7th Annual Sustainability Symposium Inspires This Issue of Hook ′Em Green
This year’s Sustainability Symposium at the University of Texas at Austin was unlike its predecessors. It set the stage for long term sustainability efforts with the launch of the first-ever Sustainability Master Plan. The day’s event centered on presentations related to the new plan as well as a variety of sustainability projects and initiatives from students, staff and faculty. This issue of the newsletter draws from the 7th Annual Sustainability Symposium by spotlighting a few noteworthy projects and some of the inspired people driving them.
Happy reading!
Putting Up a Wall Creates Positive Change
Architects and ecologists from across the country have been calling the Living Wall team seeking advice and input on how to create living walls in their communities.
September Sustainability Challenge Winner Announced
Congratulations to Lauren Neels! The UT marketing senior met our September challenge by bringing her water bottle to class for over 10 days in a row. She won a special prize from the Office of Sustainability.
New Board to Promote
Social Equity on Campus
The new Sustainability Master Plan promotes the definition and concept of sustainability as being multi-faceted to include sustainability as it relates to economic vitality, ecological integrity and social welfare.
Since 2009, the University of Texas at Austin has conserved over 764 million gallons of water on campus.
A People-Centric Master Plan
On Friday, September 30, the Office of Sustainability unveiled the university’s first-ever campus Sustainability Master Plan at the 7th Annual Sustainability Symposium. This came after 15 months of working with campus administration, faculty, staff, students and community partners.
Buy fresh produce on campus at the UT Farm Stand
The UT Farm Stand will be open on October 6 and October 27 at the West Mall from noon to 5:30 p.m. Check out some fresh fruit and vegetables!
Find your green thumb withUT Microfarm
Sundays 10 a.m. – noon, individual and group volunteering sessions; Wednesdays 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (starting September 21) learning sessions at the Microfarm; Every Monday 3 p.m. -5 p.m. the Microfarm sells fresh produce on West Mall.
Enjoy showers if you bike or walk to work at UT.
Recreational Sports is now offering a “Bellmont only shower and locker option” for UT faculty and staff members who bike or walk to work. At a cost of $96 for the fiscal year (towel service is also available at an additional cost of $84), your access will be limited to the Bellmont 3rd floor locker and shower rooms.
To purchase the Bellmont ONLY shower and locker option please email utrs.memberships@austin.utexas.edu to set up an appointment for the purchase. Office hours are weekdays from 8 a.m –5 p.m. in Gregory Gym 2.200. Available only to UT faculty and staff and a UT ID card is required. There are a limited number of these lockers available, first-come, first-served.
Get ready for the live auction.
The Surplus Property unit of Facilities Services will hold an auction of university property and equipment on October 8 starting at 9 a.m. It will be held at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus (10100 Burnet Rd., Austin, TX, Building P45). Surplus is only open on Fridays for viewing. Hours are 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. For additional information about the auction, contact Surplus Property at (512) 471-7889 or visit their website.
Time to find bargains at the Trash 2 Treasure Sale.
The Campus Environmental Center will be hosting its Trash 2 Treasure Sale on October 14 and October 26 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. On October 14, the event will be held on the FAC patio and on October 26 it will be held on the East Mall.
Learn some hot stuff at these cool talks!
There will be a Hot Science: Cool Talks! lecture on Friday, October 21, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The location is TBD.
The Office of Sustainability at The University of Texas at Austin collaborates to advance ideas and programs that transform the physical, social and educational environments of campus for the enduring benefit of society and the planet.
