The push for sustainability is more than necessary now, and at Villanova, students are finding new ways to implement eco-friendly strategies on campus. We are proud to be leading this initiative. Our names are Sarah Butler and Gabby Mazzini, and we are working with the Villanova Consulting Group and Office of Sustainability to investigate and implement sustainability strategies on campus. Combining our passions for environmental science and economics, we are striving to enact sustainable changes on Villanova’s campus for a greener future. With our advice and strategies, you too can make an impactful change for the environment.
From here on out, we hope that Wildcats will represent green initiatives just as proudly as they wear their blue and white. With our interdisciplinary backgrounds, we have spent ample time researching various aspects of Villanova’s campus working to increase sustainability efforts in an economical way. Our integrated coursework, including environmental chemistry and environmental economics, showcases our research. Each week, we will shine the spotlight on a different corner of Villanova’s campus to highlight new ways students can make realistic changes to help reduce the campus’s environmental footprint. From LEED certified buildings and permeable locations on campus to sustainable resources like NovaNook and the Thrift Store, students will become more familiar with eco-friendly solutions that make up our campus.
We will offer both topical and practical lifestyle changes to help shift you towards that “greener” mindset. Becoming a leader in environmental stewardship is a rewarding and simple venture. We are here to demonstrate how you can make this happen quickly and easily. Don’t fret: these changes won’t take away from your normal daily routine or be time-consuming. Rather, it’s often the smallest shifts in daily habits that ultimately have the largest long-term impacts.
Similarly, turning off the running water when brushing your teeth and remembering to hit the lights before embarking on your day of classes in Bartley Hall are other valuable ways you can make a difference; it really is that easy.
As a community here at Villanova, we have the power to see these changes blossom together. It’s time that students start taking initiative and lead the way in this sustainable movement. By following the steps proposed here each week and becoming familiar with developed sustainability practices on campus, students can make meaningful changes. Working together to embrace sustainability can help us to build a better way of life. Every step brings us closer to a greener campus and a world that is cleaner, greener and more sustainable for future generations. Let’s make sustainability a part of Villanova’s identity, and a movement of which we are proud to be a part.
So, time to wake up, Wildcats. The world isn’t going to stop turning, so it’s time that we start turning with it. Let’s use the same energy that we have when cheering on the basketball team to create our sustainable futures. Wildcats are not only leaders in their athletic and academic endeavors, but also in environmental responsibility. Let’s harness this skill and secure the health of generations of Wildcats to come. The road ahead is blooming green, and we are excited to take every step with you.
