CONTACT: Rebecca Keister, 401-456-4679, rkeister@ric.edu
Laura Hart, 401-456-8977, lhart@ric.edu
PROVIDENCE, R.I.– Rhode Island College will celebrate Earth Week from April 21-25 with events designed to promote environmental soundness and protection of the planet’s resources.
“Events during Earth Week will demonstrate to the RIC community how fragile the Earth can be when we deplete its resources,” said Jim Murphy, RIC sustainability coordinator. “We need to lower the demands we are putting on finite resources, which could become problematic for future generations.”
RIC’s Earth Week events are part of the college’s continuing sustainability efforts, which include recycling promotion, green housekeeping practices, energy efficient lighting and much more.
“RIC’s commitment to sustainability starts with President Nancy Carriuolo, who has made increasing the college’s efforts in this area a theme of her administration,” Murphy said.
E-Waste Collection: Containers from Goodwill Industries of Rhode Island containers will be available in the Student Union for disposing of electronic waste. Recycling e-waste, Murphy said, will prevent items including personal computers and laptops, audio and video equipment, electronics and small household appliances from ending up in the state’s near-capacity landfill. Containers will be available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on April 21-25. Goodwill Industries will use the e-waste for its recycling and operations jobs training program. The organization also will provide a tonnage report for RIC, which the college will use in its waste-diversion program.
Green Team Award: The RIC Green Team will present its annual Green Team Award to an individual, group or program that has contributed to RIC’s sustainability efforts in a significant way, on Wednesday, April 23, at 12:30 p.m. in the Faculty Center of Donovan Dining Center. RIC Green Team members submit nominations and vote on a winner. The award is given on an annual basis. The RIC Green Team is a committee of faculty, staff and students who work to coordinate and promote sustainability-related events on campus.
Drive Electric Rhode Island: Mark Renburke of Drive Electric Rhode Island will speak on the benefits of electric vehicles and level 1 charging stations in Rhode Island, including the status of related education, outreach, advocacy, infrastructure and policy in Rhode Island on Wednesday, April 23, from 12:45-2 p.m. in the Faculty Center of Donovan Dining Center. RIC installed an electric vehicle charging station on campus at the Keefe Transportation Center in June 2013. The station is part of a network of 50 such charging stations installed throughout the state under Gov. Lincoln Chafee’s initiative to promote alternative forms of fuel usage to reduce gasoline spending and air pollutants.
Green Business Forum: RIC will host the spring 2014 Green Business Forum, “Combating the Effects of Stormwater Runoff,” on Thursday, April 24, from 4-6 p.m. in the Forman Center, Room C. The forum, free and open to the public, focuses on the Narragansett Bay Commission Sewer Abatement Program’s efforts to protect Narragansett Bay by diverting untreated stormwater runoff flows.
RIC’s Green Business Forum series was initiated to provide conversations around the link between sustainability efforts and business best practices. The series is part of the college’s commitment to launching green initiatives and to exploring sustainability options with on- and off-campus partners.
The spring 2014 forum welcomes Assistant Resident Engineer Todd Moline of Gilbane/Jacob Associates and Clayton Carlisle of the Louis Berger Group to speak on the project’s goals and its current phase.
Meg Kerr, an environmental scientist and consultant, will address the importance of a healthy watershed system and the ways individuals and organizations can help absorb stormwater runoff.
Many communities and groups celebrate Earth Week as an extension of Earth Day, an event held annually on April 22 since 1970.
