Campus Sustainability Month

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:

• 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. Does your office have a coffee maker or other appliance that sits for long periods of time without use? 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. 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 coloful 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.

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. See REFS website for details. 

"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.

Register in advance for this event. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event.

A zoom account is required to attend this event. Create one free on their website.

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 cartriges. 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. Register here.

View this flyer 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:

• Cold weather socks (new)
• Men's sweaters
• Men's Pants (small)
• Men's Shirts (small)
• Winter Shoes
• Workout Shoes
• Ladies Casual Shoes
• Women's Underwear
• Hoodies
• Tights/Leggings
• Costume Jewelry
• Other Accessories

October 1 - 31, Free, Virtual (Flipgrid)

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.

Submit and/or view the art show here.

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:

• 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. Does your office have a coffee maker or other appliance that sits for long periods of time without use? 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. 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 coloful 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.
  

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.

Register in advance for this event. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event.

A zoom account is required to attend. Create one free on their website.

Friday and Saturday, October 16 & 17, 8 am - 5 pm (off campus)

Click here for a flier with more information

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

WWW.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."

Learn more about GCCW here.

October 20-22, virtual, registration required

"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.

Learn more about the conference here.

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 (Zoom).

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.

Register in advance for this event. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event.

A zoom account is required to attend this event. Create one free on their website.

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)

Click here for a flier with more information

• 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 toilettries 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.

Register your spot here: https://forms.gle/SQo163DBmvykDF896

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.