President Eugene P. Trani has
signed a national compact “to address
global warming” on the university’s
campuses.
“VCU is making great strides toward
becoming a greener university,” Trani
stated in a press release.
Here are 10 things you can do
personally to take part in the initiative
against climate change, provided by
Worldwatch Institute and the U.S.
Environment Protection Agency. In
acknowledgement of Earth Week 2008,
go green!
1. Rethink your commute
Walk or bike to work and class.
Especially for those of you who live
deeper in the fan, you can save on gas
and get a good workout at the same
time. If you have to drive to work or
class, consider carpooling or make
use of public transportation to reduce
carbon-dioxide emissions.
2. Buy used
Consider services like Craigslist.
org. Also, check out garage sales and
thrift stores, such as Fan Tastic Thrift
and Diversity Thrift. You can save
money while reducing your ecological
footprint.
3. Check out the 17th Street
Farmers’ Market
Products produced locally save
energy by cutting down on the fossil
fuels needed to transport food around
the world. Buying locally also keeps the
money in your local economy. Support
Richmond: Check out the 17th Street
Farmers’ Market downtown.
4. Replace your bulbs
When your incandescent bulbs burn
out, replace them with longer-lasting,
low-energy fluorescent ones.
5. Skip the bottled water
Bottled water is not only more expensive
than tap water; it also produces
a lot more container waste. Filter your
own water. Invest in a reusable water
bottle to take water with you.
6. Eat one meatless meal a
week
Although the vegetarian lifestyle is
not for everyone, cutting down on meat
consumption can help. Meat production
requires a huge amount of energy
and produces a lot of waste.
7. Adjust your thermostat
Setting your thermostat a few degrees
higher in the summer and a few degrees
lower in the winter can cut down on
energy use. This also cuts down the fees
on your utility bill. Also, make sure you
are changing your air filter regularly.
8. Homemade cleaning supplies
Try combining ingredients around
your home – such as baking soda,
soap and vinegar – to make your own
cleaning products. These products
work. They can save you money and
can improve your air quality.
9. Borrow from the library
Borrowing books from the library
saves you money while cutting down
on printing resources. If you would
rather own your own book, consider
buying used.
10. Participate on campus
To find out how to get active with
VCU’s green team, check out green.
vcusga.com.