Every Friday, is “Cougar Red Friday” at the University of Houston. Each day, however, the UH community is encouraged to be as “green” as possible.
UH has consistently expanded its sustainability initiatives. Solar arrays, a community garden, recycling receptacles and water refill stations are just some of the tools that help UH stay “green.” During the April 22 UH Earth Day Festival, the campus community will celebrate the University’s sustainability practices and learn what more it can do to conserve our planet’s resources. The event will run 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in Lynn Eusan Park (Entrance 1 off Calhoun Road).
Campus departments and local organizations will host interactive, educational booths. Among the 20 exhibitors scheduled to attend are UH’s Office of Sustainability, Houston Arboretum and Nature Center, City of Houston - Solid Waste Management, Houston Furniture Bank, Galveston Bay Foundation, UH Student Government Association and many others. Each attendee who stops by every booth will receive a free Earth Day T-shirt. Other giveaways include collapsible water bottles and tote bags.
At 12:30 p.m., Barry Lefer, associate professor of atmospheric science and atmospheric chemistry, will launch a weather balloon.
Additional activities include representatives from Bare Bowls food truck offering tips on healthy eating and UH Dining hosting hands-on activity with special “Earth Day Playdough.”
The annual UH Earth Day Festival is hosted by the University’s Office of Sustainability. The office strives to build sustainability-based collaborations among UH constituents and external organizations. It also educates faculty, staff and students on the benefits of “green” practices. For more details on the UH Office of Sustainability, visit its website.
UH has consistently been ranked in The Princeton Review’s Guide to 332 Green Colleges. The annual guide profiles institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada that demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability in academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation.
Among the initiatives that have earned UH high marks as an earth-friendly university are trayless dining, office and residence hall recycling programs, campus recycling receptacles, green commuting tips, green computing and solar panels (powering offices in UH’s Central Utility Plant). Recently, the University installed dual recycling receptacles and solar-powered trash compactors, as well as filtered water refill fountains (to reduce the flow of plastic bottles in landfills).