From Our Editor Welcome to Routes!
Routes Magazine
Winter greetings and welcome to Routes, the Office of Sustainability’s new publication! This is just a sneak peak of what you will find in future issues.
Director
Routes provides the campus community with an engaging medium for communicating the University’s dynamic sustainability efforts and sparks readers to think about how personal choices apply to sustainability. In other words, you will see regular sections featuring the many paths sustainability takes at Ohio University. With sections as diverse as technology, sustainability related living tips, food, research and initiatives, you will find your favorite route to sustainability. Each issue will explore different sustainability topics. The first full issue due out at the end of March is focused on energy and the second issue’s theme is food. If you would like to contribute articles related to these themes, spread the word about sustainability related events, submit photos of your artwork or share your thoughts about themes for future issues please contact us at sustainability@ohio.edu.
Graduate Assistants
Routes Staff:
Contributing Photographers
Here are just a few samples of what you will see in the upcoming issue. We look forward to keeping you informed about sustainability at OU through Routes and hope you enjoy it too! Happy Reading, Jessica Bilecki Outreach Coordinator | Office of Sustainability Cover Photo: “Crocus in Snow” by Alex Snyder Right Photo: “Looking Up” by Jessica Bilecki
Branch Out Submit your energy or food related creative work to be featured in future issues of Routes.
Facebook.com/SustainableOU @SustainableOU
Office of Sustainability Mission Ohio University’s Office of Sustainability provides services and support to the campus community; advocates for innovation and research; and ensures fulfillment of institutional commitments to environmental, social and economic well-being.
Recent Projects & Services
Began implementation of the OU Sustainability Plan.
Develop OU Climate Action Plan.
Provide tours of in-vessel compost facility and Ohio University’s Ecohouse.
Present information about sustainability in curricular and co-curricular settings.
Sponsor and contribute to special programs on the Ohio University campuses.
Residence Challenge Residence Challenge is an educational program and an energy reduction competition among residence halls. During each week in April, the Office of Sustainability will highlight a different energy related theme. April 1-7: Energy Basics April 8-14: Water & Energy April 15-21: Materials & Energy April 22-28: Energy use at OU and in Athens
RecycleMania RecycleMania is an annual eight-week intercollegiate recycling competition that officially begins February 6, 2012, but pre-season started January 22! Last year, Ohio University recycled an average of 39.53% of total waste, an average of 18.26 pounds per person, throughout the eight week period. This national competition began at OU. Help bring home the MAC RecycleMania title by recycling and doing your part!
Opportunities Earth Month: Call for Proposals The Office of Sustainability is seeking students, staff and faculty to host programming for Earth Month 2012. We are encouraging the campus community to get involved in a leadership role with this annual educational initiative. The Office of Sustainability is offering grants up to $500 for a proposed program. For more information and application instructions go to http://www.ohio.edu/sustainability/ or see the attached document (http://www.ohio.edu/sustainability/ documents/
Want to Live Here? Practice living more sustainably with affordable green technology at the OHIO Ecohouse.There is still one opening for the 2012—2013 school year. More information is available online at http://www.ohio.edu/ ecohouse. Or apply by going to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XQTZ59C .
OU Compost Facility OU is home to the largest in-vessel compost facility at any institution of higher education in the country. To learn more about the facility go to http://www.ohio.edu/ sustainability/compost.htm. Applications to work at the facility for Spring ‘12 are available at the HR website.
Gardening! Gardening is a great way to save money, enjoy local food, and build knowledge about sustainability. If you are interested in having a garden plot in OU’s Community Garden at the OHIO Ecohouse contact sustainability@ohio.edu for more information.