Nurturing our elm for years to come | |
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Happy New Year from the Office of Sustainability! ❄️
We wish you a happy, healthy, and sustainability-filled 2023.
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Freezer Rebate Program
The Green Labs Freezer Rebate Program has $20,000 worth of funding available on a first come, first-serve basis for labs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) who are looking to replace an old, inefficient ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezer with a new, more efficient model. This program is being established to reduce the number of old and under-utilized freezers on campus and incentivize the purchase of more energy-efficient freezers in support of UMB’s energy and sustainability goals. Applications will open on January 3, 2023 and will remain open until funding is depleted. For more information, visit the Green Labs webpage.
If you are interested in participating, please email sustainability@umaryland.edu to confirm eligibility for the freezer you are planning to purchase.
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UMBuy Nothing
Consider joining the UMBuy Nothing Microsoft Team. You may have heard about the Buy Nothing movement recently in the Sustainability Champions series with Becky Ceraul. This new Microsoft Team adopts the philosophy of a gift-economy and is a space for UMB members to come together and gift, request, or lend items and services. Items can be in new or used condition. You can join the team here or by searching for “UMBuy Nothing” on your Microsoft Teams app. Please note: If you are from the School of Medicine, send a request to join this team to sustainability@umaryland.edu.
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Join UMB Bike Commuters on Teams
Join the UMB Bike Commuters Teams community! Discuss the best bike routes for getting to and from campus, find a commute buddy, and more. The Teams site will be an informal meeting place for all students, staff, and faculty - from those who are new to biking or only beginning to consider it as an option to experienced cyclists.
Join the community on Teams here.
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Launch of the UMB LabShare Program
If you have extra lab supplies or equipment that you would like to share with other labs on campus or you are in need of a particular item for your lab, consider participating in our new UMB LabShare program! Labs can post about what they have that they are giving away, and other labs can claim it and pick it up. Through this program, our campus will continue working towards reducing waste.
Submit any item(s) you no longer need here.
See what items are currently available here.
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Our January green tip is celebrating Veganuary, an annual campaign to inspire and support people to try a plant-based diet.
Download the Green Tip graphic by visiting our website.
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'Tis the Season to Buy Nothing Recap | |
During the season, consume more, whether that be from purchasing new gifts for loved ones or finding deals for yourself. This time of year is filled with the idea of "more." However, with increased consumption comes increased waste. See our article in The Elm for some ways we shared to lessen your impact on your wallet and the environment, both on- and off- campus.
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Sustainability Champions Series | |
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We would also like to recognize Anthony Consoli, UMB university architect, as a Sustainability Champion! In this role, Anthony has been a proponent of sustainability by steering campus projects toward better choices that promote more sustainable strategies. He advocates for a holistic view of design for UMB’s campus that integrates sustainability, pedestrian safety, public art, green spaces, daylight access, and maintaining the distinctive character of exterior buildings.
Read more about how Anthony advocates for sustainability in both his professional and personal life in The Elm.
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Specialty Recycling Collections
Curious how you can properly dispose of various specialty materials on UMB's campus? Visit the Specialty Recycling Collections page to get the lowdown on how to recycle batteries, electronics, ink cartridges, and more.
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Sustainability Term of the Month
Energy Use Intensity (EUI): indicator of the energy efficiency of a building’s design and/or operations in terms of energy used per square foot.
EUI can be thought of as the "miles per gallon" rating of the building industry. It is important to remember that EUI varies with building type - a laboratory will have a much higher EUI than an office building.
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Join a Sustainability Working Group
Looking for a way to get more involved with sustainability at UMB? Join one of our four sustainability working groups! Working groups are open to students, staff, and faculty. Working group meetings are held once every two months for a total of six meetings each year. Meetings last one hour, and some work outside of bimonthly meetings will be required.
If you are interested in joining any of the four working groups (Reduction, Resiliency, Engagement & Education, and Green Labs), please fill out this form. For a brief summary of each working group, visit this page.
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January Environmental Dates
Find a cause in January to support!
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