Housing's Role in Sustainability at Mason

By Broadside Contributor Dan Waxman

The Office of Housing and Residence Life has certainly made sustainability a priority. The Greening Group, co-chaired by Rachel Siditsky and Brad Menard and encompassed by staff members from a variety of areas, have engaged and inspired George Mason University’s residence hall students to live sustainably through a variety of initiatives.

One of OHRL’s many efforts is their involvement in Mason’s climate commitment. Students, staff and faculty can go to http://housing.gmu.edu/goinggreen/ and commit to help reduce climate change. Further emphasizing the importance of reducing climate change, Siditsky said, “Even small steps can help reduce climate change and make a difference.

We are encouraging everyone to log on and make a commitment
to just ten activities in their life that will make a difference.” This initiative is part of the President’s Climate Commitment, which President Alan Merten signed, which shows a commitment to the pursuit of climate neutrality.

Another effort of OHRL is the Green Floor. The Green Floor is a living and learning community located in Dickinson within the DUCC area. This community provides a space for those interested in greening issues and initiatives to live together and interact regularly.

OHRL also has a number of programs to help with waste reduction and recycling. OHRL is partnering with the Art Department to get two new recycling centers. OHRL also collects cell phones, eyeglasses, clothes during clothing drives, ink cartridges and rechargeable batteries. One effort to further reduce waste in use at the OHRL office is their use of smaller margins on printing to save paper. The OHRL office frequently has environmental competitions between the offices. They also utilize green products for office happenings.

OHRL’s Green Week is coming up next week. This week will help raise awareness regarding sustainability through fun and informative programming. The week will feature light-bulb trade in stations, a used sneaker drive, greening bingo and How to be a Green DUCC . . . or Just be Green!

As OHRL looks to the future, they expressed plans for a variety of programs including “It’s so easy being green,” a program about environmental awareness and Earth Hour on March 28. Earth Hour raises awareness about climate change by turning lights off across the world for one hour, 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Living the Green Life
Here are five easy ways to bring sustainability into your residence hall living experience:

•Attend a sustainability program in your hall
•Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
•Conserve water by taking shorter showers
•Turn off the lights when you leave your room
•Buy green—Purchase environmentally sustainable products for your room made from recycled materials.

Green Calendar
Tuesday, Jan. 27 to Friday, Jan. 30—
Light bulb exchange
Exchange your light bulbs for energy-efficient light bulbs at your area desks!

Tuesday, Jan. 27—
Cheer for Climate Action!! 7 p.m. at the Patriot Center
Help raise some green spirit on campus and at the Men’s Basketball Game at the Patriot Center. Wear the Cheer for Climate Action shirt or a green shirt of your choice. Shirts can be purchased for $6.50 at JC Kiosk A Jan. 26 (2 to 4 p.m.) or Jan. 27 (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.). They may also be purchased at the Environmental Science and Policy Office 3043 David King Hall. Ask for Roslyn or Lisa.

Tuesday, Jan. 27—
Used Shoe Drive 7 p.m. at the Patriot Center
Bring your used shoes to the basketball game to donate to Perpetual Prosperity Pumps Foundation in Africa. Funds from used athletic shoe sales help bring technology, education, and training to villages in Ghana.

Wednesday, Jan. 28—
How to be a Green DUCC . . . or Just be Green 8 p.m. at the Hanover Residence Hall
Come out to learn how to be green while living on campus. Interactive activities will include LED lights, laundry, and nutrition—with some prizes and giveaways.

Thursday, Jan. 29—
Greening Bingo, 8 p.m. at Shenandoah
Learn new concepts about sustainability and win some great prizes.

Tuesday, Feb. 3—
Clean Coal: Myths, Realities, and Possibilities 4:30 p.m., JC 3rd Floor Meeting Room C

Mason will be holding the first of four roundtable panel discussions in the Mason Energy Roundtable Series entitled, “Clean Coal: Myths, Realities, and Possibilities.” Seating will begin at 4:30 p.m. For more details and to reserve a seat, please contact Colin Bennett in Mason’s Office of Sustainability at cbennet6@gmu.edu. Next week’s article will feature more information about the Mason Energy Roundtable Series.

For more green events, please visit: green.gmu.edu/calendar or e-mail the Sustainability Office at gogreen@gmu.edu.