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Sustainability Spotlight

'GREEN DAY'

Clad in shades of green, staff at the Office of Student Financial Aid recently gathered for a vegetarian potluck. They dished delicious pastas, salads and even meatless "meatballs" onto reusable plates and discussed how food choices can affect environmental impact and carbon footprint. It was all part of their "Green Day" celebration May 22, promoting environmentally friendly practices in the workplace.

"I thought it was great that we didn't have anything to throw away such as paper plates, cups and utensils," said Elaine Schuler, administrative associate. "We should bring our own eating utensils for all lunches from now on."

Before the environmental awareness-raising event, staff received an e-mail with tips for greening the office, ranging from biking or busing to work to shutting down computers and printers at the end of the day. The office also posted just two copies of its daily appointment schedule -- instead of distributing individual copies to everyone -- and encouraged other options for reducing paper use.

At the end of the day, Assistant Director Clinton Everhart was impressed by the food but even more so by the impact the event had.

"There was a new awareness of how little changes can pay off big for the environment. One person tossing a recyclable water bottle in the trash doesn't make much difference. A million people tossing their bottles in the trash will. Likewise, one energy saving light bulb doesn't do much, but if a million people change one bulb, the difference in energy use is real."

Office staff hope to make "Green Day" an annual event. They also plan to build on the theme by establishing a committee to develop long-term goals for greening the office throughout the year. The Center for Sustainability hopes the idea will catch on in other offices, and the center's ambassadors have already developed a list of tips to share with faculty and staff.

To view these and other ideas for reducing environmental impact at work visit www.sustainability.ku.edu/greenatwork.shtml.

TOPONYMS:

The steam-tunnel repairs on the front lawn of Watson Library overlap the site of the first Snow Hall, the natural history building that opened in 1886. By the 1920s, the classroom and lab facility had deteriorated so badly that its stone walls had "quivering tendencies" in high winds, among other failings. New Snow Hall opened in 1930, and the old building was demolished. Its stone was saved and recycled to face the Military Science Building, completed in 1943. For more, visit www.buildings.ku.edu.