Green Living Guide

As individuals, we cannot reduce our carbon and waste footprints to zero without meaningful structural change—however, there's always something we can do to make our lives a little more sustainable.
There are many opportunities for students to get involved in sustainability at UVA, whether it be directly through the Office for Sustainability or through UVA's many sustainability-related CIOs. However, there are also many little things you can do to help make a positive impact. Click the drop-downs below to see just a few actions you can take! For information on time-sensitive events and opportunities, check out our Instagram or sign up for our newsletter!
- Move-In Guide
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Students stand in front of an Office for Sustainability table at a Green Your Dorm event. Steps For a Green Move-In
Whether you're new to UVA and are moving into your first dorm, or you're an upperclassman moving into a new apartment, there are some things you can do to have a greener move-in.
- Break down your cardboard boxes for recycling. Read more about where to drop-off your recyclables here.
- Visit the Reusable Office Supply Exchange for free office supplies.
- Visit the ReUse store or use resources such as Facebook Marketplace for cheap secondhand furniture.
- Visit a Green Your Dorm event at the start of the semester.
- Minimizing Waste, Carbon, and Nitrogen Footprint
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Three Office for Sustainability staff table at a UVA event. Ways to Minimize Your Waste, Carbon, and Nitrogen Footprints
There are many ways you can conserve energy and water, reduce your emissions, minimize your waste, and eat more sustainably.
Water Conservation
- Take cooler, shorter showers, and always wash clothes with cold water. See why here.
- Put in maintenance requests for dripping faucets as soon as possible.
- If you have access to a dishwasher, run it once it is full as opposed to handwashing dishes.
Energy Conservation
- Plug all of your electronics into a single power strip. Turn off or unplug the power strip when leaving for the day to avoid energy vampires.
- Shut down your computer when it's not in use.
- Use CFL light bulbs wherever possible.
- Turn fans and lights off when you leave the room.
- Keep thermostats one or two degrees warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter.
Reducing Transportation Emissions
- Use the University Transit Service for transportation near Grounds; track buses in real-time with the TransLoc app.
- Use Charlottesville Area Transit for transportation off-Grounds; track buses in real-time with the SPOT app.
Dine Sustainability
Different foods have vastly different carbon and nitrogen footprints - here are some quick adjustments that you can make in your meals to eat more sustainably (and here's where you can learn more):
- Swap beef for beans or other plant proteins, or look for vegan stations in the dining halls.
- Source foods from sustainable farms that put out less carbon and nitrogen.
- Reduce overall consumption of animal proteins.
- Cut down on food waste in your household.
- Check the sustainableuva Instagram account for regularly-posted recipes by the Nitrogen Working Group.
Waste Minimization
- Invest in reusable items wherever possible, including, but not limited to: plates, utensils, tupperware, water bottles, tote bags, etc.
- Always make sure to properly sort your waste by compost, recycling, and landfill. If you're ever unsure about where something belongs, refer to the UVA Waste Directory.
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Local Resources
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Students at a Corner Cleanup in front of the Rotunda. (Some) Local Resources
Charlottesville has many local resources and vendors that aim to operate with sustainable values in mind. Here are just a few.
UVA Community Food Pantry
Located in the Student Activities Center on the 1st floor of Newcomb Hall in room 144, the UVA Community Food Pantry directly addresses food insecurity at UVA. The pantry is open to all UVA students and staff during its operating hours, which can be found on its website.
Residential Composting
Sign up to be a part of Black Bear Composting's residential composting program here. Alternatively, Student Council offers free Black Bear Composting services each semester—keep an eye out for the application in our newsletter.
McIntire Plaza
Not more than a 10 minute drive from grounds, McIntire Plaza hosts many stores that follow the values of a circular, sustainable economy. Here are just some of the stellar stores in the plaza:
- Scrappy Elephant - a creative supplies store that sells donated wares and hosts fun workshops to keep craft supplies from ending up in the landfill.
- Refill Renew - a local refillery with everything from household cleaners and detergent to personal care products, just bring your own container and refill away!
- Circa - an antique store that aims to provide affordable goods from around the area.
Secondhand Stores
Visit local thrift stores such as Twice is Nice, Salvation Army, Goodwill, and High Tor Gear Exchange.
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Get Involved
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Students pick tomatoes at the Morven Kitchen Garden. Get Involved
There are many ways to directly contribute to sustainability at UVA. Here are just a few of the many ways you can get involved.
Join an OFS-backed Leadership Group
Groups such as the Sustainability Advocates, the Zero Waste Ambassadors, and the Eco-Leaders operate directly under the UVA Office for Sustainability, and each group offers exciting ways to engage with sustainability at UVA. Read more here.
Join a sustainability-focused CIO at UVA
We are lucky to have an amazing sustainability community here at UVA, with many different independent organizations, each with their own goals and purposes. Some popular examples include SWAP (a thrifting CIO), and the Outdoors Club. A non-comprehensive list of these organizations and their points of contact can be found here.
Volunteer
The Office for Sustainability offers many volunteering opportunities, including Corner Cleanups, Green Games, and student garden workdays. Keep up-to-date on volunteering opportunities by subscribing our newsletter or by regularly checking our upcoming events page.
Apply for Internships
If you want to turn your interest in sustainability into a career, consider applying for an internship. Some opportunities include the Decarbonization Academy, internships and externships offered by the Environmental Institute, and research opportunities offered by UVA faculty.