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:
Sustainability week showcases ways to shrink eco-footprint
October 24, 2008
Sustainability week at Virginia Tech, an educational event of reflection for environmental consciousness, has so far been highlighted by silent auctions, fairs, movie premieres, green building tours and keynote speakers.
University commits to sustainability
September 8, 2008
Virginia Tech has long been committed to conserving energy and resources, and this year the Sustainable Endowments Institute has chosen Tech for the second time as one of 200 colleges and universities to be evaluated in the Campus Sustainability Report Ca
In search of savings: Energy at Tech
September 8, 2008
According to Fran DeBellis, manager of Tech Electric Service, if you ran a 1500-watt hairdryer for an hour, you would be using 1.5-kilowatts of energy. Just the Veterinary Medicine building on Duck Pond Drive uses roughly 10 million kW each year, and it i
Tech readies solar house for competition
July 30, 2008
Remember that glowing, multi-colored house with a floating roof that was on display on Dietrick Lawn and outside Cowgill Hall a few years ago? Well, keep your eye out for another extraordinary-looking house that will begin construction soon. The Virginia
July 2, 2008
D2 and Shultz dining centers have been operating without trays since July 1. The move comes as a result of an Earth Week experiment designed to reduce food waste and possibly improve the consumption habits of students.