Housing and Residence Life

Sustainability through Education and Action

Housing and Residence Life is strongly committed to environmental stewardship. The familiar slogan of "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" is used in staff education and in outreach to the resident and student community. These principles are then translated into action in day-to-day business, as demonstrated by our Exemplary Environmental Enterprise (E3) certification in the Virginia Environmental Excellence Program. This is a state-wide recognition and U.Va. is the first university in Virginia to have any department reach this level of certification.

Here are some ways that Housing and Residence Life is acting upon this sustainable commitment and philosophy:

Reduce

The purchase and use of energy efficient appliances and lighting, and water-saving washers, showers and toilets throughout our residence areas ensure that minimal natural resources are used. Alternate energy sources such as natural gas are also employed in many areas.
The vehicle fleet includes half-ton pickup trucks, hybrid vehicles, gators, and golf carts that reduce the fuel consumption needed for staff to travel around Grounds and the local community.
Most paper housing application forms, contracts and leases have been replaced with online processes, and email and Web communications have taken the place of paper newsletters and flyers.

Reuse

Housing and Residence Life partners annually with U.Va.'s Offices of Community Relations and Facilities Management for "Chuck it for Charity". This program gives residents the opportunity to donate clothing, school supplies, furniture, non-perishable food and other items to help charities in the local community and abroad.
Used office supplies are donated year-round to the ROSE Program. If you find yourself in need of supplies, stop by U.Va. Recycling before buying it – donated materials are free.
When new furniture is purchased for the residence halls, the old furniture is sent to surplus so that it can be reused. If the furniture is broken and beyond repair, the pieces are recycled rather than wasted.

Recycle

Designated recycling areas maintained by U.Va. Recycling can be found throughout all Housing residence areas.
All Housing and Residence Life staff are required to recycle everything from office paper, to cardboard boxes, to construction materials and debris. Recycled content is utilized in all paper products in the residence halls.
Carpets in most areas, and all future installations, are now made of modular carpet tiles that are made of recycled materials and are recyclable after use.
Light bulbs of all kinds are carefully sorted, allowing the glass, metal, and even the mercury from fluorescent bulbs to be reused. Even obsolete metal keys are recycled by the Housing Zone Access Control office.

Sustainable Building

Like other University units, Housing and Residence Life requires that all new construction and renovation be LEED certified. The Alderman Road Replacement Project is among the most visible signs of this effort, but recent renovations in Lambeth Field have been performed with sustainability in mind as well.
Sustainability is also featured heavily in all aspects of purchasing, with manufacturers of everything from furniture to cleaning chemicals being selected for their environmentally friendly practices.