Innovative Approaches to Sustainability at Other Campuses

Here are a few selections of the innovative approaches to sustainability taking place on other college campuses. Each of these examples was chosen because they represent ideas that UCSC could potentially implement in some form, or in some cases, already has begun to. If you see something here that you want to make a reality at UCSC, contact the Sustainability Office susted[at]ucsc[dot]edu and we will help you direct your ideas toward fruition! 

U Colorado Boulder Salvages Computers for Low Income Communities 
The University's Computers for Youth program, now ongoing and year-round, provides middle and high school students from low-income communities around Colorado with upgraded computers and basic computing programs. Surplus computer equipment is gathered, tested and re-furbished to original specifications and loaded with the latest software to assist students' academic achievement.

Sustainability is where environmental, social, and environmental needs are balanced for current and future access to the things needed for all to live prosperous lives. Salvaging old computers is sustainable and more socially just because most of those computers would go to e-waste dumps across the globe, which cause disease and high death rates to nearby communities.

A good example of this is this video:

Here at UCSC we have E-waste collection sites located in every college mailroom. The multibins are blue cabinets built to collect batteries, small electronics, printer cartridges, and CDs.

U Winnipeg Offers Healthy Vending Options 
The 23 new campus vending machines offer gluten-free and low sodium products, fair trade coffee, granola bars, fruit cups, trail mix, and hummus and crackers. The machines also display nutritional information, promotion of events, and are outfitted with LED lighting and motion sensors.

Northwestern U Finds New Life for Waste Cooking Oil 
The university received its first batch of biodiesel fuel, 300 gallons that is expected to last about 3 weeks, from dining hall cooking oil waste processed into fuel for shuttle buses.

U South Carolina to Begin Greek Life Sustainability Program 
A fourth-year international business student is spearheading an effort to educate the Greek community about sustainability and hopes integrate more environmentally friendly practices into every day life through the creation of an official Panhellenic Sustainability Committee.