It’s hard to believe that in 2011, in the Commonwealth’s capitol, we don’t have recycling at our office.  I could even understand this more if, say, our offices were in the outer reaches of Mechanicsville or Hanover….but we’re on MAIN St.   And not any remote section of Main, we’re two blocks from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, at one of the most active areas in the Fan.  A vibrant business district to say the least, yet we still have to bag up our recycling and take it home to put out on the curb with our residential recycling (which they thankfully support wholeheartedly).

But I digress.  The majority of people between 17 and 28 working and living in the surrounding neighborhoods are enrolled at VCU, MCV, UofR, or any one of countless other educational institutions – all of which are active in their own environmental outreaches (it’s the Year of the Environment at VCU, after all).   They have some fantastic initiatives, including the amazing Rice Center, all outlined on their site for more specific info.

I saw this article this morning and thought it pertinent to share.  These tips are great, many thanks to the Alternative Consumer blog.  It begins…

A green revolution is in full swing at many campuses as a growing number of colleges adopt Earth-friendly programs for students and staff. Eco-conscious students can join the movement by following these 10 simple steps to go green on campus:

1. Use recycled paper and notebooks.
2. Ride your bike or walk to class.

Read more…The original article, 10 Tips for Going Green & Saving Green on Campus found HERE.

It was a pleasure to be invited by Mike Baum, KVB’s Director, to the annual meeting for Keep Virginia Beautiful, held this year at the Rice Center, VCU’s research facility on the James River.  I’d never been to the center before, but was amazed as I drove up…first of all, for the scenic beauty of the site, but also because of the architecture of the building.  The first building to earn Virginia’s highest sustainability/green endorsement, this place is amazing!

Between the solar-powered building to its water reclamation system, this place is a model by which all other public buildings in the state will be judged.  And rightly so!  It was great seeing everyone there, and look forward to a rewarding 2011.  The new site launch is on track for the first quarter…stay tuned, many things in the works!

Here’s a quick panorama I shot with my iPhone (Lisa Clary and Mike Baum in the foreground):