Welcome to a Sustainable Fall

We hope the semester is starting off well for everyone. In the AU Sustainability Initiative we are excited about this new academic year and all that we are aiming to accomplish.

We've outlined a couple of the projects we'll be working on and have included some of the events we're sponsoring below. We hope you enjoy this first newsletter of the semester.

As always, if you know anyone else on campus who you think would be interested, please encourage them to join our email list by sending an email to miwilliams@auburn.edu

Climate Change and AU

This year one of our major projects is to facilitate a community-wide discussion about climate change.

As part of that goal The Auburn University Sustainability Initiative has signed on to participate in Focus the Nation and will be coordinating events on campus. We are already talking with groups and classes on campus to explain:

• what is known about climate change
• what can be done about it
• how the Focus the Nation discussion will get us there

We can use help from anyone who is interested in getting the word out, helping to plan the events on Jan 31st, or participating in the event itself.

To find our more about climate change, our Focus at Auburn, and how you can help, please visit our website: CLIMATE CHANGE AND AU

To get the discussion going early we're starting off this semester with three speakers (see below) who will cover a variety of topics that relate to climate change.

Tiger Transit is Running on Biodiesel

All 42 of the AU Tiger Transit buses are now running on a 10% biodiesel blend (B10), and will increase to a 20% blend (B20) in the next few months.

• reducing the need for petroleum-based diesel
• supporting Alabama biofuel producers and distributors
• reducing exhaust emissions and carbon output from the buses
• cleaner air in Auburn!

To learn more, read the official press release HERE

AU Recycling Needs Volunteer Help!

The AU Game Day recycling program has become a success story on campus over the last year.

However, in order for the program to work, AU Recycling needs volunteers to help set up and take down the portable recycling bins on campus.

Even an hour or two can be a huge help! For times and more information, please contact the campus recycling coordinator, Donny Addison at 844-9461 or addisdt@auburn.edu

Speakers and Events This Fall

SPEAKER:"Potential Effects of Climate Change on Alabama's Plant Life."

Dr. Larry Davenport, Samford University

Date: Thursday, September 13th

Time: 3 pm

Location: Foy 213

SPEAKER:

Thomas Taylor, Vertegy (A green building firm with the highest rated LEED building in the world)

Title: TBA

Date: Wednesday, October 10th

Time: 12 pm

Location: Dudley B-6 (Architecture Auditorium)

FILM AND DISCUSSION:

Filmmaker Jeff Barrie will show his acclaimed documentary Kilowatt Ours and lead a discussion afterward about the future of energy in the Southeast.

Date: Tuesday, November 13th

Time: 6 pm

Location: TBA