South Sound Sustainability

Summit and Expo

Friday, March 12th, 2-7 p.m.
University Center

This conference on sustainability issues in higher education is open to students, faculty, and staff from Pierce County colleges and universities. Attendance is free, but registration is required.

2 p.m. Opening Remarks

             Keynote Speaker

3 p.m. Break-Out Discussions
Attendees will select from an assortment of sustainability topics for break-out sessions. Past topics have included:

• Energy consumption and reduction
  Explore assessing types of energy usage on your campus and ways energy consumption practices can be altered to offset the cost of energy.
• American Colleges and Universities Presidents Climate Commitment
  Facilities Services representatives and others will address Presidents Climate Commitment requirements and strategies.
• Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS)
  A discussion about STARS implementation at your institution.
• Community/Public policy involvement
  Examine ways that campuses and environmental stakeholders in the surrounding community can partner and learn from each other to facilitate positive environmental change.
• Curriculum development
  Incorporating sustainability across the curriculum.
• Urban design and development
  Universities and colleges are major institutional actors within urban settings. This group will examine how their land use projects and research initiatives can help to transform the political and regulatory practices of urban development.
• Student engagement
  Identify effective ways for meaningful student sustainability engagement on campus and in the local community.
• Dining issues
  Address how campus dining programs and individuals can operate, purchase, and consume sustainably.
• Transportation issues
  Discuss how alternative transportation initiatives are developing on your campus.
• Green cleaning program development
  Review green cleaning techniques and products in the institutional and residential setting.
• Green business and career opportunities
  Discuss and promote current and future green business and career opportunities.

4:15 p.m.  Groups will gather according to their home college or university to discuss how plans related to these topics may be developed for their organization.

5 p.m. Networking & Refreshments
Refreshments served while attendees visit and discuss campus sustainability (and other topics!) in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Saturday, March 13th, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Olson Auditorium

South Sound Sustainability Expo
Want more sustainability stuff? Come to this free event open to the public the day after the Summit to meet green vendors and hear green speakers.

The theme this year is Sustainable Pierce County: Tapping Local Resources.  The South Sound is ripe with enthusiastic and knowledgeable sustainability advocates.  This public event is intended to connect supporters and providers of sustainability services in hopes of building long term change. 

This exciting outreach event provides an opportunity for all walks of the South Sound region to preview some of the most interesting and innovative goods, services, and initiatives going on to address sustainability in our region. We are seeking industry, local businesses, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, educators, and student organizations to share their exciting work with community members, businesses, families, and students of all ages.

To register as an exhibitor, please click here.