Along with my backpack and laptop, I carry a reusable mug everywhere around campus. With my reusable mug, I am able to help the environment by decreasing my use of styrofoam cups, but I am also saving money. Places like Wilsdorf Cafe and Greenberry's give its customers fifteen percent off if they bring in their own cup. Further deals include two free drip coffees, teas or sodas when eight drinks are purchased in one's own mug by presenting the punch card. These punch cards can be picked up at UVa dining locations around campus. If more money in your pocket is not an enticing incentive, then maybe contributing to a campus wide green effort will be. Other green efforts the University has made includes, reusable to-go boxes, which can be purchased for $7 at UVA dining halls, reducing energy and utility costs, and inserting fluorescent light bulbs in the Emmet-Ivy parking garage. If one would like to get involved further with sustainability at UVa, he or she should check out http://www.virginia.edu/sustainability/ and take the sustainability pledge. It is important to realize that decisions we unconsciously make every day, in patterns of our everyday lives affect our environment in a tremendous way. That is why it is vital to make conscious decisions that reduce our carbon footprint.
More information about UVa's sustainability efforts can be found at http://www.cavalierdaily.com/tags/sustainability/
-Mina Asghari
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