Community Involvement

• The Administration and Finance has hired a new environmental intern to address environmental issues around campus.
• A committee of faculty, staff and students has been established to focus on becoming a signatory on the President’s Climate Commitment.
• On the Green, a Gallaudet publication for faculty, teachers and staff, has gone online to reduce material consumption.

Student Involvement

• There is an environmental advocacy organization founded and run by students and faculty called Green Gallaudet.
• The student organization, Green Gallaudet, has been actively involved in voicing and spreading awareness around campus through events such as Focus the Nation and Earth Day.
• The student newsletter, Buff & Blue, includes a “green” column to encourage awareness of green issues.
• The Student Body Government pledges that all SBG sponsored events on campus will be required to use only biodegradable food service items.

Academics

• There is now a set limit of 500 pages of printing allowed per student in the computer lab each semester.
• Dr. Caroline Solomon, a biology professor, has received a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation, which provides the funding for an environmental science lecture series for two academic years, starting in 2009.

Facilities

• Gallaudet’s newest building, the Sorenson Language and Communication Center, has met LEED-Certification green building standards.
• 100% of the campus now uses only organic fertilizers.
• 20,000 used tires have been grinded and reused as the layer under the new turf of the football field.
• A majority of cleaning products used are green seal approved.
• The Facilities Department is currently working with the consulting firm, Sightlines to achieve the greenhouse gas emissions inventory.

Transportation

• The ZipCar program on campus encourages commuters to use other forms of transportation with the option of having a car available when necessary.
• The university offers a shuttle bus service to provide transportation to two metro stations in the area.

Food Service

• All food service locations (Cafeteria, Marketplace, and Rathskellar) use renewable paper goods instead of plastic. They have also begun using biodegradable potato ware goods.
• Bon Appétit (café and catering service) is taking part in the Circle of Responsibility to implement a series of initiatives to reduce green gas house emissions by 25% in the next three years.
• Bon Appétit has also declared April 22 to be Low Carbon Diet Day in support of Earth Day, encouraging low carbon impact foods.
• The cafeteria in Hanson Plaza, starting in May 2009, will begin growing an herb garden dedicated to Brenda Kay Keller’s memory.
• The cafeteria has cut its supply of trays in half to reduce water usage.