RU celebrates Service and Sustainability week

The Radford University community might show its pride with Radford red colors, but thanks to hard work and commitment to sustainability, the university is keeping things green.

Initiatives to make a more sustainable campus will be highlighted during the Service and Sustainability week, from Monday, Sept. 8 through Sunday, Sept. 14.

Faculty, administration and students will participate in river cleanups, bike trips, volunteer fairs and the campus Shred-A-Thon, where unwanted paper and materials will be properly shredded and recycled.

During a previous Shred-A-Thon in February, the campus community recycled a total of 5,160 pounds of materials. Organizers hope to top that this time around.

Recently, RU was named one of the 332 most environmentally responsible colleges in the United States and Canada, according to The Princeton Review.

It's the fifth year in a row Radford University has been recognized by the education service company for its commitment to building and maintaining a sustainable, environmentally friendly campus.

The Princeton Review singled out RU for its LEED Gold building certifications and for submitting its Climate Action Plan with a target climate neutrality date of 2040.

The RU College of Business and Economics (COBE) Building is now the university's fourth LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold building, marking the latest achievement in sustainability.                                                                       

The COBE Building joins RU's Madison, Jefferson and Moffett halls as campus buildings that have achieved LEED Gold status.

COBE is Radford's first new construction building to receive LEED Gold. Madison and Jefferson were granted LEED Gold status following renovations completed in 2011. Moffett received the recognition in 2013.

For more information about sustainability on campus, visit RU Sustainability.

Sep 5, 2014