Earth Day is celebrated around the world each April 22, and it is considered the largest environmental event on the planet. The University of Lethbridge is committed to environmental stewardship and has many initiatives in place to help conserve the planet’s resources.

The University of Lethbridge sees sustainability as more than a buzzword, making it a key strategic priority.

One of the directions of the 2014-2019 Strategic Plan, Destination 2020, is to enhance the sustainability of the University, and that direction is already being implemented across the University.

Helping conserve the planet’s resources at the U of L range from simple measures like composting to large-scale projects such as getting buildings on campus certified as environmentally responsible.

The Caretaking Department on campus collects and composts more than 800 gallons of material per month. The compost pile on the south-end of campus helps generate fertilizer that the Grounds Department use when tending to various projects on campus.

Markin Hall, the Alberta Water and Environment Science Building and the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness all hold silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. The buildings all have specific features that help minimize their environmental impact.

It’s not just large organizations that can make a difference. Individuals can help reduce their impact on the environment by following some simple tips, such as:

Replacing incandescent light bulbs with LED lights

The average LED will last 50,000 hours, a significantly longer period than the average light bulb.

Washing laundry in cold water

Over 90 per cent of the energy used in the washing machine is used to heat the water.

Shopping smarter

Many everyday items can be replaced with similar items that have a smaller environmental footprint. For example, if every household in Canada replaced a roll of regular paper towel with a recycled version, over one million trees annually would be saved.

Recycling responsibly

It’s not just paper and plastic that can be recycled – even printers, wrapping paper and tires can be disposed of in a way that reduces the environmental impact compared to throwing them in the garbage.

If we all make an effort to reduce our impact on the environment and conserve the planet’s resources, we can ensure our small changes add up to a larger cumulative impact over time.

For more information on Earth Day, visit the Earth Day Canada website, and for information on recycling and other environmental initiatives in Lethbridge, visit the City of Lethbridge website.