UAlbany Celebrates 40th Earth Day by Raising Environmental Awareness, Promoting Green Lifestyle

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ALBANY, N.Y. (April 19, 2010) -- The University at Albany is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day by raising environmental awareness with a day-long schedule of activities, including sustainability-themed student performances, a panel discussion by environmental experts and cooking demonstrations with locally-grown foods.
 
UAlbany�s Earth Day, �Earth Love 101,� teaches and encourages personal accountability in facilitating behavior change toward more sustainable living. Scheduled for 11 a.m. � 9 p.m. on April 22, UAlbany�s Earth Day is part of a month-long series of environment-themed events emphasizing the University�s commitment to environmental sustainability and stewardship.

�Environmentally-responsible practices are a way of life at UAlbany,� said President George M. Philip. �With our academic research on sustainability, campus energy-savings, recycling and alternative transportation programs, the University is becoming greener every day.� 

UAlbany�s Earth Day promotes sustainable living practices, including energy conservation, alternative transportation and recycling. Activities will include a clothing/purse exchange; cooking demonstration with sustainable fruits, vegetables and grass-feed beef; environment-themed student performances; and exhibitors including New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Green Martha Professional Organizer, and the Capital District Transportation Authority.

The day�s events will culminate with the panel forum, �The Year in Environmental Sustainability,� featuring UAlbany environmental sustainability experts Steven Leibo and John Delano. Leibo, who was personally trained by Vice President Al Gore to give updates on climate change, will reflect on this past year�s environmental efforts and policies, including the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit. Delano, an expert on renewable energy, solar power and environmental science, will discuss his family�s foray into sustainable living at home.

�UAlbany students, faculty and staff are proud of the steps taken toward a more sustainable campus and continue to take advantage of opportunities to promote and practice environmental awareness in and around the community,� said Director of Environmental Sustainability Mary Ellen Mallia.

For the past two weeks, UAlbany has posed daily questions to its Twitter followers, including �What is your sustainability IQ� and �What percentage of energy in University Hall comes from wind power?� Answers will be revealed throughout UAlbany�s Earth Day and can be found on UAlbany�s Facebook page and the UAlbany �Green Scene� Web page following the event.

UAlbany�s Earth Day is free and open to the public.

UAlbany is committed to fostering, adopting and advancing an environment of �going green� and sustainability on campus and beyond. Consistent with the University's dedication to its �Green Scene" efforts, UAlbany environmental initiatives include sustainability-themed residence halls for students; locally-grown produce and grass-fed beef in dining halls; fall and intersession energy campaigns throughout residence halls and academic buildings saving $319,000; and campus transportation initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions. University faculty are also committed to sustainable research, including examining the coordination and optimization of traffic signals as a means to minimize wait-times at intersections, thereby reducing automobile engine idling time and greenhouse gas emissions.

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Educationally and culturally, the University at Albany-SUNY puts "The World Within Reach" for its 18,000 students. An internationally recognized research university with 58 undergraduate majors and 128 graduate degree programs, UAlbany is a leader among all New York State colleges and universities in such diverse fields as public policy, nanotechnology and criminal justice. With a curriculum enhanced by 300 study-abroad opportunities, UAlbany launches great careers. For more information about this globally ranked University, visit www.albany.edu. For UAlbany's extensive roster of faculty experts, visit www.albany.edu/news/experts.shtml.