Georgia Southern University Students to Conserve Resources and Reduce Impact on the Environment by Observing No Impact Week

April 7, 2011

Georgia Southern University students will work to conserve and reduce their impact on the environment as they participate in “No Impact Week” April 10-19, 2011. “No Impact Week” is an initiative designed to promote sustainability by challenging people to live lifestyles that are better for them and for the environment.

“One of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to conserve precious natural resources is by changing human behavior,” said Georgia Southern University Center for Sustainability Director Lissa Leege, Ph.D. “During this week we are asking students to challenge themselves to have as little impact on the environment as possible. The goal is to teach them that changing even small habits can have a lasting, positive impact on the environment. Hopefully, students will see how easy and fulfilling it is to make these changes and will incorporate them into their daily lives.”

The University’s Center for Sustainability has partnered with groups around campus to provide dozens of events that will help students reduce their environmental impact. Events include recycling, re-lamping residence hall rooms with more energy efficient lighting, bicycle registrations to encourage biking instead of driving on campus, and even a session on how students can make their own laundry detergent. An energy conservation contest will be held on Greek Row and a prize will be awarded to the house that reduces its energy usage by the most.

A special Farmer’s Market will be open on campus Wednesday, April 13 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Williams Center plaza near the rotunda featuring locally grown produce.

Students who would like to register to participate in the “No Impact Week” challenge may do so by visitinghttp://welcome.georgiasouthern.edu/wellness/LivinGreen/index.html.

“We want to show students during this week that there are many alternatives to the things we do every day that can really waste resources and hurt the environment,” said Leege. “When this week is over, we will have armed thousands of students with very practical information on conservation, and that is bound to make a difference.”

“No Impact Week” is the brainchild of self-described “No Impact Man” Colin Beavan. Beavan and his family decided to live one year in New York City with a minimal impact on the environment. That meant radically changing their lifestyle and giving up the subway, elevators, television and air-conditioning. The year they spent trying to minimize their environmental impact was chronicled in a documentary that was screened at the Sundance Film Festival. To wrap up Georgia Southern’s “No Impact Week,” Beavan will speak at the University’s Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, April 19 at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.