Green Guide
VCU is committed to reducing its environmental impact and improving sustainability on campus, in line with the ONE VCU Sustainability Plan. Some of the many ways VCU Sustainability furthers sustainable actions at VCU and in the Richmond community is by engaging with students, faculty, staff and community partners through our programs. Achieving our sustainability goals is a collaborative effort - making small changes to your day-to-day activities, volunteering at our campus gardens or with our community forestry program, shopping at our Free Store instead of buying new, or joining an environmental student group are just some of the ways you can get involved in sustainability here at VCU.
Use this green guide to learn about sustainability at VCU and in the Richmond community, including our current sustainability initiatives on campus, sustainability tips and helpful resources.
Sustainability in everyday activities
Embracing sustainability in our everyday lives is essential to fostering campus and community-wide sustainability. From reducing energy consumption to incorporating reusable products, you can make a significant impact.
- Turn off lights and electronics (e.g., computers) when they are not in use.
- Replace your incandescent light bulbs at home with light-emitting diode (LED) light bulbs, which use 70-90% less electricity and last approximately 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
- Unplug any appliance that is not in use at home, especially if you will be gone for an extended period of time.
- Bring your own shopping and produce bag(s) when you go shopping.
- Carry your own reusable utensils to use when going out to eat.
- Bring a reusable coffee mug and utensils to use on the go or at work.
- Rather than purchasing items in single-use packaging, shop at a zero waste refill store. Check out the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority’s zero waste shop recommendations here.
- Carry a reusable water bottle with you to fill up on campus and before you leave your house for the day - many VCU buildings have water filling stations available. Don’t have a water bottle? Shop the VCU Free Store for one.
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides a comprehensive Green Living guide with information that you can use in your home, workplace and community.
Use less water and help protect our James River
Water conservation is important for maintaining the health and vitality of our watershed. Simple actions can make a difference.
- Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth, shaving or washing your face.
- When doing dishes, fill the sink rather than keep water running.
- Take shorter showers and turn down the temperature to save water and energy.
- Repair or report any leaky plumbing fixtures (e.g., sinks or showers) or running toilets to your residential advisor or landlord. According to the EPA, an average household leak can waste almost 10,000 gallons of water per year.
- Wash clothes in the cold water cycle and only run full loads.
- When spending a day at the James River, remember to “leave no trace.” In addition to being mindful during your river visits, the James River Association provides information about actions that you can take to protect our river system.
Make your meals more sustainable
Explore adopting more sustainable eating habits with local and community resources.
- Reduce your meat consumption by trying a few vegetarian meals every week – check out VCU’s registered dietitian @vcudietitian on Instagram for nutritional advice.
- Compost your food scraps. There is a drop-off location for Richmond’s Compost Initiative at the MPC Learning Garden, 1218 Parkwood Ave, and the MCV Campus Community Garden, located adjacent to the Larrick Student Center at 900 Turpin St. For a full map of compost locations in the Richmond area, check out richmondgrowsgardens.org/composting
- Consider buying fresh, local groceries at farmers markets – for a full map of farmers markets in the area, visit https://vafma.org/virginia-markets/.
- The VCU Ram Pantry partners with local farmers and food hubs to bring fresh, local produce to VCU students. Visit the Ram Pantry website to learn more about this student service.
- Interested in growing your own food? The U.S. Department of Agriculture has many resources to help you plan a vegetable garden, even if you live in a small space and only have a windowsill or patio.
Local sustainability resources
Learn more about how the Richmond community prioritizes sustainability. Visit our Green Map for a list of nearby community resources that you can utilize.
- Explore sustainable Richmond community resources within walking, biking and bus distance of the VCU campus using our interactive Green Map.
- Check out the RVA Green 2050 Sustainability Guide for comprehensive information on how we as Richmonders can work together to address climate change.