Celebrate World Vegetarian Day by not eating any type of meat or fish today! Go further by eating less meat during the whole month of October! Check out these 10 reasons why eating vegetarian is beneficial.
"World Vegetarian Day is observed annually around the planet on October 1. It is a day of celebration established by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977 and endorsed by the International Vegetarian Union in 1978, "To promote the joy, compassion and life-enhancing possibilities of vegetarianism." (Wikipedia)
October 3, 3-5 pm, BB Riverboat Landing, 101 Riverboat Row, Newport,
KY
Join the NKU Environmentally Concerned Organization of Students (ECOS) for a litter clean up in Newport, KY. All are welcome to participate. Clean up supplies will be provided. The group will meet at 3 pm near the BB Riverboat Landing in Newport, KY and clean up along the river.
Please register for this event if attending.
October 4 is Energy Efficiency Day 2023! Here are some tips on how to save energy at work and at home. #EEDay2023
At work:
• Turn off the lights. When you leave the office for the day, or even for an hour or less, turn off your lights. This small act leads to huge savings over time. You can also consider using less lighting, such as a lamp with an LED bulb, or no lighting at all if your office is bright from natural light.
• Unplug it! Many appliances use "vampire energy" when not in use to power a clock or a standby light. While this usage is low overall, it does add up when you multiple that by thousands of appliances on campus using vampire energy. Unplug unused appliances and help save.
• Take the stairs when possible. Elevators, especially older ones, use an enormous amount of energy. Consider taking the stairs whenever possible. It's better for the environment and for your health!
• Sleep mode. Set your monitors and computer to go into sleep mode more quickly. This will reduce the amount of energy they consume when they are not in use. Best overall, turn off your monitors when you leave for lunch and at the end of the day.
At home:
• Same as work. Many of the same energy saving techniques for the office can be applied at home. Look around your house and see what appliances you can unplug. Turn off lights in unused rooms. Shut down your computer and turn off monitors at the end of the day.
• One degree. Changing your thermostat setting can produce significant savings on your energy bill. Even altering it just one degree can save you up to 3%.
• Turn the heat down at night when you're sleeping or leaving the house for an extended time.
• Change your bulbs. Changing out old light bulbs to LEDs can save up to 40% on energy usage for lighting. Don't wait for bulbs to fail; change them out now and start saving on energy costs.
• Decorating. Spice up a room with colorful heavy curtains. They will help keep the cold out and the heat in. Make sure furniture is not blocking vents so your HVAC is not overworking to get air in and out.
Find more tips on the EEDAY website.
October 6 & 7, 8 am - 5 pm
The Campbell County Cleanup Event is an opportunity to dispose of unwanted trash, debris, and bulky household items for free. This two-day event is available for Campbell County residents only. Participants are required to unload their own vehicle. Limited assistance is available.
October 9, 12 pm, SU 109
Do you know which items can go into a standard recycling bin? Do caps and straws need to be removed before recycling? Rumpke recycling, which services NKU and much of the tri-state region, will be presenting about how to properly recycle, why they take some items and not others, and the history of their recycling facility. This event is open to everyone.
Join us for the first of this two part presentation series on recycling. Feel free to bring your lunch as you learn!
October 10, 12 pm, SU 109
You might have attended part 1 of our recycling series and now feel confident about what goes into a standard recycling bin. But what about everything else? While Rumpke recycles a large amount of items, there are still many types of plastic and other materials that they do not accept. Thankfully, there is an amazing non-profit organization, the Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub, which does accept many non-standard recyclables and items for reuse. Join us in this deeper dive into recycling to learn about the Hub and how you can further reduce your own landfill waste. You do not need to have attended Recycling part 1 to join this presentation. This event is open to everyone.
October 18-20. Displayed throughout Student Union
Art & Design students used the simple material of cardboard to create artwork that will be on display throughout the Student Union. The theme is based on the Anthropocene, described by scientists as our current geological era in which human activity has impacted the environment and climate by our dominant influence. Historic and cumulative consumption of natural resources by humankind has modified and shaped our environment and our everyday lives. Student were asked to think on this and create a sculpture around this theme of environment and consumption. A second class was asked to create artwork based on their spirit animal. Take a stroll through the student union and view all of these amazing pieces.
Take a picture of your favorite and tag us on social media!
October 24, 11 am - 1 pm, Student Union Circle
Join us on October 24 for a fun and interactive electric vehicle car show! Approximately 5-7 different EVs will be on display and available to sit in. Curious about EV ownership? The EV owners will be there to answer questions and describe their own experience. This event is in partnership with Drive Electric Cincinnati who will also be available for Q&A about federal tax credits and other important EV information. You won't want to miss this exciting event!
October 31, 12-1 pm, SU 108
We live in a fast paced society with many stressors and distractions. The good news is there are safe, natural and effective options to maintain our health, manage stress, and improve sleep. In this workshop we will learn about the power of essential oils. Each participant will make a custom blend essential oil roller bottle to take home. $5 materials fee each workshop to participate. Payment options to be taken at each workshop: cash, credit, Venmo paid directly to Dr. Kim Yates. Space is limited to 20 participants.
Register for the workshop here.
November 1, 6-9:30 pm
The Greater Cincinnati Regional Food Policy Council will be hosting a happy hour and group viewing of the documentary "Common Ground."
"COMMON GROUND is the hopeful and uplifting story of the pioneers of the “Regenerative Movement” who produce tremendous quantities of nutritionally dense food and are working to balance the climate - all while bringing our entire ecosystem back to life. The film explores how Americans from different walks of life, different political backgrounds and different parts of the country share one thing in common – the very soil beneath their feet. The film investigates the power of “regenerative” farming systems – from large to small scale farmers who are the champions of soil health as the key to unlocking more (and healthier) food to feed America and the world."
October 3, 12 - 2 pm, Student Union
Stop by our table in the Student Union lobby to learn more about NKU Sustainability! We will also be collecting used batteries and ink cartridges. All items will be properly recycled with our vendors.
October 5 is the nationally celebrated Energy Efficiency Day! NKU is a participant and you can be, too! Here are some tips on how to save energy at work and at home. #EEDay2022
At work:
At home:
October 10, 12 pm, Meet at Campus Rec Center main desk
NKU Sustainability is collaborating with the Campus Rec Center to offer a sustainability-themed Monday Mile walk. We will walk around campus and visit various sustainability features in buildings and on our grounds. Join us for this educational and healthy event! No registration required.
Oct 12, 4 pm, Meet in lobby outside Starbucks
The Environmentally Concerned Organization of Students (ECOS), in collaboration with NKU Sustainability, will be hosting a tour of the student union to identify what items can and cannot be recycled in standard recycling bins on campus. We will visit different dining locations in SU, as well as the beverage/condiment stations. Join us on this deeper dive into proper recycling. This event is open to all students, faculty and staff on campus.
October 12, 6-7 pm, SU Ballroom (107 BC)
Registration required
Tisha Livingston, CEO and co-founder, will speak about 80 Acres Farm, an indoor, hydroponics company located in Hamilton, Ohio. This event is part of the NKU "Hub of Supply Chain Excellence" fall speaker series on Inspirational Women Leaders & Entrepreneurship.
Oct 19, 11 am – 2pm, Student Union Plaza
Stop by the Environmentally Concerned Organization of Students (ECOS) table in the student union during Fallfest and learn more about their organization and upcoming events. You can also sign up for their listserv and grab some goodies while you’re there! We hope you’ll stop by!
12 pm, virtual – Registration required
Join us for an informative lunch and learn presentation with Green Umbrella and the 2030 District!
Green Umbrella is the Regional Sustainability Alliance for the tri-state. They collaborate with hundreds of organizations on various initiatives, events, workshops, volunteer opportunities and much more. Charlie Gonzalez, Member Relations & Events Manager at Green Umbrella, will speak about Green Umbrella and how you can get involved.
NKU is a member of the Cincinnati 2030 District! Learn more about the goals and the work of the District and how you can get involved. The 2030 District focus is on healthy, high-performing buildings. Tom Schultz, Data & Program Manager for 2030, will speak about the organization.
October 21, 2-4 pm, Location: Riverboat Row, Newport, KY (near BB Riverboats)
Join the Environmentally Concerned Organization of Students (ECOS) for a litter clean up event in Newport along the river. We will meet near the BB Riverboats on Riverboat Row. There is free parking on site. Safety gear and supplies will be provided or you may bring your own gloves.
AASHE, or The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, is the leading association for advancing sustainability in colleges and universities across the nation and beyond. Their program STARS, or The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System, helped us form the base of our 2017 Sustainability Strategy
"With a theme of “The Urgency of Now,” this year’s Global Conference on Sustainability in Higher Education (GCSHE) is a clarion call for transformative sustainability solutions that match the speed and scale of the challenges we face."
Conference dates: October 18th and 26th, November 3rd. Find more information on AASHE's website.
*NKU has an institutional membership with AASHE which allows you to create a free account using your nku.edu email and also allows you to register for the conference at the member rate.*
October 1, 11am-1pm, Free, In-Person
Visit us in the lobby of the Student Union to learn about the benefits of vegetarianism and where you can find vegetarian food on campus! From 11am - 1pm, meet our Student Sustainability Changemaker and gather information on how you can eat more sustainably.
October 6 is the nationally celebrated Energy Efficiency Day! NKU is a participant and you can be, too! Here are some tips on how to save energy at work and at home. #EEDay2021
At work:
At home:
October 7, 11am-1pm, Free, In-Person
Come visit us in the lobby of the Student Union to meet our Student Sustainability Changemaker and learn how to get involved in NKU's Office of Sustainability.
October 9th, 8:30am-5pm, Free, In-Person
Join faculty, staff, and students at NKU's Research and Education Field Station to build a bridge on wetland trails.
"The St. Anne Wetlands trail is actively used by a broad spectrum of the public for hiking, bird watching, nature escapes, trail running, dog walking, nature walks, and environmental education...This boardwalk will solve the problem on the northwest trail loop that is very muddy or partially under shallow water during the spring or very wet periods."
October 12- 14, Virtual
"With a theme of “The future is…”, this year’s Global Conference on Sustainability in Higher Education reflects the uncertainty about the future that many feel and invites participants to recommit themselves to the urgent work of building a future that is sustainable, equitable, and resilient. We seek to highlight inspiring examples of higher education leadership that empower participants to envision and create such a future. Ultimately, the future is ours to make."
Register for this virtual event with your NKU email to receive our institution membership rate, which is available to all students, faculty, and staff.
October 14, 3-5pm, Free, In-Person, Open to all
Join us in Lot F (behind the new residence hall) anytime between 3-5 pm to see NKU’s two new charging stations and learn more about electric vehicles. NKU recently partnered with Electrada, a Cincinnati-based company, to scale electric vehicle charging across campus. Electrada will share information and speak about the new stations, as well as internship opportunities for students with their company. There will also be electric vehicles on display, compliments of Drive Electric Cincinnati, that attendees can tour. This will be an outdoor, in-person event open to all. (Rain date will be October 21, 3-5 pm.)
Visitors to campus can park anywhere in Lot F or E (across from F) and will not be ticketed between 3-5 pm.
October 16th, 11am, Free, In-person, Open to all
Location: 911 Evans St., Cincinnati, OH
Join us at Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub for a tour of their operations.The CRRH collects items that are not permitted in standard recycling (pens, straws, plastic clamshells, cd's, styrofoam, batteries, and lots more) and sends them off to be properly recycled. The amount of items they collect is extensive and we encourage you to come see their impressive operations during our free tour.
The CRRH is located in a large, open space warehouse in Cincinnati. This event is open to all.
October 16, Virtual
The way we eat can have a significant impact on the planet, from carbon emissions to crop monocultures to seasonal choices.
"As a global community, we each have a role to play in the transformation of agri-food systems - from governments to private companies, farmers, civil society, academia, and all individuals, including youth! Together we can empower each and every element of our agri-food systems to collaborate more fairly, sustainably and inclusively from farm to table, and beyond." Learn about how you can take action with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on World Food Day.
October 18, 12-1 pm, Free, Open to all, Virtual (Zoom).
Confused about what can and cannot be recycled? Join us for this recycling presentation and help clear up the confusion! Anne Gray from Rumpke will present about their local facility in Cincinnati and educate attendees on how to properly recycle.
We recommend watching "The Story of Rumpke" video before attending this event.
October 18 - 25, Virtual
Global climate change week aims to encourage academic communities – academics, students, and professional staff at universities – in all disciplines and countries to engage with each other, their communities, and policy makers on climate change action and solutions. Learn how to organize an event at the university level during Global Climate Change week.
October 21, 11am-1pm, Free, In-Person
Come visit us in the lobby of the Student Union to drop off batteries and ink cartridges. You can also meet our Student Sustainability Changemaker and learn how to get involved in NKU's Office of Sustainability.
October 26th, 12-1pm, SU 108, Free, Open to all, In-Person
Join us for this highly popular hydroponics event! In this session you will learn the basic about hydroponics growing using the Kratky method. You will receive a kit with all materials and the option to purchase an indoor grow light. The workshop is limited to 15 people.
View this flier for more information.
Trouble registering or questions? Email Kim Yates at yatesk2@nku.edu
Call for donations, UC 142, free.
Drop off gently used clothing items at the NKU Care Closet, located in UC 142! Look for the laundry basket. Reusing clothing reduces landfill waste and contributes toward fewer resources being used to create new clothing.
Items needed:
October 1 - 31, Free
The Environmentally Concerned Organization of Students (ECOS) is hosting a virtual art show for students during the month of October to celebrate Campus Sustainability Month. All students are encouraged to participate! There will be small prizes for the winners of the art show. Contact Erin Carleton with any questions.
October 7 is the nationally celebrated Energy Efficiency Day! NKU is a participant and you can be, too! Here are some tips on how to save energy at work and at home. #EEDay2020
At work:
At home:
October 9 - This event has been cancelled.
October 15, 3 pm, NKU Sustainability Facebook Live Stream
Tune in at 3 pm on October 15 to watch Sustainability student intern Maria Osbourn speak about an exciting and engaging Netflix series, Down to Earth with Zac Efron. This series explores sustainability topics around the globe. Join our Netflix party later this month where we will watch the first episode of Down to Earth.
Tune in to Maria on our Facebook page: NKU Sustainability
October 16, 12-1 pm, Free, Open to all, Virtual (zoom)
80 Acres Farm is a large-scale indoor hydroponic farming facility located locally in Hamilton, Ohio. They use zero pesticides and recycle 97% of their water. Learn more about this sustainable organization and how they positively contribute to our food chain and our local community.
Friday and Saturday, October 16 & 17, 8 am - 5 pm (off campus)
Campbell County residents only- NO commercial interests or businesses
Must show proof of residency (example: driver's license, utility bill)
Participants are required to unload their own vehicle
Furniture & mattresses do NOT need to be plastic-wrapped
campbellcountyky.gov
October 19-25
"Global Climate Change Week aims to encourage academic communities – including academics, students, and non-academic staff at universities in all disciplines and countries – to engage with each other, their communities, and policy makers on climate change action and solutions."
October 20-22, virtual
"The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE’s) virtual Global Conference on Sustainability in Higher Education is the largest stage to exchange effective models, policies, research, collaborations and transformative actions that advance sustainability in higher education and surrounding communities."
NKU has an institutional membership with AASHE which allows all students, faculty and staff to register for this conference at the member rate.
October 22, 7 pm, Virtual
NKU Sustainability and Phi Beta Delta, Honor Society of International Scholars, team up to present a Netflix viewing party of an episode of Down to Earth with Zac Efron.
Register here. The link to access the Teleparty will be emailed to you 5 minutes before the start of the event.
You must have a Netflix account and download the Teleparty app (previously called Netflix party) to your browser to participate in this event. Instructions on how to download Teleparty can be found here.
October 28, 12-1 pm, Free, Open to all, virtual.
Confused about what can and cannot be recycled? Join us for this recycling workshop and help clear up the confusion! Anne Gray from Rumpke will present about their local facility in Cincinnati and educate attendees on how to properly recycle.
We recommend watching "The Story of Rumpke" video before attending this event.
Wednesday, October 2, 10 am - 1 pm, SU
Stop by our NKU Sustainability table in the Student Union to learn more about energy usage and how you can take steps to be more energy efficient. #EEDay2019
Friday, October 4, 10 am - 12 pm, SU
**If you missed this event but still have batteries and/or ink cartridges to recycle, we are accepting them year round. Please visit our Recycling page for more information.**
NKU Sustainability will have a table in the Student Union to collect used batteries and ink cartridges. All items will be properly recycled with our vendor.
Wednesday, October 9, 12-1 pm
Join us for a tour of the on-campus Community Garden and nearby Wildflower Garden. Learn about how to sign up for the garden and manage a plot. We'll also discuss growing and composting tips and the benefits of pollinators. Meet near the circle fountain outside the library's lower level shortly before noon. It's only a short walk up to the garden (by the old Honor's House). The garden is wheelchair accessible.
Friday and Saturday, October 11 & 12, 8 am - 5 pm (off campus)
• Campbell County residents only- NO commercial interests or businesses
• Must show proof of residency (example: driver's license, utility bill)
• Participants are required to unload their own vehicle
• Tire limit: each resident may bring up to eight (8) tires
• Furniture & mattresses do NOT need to be plastic-wrapped
Questions? Call (859) 547-1866 ahead of event date.
WWW.CAMPBELLCOUNTYKY.GOV
Monday, October 14, 12:30-1 pm, Campus Rec
Walk for Sustainability! Join us for a Monday Mile walking loop around campus and show your support for sustainability at NKU. Wear your favorite environmentally-themed garb or accessory. Each participant will be entered into a raffle to win $5 on their Allcard. Meet inside the Campus Rec center main lobby (your allcard will be needed to enter). The walk will take place rain or shine, indoor or outside.
Wednesday, October 16, 10 am - 1 pm, SU
Stop by our NKU Sustainability table in the Student Union to learn more about World Food Day, food waste, composting tips, and more. We will also be collecting food items and toiletries for FUEL NKU.
Friday, October 18, 10-11 am, SU 109
Green Umbrella, the regional sustainability alliance, will present at this meeting about their organization and member benefits, as well as share information about the 2030 District initiative. Sustainability committee meetings are open to staff, faculty, students, and community members. Join us for discussion on sustainability at NKU, learn about events, and gain helpful knowledge that can be applied in your own life.
Monday, October 21, 12-1 pm, SU 104
94% of Americans report they are confused by recycling. Are you one of them? Curious to learn more about recycling in general and what the China ban has meant for recycling in our area? Anne Gray, Education Specialist at Rumpke Recycling, will help clear up the confusion around recycling while speaking about the amazing recycling facility we have right here in the Cincinnati area. Feel free to bring your own lunch while you learn!
Tuesday, October 22, 4:30 - 6:30 pm, MEP 294
**This session is full. If you would like to be put on a wait list or be notified of upcoming workshops email Kim Yates, yatesk2@nku.edu.**
Are you interested in growing your own vegetables year around? That’s exactly what you could do with a hydroponic system. Hydroponic systems are compact growing systems for multiple plants with no soil, making them perfect for dorm rooms and apartments.
In this two-hour hands-on workshop you will:
• Learn how to build your own hydroponic growing system.
• All materials are included in the cost of the workshop.
$25 for faculty/staff, $15 for students. Cash or check at time of event.
Taught by Kim Yates, Director, Center for Environmental Education
Monday, October 28, 2-3 pm, SU 109
Hotter Summers. Heavier rainfall. Stronger storms. Rising oceans. Are these the result of climate change? Join us for this discussion event where Professor Anthony Chavez will speak about climate-related concerns, the science behind climate change, the facts and the myths. We will then open the conversation for questions and dialogue. This is a great opportunity to learn more about climate change and responsive policies.
Each year during October, colleges and universities around the globe celebrate sustainability in higher education. Throughout the month, these campuses hold events in hopes of inspiring students and other stakeholders to become agents of change at their universities and worldwide. Some events have included teach-ins, pledge drives, waste audits, letter writing campaigns, service projects, and much more! These events serve as a complement to Earth Day and Earth Week celebrations which occur in April.
According to AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education), Campus Sustainability Month grew out of Campus Sustainability Day, which was first organized in October 2003 by the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) and has typically been celebrated on the fourth Wednesday in October.
