Sustainability
Sustainability has been a popular topic since the creation of the Office of Sustainability, which was headed by Andy Sarjahani in the 2008-09 school year and Denny Cochrane during the 2009-10 school year. The office sponsored several initiatives, including going tray-less in the D2 and Shultz dining halls, installing a local foods kiosk in the Owens dining hall and hosting a “sustainability week” two years in a row.
In June 2009, the Board of Visitors approved the incorporation of 14 points into university policy regarding environmental concerns such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency and recycling. A major goal included pursuing LEED Silver certification, an environmental building rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council, on all new buildings and renovations.
Related to sustainability, coal was a hot topic as the Beyond Coal group campaigned vocally for a cleaner, more renewable future without the use of coal, specifically on the Tech campus.
Content on Sustainability:
Biking central to campus sustainability
October 5, 2010
After reading Chelsea Gunter's "He said, She Said" column on things that annoy her, "Bikers must back-off, and boys must conjure up new pick-up lines" (CT, Oct. 1), I had the immediate urge to write this response out of my annoyance about her ignorance ab
Blacksburg Transit unveils 'go green' bus wrap
September 23, 2010
Blacksburg Transit took over the plaza neighboring Squires Student Center Thursday to unveil a new wrap for its line of hybrid buses.
September 23, 2010
Much like owning a car is an essential display of adolescent independence, owning a house is an essential display of achievement for young working Americans. Yet with foreclosures and unemployment always in the news, this expectation is beginning to seem
Wind power stands tall in Blacksburg
September 21, 2010
As part of Blacksburg's sustainability week, the YMCA held a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday for Y Wind & Solar.
Chefs face culinary challenge at farmers market cook-off
September 21, 2010
Three local chefs will whip out their cooking gear and enter in a culinary duel this afternoon, which is sure to be a palette-pleaser.
Recycling promoted at Hokie tailgates
September 20, 2010
The football tailgating culture at Virginia Tech can generate fun times and many empty cans and plastic bottles.
University motto to serve community, world
September 15, 2010
Recently I've been thinking about several topics worthy of examination - the need to build collaborative partnerships among many segments of our community, the critical need to focus on public policy and the gradual shift in culture that seems to be happe
Barbara Kingsolver speaks to Virginia Tech students, community
September 15, 2010
Authors of "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life," Barbara Kingsolver and her husband Steven L. Hopp, spoke at Virginia Tech about their book and sustainable farming.
Launch set for reusable bottles
September 14, 2010
Virginia Tech housing and dining officials say the stainless steel reusable water bottles that students could purchase during last semester's Earth Week could again be available in a few weeks.
Solar house shines in competition
June 30, 2010
Lumenhaus, a house designed by Virginia Tech architects and engineers to run exclusively from solar power, has placed first in the Solar Decathlon Europe competition in Spain.