Student Club Grants • Freezer Challenge Winners • Sustainable Transit • Preferred Green Caterers List • Preventing Food Waste |
|
|
Happy September, Blue Jays! The Office of Climate and Sustainability team is excited to welcome students back to campus. Read this edition of our newsletter for info about our new sustainability grants for student organizations, a recap of JHU labs’ 2025 Freezer Challenge successes, and details on sustainable transit options around campus. Plus, explore our list of green caterers, latest media recommendations, and tips for preventing food waste! Be sure to check out the Green Gatherings section for a sampling of upcoming climate, sustainability, and nature-based happenings on campus and around Baltimore.
|
|
|
Student Organization Sustainability Grants |
|
|
We are excited to announce the new OCS Student Organization Sustainability Grant! This grant will support events that are designed sustainably, have an environmental focus, or otherwise engage with the goals in the JHU Climate Action & Sustainability Plan.
The first 20 eligible applications will be considered, and all applications must be received by October 31. Multiple groups can get funding, so be sure to apply if your student group is interested.
|
| |
|
JHU Named Top Academic Institution in 2025 International Freezer Challenge |
|
|
|
In the 2025 Freezer Challenge, Johns Hopkins labs collectively reduced energy consumption by an estimated 1,560 kWh/day! This is approximately the energy usage of 50+ single family homes per day! For our efforts, JHU was recognized as the TOP performing academic institution among 110+ institutions across the globe.
Thank you to the 79 participating labs for their continued efforts to make laboratory work more sustainable!
|
Two JHU labs received individual awards in the International Freezer Challenge: The GI Oncology/Elizabeth Jaffee Lab in the Oncology Department at SOM (led by James Leatherman) and the Quinn/Tobian Lab in the Pathology Department at SOM (led by Kiersten Wienclawski). Congratulations to both!
|
|
|
In addition to the international awards, JH Facilities & Real Estate and JHHS Facilities offered an award of $3,000 to 2 top-performing large and small labs at both Homewood and the School of Medicine, which will be unveiled at an upcoming awards luncheon, along with additional individual awards. Keep an eye out for more info from our office about all of this year’s winners, coming soon!
|
Explore More Sustainable Commute Options This Fall! |
|
|
As the new semester begins, it’s a great time to explore all the alternate ways you can get to, from, and around JHU—beyond driving alone. Choosing commute options that are more sustainable, cost-effective, and community-oriented can help you save money, reduce traffic, support a healthier lifestyle, and make a positive impact on our environment and community.
There are a variety of resources offered by JHU or locally to make your commute easier and more sustainable, from shuttles & buses to employee commuter subsidies to bike lanes, and more! And stay tuned for a sneak peek at the brand-new JHU electric bus fleet coming in October!
|
| |
|
Planning an Event on Campus? Use Our Preferred Green Caterers List |
|
|
|
When planning an event on campus, make it green by choosing a caterer from our list of Preferred Green Caterers, who can provide compostable plates, napkins, utensils, and more at no extra cost for JHU events. Be sure to refer to the latest version of the list, linked below, as it was updated this summer!
And don’t forget to share any leftovers from your event on Free Food Alert – learn more about this and other ways to cut down on food waste in this month’s Ask the Green Guide section, below!
|
|
|
| Cultural Performance as Ecological Healing in Kenya
As part of the Planetary Health Alliance (PHA) “Planetary Health in the Arts” speaker series, Purity Busena of Dream Hatch Kenya shares her work to transform abandoned artisanal gold mines in Ikolomani into healthy community spaces through art and performance.
|
|
|
|
What are some ways I can try to prevent food waste on campus? |
| |
|
There are plenty of ways you can reduce waste, cut emissions, and make the move-in process more sustainable! Here are some of our tips:
|
|
|
Plan Ahead & Use What You Have
|
One of the best ways to cut down on food waste is to plan ahead! This includes:
|
- meal planning and making a grocery list helps you to only buy the food you can realistically use up before it goes bad (which can also save you some money!)
-
if you’re on a meal plan and eating in one of the campus cafés, take small amounts of food you're not sure you're going to like – you can always go back for seconds!
-
storing things properly to extend your food’s shelf life
-
being intentional about using up what you already have
|
When planning events or get-togethers, try to get a headcount in advance so you can only order what you need.
|
Composting is available on all Hopkins campuses! Be sure to compost your food scraps and leftovers instead of throwing them in the trash.
|
| |
|
Live Off Campus? Drop Off Compost with JHU's Community Food Scrap Collection Program
|
The Homewood and East Baltimore campuses both have a food scrap collection site where JHU affiliates and community members can drop off compostable items from home. Since the sites opened in August 2023, over 4,900 lbs of waste have been collected and composted!
The USDA funding that helped start the program ended earlier this year, but the two sites are continuing thanks to the generous support of the Homewood Recycling Office and the School of Medicine Facilities Department! Leana Houser, OCS's Sustainability Manager for Zero Waste, will be discussing the program and JHU's partnership with the city and peer institutions during a plenary panel at the virtual National Zero Waste Conference in October.
|
| |
|
| Use Free Food Alert to Give and Receive Leftovers
|
Developed by Hopkins graduates, Free Food Alert enables event hosts to post about available leftovers to reduce food waste and treat fellow students and colleagues to a free meal. Students, staff, and faculty can sign up to get email alerts and/or mobile app notifications when free food is available. Free Food Alert is available at Hopkins Bloomberg Center, Homewood, Peabody, and East Baltimore campuses.
|
|
|
|
Home Composting Workshop
With Baltimore GROW Center (DPW) and The 6th Branch
Oct 7 | 5:30 – 7 PM | Johnston Square Farm & Garden
|
|
|
Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
|
3910 Keswick Road n3100 | Baltimore, MD 21211 US
|
|
|
This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
|
| |
|
|
