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Everyone goes green with sustainability

April 7, 2013
	<p>Laurie Thorp, director of the Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment, introduces the Bailey <span class="caps">GREEN</span>house in the Brody Neighborhood to participants of the <span class="caps">USGBC</span> regional conference April 7, 2013. Justin Wan/The State News</p>

Laurie Thorp, director of the Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment, introduces the Bailey GREENhouse in the Brody Neighborhood to participants of the USGBC regional conference April 7, 2013. Justin Wan/The State News

Photo by Justin Wan | The State News

For students who attended the U.S. Green Building Council Students Regional Conference this weekend, “Go Green” was more than just a cheer for the university’s colors.

The U.S. Green Building Council, or USGBC, student group at MSU hosted more than 60 students and professionals interested in sustainability on campus for the region’s first conference.

Participants watched movies about sustainable topics Friday, listened to speakers Saturday and took a tour of MSU’s sustainable efforts on campus Sunday. Students learned new ideas for sustainable practices and leadership skills to bring back to their own campus.

Speakers Saturday included representatives from MSU Culinary Services who talked about using local foods and recycling in the dining halls.

USGBC students from other colleges talked about their sustainable efforts, which Amelia Richards, an interior design senior and MSU USGBC student group president, said was a good way for students to learn from each other.

“It helps bring awareness of what we’re doing as a university to the other schools,” Richards said. “Michigan State used to be way at the bottom of the Big Ten of our energy consumption and our waste and that type of thing, and since we’ve gotten our recycling center and different types of stuff, we’ve moved way up as one (of) the top few spots.”

USGBC is a nonprofit organization with chapters across the nation focusing on sustainable practices. MSU’s chapter of USGBC started in January 2012. The group includes a variety of majors and meets to discuss sustainable topics. The group also participates in contests, including this year’s Campus Conservation Nationals, where students from universities across the nation competed to reduce the amount of electricity and water used on campus.

The event also served as a networking opportunity for students, including Molly Black, an environmental economics and policy junior and MSU USGBC student group member.

“Students just want to learn about things that apply to their major (and) career paths, (and) they don’t tell you a lot about that in classes,” Black said. “I think (the conference is) really important for young people because when we get our own home, we can implement these things.”

Anthony Offak, USGBC students national chair for region seven, which includes Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, attended and spoke at the conference.

“Whether or not you believe the impact (humans have) on our environment, there are some of us that are very passionate about it,” Offak said.

Evan Foster, vice president and co-founder of Wayne State University’s USGBC student group, attended the conference. Foster said MSU really uses its school colors and higher tuition to its advantage by encouraging students to “go green” and using extra funds to promote the cause.

“There’s a lot more they could do, but there’s a lot more anyone could do,” Foster said.

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