Earth Month 2016
Northwestern celebrated Earth Month throughout April with a wide variety of activities designed to engage the University community on issues of environmental sustainability. This year, the Office of Sustainability hosted several fun and educational events in partnership with student organizations, offices, and academic departments.
ENERGY STAR® Photo Booth
ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program that helps organizations and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency. Northwestern is an ENERGY STAR partner, and during April, the Office of Sustainability hosted several ENERGY STAR photo booths designed get the campus community thinking about energy efficiency. Students, faculty, and staff wrote down what they do to save energy and snapped photos to share their ideas. A full album of photos is available on the Office of Sustainability Facebook page.
Bike Pit Stop
The Office of Sustainability teamed up with local bike shop Wheel & Sprocket and the Northwestern Cycling Committee to host a bicycle pit stop on campus. A bike mechanic from Wheel & Sprocket pumped tires, made minor fixes and adjustments, and offered advice for larger repairs that couldn’t be done on the spot. The event helped campus cyclists get up and rolling on their bikes and drew attention to cycling as an environmentally friendly and healthy form of transportation.
Mount Trashmore
Mount Trashmore is an annual tradition at Northwestern. Students and staff construct a mountain of trash to call attention to the amount of waste generated on campus. Signs and volunteers offered tips for recycling, reusing, and otherwise reducing waste. This year, student volunteers dressed in fun costumes and passed out reusable water bottles, shopping bags, and sporks, encouraging students to opt for reusable rather than disposable items whenever possible.
Arbor Day Tree Planting
Student, staff, and faculty volunteers teamed up with members of the Northwestern landscaping team to plant a total of nine trees on campus in honor of both Earth Day and Arbor Day. The Department of Anthropology also got in on the fun by planting a tree as a celebration of receiving Green Office Certification.
Celebrating Sustainable Food
During April, Northwestern Dining presented events and meals centered around sustainable methods of food production. The Allison dining hall was transformed into a seafood restaurant during Sustainable Seafood Week, and on April 18, Northwestern Dining worked with Real Food NU to serve a lunch made of food from locally based, fair, ecologically sound, and humane sources.
Beyond Earth Month
Of course, efforts to create a more environmentally sustainable campus at Northwestern aren’t limited to a day or a month. From student groups, to green office efforts, to academic programs, members of the Northwestern community can take action year round to make a difference.