What Can You Do?
Explore each category:
At Home
Waste Management
In Your Classes/Labs
- Integrate Sustainability Into Your Classes. Sustainability is about finding new ways for our society to operate to reach the goals of environmental, economic, and social justice for the health and security of our generation and generations to come. Because of the breadth of these issues, every academic discipline must be engaged in reshaping many aspects of our communities. Take the opportunity to show your students how your discipline relates to sustainability. Consider how your lessons relate to the challenges associated with having a growing population on a planet with finite resources.
- Reduce Paper Usage. Instead of making paper handouts, post electronic documents on ELMS. If you must print something, print double-sided.
- Think Sustainability. When selecting equipment and products, select those that minimize water and energy use and generate the minimum amount of waste products, including wastewater. When contracting services, select vendors who have incorporated sustainability into the services they provide, including the products they use and the means by which they manage waste products resulting from the services they perform.
- Reduce Chemical Usage and Hazardous Waste. Purchase chemical products that are “environmentally-friendly”, that is, non-hazardous, whenever possible. Only buy the quantity needed. Unused chemicals make up the majority of the hazardous waste requiring disposal.
- Request Student Help. Many students seek opportunities to be involved in sustainability projects on campus. Use the campus sustainability website (www.sustainability.umd.edu/form_vol.asp) to identify your project and recruit student volunteers.
- Submit Your Green Ideas. Many people have ideas to make the campus more sustainable. Some of the ideas may be new. Submit your ideas to the Office of Sustainability via http://www.sustainability.umd.edu/form_ideas.asp
- Be a Role Model. Students learn from the content of your lectures and from your behaviors. Demonstrate sustainable behavior in class by using less paper, accepting electronic assignments, encouraging recycling, etc.
Commuting
Dining (On and Off Campus)
Shopping
Vacationing
To view these tips in a complete list, click here.