Residence Halls Compete for Green

VALDOSTA -- Residence halls will be turning off lights and gathering aluminum during a recycling competition among VSU residence halls from noon on Feb. 26 to noon on March 12 and an energy conservation contest from March 22 - April 19.

The competitions are part of campus-wide efforts to promote the “Green Housing Effect” campaign started by Valdosta State University’s Students Against Violating the Environment (S.A.V.E.). The winners of the contests will be announced on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, 2010.

Meredith Lancaster, VSU environmental safety coordinator and chair of the Recycling Subcommittee said it is important for students to understand the need to preserve our environment and natural resources.

“We hope students will participate in the contest to raise awareness of recycling opportunities on campus as well as to actively increase the amount of recycling we do at VSU,” Lancaster said.

RECYCLING COMPETITION

Recycling containers will be placed in residence hall lobbies for students to recycle glass, plastic, and aluminum (not paper or cardboard). At the end of the three weeks, the number of bags of recyclables will be counted for each dormitory and then divided by the number of students living there. Recycling containers that contain trash or food will be disqualified from the competition. Housing and Residence Life will provide the winning hall with a pizza and chicken wing party.

ENERGY CONSERVATION COMPETITION

Students will be encouraged to conserve energy by turning off lights, unplugging unused appliances, using cold water and turning down thermostats. The hall that reduces the most energy per person compared to their current energy during that month the previous year will win a grand prize.

Recycling Game Day
Students should join S.A.V.E. members from 2-6 p.m. Thursday, March 4, on the front lawn for games and crafts. Enjoy creative exercises such as tug-of-war with braided plastic bags and recycling races. For every eight people that come from each residence hall, one bag will be added towards their hall’s final score.


One Person’s Trash is Another’s Treasure
On Thursday, March 4, each residence hall will be given a bag of pre-sorted recyclables and have one week to create a work of art with the material. Glue, string, and metal wire can be used to decorate and assemble the pieces. Those that use materials not included in the bag disqualification. Final submissions should be displayed in hall lobbies by 10 a.m. Thursday, March 11, and the winner will be announced after spring break. Winner will boost their hall’s final recycling total by 3 bags.


For more information about the contests, e-mail S.A.V.E. President Erin Hurley at ephurley@valdosta.edu.