Sustainability at the U

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Green U Survey

Every voice at the U has the power to shape a greener future. We invite you to take a few moments to complete our cultural assessment. Results

2023 Winner of the mini hydroponic smart garden: Natalie Mondesir (nmondesir@miami.edu)

Top 5 suggestions:

  1. Paperless Challenge 
  2. Climate-Driven 401ks
  3. Reusable Utensil Stations
  4. Sustainable Transportation Expo
  5. Glass Recycling

Thank you all for participating in 2021 Green U Survey, and here are some of the most original ideas that you listed:

Always question "Do I need it?"
I don't buy lunch in places that use single use plastic containers.

I live a simple life that use the resources without abusing them.
I ask professor not to print documents to reduce paper usage.

I turn air condition off during the winter.
I breathe deeply.

I avoid food that comes in individually packaged servings.

I thrift my clothes.

I hang-dry some clothes instead of using the dryer.

I use biodegradable materials (dish sponge, toothbrushes, wash clothes), essential oils instead of perfumes, homemade deodorant, using oil instead of commercial lotion, homemade fabric softener, and I cook at home.

I use veggie cartons as potters for gardening.

I use wooden tooth & hairbrushes.

Might be gross but I don't flush the toilet often when it's only liquid to save water. I always take quick showers, and I use rainwater to water my plants. :)

On the 201 individuals who took the 2021 Green U Survey, 47% were staff, 41% students and less 9% faculty members. Full results are available here.

The observations made from the results are as follows:
- Answers to local sustainability related matters (2 questions) were 88% accurate.
- Answers to workplace sustainability related best practices (7 questions) were 80% accurate.
- General questions for other topics like Water Conservation, Sustainable Food and Environmentally Preferred Products (8 questions)  were 78% accurate.
- Questions on international policies, climate science and sustainable development goals received a much lower score: 59% accuracy (6 questions)

The overall average of accurate answers to the survey was 76%, 4% more than last year'survey.

In 2019, the University of Miami earned a Gold rating on the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). By taking this survey, you will help us improve our 2022 rating. The ultimate goal of this survey is to learn how UM can do a better job in educating its community about sustainability and environmental issues. The best answers to the open question will receive one of the following prizes: a bike, a hammock, a beach chair, or a cooler—courtesy of Coca-Cola Florida!

 

STUDENTS                                                                                                   
Welcome to the “Sustainability at the U” module

Are you a freshman, transfer student or resident on campus?
Check out this video on all the great green features our beautiful campus has to offer, and hear what President Frenk has to say about Sea Level Rise in our region.In this module you will learn about renewable energy, water conservation, and proper recycling in Miami Dade. After viewing the video, please take this short survey. It will help you learn how to play your part at keeping our campus eco-friendly.To inquire about all the things you can do to make your campus more sustainable, reach out to Green U, our Office of Sustainability.
If you want to get even more involved and leave a green legacy on campus,
contact our Student Government ECO Board

“Sustainability at the U” for the Canes community

 
The winners of our SUSTAINABILITY SURVEY this year are Emma Miller, Emily, Eachus, Meredith Camel, Myriam Barba, Rachel Collins, Andrea Ruiz, Nobuyo Nakamura, and Ruth Goodin
Below are some of the very original answers to the last question we received: "What extra steps do you take in your daily life to lower your ecological footprint?" 

Everyday at work, you will see me cutting used printing paper and stapling them into blocks. I used them to routinely jot down notes
I limit clothing purchase
Our household has only one car
I don't wrap fresh produce in plastic bags
I limit AC in summer at 82 and I have an electric powered sailboat.
I increase my remote work hours to drive less 
I keep my showers down to 10 minutes or less
I compost vegetable scraps and coffee grounds
I forage for fruit from street and backyard trees

On the 109 individuals who took the SUSTAINABILITY SURVEY, nearly 70% were staff, 24% students and less 6% faculty members. Full results are available here.

The observations made from the results are as follows:
- Answers to local sustainability related matters (4 questions) were 77% accurate.
- Answers to workplace sustainability related best practices (7 questions) were 74% accurate.
- General questions for other topics like Water Conservation, Sustainable Food and Environmentally Preferred Products (7 questions)  were 72% accurate.
- Questions on international policies, climate science and sustainable development goals received a much lower score: 61% accuracy (6 questions)

The overall average of accurate answers to the survey was 71%, 2% less than last year'survey

Green U New Sustainability Literacy Quiz - staff -  Sustainability 101 Short - pledge

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