Organizations and Programs

The Conservation Advocacy Program

… has 27 volunteers this year – one for every first-year residence, and some representatives for upper-class residences also. Volunteers are chosen by an application process during the first few weeks of the school year. The purpose of the program is to spread conservation and recycling tips and news to students, and provide events each semester for students to participate in and learn more about sustainability and how to be more sustainable in the way they live here at UVa and beyond. The CA Program is run by Lindsey Daniels through UVa Sustainability at Facilities Management.

ecoMOD

…is a research and design / build / evaluate project at the School of Architecture that aims to create a series of ecological, modular and affordable house prototypes, working in partnership with the School of Engineering and Applied Science. An interdisciplinary group of architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, historic preservation, business, environmental science, planning and economics students are participating in the design, construction and evaluation phases of the project. John Quale is the Project Director, and Paxton Marshall is the Engineering Director.

Environmental Sciences Organization

… is mainly geared toward connecting undergraduate majors and minors to the Environmental Sciences Department, but has members from many different disciplines of the University. Some activities include: peer advising about courses, seminars about the department and professions in the Environmental sciences, career and job search resources, the department barbeque, and hiking and other outdoor trips.

Green Dining Group

...is comprised of faculty, staff, and student motivated to make UVa Dining more sustainable. The group has representatives from UVa Dining and includes many key members of the UVa community, but is always open to the public for anyone who has a question or idea about sustainability in Dining. Green Dining was involved in the dining halls going trayless, composting, and having compostable to-go containers, educating diners (Sustainable Dining Brochure), and more. Jess Wenger is the organizer of the group.

Meetings are at 1pm on selected Wednesdays in Hotel E for the 2009 Spring Semester.

Green Grounds Group

…is dedicated to educating and advocating for sustainable planning, design, implementation and operations, holding the belief that sustainable practices should and can be a part of the UVa growth strategy. It was formed in 2004 by planning and architecture students to address green design at the University. The group sponsors projects that encompass a range of sustainable design ideas from green roofs to energy use to transportation, such as the Smart Transportation Map, and works with a diverse set of University and community members. The 2009-10 co-executive directors are Alison Singer and Heather Woodworth.

Net Impact

…is the local chapter of the national Net Impact business network at the Darden School of Business, and comprised of only Darden students. The club is dedicated to using the power of business to positively impact social, environmental, and economic concerns across the world. Net Impact seeks to spread knowledge of social and environmental sustainability, ethics, and values-based leadership to business school students at Darden and beyond. Patty Foglesong is the president.

Ride Forward

… is a student-run, interdisciplinary research effort through the School of Engineering and Applied Science, with over 30 student undergraduate and graduate members, operating under the direction of professor Jim Durand. Each year, students will convert at least one gas-powered vehicle to electric drive with the ability to charge from a non-polluting, alternative energy source.

Student Council Environmental Sustainability Committee

… was established for the 07-08 school year, and won Committee of the Year its first year. Ben Chrisinger and Melissa Warnke are the co-chairs and founders of the committee. Any student is welcome to attend, while the standing members of the committee are chosen by application at the end of each semester. The Committee has eleven subcommittees focused on projects including increasing off-grounds recycling, creating a sustainable-living option for on-grounds housing, to promoting more green practices in University and Greek life, and holding a Green Reception each year with local food.

Meetings are at 7:30pm on Mondays in Newcomb Board Room for the 2009 Spring Semester.

Student Environmental Action

…is a CIO anyone can join that is committed to promoting environmental sustainability and social and environmental justice locally and globally.  Recently, efforts have been made to raise awareness regarding combating mountaintop removal, promoting sustainable energy, and in general engaging students and the Charlottesville community, and coordinating with peer institutions. Rachel Baker and Luis Oyola are the club’s co-facilitators. 

Meetings are at 6pm on Tuesdays in Newcomb Board Room for the 2009 Spring Semester

UVa Sustainability at Facilities Management

… encompasses many outreach efforts and programs, including Chuck it for Charity, Earth Day and America Recycles Day, and involvement in Recyclemania. They focus on teaching all members of the University community to abide by the three R’s – reduce, reuse, and recycle, in all areas of life at UVa – from water and energy conservation to recycling awareness. Lindsey Daniels, the Sustainability Outreach Coordinator, heads the efforts and also is charge of all the special programs run by ten student employees, and is the director of the Conservation Advocacy Program. Lindsey and the student employees also work very closely with UVa Recycling, where the program got its start years ago.