SEED aims to grow sustainability

The Sustainability, Energy Efficiency, and Design Initiative at the University of Toledo is offering four $250 scholarships for students this month to help promote sustainability on campus.

SEED intern Jessica Mysyk said “Our attitude of over-consumerism is not sustainable, and we need to change the conversation in order to leave the planet a better place than when we started!”

Mysyk said the hope of the SEED scholarship is to do just that along with encouraging sustainability — creating something that will outlast our lifetime.
The scholarship money the initiative is giving out is donated from companies who want to help SEED continue to boost sustainability according to Michael Green, director of energy management at UT. The scholarship is available to all students with a minimum 2.5 GPA.

Neil Tabor, the sustainability specialist at UT, said the scholarship is intended to promote sustainability, but also build awareness.

Students can have contributed to sustainability in a number of different ways in order to be eligible, so the scholarship is not limited to one form.

“Students may have contributed to sustainability through peer education, personal efforts, or even green initiatives,” said Mysyk.

The scholarship application is due March 7 and the award comes in cash so students can put it towards books or meals.

“We want students who have taken their time to contribute to sustainability at UT. We want to finally reward those individuals who’ve put their time and passion into it,” Tabor said.

The SEED Initiative began in Fall 2012 when Green noticed that the university was not doing enough with sustainability on campus. “As people of the 21st century, we do a horrible job at sustainability,” Green said.

According to Green, the point of the SEED Initiative is to bring awareness to the problem of a lack of sustainability on campus as well as to let people know the health benefits of it in the long term, with a focus on facilities and maintenance. Green said this means every time a renovation is done on campus, the goal is to build something that outlasts our lifetime.

The initiative placed five containers for trash and various types of recyclables on campus throughout every building, as well as creating the Bike-Share Program and Bike-Loan Program, according to their website.

“Although we are behind the scenes, we are very involved,” Green said. “UT is doing very well energy-wise.”

Because of the SEED Initiative, 26 percent of Scott Park’s energy is generated by solar panels. Sustainable packaging, eating and cleaning practices are also used throughout the university, according to Green.

“SEED is saving UT a lot of money. Our goal is to always be better and to challenge ourselves,” Green said. “We aren’t perfect, but we try to do better.”

SEED is self-funded, and Green said it is the only organization like it in the state, so it doesn’t cost the university any money to run.

For those interested in SEED, they have volunteer opportunities and internship opportunities at http://www.utoledo.edu/sustainability/involvement.html. For more information about the scholarship, contact SEED at [email protected]