The campus community will party for the planet on Sept. 27 when the Diag transforms into a platform for sustainability with information, activities and entertainment at EarthFest 2011.
Prior to the event, President Mary Sue Coleman will make a major announcement in the area of sustainability. (See sidebar)
EarthFest, which begins at noon, will focus on sustainability at U-M in four major areas: climate action, waste prevention, healthy environments and community awareness.
Each area will include a combination of informed representatives available to answer questions, student organization booths and attractions, along with campus organizations such as alternative transportation. Other features include chef demonstrations, an appearance by the U-M solar car and a waste sort of trash and recyclables from the Diag.
“EarthFest was designed to bring together the student groups that work on sustainability initiatives with other operational units to engage the campus community and share information and ideas on U-M sustainability,” says Terry Alexander, executive director of the Office of the Campus Sustainability. “We want to make the campus more aware of all the resources available to help meet sustainability goals, and allow them to participate as we move forward in making this initiative a top priority for U-M.”
President Coleman’s Sustainability Address
President Mary Sue Coleman will expand on the university’s current commitment to sustainability on Sept. 27 by announcing future goals in academics and operations.
The university community is invited to watch Coleman deliver this announcement at 11 a.m. >
The address will highlight research and academic achievements, as well as report operational findings from the Campus Sustainability Integrated Assessment, a two-year project that examined environmental sustainability on campus.
More than 500 students, faculty and staff from 101 organizational units and 27 academic programs collaborated to conduct the assessment. The group members invested their time, knowledge, experience and expertise to provide recommendations in the following areas: buildings, energy sources, transportation, land and water, food, purchasing and recycling, and culture.
Read next week’s Record for more information on the announcement and on sustainability at U-M.
EarthFest highlights include:
• Bike Repair: Common Cycle mechanics will provide tips on bike maintenance.
• Sustainable Computing will be onsite to assist in adjusting laptop power settings to extend battery life.
• Free, local snacks such as apples, doughnuts and cider.
• An opportunity to record a short, personal, video pledge on campus sustainability.
• A chance to meet the U-M student who generated only 7.5 pounds of trash in one year. (The average American produces 4.5 pounds of trash per day).
• Student-led information booths on green activities and initiatives.
EarthFest runs until 4 p.m. on the Central Campus Diag and organizers are striving for it to be a zero-waste event. It is student led and organized with the assistance of the Office of Campus Sustainability. This marks the 16th year the event has been held on campus. It previously was known as EnergyFest.
For more information on EarthFest or sustainability at U-M, go to sustainability.umich.edu/.
