Maroon Is Green educates about sustainability

By: Madiha Rizvi

Posted: 4/24/08

The Langford Architecture Building was filled with music and entertainment as the first annual Maroon Is Green program began Tuesday. Maroon Is Green is a sustainable college initiative program part of Earth Day celebrations.

Maroon Is Green is sponsored by the college of architecture and three student architectural organizations: American Institute of Architecture Students, American Society of Landscape Architects and Emerging Green Builders.

"It all began with the recycling bins and how we are installing them on every floor of the Langford Buildings," said Amanda Scott, president of AIA and architecture graduate student.

"We used to have them on the second floor only, but there was a need for more recycle bins. Now they are by the stairs on every floor so that they can be used in the main circulation of students, from inside and outside the building. We decided to expand and make it into an event day. This is how Maroon Is Green Initiative came about. "

The Maroon Is Green event day began with a Flyers performance and featured speakers talking about the initiative. Dining Services catered Green Cuisine, organic food to promote healthy living with sustainability. Stalls were set up by the organizations supporting the initiative and promoting the event.

Associated General Contractors was one of the numerous organizations present. They promoted sustainability and presented a new invention, Top Seal polymer, an environment-friendly alternative for cement.

"Top Seal is a polymer that is environmentally friendly and is one eighteenth the price of asphalt," said John Forest, president of AGC. "It uses the existing land fill to build the road instead of trucking in the aggregates. It is an emerging product, and after much testing and development is used in rural countries in road building,"

The Maroon Bike Project was among the groups showing their support of sustainability.

"We are trying to promote biking on campus, and for students to have a place to come and fix their bikes," said Mitch Drennan, a senior biology major. "We want to spread awareness about biking and how it is part of a healthy living. It reduces gasoline costs for car usage and reduces noise pollution and emission for a healthy environment and society."

There were free items and displays of environment-friendly materials at the exhibits.

"It is an interesting initiative to start up. I am up for trying Green Cuisine. All these people attending the initiative will get the word out about sustainability and healthy living and make a difference," said Rebecca Breffeilh, a senior environmental design major. "We should definitely make it into an annual event."