From Our Editor

Welcome to Routes!

Winter greetings and welcome

to Routes, the Office of

Sustainability’s new publication!

This is just a sneak peak of what

you will find in future issues.

Routes provides the campus

community with an engaging

medium for communicating the

University’s dynamic

sustainability efforts and sparks

readers to think about how personal choices apply to

sustainability.

In other words, you will see regular sections featuring the

many paths sustainability takes at Ohio University. With

sections as diverse as technology, sustainability related living

tips, food, research and initiatives, you will find your favorite

route to sustainability.

Each issue will explore different sustainability topics. The

first full issue due out at the end of March is focused on

energy and the second issue’s theme is food. If you would

like to contribute articles related to these themes, spread

the word about sustainability related events, submit photos

of your artwork or share your thoughts about themes for

future issues please contact us at sustainability@ohio.edu.

Here are just a few samples of what you will see in the

upcoming issue. We look forward to keeping you informed

about sustainability at OU through Routes and hope you

enjoy it too!

Happy Reading,

Jessica Bilecki

Outreach Coordinator | Office of Sustainability

Routes Magazine

Director

Graduate Assistants

Routes Staff:

Contributing Photographers

Cover Photo: “Crocus in Snow” by Alex Snyder

Right Photo: “Looking Up” by Jessica Bilecki

Branch Out

Submit your energy or food related

creative work to be featured in

future issues of Routes.

Facebook.com/SustainableOU

@SustainableOU

Office of Sustainability

RecycleMania RecycleMania is an annual eight-week intercollegiate

recycling competition that officially begins February 6,

2012, but pre-season started January 22! Last year,

Ohio University recycled an average of 39.53% of total

waste, an average of 18.26 pounds per person,

throughout the eight week period. This national

competition began at OU. Help bring home the MAC

RecycleMania title by recycling and doing your part!

Mission Ohio University’s Office of Sustainability provides services and support to the campus community; advocates for innovation and

research; and ensures fulfillment of institutional commitments to environmental, social and economic well-being.

Recent Projects & Services Began implementation of the OU Sustainability Plan.

Develop OU Climate Action Plan.

Provide tours of in-vessel compost facility and Ohio University’s Ecohouse.

Present information about sustainability in curricular and co-curricular settings.

Sponsor and contribute to special programs on the Ohio University campuses.

Residence Challenge Residence Challenge is an educational program and an

energy reduction competition among residence halls.

During each week in April, the Office of Sustainability

will highlight a different energy related theme.

April 1-7: Energy Basics

April 8-14: Water & Energy

April 15-21: Materials & Energy

April 22-28: Energy use at OU and in Athens

Opportunities

Earth Month:

Call for Proposals The Office of Sustainability is seeking students, staff and

faculty to host programming for Earth Month 2012. We are

encouraging the campus community to get involved in a

leadership role with this annual educational initiative. The

Office of Sustainability is offering grants up to $500 for a

proposed program. For more information and application

instructions go to http://www.ohio.edu/sustainability/ or see

the attached document (http://www.ohio.edu/sustainability/

documents/

OU Compost Facility OU is home to the largest in-vessel compost facility at any

institution of higher education in the country. To learn

more about the facility go to http://www.ohio.edu/

sustainability/compost.htm. Applications to work at the

facility for Spring ‘12 are available at the HR website.

Want to Live Here? Practice living more sustainably with affordable green

technology at the OHIO Ecohouse.There is still one

opening for the 2012—2013 school year. More

information is available online at http://www.ohio.edu/

ecohouse. Or apply by going to

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XQTZ59C .

Gardening! Gardening is a great way to save money, enjoy local food,

and build knowledge about sustainability. If you are

interested in having a garden plot in OU’s Community

Garden at the OHIO Ecohouse contact

sustainability@ohio.edu for more information.