Taking shorter showers, turning the water off while shaving/brushing, and reporting dripping faucets and running toilets conserve water.
• Keeping cleaners that contain harsh chemicals and expired medications out of the sewage system protects water.
• Utilize WEGL water stations to refill your water bottles. Do you have any suggestions for where additional ones might be installed?

Resources

• Green Seal and Design-for-the-Environment certifies healthier products.
• Report water leaks through the Housing and Residence Life services webpage.
• Don’t flush away your medication. The AU Employee Pharmacy in the Walker Building has a collection bin to properly dispose of unused and/or expired medication.

Context

Residents maintain their rooms by requesting a work order for problem areas. They need to be aware that certain things are problems, such as a running toilet, a dripping faucet, a thermostat that doesn’t work, or a window that is not sealing properly.

Bulletin Board Information

• Have you noticed anything in your room that requires maintenance, such as your heater/ air conditioner, windows, dripping water, or running  toilet? Facilities Management monitors water online. The system reports usage and alerts them to any sudden increases in water use.
  • In 2014, a resident had a running toilet that used 500 gallons in only 1 hour.
• Did you know that you are able to submit a work order to housing when maintenance needs to be done?
• Did you know that you may submit a work order or contact an RA for maintenance that needs to be addressed in the common areas of the Residence Hall?

Resources

• Visit the Housing and Residence Life services webpage. To request emergency repairs during regular working hours you may also call 334-844-4477.  For emergency repairs after hours or on the weekends, you may call 334-844-HELP.  If you have issues connecting to the internet or email, call the OIT help desk at 334-844-4944.