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Environmental expo expands
The Pride of New York Showcase, featuring local and statewide food vendors that partner with UB, will make a return appearance at the event. Photo: RAY KOHL
Expanding on the success of last year’s Greener Shade of Blue and You Day, UB’s second annual green expo will bring its message of “sustainability at home and on campus” to the campus community from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 21 in the Student Union, North Campus.
The event’s planning committee—a group of green-minded faculty, staff and, for the first time, students represented by the undergraduate Student Association (SA)—changed the venue from the Center for the Arts to the Student Union to make more room for vendors, get students involved in the planning and generally expose the event to more people.
Sponsors are UB Green, the Professional Staff Senate, Campus Dining and Shops, and SA’s Department of Environmental Affairs.
“This year’s Greener Shade of Blue and You Day builds on last year’s event—vendors will provide information on groups, projects, volunteer opportunities and products that help reduce the environmental footprint of our community,” says Jim Simon, associate environmental educator for UB Green. “Last year focused primarily on faculty and staff, but this year we are promoting the event to students and look forward to their involvement!”
The free event will feature more than 40 local, national and international businesses and nonprofit organizations armed with information on environmentally responsible products, concepts and lifestyle choices—from community gardening and green cleaning products, to energy-efficient furnaces and “upcycled” jewelry. Vendors include High Tread International, a manufacturer of rubber products made from recycled tires; Buffalo Biodiesel, which promotes the use of the clean-burning alternative fuel; and the Western New York Land Conservancy.
There also will be door prizes and “mini-lectures” given by faculty and staff experts from UB and Buffalo-area environmental organizations. Topics include current environmental research being conducted in places like Costa Rica and Greenland, details of the UB Climate Action Plan, an introduction to UB’s new Environmental Geosciences major and green careers. An “interpretive walk” exploring the ecosystem around Lake LaSalle will begin at the UB Green table at noon, led by Sandy Geffner of UB’s Environmental Studies-Social Sciences Interdisciplinary Degree Programs.
In conjunction with the green expo, Campus Dining and Shops will host the Pride of New York Showcase, featuring local and statewide food vendors that partner with UB. Look for the tents outside the CFA on the special events field adjacent to the Commons, as well as free samples from Upstate Farms, Rosina Foods, Perry’s Ice Cream, Wardynski’s, Costanzo’s Bakery, Rich Products and Desiderio Produce.
Another goal of Greener Shade of Blue and You Day, says Simon, is to support UB’s work toward reaching the environmental goals outlined by the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) that President John B. Simpson signed in 2007. UB was the first Western New York institution and first SUNY university center to sign the pledge, which includes plans for UB to achieve “climate-neutrality” and reduce or offset all of its greenhouse gas emissions.
Same as last year, attendees are encouraged to recycle their old cell phones in marked bins at the event. Phones will be donated to benefit the Mariah Saves Gorillas project to protect endangered African gorillas created by Williamsville middle school student Mariah Nablo.
For a complete list of vendors, presenters and more information, visit the Greener Shade of Blue and You Day website.
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