Sustainability Week kicks off Sept. 18
Want to learn ways you can live more sustainably? The fourth annual celebration of Sustainability Week, Sept. 18 through Sept. 24, gives the community an opportunity to learn new green living practices. This is your chance to participate and connect with the green efforts taking place throughout Blacksburg.
The Blacksburg community and particularly Virginia Tech have strong commitments to green living. In 2007, Virginia Sustainable Building Network recognized the week of celebration for its efforts as the “Best Sustainable Community Program.” More recently, Virginia Tech was placed on the Princeton Reviews 2012 Green Rating Honor Roll.
Sustainability Week was created in 2007 through a partnership between Sustainable Blacksburg, the Town of Blacksburg, and Virginia Tech to provide education and promote sustainability in easy and effective ways. The collaboration has benefited the town and campus communities by providing programs to educate about sustainability locally.
This years events will provide workshops and activities that will enhance the publics knowledge of green living and provide practical ways to introduce sustainable living into their homes.
A ceremony to kick off Sustainability Week 2011 will be held today at 11:30 a.m. at the Blacksburg Motor Company Building located at 400 S. Main St. Speakers for the event include Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordam, Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger, executive director of Sustainable Blacksburg Bill Claus, and executive director of cafe2: Community Alliance for Energy Efficiency Gregg Lewis.
“We are very pleased to join with the Town of Blacksburg and these community groups in the Sustainability Week activities as this is a priority for Virginia Tech,” said Steger. “We are committed to making Virginia Tech more energy efficient and sustainable, and have been able to significantly reduce our energy consumption in recent years. It is important that we all work together to make this a sustainable community.”
The highlights this year include a Community Meal on Sept. 18 sponsored by the Sustainable Food Corp, an urban, solar and wind workshop on Sept. 19, and a host of workshops and information booths Saturday, Sept. 24 across from the Blacksburg Farmers Market. Additionally, “The Last Mountain” will be showing at The Lyric throughout the week.
The events are open to the public. Registration and cost may vary. For the entire listing of events, visit the Sustainability Week’s website.
Founded in 1872, Virginia Tech attracts students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. The university’s eight colleges achieve quality, innovation, and results through teaching, research, and outreach in Blacksburg and at other campus centers in Northern Virginia, Southwest Virginia, Richmond, Southern Virginia, Hampton Roads, and Roanoke.
