RecycleMan and Super Earth made the rounds at UH’s Earth Day Carnival on Thursday. UH celebrated the green advances the campus has made over the past year. | Courtesy University Services
Students came out to play games, educate themselves about green initiatives and celebrate Earth Day Thursday in Butler Plaza.
Games such as skee ball, Tic Tac Toe and horseshoes drew crowds competing for various recycled prizes.
“I think I learned the most from the clothesline trivia,” said Cynthia Velasquez, a communications senior. “It actually taught me something.”
The purpose of the games was to educate students about sustainability while providing them with a fun activity between classes.
“I liked Tic Tac Toe because I won,” said biology junior Emily Vo while waiting in line to play horseshoes.
The event also celebrated another year of practicing green habits on campus through RecycleMania and other green initiatives.
“Earth Day [is] an event that initiated a world-wide sustainability movement,” said Billy Garner, marketing coordinator of University Services.
Other highlights included a weather balloon launch, face painting, an Earth Day cake, Super Earth mascot, Recycle Man and free gifts.
“UH has become one of the leaders in sustainability among the nation’s universities,” Garner said.
Green Mountain Energy Company also came out to the event and presented UH with a $140,000 check for the University’s first solar panel system, which is expected to be completed on May 30 and will be mounted on the roof of UH’s Central Utility Plant.
The company also announced the Green Mountain Energy Solar Internship that will begin in Fall 2011.
“Both of these initiatives will help UH spread the word and educate thousands of students over the 30-year expected lifespan of the array about the benefits of solar energy,” Sean Figaro, Houston market manager for Green Mountain Energy Company, said in a press release. “This further support[s] Green Mountain’s mission to change the way power is made; and help us give back to the Houston community where our customers live, work, shop and play.”
UH is naming the largest residential dining hall the Green Mountain Energy Company Dining Room in honor of the donation.
Students wanting to learn more about how to get involved in green initiatives at UH can go to www.uh.edu/green.
