Water Conservation
This phrase refers to using water efficiently to prevent unnecessarywater usage.
Water Conservation
(Conserving water is not just using less water, but being efficient and finding ways to repurpose water, such as using leftover pasta water for plants.)
The most sustainable way to get to class.
Walking, biking, taking the bus, carpooling, driving an electric vehicle
The first college campus in the US to convert to an all-electric busfleet.
UC Irvine!
Something you can do to reduce food waste in your own life.
Ask for smaller portions, go back for seconds, meal plan, use to-go containers, etc.
This term refers to a 90% or higher diversion rate of waste (90% going to recycle or compost).
Zero Waste
(Think of ways you can individually work towards Zero Waste!)
This common household item uses the most water in a household.
Toilet
(Toilets account for nearly 30% of a home’s indoor water consumption and can use up to 6 gallons per flush.)
Energy-efficient lighting options.
Natural light or LED
(Natural light is also healthier than artificial light, so leave your blinds open!)
Where you can get involved with hands-on gardening on campus.
Ants In Your Plants Garden
(Arroyo Vista Garden)
This diet is the most sustainable in terms of emissions, energy, and water use.
Vegan or plant-based diet.
(Raising livestock can be very water- and energy-intensive. It takes a lot of water to grow food for our food!)
Something you already do to reduce waste.
Use a reusable water bottle or shopping bag, sort your waste properly, etc.
The crop that the US spends 32% of its water resources growing.
Cattle Feed
(Most of US water use is for agriculture, and a lot of that is growing food for our food. This is why plants can make a more sustainable diet!)
One way to reduce emissions from package shipping.
Longer shipping times, consolidating orders, minimizing returns, order less, shop in person
At this location on UCI campus you can donate and thrift secondhand clothing.
Sustainability Resource center Clothing Closet
(located on fourth floor of Student Center in RISE Suite)
This gas is released when food decomposes.
Methane
(Methane is a greenhouse gas 30 times as potent as carbon dioxide. Diverting food from the landfill can have a big impact on emissions.)
Dirty plastic food ware, plastic grocery bags, and paper cups or plates with a wax lining go in which waste bin?
Landfill
(The landfill is for things that are unable to be recycled or composted because they are dirty or made from an incompatible material.)
65% of Irvine water comes from this source (ocean, imported, Colorado river, groundwater…)
Groundwater
(35% of Irvine water is imported from the Colorado River and San Joaquin Valley, and the other 65% is locally pumped groundwater!)
This industry is responsible for 10% of global emissions.
The fashion industry
(Fast fashion has an incredibly large water and energy footprint, and production releases a lot of pollution.)
At this location on campus, you can get your things repaired or mended.
SJF Repair Center
(located in the UCI ANTrepreneur center)
The production of 1 kg of this product creates 60 kg of greenhouse gas emissions.
Beef
(Beef is the most intensive food product to farm: land use, cattle feed, processing and transporting, and *methane farts. Cutting just beef from your diet can make a big difference.)
3 key words for knowing if anitem is recyclable.
Empty, clean, and dry!
(Make sure to empty your bottles and soda cans. If your recycling is food-soiled, rinse and dry it.)
The amount of water you can save in a year if you shorten your showers by one minute.
550 gallons
(Shorter showers are a great example of efficient water use! Consider turning off the water while applying shampoo or soap to save even more water.)
The number of LEED certified (energy efficient) buildings on campus.
33
(including Middle Earth and Mesa Court towers!)
This is how UCI defines sustainability (4 words).
Enough for everyone, forever.
(From the UN: meeting the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.)
This certification ensures a set of equitable standards are met inthe production and supply of a product.
Fair Trade
(Fair Trade means that the people involved in growing and producing a product are fairly treated and compensated for their work.)
In addition to food scraps, this item can go into compost on campus.
Food-soiled Paper
(Paper is organic! Clean paper should be recycled but dirty paper plates, napkins, etc. can be composted (unless it has a waxy plastic lining).)