HKUST Sustainability Newsletter, November 2013

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November 2013

We are pleased to present this new edition of the HKUST Sustainability Newsletter. The

theme for this month is “serving as a model for our community,” and we hope you will

enjoy seeing some of the things UST is doing to fulfill this priority. We love to hear from

you, so send us your comments and suggestions, and don’t forget to “like” us on

Facebook.

"We recognize as a matter of high priority, the opportunity and imperative of

universities to serve as models within the community with regard to these issues

through the prudent utilization of natural resources."

Hong Kong Declaration

Signed by President Tony Chan on behalf of HKUST, 18 May 2010

New Establishment of Sustainability Unit

A new Sustainability Unit was established under the Health, Safety and Environment Office. Its mission is to facilitate the development of actions, ideas, and policies that build a campus culture that embraces a vision of a sustainable HKUST community, to integrate sustainability into academic programs and research, and to help the University lead by example in the greater Hong Kong region. Please feel free to come and share your views and ideas with us and let's build a sustainable campus together. Read more

Green Campus Map

HKUST’s 60 hectare main campus lies on the breathtaking Clearwater Bay peninsula in East Kowloon, Hong Kong. The University has been located at this stunning location since 1991. Check out our Green Campus Map to learn about the green buildings, facilities and projects on campus and how to get involved to live a sustainable lifestyle. Read more

Student Hall III Waste Recycling Campaign and Green Living Campus Contest

The first-ever "Floor-based Domestic Waste Recycling Campaign” has been organized in UG Hall III since last spring semester. Aiming to promote green living, the campaign is greatly supported by student residents who are encouraged to recycle their waste to reduce the domestic waste volume. Congratulate the team for also winning the second runner-up award of the Green Living Campus Contest organised by Friends of the Earth (HK). Read more

Subject: Sustainability Newsletter

From: Safety <[email protected]>

Date: 11/8/2013 12:25 PM

To: <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>

CC: <[email protected]>

Sustainability News

New Sustainable

Campus Leadership

Program

The HKUST Sustainability Unit has launched a new Sustainable Campus Leadership Program and completed the recruitment. The program is designed for 20 passionate and dedicated students who want to learn the skills to be leaders and problem-solvers. In the coming year, the Program will provide training and skill-building for the students (Eco-Reps) to undertake hands-on green campus projects that can improve the sustainable performance of the HKUST campus. More information is

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How Much Paper?

Have you ever thought about how much paper you consume over the course of one year from printing, photocopying, using tissue paper, paper towels, or product packaging? Do you know how much comes from recycled materials, or as importantly, how much ends up in the landfill? The sad fact is that at HKUST in 2012-2013, we consumed more than 42,000 reams of paper – that is over 21 million sheets! That is an increase of 6% from the year before. Read more

Sustainability Student Guide

As responsible citizens, it is important for all students to understand that they play an important role in making HKUST a more sustainable campus. Together we can build a sustainable future for the next generation. This guide provides green tips on how students can reduce the environmental impacts of daily life on campus, at home, and through organizing student activities. Your actions will in turn help HKUST reduce our impacts on our precious environment. Click here to download the guide. Read more

Support Green Monday

The Students' Union has joined hands with Campus Services Office to launch Green Monday at six catering outlets on campus on 30 September. A HK$2 discount is now offered on selected vegetarian dishes from caterers' existing menus during lunch every Monday. Hong Kong has one of the highest carbon footprint per capita in the world. By giving up meat just one day per week, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 28.5% and help save water, energy and land use to address the world hunger issue. By supporting Green Monday, it is good for your health and the environment. Read more

Plastic Free Campaign Installation Art

A group of Global Business students have initiated a plastic free campaign on campus. They aim to raise the students' awareness about refusing, reducing, reusing and recycling of plastic bottles. In collaboration with Ocean Recovery Alliance and SBM Cohort "Ostrom", a Life Size Wave Installation Art will be displayed outside LTJ & LTK from 11-15 November and reusable water bottles will be on sales by the library on 13-14 November. Read more

Give & Take Day

To promote a sustainable lifestyle in student halls, the Student Housing and Residential Life Office will organise a new event "Give & Take" Day to encourage the exchange of second-hand items among hall residents and students on 29 November. The event aims to raise the awareness of "reusing" concept. Read more

Email : [email protected]

Phone : 2358 8227 Website : Green.ust.hk

What You Can Do

available by contacting the Sustainability Unit at [email protected], or calling 2358 8227. Read more

Let’s make UST a better place

together; what is your pledge?

Are You Moving?

There is a lot of construction and renovations going on these days, and you may be one of the lucky few moving to a new or temporary location. If so, please send a note to FMO to request a recycling bin. As you go through the old files, chances are you’ll find plenty of papers and folders that you plan to toss. When you do, toss them into a recycle bin! Read more

Contact Us

Do you have any ideas and views on building a sustainable HKUST community? Please feel free to talk to us and share with us.

Sustainability Unit

Health, Safety and Environment Office

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clearwater Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong

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Ride Sharing Program

HKUST announced that the successful ride share program that was developed in 2012 for faculty and staff has now been expanded to include students. The program was supported with over 800 rides last year, and is geared up to do more now that students are eligible. To sweeten the incentive, the Health, Safety and Environment Office is adding rewards for those who accumulate rides over the year. Read more

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Contact Us | Sitemap | Suggestion Box | HKUST

From the President

Sustainability@HKUST

Strategy & Goals

People

Environmental Sustainability Steering Committee

Sustainability Unit

Interns

Sustainable Campus Leadership Program (Eco-Reps)

Partners

Sustainability Unit

Davis Bookhart

Senior Manager, Sustainability Unit

Email: [email protected]

Davis Bookhart joined HKUST in August, 2013 as senior manager and Head of the university’s Sustainability Unit. Bookhart’s charge is to facilitate the creation and implementation of a comprehensive sustainability master plan, focusing on reducing or eliminating the University’s environmental impacts, addressing and managing risks that arise from climate change and resource scarcities, and preparing students for careers that will be shaped by an increasingly stressed planet. Bookhart is also Secretary of the Environmental Sustainability Steering Committee (ESSCOM), a sub-committee of the University Administrative Council (UAC).

Bookhart comes to HKUST after eight years as the head of the Office of Sustainability at Johns Hopkins University. As the founding director, Bookhart launched the office to focus on integrating students and faculty into campus sustainability projects to the greatest extent possible, while promoting sustainability through collaboration between departments and in the local community. In this role, Bookhart also worked with Baltimore City leaders to develop policies and programs to promote sustainable actions City-wide. Before joining Johns Hopkins, Bookhart founded Charm21 – Clean and Healthy Air through Renewables in Maryland – a non-profit group advocating the use of renewable fuels and resources in the Baltimore region, and was senior project director of the public interest group Consumer Energy Council of America.

Bookhart holds a master’s degree in International Affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a master’s of American Literature from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He serves as an Editorial Board member of Sustainability: The Journal of Record, and is an Advisory Board member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). In 2008 Bookhart was appointed by then Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon to serve a four year term on the City’s Sustainability Commission, and was reappointed in 2012 by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

Loretta Luk

Program Manager (Sustainability)

Loretta Luk is the Program Manager (Sustainability) at the Health, Safety and Environment Office where she works closely with students and engages stakeholders across campus community in promoting sustainability in all levels of actions and decisions.

Loretta joined the Sustainability Unit in November 2012 with ten years of experience in communications, brand management, campaign, program development and event management. Prior to that she worked at a leading global conservation organization, NGO and universities in Hong Kong and became passionate about environmental sustainability and its connection to education. She received her master in international and public affairs from the University of Hong Kong and holds a BBA in Accounting from HKUST.

As a strong believer of the mission of United World College where Loretta graduated from, she was inspired by the experience of international understanding and youth empowerment that unite people, nations and cultures to build a sustainable future. She is excited to engage HKUST students, staff and faculty in realizing the sustainability goals. She enjoys hiking and traveling in nature.

Carmen Li

Project Assistant (Sustainability)

Carmen joined the Health, Safety and Environment Office in February 2013 as a Project Assistant of Sustainability Unit. She has recently graduated with Bachelor of Arts in Business Finance from Durham University, UK. Together with few enthusiastic students, Carmen organized a wide range of green events in her residential hall aiming to promote a sustainable living habit among the university community. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Environmental Management at the University of Hong Kong.

Carmen’s duties include collecting and analyzing sustainability data of the university and assisting in the implementation of various sustainability programs. Outside of work, she enjoys baking, cooking and gardening in her organic farm.

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Sustainability Guide

Green Campus Map

Reports & Publications

Useful Links

Green Campus Map

HKUST’s 60 hectare main campus lies on the breathtaking Clearwater Bay peninsula in East Kowloon, Hong Kong. The University has been located at this stunning location since 1991. Check out our Green Campus Map to learn about the green buildings, facilities and projects on campus and how to get involved to live a sustainable lifestyle.

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Announcements

Sustainability in the News

2013.9.2

Student Hall III Waste Recycling Campaign

The first-ever "Floor-based Domestic Waste Recycling Campaign” has been organized in UG Hall III since last spring semester. Aiming to promote green living, the campaign is greatly supported by student residents who are encouraged to recycle their waste to reduce the domestic waste volume. Congratulate the team for also winning the second runner-up award of the Green Living Campus Contest organised by Friends of the Earth (HK).

During the recycling campaign, the Hong Kong's daily per capita recycling rate was used as a reference for baseline setting. Recyclable materials including waste paper, plastics and metals were collected from each floor and weighted every Monday night. Different cash prizes were awarded to floors reaching a designated recycling level of each waste category to support their future floor activities. Over the two months activities in last semester, the recycling rates for most of the floors have increased over the campaign period. The Ground floor team received the Ultimate Recycling Award for their remarkable effort on achieving the overall highest recycling rate, with nearly 400% level of plastics recycling, 100% level for waste paper and metals recycling.

The daily quantity of Municipal Solid Waste being dumped into Hong Kong’s three strategic landfills stands at around 9,000 tonnes. Reducing waste generation and disposal is one of the key environmental challenges. Through the “Floor-based Domestic Waste Recycling Campaign”, not only providing great learning opportunities for student residents to address waste management issue, the campaign also demonstrates power of collective action and how individuals can contribute to build a sustainable future. With the great effort from Residence Master, Professor Irene Lo, Residential Life Officer, supporting team, Hall III Glacier, Malaysian hall residents and eco-sec on promoting the campaign and calling for participation, the success showcased a role model in building a greener campus.

The campaign is now organized in fall semester from October to November 2013 and we look forward to the great participation of the student

residents.

If you have any other green idea and initiatives for HKUST, please feel free to contact the Sustainability Unit under the Health, Safety and Environment Office at [email protected] or click here. Let us work together to build a sustainable campus community.

“Green Information Corner” at G/F Lift Lobby of Student Hall III

Weighting recyclable material every Monday night

Congratulate the UG Hall III team for winning the 2nd runner-up award of the Green Living Campus Contest organised by Friends of the Earth (HK).

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Announcements

Sustainability in the News

2013.9.27

How Much Paper?

Have you ever thought about how much paper you consume over the course of one year from printing, photocopying, using tissue paper, paper towels, or product packaging? Do you know how much comes from recycled materials, or as importantly, how much ends up in the landfill?

The sad fact is that at HKUST in 2012-2013, we consumed more than 42,000 reams of paper – that is over 21 million sheets! That is an increase of 6% from the year before. Only about 16% of that amount came from recycled paper, so the remainder came from trees. 2,150 trees, to be exact. To put this into context, we planted around 600 new trees on campus last year, meaning that all of the beautiful new trees you now see on campus are equal to roughly one-third of all the trees cut down just to make our copy paper.

Wait a minute, you might say. We have a large campus with lots of people – so maybe it just seems like we are printing a lot. Well, we can do the math (we are a science and tech school, after all). If you divide the amount of paper by the number of students, faculty, and staff, then we find that we are consuming around 1,400 sheets of paper for each one of us. 1,400. Do you remember printing that much paper last year?

There is some good news, though. The overall amount of recycled content paper doubled, going from 8% to 16%. Still a small number, but going in the right direction.

So what can we do? The best thing we can do is simply to find other ways to collect and distribute our information without printing. This does not mean doing without – it means being smarter. After all, paper is heavy, bulky, and takes up a lot of space. Wouldn’t it be better to pass along the information without dragging along backpacks filled with paper? For example:

• Why print meeting agendas? Send it in advance and people can see it on their smart phones (everyone has a smart phone).

• No need to print out PowerPoint slides – the look terrible in print, and they just distract your audience when trying to talk them through your presentation. • Share your class notes with a friend – you can save paper and get close to someone you really like.

• Preview the pages before you print. Sometimes there is an extra page or two stuck at the end of the printing queue, and you don’t want it anyway.

• Try reading journal articles on your computer or tablet before printing. You might find that you can get what you need from a quick glance. You might even find that it is a better experience since you can add electronic bookmarks, highlights, notes, and use the web links directly.

If you do need to print, try the recycled content paper. Honestly, you cannot tell the difference, and you will feel better about it in your heart. Don’t you feel better already?

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Sustainability Guide

Green Campus Map

Reports & Publications

Useful Links

Sustainability Guide for HKUST Students

As responsible citizens, it is important for all students to understand that they play an important role in making HKUST a more sustainable campus. Together we can build a sustainable future for the next generation.

So how can you make this happen? All you really need is initiative and the commitment to take positive action and drive change. That will allow you to share your green practices with your peers, your community and the world; and influence your peers to do the same!

This guide provides green tips on how students can reduce the environmental impacts of daily life on campus, at home, and through organizing student activities. Your actions will in turn help HKUST reduce our impacts on our precious environment.

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A

Sustainability

Guide

for

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Conserve Our Resources

Waste Management

Green Activities

Eat Green!

Travel Green!

Get Involved

References

A Sustainability Guide

for HKUST Students

HKUST is committed to protecting the environment

and to minimizing the impact of all its activities. We

are keen to turn our campus into a “living laboratory”

to demonstrate innovations and initiatives designed to

promote environmental sustainability.

As responsible citizens, it is important for all students

to understand that they play an important role in

making HKUST a more sustainable campus. Together

we can build a sustainable future for the next

generation.

So how can you make this happen?

All you really need is initiative and the commitment

to take positive action and drive change. This initiative

and commitment will allow you to share your green

practices with your peers, your community and the

world; and influence your peers to do the same!

This guide provides

green tips

on how students can

reduce the environmental impacts of daily life on

campus, at home, and through organizing student

activities. Your actions will in turn help HKUST reduce

our impacts on our precious environment.

Sus

tainability Guide

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p.4 p.5

• Choose energy-efficient appliances; look to buy Energy

Efficiency Label Grade One appliances.

• For other energy saving tips, visit

EMSD Energy Land.

Water

Even though it rains a lot in Hong Kong, healthy drinkable water is

a scarce resource. Conserving water helps extend the availability

to others.

You can help:

• Take shorter showers to save water. Even shortening a

shower by 2 minutes can save up to 20 liters of water!

• Turn off the tap when you are brushing your teeth, or

shaving and lathering.

• Wash laundry in full loads; washing a full load or a half

load consumes the same amount of energy, water − and

money!

• Report any leaking faucets or taps to the Facilities

Management Office as soon as possible. Call 2358 6440 or

use

this form.

• For other water saving tips and to take the 5-minute

shower challenge,

check out this site.

Printing

In 2012, we used more than 35,000 reams of non-recycled paper

on campus – which means we consumed roughly 2,160 trees for

our printing needs!

You can help save trees:

• Use electronic documents as much as you can to reduce

the amount of printing.

• Print double-sided on 100% recycled or paper from

sustainable sources using soya-based inks. If possible,

print multiple pages on one sheet.

• Preview documents before printing to avoid excessive

empty space in documents, printing unnecessary pages or

having to print again due to incorrect formatting.

• Share lecture notes, and read printouts and textbooks

with other students.

Conserve Our

Resources

Energy

Energy use is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions,

which are responsible for warming the planet, rising sea levels,

and erratic weather patterns. Conserving energy is the most

important thing you can do to help fight climate change!

What can you do?

• Turn off all computers, lights and air conditioners when

you are not using them; even if you are only stepping out

for a few minutes.

• Electronic appliances continue to consume power even

when they are in standby mode. Use power strips with

individual switches to switch off appliances when not in

use.

• Set your computer to go into “sleep mode” after 10

minutes of being inactive or less. Avoid using the screen

saver – it might be pretty, but it is a huge power hog.

• Alternate between using air conditioners and fans. Try not

to set the thermostat lower than 25.5 degrees Celsius.

• Use daylight and natural ventilation as much as possible.

• Remove your phone or battery charger from the power

socket after charging has been completed − chargers

consume power even when devices are not plugged into

them.

• Take the stairs instead of using the elevator to save energy

− and stay healthy!

• A centralized computer system is used to balance the

heating and cooling at the HKUST academic building

year-round. The goal is to reduce energy consumption in

off-peak hours. If you have any comments or questions about

the ventilation system or room temperatures, please

contact the Facilities Management Office.

• Use public transportation whenever possible. If you have

to drive, consider joining the HKUST ride sharing scheme.

To offer or join a ride, click here.

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Recycle

When items are no longer usable, they can still have a second life.

• Separate your waste and recycle anything you can to

reduce the waste.

• Locate the recycling bin nearest to your hall or home and

recycle materials on your way to school.

9 Find your closest recycling collection point

9 More details on

Hong Kong’s recycling network

9 Recycling program of local green group

• Here’s what can be recycled on campus:

9 Waste paper

9 Aluminum cans

9 Plastic bottles

9 Fluorescent tubes and light bulbs

9 Printer cartridges

9 Used CDs

9 Rechargeable batteries

9 Food waste at catering outlets

For more information on HKUST’s waste management program,

visit here.

Waste Management

Reduce

The best way to conserve valuable materials is to find ways to not

use them in the first place.

• Think twice before making a purchase: buy only what you

need and use all of what you buy.

• Choose products with minimal packaging.

• If you find you cannot finish the whole meal, next time

order less rice.

• When buying takeaway drinks, bring along your own

reusable mug. Some cafés on campus offer discounts

when you do this. Don’t have a reusable mug? Buy one

from the University’s souvenir shop!

• When buying takeaway food, bring along your own cutlery

and lunch box to reduce your consumption of disposable

items. Some caterers support your green action by

offering discounts.

• Say “no” to bottled water. Carry your own reusable

drinking bottle and refill it with tap water.

• Reduce your usage of paper towels in the washroom.

Make good use of hand dryers and reusable hand towels.

Reuse

Reusing materials is another way to extend their value. If we are

creative, we can often find ways to use things more than once. For

example:

• Reuse the back side of paper before you recycle it.

• Open letters neatly so that the envelopes can be reused.

• Dishwater is still fine for watering plants or cleaning.

• Donate unwanted items to local charities. You can also

donate them through the Hall Check-Out Recycling

Campaign or sell them at our popular Garage Sale, held

every June and December.

• Share or exchange unwanted or unneeded items with

friends, they may want or need them!

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p.8 p.9

Reuse

• Donate any untouched remaining food, souvenirs or other

reusable items to a local charity. For example:

→

Food charities

→

Community network

• Save any reusable items such as banners, dishware or

corsages for your next event, and share any equipment

with other student groups for their events. Also, try to

avoid using specific details (like a time or date) so that it is

easier to reuse.

• Reuse or upcycle waste from your event in a creative way,

such as making installation art or banner bags.

Recycle

• Always call FMO to provide recycling bins to facilitate

separation and recycling of waste at your event, and

place additional signs to make sure everyone can see the

containers.

Green Activities

The University is an exciting place, especially when

there are enjoyable activities and events. A green

event can be just as fun, and guilt-free!

Reduce

• Use paperless media for event invitations, registrations

and surveys.

• Reduce the amount of printed promotional materials

you distribute. Circulate event information, slides and

brochures via email or other e-channels. If paper copies

are essential, print on 100% recycled or FSC-certified

paper, print double-sided and use soya-based inks.

• If souvenirs are absolutely necessary for your event,

choose only environmentally-friendly ones. Avoid the use

of woven polypropylene bags, as these are

non-recyclable.

• Order food and drinks in bulk to avoid excess packaging.

• Avoid using disposable cutlery and tableware, especially

any products made with Styrofoam. Use biodegradable

cutlery whenever possible.

• Provide drinks from a large master container and

provide reusable mugs. Do not provide bottled water or

individually packaged drinks, and avoid offering packets of

sugar or individually-wrapped straws or servings of milk.

• Carefully estimate the amount of food required for any

event. Support the principle of “zero food waste” and

encourage participants to take home any leftover food.

• Avoid using one-off event materials such as fresh flower

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p.10 p.11

Eat Green!

Three times a day you have a chance to make a big difference for

the planet. Believe it or not, the food you choose may have a

bigger impact than anything else you can do. Not convinced?

Look at this.

Why not try some of the following?

• Support “

Green Monday

” and eat one or more vegetarian

meal per week. Eat less meat, especially red meat, as

more energy and water is used in the production of meat

than of vegetables. The raising of beef cattle also produces

a disproportionate amount of carbon emissions.

• Bring your own water bottle and fill it at any of the

drinking fountains

located around the campus

.

Please click

this link

to find your nearest fountain:

• Say “no” to food waste! Food waste doesn’t just cost

money; when you waste food all the land, water, energy,

fertilizer and labour resources used to grow that food are

also wasted. Plus, greenhouse gas emissions are produced

by food decomposing in landfills and by the transport of

food that is ultimately thrown away. So what can you do to

stop food waste?

2 Avoid ordering more than you can eat at restaurants

2 Avoid buying more food than you need at home, and

consume all the food you buy before it expires

2 When preparing food, avoid providing more food than

can be eaten and make the most of all the ingredients.

2 Cherish every bite you eat: leave no food waste.

• Support the donation of food to charities. For more

details,

click here.

• Support food waste recycling on campus. Composting

machines are installed in catering outlets to recycle

any food waste into fertilizer, to be used for on-campus

horticulture and organic farming projects.

• Choose organic, low-carbon, local, seasonal and

fairly-traded food products whenever they are available.

• Bring your own lunch box when purchasing takeaway

meals. Some catering outlets will offer you a discount

when you do this!

Other

• Support social enterprises and use their products or

services at your events, when appropriate. Refer to this

handy

list of social enterprises

.

• Take care to avoid activities that can have harmful effects

on the environment, like releasing balloons, playing games

with food, using “snow spray” or careless water games.

• Encourage your guests to take public transportation, and

provide carpooling arrangement for guests.

• Do not serve food containing shark fin or other shark

products and choose seafood from sustainable sources.

Use

WWF-Hong Kong’s Sustainable Seafood Guide

to help

with your menu planning.

• Offer organic, low-carbon, fair-trade, or vegetarian food

and drinks for your guests ― preferably all three!

• Consider organizing a carbon-neutral event, or producing

a carbon-neutral publication. Begin by calculating the

carbon footprint of your event or publication, then try

to reduce it as far as possible through green measures;

before offsetting the footprint entirely by buying carbon

credits to support renewable energy projects.

• Don’t forget to share the green elements of your activity

as widely as possible across the University, to promote

and underline the message of sustainability.

• When you organize student activities, consider ones that

promote environmental conservation and sustainability;

for example visiting organic farms, hiking or performing

community service with social enterprises and green

groups. Consider this list of

organic farms

in Hong Kong, or

perhaps take advantage of Hong Kong’s many

hiking trails.

vegetarian

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Get Involved

We need you! We have the opportunity to make

HKUST the sustainability showcase of Hong Kong,

but we can only succeed with your help. You can

contribute in large and small ways, and every bit helps.

Consider some of these easy actions:

• Visit HKUST’s

Sustainability website

and our

Facebook

page to find inspiring green tips, activities and stay

abreast of the latest news.

• Join the HKUST Green Ambassador program to equip

yourself with knowledge of sustainability and become a

leader to drive change on campus!

• Check for news updates from the Sustainability Unit about

green student projects competitions, activities and project

funds that may become available by signing up to receive

our newsletter.

• Share your ideas or project initiatives with the

Sustainability Unit and promote sustainability on campus.

Ideas on energy conservation, waste management and

recycling, renewable energy or campus engagement will

be warmly welcomed. Or, form a student team and take

action yourselves! Contact us at

[email protected]

.

• Initiate or support a community service project which

contributes to environmental sustainability; for example

volunteering for a green group or organizing a green event

in the local community. Check out more at the HKUST

Connect Program

.

• Join one of our organic farming activities, either at LG7

on campus, or at the HKUST Eco Park in Tseung Kwan O.

Recruitment for students and staff is open twice a year.

Check out further details

when there is an announcement.

• Support the annual Clean Our Coastline event, either as a

diver or a volunteer, and help clean our campus shoreline.

The event is organized by Facilities Management Office

every year in summer.

Travel Green!

Traveling can be expensive and difficult, but it does not

have to be harmful to the environment. Consider some

of these ideas when you next travel:

Travel

• Rail is a good, lower carbon alternative to flying. By rail

or by sky, you will feel better if you offset your carbon

emissions by purchasing carbon credits.

• Use mass transportation, or travel by bus, bicycle or on

foot instead of hiring a private car when you travel around

a city.

Accommodation

• Reuse towels and linens instead of having them changed

every day. Laundry services consume a lot of energy and

water.

• Avoid disposable toiletries. Carry your own travel-sized

bottles and refill them before each trip. Return disposable

toiletries to the hotel, or leave them untouched.

• Switch off all electrical appliances when you leave your

hotel room.

Other

• Never buy wildlife souvenirs like shells or coral. Consider

simply sending a postcard instead of bringing home

unnecessary or wasteful plastic souvenirs.

• Share travel guidebooks with friends; buy second-hand

guidebooks or use electronic travel guide apps.

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References

• Carbon Calculator

• CNN Environment

• EcoZine

- an online magazine devoted to sustainable

lifestyles in Hong Kong

• Environment Bureau

• Environmental Protection Department

• Food Wise Hong Kong Campaign

• Global Footprint Network

• Go Green Hong Kong

– a “how-to” guide on green living

• Green Thing

– Green life stories and videos from creative

people and communities around the world.

• HKUST Environmental Reports

• HKUST Division of Environment

• HKUST Facilities Management Office

• HKUST Health, Safety and Environment Office

• HKUST Sustainability

• Living Green

– an online publication that informs and

educates readers about a range of environmental and

lifestyle issues

• Local Environmental Groups

• Sustainable Development Online Resources

• The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in

Higher Education (AASHE)

• The Guardian Sustainability Section

• United Nations Environment Programme

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

(UNFCCC)

• World Business Council for Sustainable Development

• Choose a research topic dealing with sustainability. Think

about the impacts that your project might have on society:

locally, regionally and globally.

• Consider organizing an inter-hall green competition to

promote energy saving, waste reduction and recycling

among your fellow student residents.

• Check out HKUST

courses that are related to sustainability

.

• Join a Student Green Group and support their initiatives

and activities

9 Environment Students’ Society

9 The Nature Club

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Calendar of Events

Archives

Green Channel

Campaign

Plastic Free Campaign Installation Art

Life Size Wave Installation Art

A group of Global Business students have initiated a plastic free campaign on campus. They aim to raise the students' awareness about refusing, reducing, reusing and recycling of plastic bottles. In collaboration with Ocean Recovery Alliance and SBM Cohort "Ostrom", they have been collecting the plastic bottles on campus and organising plastic DIY workshops for other students. A Life Size Ocean Wave Installation Art will be displayed outside Chuang Chen Lecture Theatre (LT-J) and Mr and Mrs Lee Siu Lun Lecture Theatre (LT-K) from 11-15 November and reusable water bottles will be on sales by library on 13-14 November.

Date : November 11-15, 2013

Venue : Outside Chiang Chen Lecture Theater (LT - J) and Mr and Mrs Lee Siu Lun Lecture Theater (LT - K)

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Green Activity

Give & Take Day

環保易物日

Organized by Student Housing and Residential Life Office

To promote a sustainable lifestyle in student halls, the Student Housing and Residential Life Office will organise a new event "Give & Take Day" 環保易物日 to encourage exchange of second-hand items among hall residents and students. The event aims to raise the awareness of "reusing" concept.

On the event day, students and residents in the student halls are welcome to donate their second-hand items in the morning, and exchange for other items they need in the afternoon. The untaken items at the end of the day will be donated to the charitable organization or non-governmental organization in Hong Kong.

Date: 29 November 2013 (Friday)

Time: 8:30am- 12pm (Giving items), 12pm- 3:30pm (Taking items) Venue: Multi Purpose Hall, UG Hall VII

Items for exchange include books/DVDs/VCDs/CDs, electronic appliances, computer accessories, clothes and bags, and Sports items.

Date : November 29, 2013 Time : 8:30am - 3:30pm

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Ride Sharing Program

2013-14 academic year

The Health, Safety and Environment Office (HSEO) launched a Ride Sharing program in 2012 to encourage staff members who drive, to share their vehicles with colleagues, when traveling to and from campus. Over 800 rides were shared in last academic year. The scheme will continue in 2013-14 academic year and be extended to students.

You are encouraged to participate in the scheme for not only helping to reduce the demand for public transportation, but also helping to cut CO2 emission.

A. Forming and Registering a Ride Sharing Group

It might be easier for drivers to first offer rides with colleagues from his/herhome office and then extend it to other colleagues or students. Logistical details (time and location, offers of gasoline cost sharing, etc.) shall be worked out individually by each rider's group. Once a group is formed, drivers are encouraged to register with HSEO to participate in an award scheme. Simply fill in the HKUST Ride Sharing Driver Registration Form and email or fax it to HSEO. The Registration Form can be downloaded at

http://www.ab.ust.hk/hseo/Forms/Ride_Sharing_Registration.pdf

Car drivers who wish to share rides with other students and colleagues can post his/her name, pick up / drop off time and location(s) (destination or MTR station, etc.), and contact information via the HKUST car pooling news group at

http://www.ust.hk/cgi-bin/ccst/dnews/dnewsweb?cmd=xover&group=hkust.hseo.ride-sharing&utag=

Colleagues or students who are looking for rides can access this site and contact the drivers directly to work out logistical details. Again, once a ride sharing group is formed, drivers are encouraged to register with HSEO to participate in the award scheme.

B. Ride Sharing Award Scheme

1. Register the Ride Sharing Group as mentioned above. 2. Download and fill in the HKUST Ride Sharing Record. http://www.ab.ust.hk/hseo/Forms/Ride_Sharing_Record.pdf

3. When you travel one way to or from campus and share ride with at least one passenge, it shall be counted as one ride. A lunch round trip with at least one passenger is also counted as one ride.

4. Accumulate 40 rides within a period of time and submit a copy of the Record Form to HSEO by email or fax, you can receive a Reward Certification. (Rides accumulated in previous academic year will also be counted)

5. Continue to accumulate to 80 rides within a period of time, submit the Record Form by email or fax, you can receive a unique UST car crest. (Rides accumulated in previous academic year will also be counted)

C. Important Reminder

1. Ride Sharing is completely voluntary.

2. Drivers must ensure they comply with all relevant government regulations when operating their vehicles. 3. Be punctual and drive carefully!

Please feel free to contact Mr Jimmy LOK ([email protected]) if you have any questions about this scheme, and we look forward to your active participation!

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Sustainable Campus Leadership Program Recruitment

For Eco-Reps 2013-14

The HKUST Sustainability Unit is pleased to announce the launch of the new Sustainable Campus Leadership Program. All UGs are encouraged to apply. The program is limited to 20 passionate and dedicated students who want to learn the skills to be leaders and problem-solvers.

Get Some Experience!

The Program will provide training and skill-building for the students (Eco-Reps) to undertake hands-on green campus projects. Eco-Reps will use those skills to develop, evaluate, propose, and implement projects on campus that can improve the sustainable performance of the HKUST campus.

Benefits of the Program

The program is designed to help build leadership skills, project management experience, and enhance the development of critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Eco-Reps will have the opportunity to meet thought leaders in the sustainability movement, and gain hands-on experience meet and work with some of the most accomplished environmental and sustainability leaders in the region, Eco-Reps who complete the program in good standing will receive a Sustainable Campus Leadership Award and a Certificate of Accomplishment that will detail the skills and experience gained from the program.

Responsibility of the Eco-Reps

To be considered for the program candidates must commit to:

- Attending weekly 1 hour meetings where team members plan and develop strategies for new project ideas and activities.

- Attending joint training sessions and meetings with guest speakers

- Working with team members at least 2 hours outside of weekly meeting times to advance project ideas

- A willingness to present project proposals to key decision-makers and to share experiences with the broader HKUST student community.

Program Structure

Based on their interest and skills, selected Eco-Reps will join one of the following four functional teams to organize green campus projects in the coming year:

1. Conservation and Biodiversity Corps 2. Energy and Low-carbon Corps 3. Waste and Sustainability Consultants 4. Peer and Community Outreach Champions

Working with the trainers and Sustainability Unit mentors, each team will develop a list of project ideas, develop strategies and timelines for implementation, meet with senior University administration to present ideas, and then will move the projects to completion.

Application Procedures

All full-time HKUST students are welcome to join the Sustainable Campus Leadership Program. Priority will be given to those who:

- are full-time UG students in the 2013-14 academic year;

- have proven track record for leading campus projects and activities;

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Students who are interested in the program should complete the online application form, click here and submit by 6 October. Students will be invited to

attend an interview on weekday and a team challenge selection on 12 October (morning). Team-building training will be arranged on 22 October (evening). Final selections for participants will be announced by email.

More information is available by contacting the Sustainability Unit at [email protected], or calling 2358 8227.

The HKUST Sustainable Campus Leadership Program is organized by the Sustainability Unit, whose mission is to facilitate the development of actions, ideas, and policies that build a campus culture that embraces a vision of a sustainable HKUST community, to integrate sustainability into academic programs and research, and to help the University lead by example in the greater Hong Kong region.

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About FMO

Mission Organisation Office Hours Telephone Hotlines Where to find us? Award

Our mission is :

"To develop and maintain the best possible physical environment for education and research by effectively using available resources"

We manage the design and construction of new projects and provide a wide range of support services including maintenance , cleaning, security, landscaping, housing...

If you would like to know more about how the Facilities Management Office is run, you can email the respective departments found in contacts.

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Office Hours

FMO opens from 8:45 am to 5:30 pm from Monday to Friday. Lunch hour is from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. For the convenience of users/visitors, the office enquiry hotline (2358 6421) and reception counter are manned during lunch hours. The office is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The opening hours of offices/workshops which serve specific functions may vary from the above due to operational needs, please approach the enquiry hotline or the reception counter for relevant information.

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Telephone Hotline

FMO Enquiry 2358 6421 Mon - Fri 8:45 am - 5:30 pm

Housing Enquiry

Tower 2 2358 8283 Mon - Fri 8:45 am - 5:30 pm

Tower 17 2719 2185

Building Services (24 hours) 2358 6465

Security (24 hours) 2358 8999

Laboratory Services Enquiry

2358 6847 Mon - Fri 8:45 am - 5:30 pm

Sat 9:00 am - 12:00 nn

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Where to Find Us?

FMO has a number of locations to accommodate its offices and workshops which take up various functions. The offices of the Director, the Managers, the Development Section, the Building Services Development Unit and the Administration Section can be found on 5/F of the Academic Building. Visitors can use Lifts 13-15 for direct access to the FMO Reception Counter.

Offices which provide specific areas of service are the Security Office in Room G023 of the Academic Building and the Housing Office in Senior Staff Quarters Tower 2 and Tower 17.

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INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR FMO

FMO are the winner of the 1997 International Facility Management Association's (IFMA) Golden Circles Award which recognize the FMO's outstanding performance, the quality services and the contribution to the overall mission of the community of Hong Kong. During its 11 year history, this is the first time that the award has gone to an organization outside the U.S. and the first time that the award has been won by a University.

RECOGNITION

"HKUST Facilities Management Office is internationally recognised for the quality of its facilities management." - quoted from the Management Reviews of UGC-funded Institutions Overarching Report (July 2000)

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