Mississippi University for Women is organizing activities in conjunction with Earth Day to support the university’s sustainability initiatives and promote green living.
Earth Day is an annual event. It is being celebrated Wednesday across the country.
“Earth Day will benefit the campus by teaching everyone, students, faculty and staff, more about energy-saving efforts at MUW. It also will provide participants an opportunity to learn more about what they, as individuals, can do on campus and at home to save energy,” said Dr. Nicole Welch, professor of biology in the Department of Sciences & Mathematics.
Students in 101 Environmental Science will work four informational tables on campus (Hogarth, Parkinson, Reneau and Education buildings) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Earth Day. Each table will host:
■ A poster summarizing their findings of the Campus Energy Audit;
■ An opportunity for all students to make suggestions on campus energy-savings measures;
■ A five-question quiz on how students can help The W save energy on campus;
■ Bookmark giveaway;
■ Water bottle giveaway.
“Unique to this year’s Earth Day events are the results of energy audits of six campus buildings, completed by my SM 101 Environmental Science students,” added Welch.
Teams of students examined the lighting, windows, doors, heating and cooling systems, energy usage and energy awareness of the occupants of Poindexter Hall, the Education and Human Sciences Building, Reneau Hall, Columbus Hall, Kincannon Hall and Welty Hall. The information gained from these audits will be displayed on Earth Day. A poster summarizing their findings will be on display in Hogarth, near the Cafeteria, on Earth Day.
Visitors to the information tables will have an opportunity to take a short quiz about the importance of energy conservation, and those completing the quiz will receive a MUW refillable water bottle as a way to promote campus sustainability.
Many small, individual actions, such as turning off lights in unoccupied rooms, or avoiding the use of space heaters, contribute to monetary savings and reducing the carbon footprint for The W, Welch explained.
“Those are two of the goals of the Sustainability Committee, and why we promote environmental awareness with Earth Day activities,” she said.
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