Earth Day, Every Day!

91Ó°ÊÓÆÆ½â°æ is committed to operating the college in a way that responsibly utilizes our natural resources. We encourage our faculty, staff, and students to engage in behavior that supports conservation and sustainability.
Sustainability Updates
- What’s happening on campus from Facilities Planning & Development
- 91Ó°ÊÓÆÆ½â°æ Progress on Implementing Recommendations of the Environmental Sustainability Task ForceÌý(±Ê¶Ù¹ó)
- VCCS Colleges Progress on Implementing Recommendations of the Environmental Sustainability Task ForceÌý(±Ê¶Ù¹ó)
VW Sustainability Committee Best Practices
The following is a list of best practices developed by the 91Ó°ÊÓÆÆ½â°æ Sustainability Committee. It is designed as a practical guide to follow with the hopes of making your daily routine more environmentally sound and to promote sustainable practices in and around the 91Ó°ÊÓÆÆ½â°æ campus community.
Computers
Shut down your computer at the end of every workday.
Lights
- Turn off office lights when you’re not in your office.
- Consider whether it is necessary to run all of the lights in the classroom and/or office.
- When using overhead projectors, turn off some or all classroom lights.
Textbooks
- Consider whether it’s possible to go beyond the VCCS recommendation/mandate for using a textbook for three years.
- Consider the use of ebooks.
Recycling
- There is a battery recycling bucket in every division.
- Call the Help Desk to have toner cartridges picked up.
Appliances
- Rather than having a pot with a heating element that stays on, use a one-cup coffee maker with a paper, rather than plastic, pod to save on waste, then compost the pod.
- Remove personal refrigerators from individual offices and use community refrigerators instead, where possible.
- Do not use space heaters as they creat a self-defeating cycle in the HVAC system which creates serious energy waste. Dress warmer!
Alternative Methods of Disseminating Information
- Eliminate flyers on campus by using VWConnect, the webpage, Daily Bulletins, and emails.
- If printing is needed, use half-sheets when possible.
- When possible, use the Printing Services department. This saves on toner and electricity.
- Use Blackboard for all handouts, including course syllabi.
- Use Blackboard for assignment submission and for testing.
- Save Powerpoints so they must be printed four or six slides to a page.
Green Resources
Below are links to green and sustainability-related external government and private websites.

