The President’s Committee on Sustainability at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville recently endorsed a pledge that encourages students and campus employees to adopt environmentally friendly habits.
As part of the university’s participation in the national Campus Sustainability Day, the pledge was posted on the school’s website along with information on a campus-wide green-living competition and a frequently asked questions section. University employees can visit the site to learn about a network of people interested in promoting environmentally responsible practices in the workplace.
“We wanted to develop a mechanism that helps to overcome negativity, such as ‘I’m just one person. My actions don’t matter,’” said Ida Wootten, director of community relations at the university. “The pledge encourages students and employees to make well-though-out decisions.”
Many schools across the country have invested in green technology to reduce their carbon footprint and set a positive example for students. Using equipment such as an energy-saving computer, an LED monitor or a mercury-free classroom projector can help schools offer a high level of learning while also allowing them to reduce their energy consumption.
The pledge is the latest step in the University of Virginia’s long-standing sustainability campaign. According to the university, for the last 10 years, it has worked aggressively to decrease electricity and water usage while encouraging the use of transportation alternatives and environmentally responsible construction materials.
