This year’s Campus Sustainability Day centered on a new online pledge promoting green life.
Fourteen tables were set up across campus Wednesday by various sponsors including the Renewable Energy Special Projects Committee (RESPC), the Sustainability Office, Carolina Dining Services, HOPE Gardens, FLO Food and the Sierra Student Coalition.
Students who stopped by the tables were asked to pledge to lead a more sustainable lifestyle.
“The purpose of the pledge is to raise awareness and help the University advance sustainability initiatives both in and out of the workplace,” said Erin Hiatt, RESPC co-chairwoman.
After completing the pledge, students received an e-mail with a location where they could pick up Nalgene water bottles as a reward.
“We use Nalgene because they are BPA-free,” Hiatt said, referencing a chemical commonly found in other plastic water bottles.
“The pledge covers a lot of things, so we understand tackling it all at once might be overwhelming,” said RESPC member Luke Macon. “That’s why we allow people to pledge to specific things.”
Certain statements in the pledge include: “I will turn off the lights when leaving the room,” “I will eat less meat” and “I will double-side printouts and copies.”
By 1 p.m., 500 students and 600 staff members had signed the pledge, said Cindy Shea, director of the Sustainability Office.
