November 2021 WSU Sustainability Newsletter
Green Department Program
The Green Department Program has officially launched Version 3.0! The Green Department Program is a voluntary, competitive, and incentive-based program for faculty and staff. The goal of the Green Department Program is to foster a sustainability-minded culture on campus and help Weber State achieve its energy efficiency and sustainability goals. For more information about how the program is run, please see the Program Overview. In addition, the program has a variety of resources such as a Green Purchasing Guide, Green Event Guidelines, and other printable Green Information and Resources, available to all of our campus community. Visit the Green Department Program website to learn more. If your Green Team wants to set up a meeting to go over V3.0, or if you are interested in having your department or office join the Green Department Program, please email analeahvaughn@weber.edu.
Green Team Progress (as of May 2021):
New Green Teams
Costume Studio: Green
Marketing & Communications: Silver
WSU Welcome Center: Silver
Green Teams that have moved up in certification:
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences Dean's Office: Green V3.0
Davis Campus Administration: Gold
Davis Enrollment: Silver
Davis Learning Center: Gold
DOCE West Center: Gold
FM-Campus Services: Green V3.0
FM-Custodial: Green V3.0
FM-Landscaping: Green V3.0
Geography: Green V3.0
History: Green V3.0
Honors: Green V3.0
Housing & Residence Life: Gold
Student Success Center: Green V3.0
The Walker Institute: Green V3.0
Sustainable Clubs .jpg)
Weber State University’s sustainable clubs have been busy with service projects, offering students ways to get involved on campus.
As a leading force in WSU’s zero-waste initiatives, Weber’s sustainable clubs have completed 58 collective service hours related to waste diversion on campus since the beginning of the school year. In September, the Food Recovery Network (FRN) recovered 636 pounds of food with a value of $1,245 which was donated to Ogden’s Lantern House. FRN is the largest student-led movement reducing food waste and increasing food security in America. Need service hours? Sign up for available shifts here.
This year, the sustainable clubs started a new Zero Waste Athletics Plan during Homecoming Week. At the Homecoming game volunteers engaged with tailgaters and fans to implement recycling at the Stewart Stadium. Four games are coming up this November with opportunities to get involved in Zero Waste Athletics, but spots are filling up fast. Sign up to volunteer and get a sustainability water bottle!
After a few hours of mocktails, blackjack, and photo booths, Garden Club’s Student President, Cayden Quayle, won a lucky raffle ticket and got $1,000 in club funding. The club will be using the funding to make some great improvements in the community garden this spring. If you are interested in helping plan a project, send an email to gardenclub@weber.edu.
November is Food Sustainability Month at Weber. Sustainable clubs will be hosting a Food Preservation workshop at the Davis campus about canning (date TBD, email gardenclub@weber.edu for more details). On November 13th from 12 - 3 pm, they will be hosting a drive-through and drop-off Kitchenware Drive to support the Weber Cares Food Pantry. Check out this link for a list of requested supplies.
Plant-Based Holidays
Beyond being better for the environment,1 plant-based diets are good for your body. Eating primarily grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and oils has been proven to reduce the risk of chronic diseases including diabetes and heart disease.2 Many adults also report feeling better overall. They have decreased depression, more energy, and better mental and physical health.2,3
All of the protein, vitamins and minerals necessary for a healthy diet can be found in plants and turned into colorful and flavorful dishes. Eating a plant-based diet doesn’t mean giving up nutrition or delicious meals Consider trying out one of these dishes at your next holiday party or add it to your meal prep next week.
Prep time: 20 mins Total time: 40 mins
Coming in as a new and improved upgrade for deviled eggs, smoky little devils are tiny stuffed potatoes filled with hummus packed with flavor. This finger food will not last long on your table (if you don’t eat them all first yourself).
Prep time: 45 mins Total time: 1 hour 30 mins
This colorful side dish will pair great with a bowl of soup or your main dish. Either way guests are sure to enjoy the flavors mixed into these perfectly soft vegetables.
Mushroom Stroganoff with Wheatballs
Prep time: 1 hour Total time: 1 hour 30 mins
This dish is so good you’ll forget it’s vegan. It’s a main dish that will please everyone and it freezes well so you can enjoy it again a week later.
Empower Northern Utah 2021 
This year the Empower Northern Utah energy efficiency community program served 230 households providing over 1,100 LED light bulbs and 200 smart thermostats. In total, these energy efficiency upgrades will cut participant’s utility bills by over $23,000 annually. Collectively, our community will reduce more than 158,000 kwh of electricity, 1,120 dekatherms of natural gas, and 171 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. This has the same environmental impact as avoiding over 430,000 vehicle miles driven!
Community members and volunteers alike enjoyed working to cut utility bills, reducing environmental impact, and meeting people who are eager to start transitioning over to more sustainable appliances.
“I am happy to have been able to coordinate this year’s successful program to help my community reduce energy use and improve our environment,” said Sadie Braddock, Weber State’s Sustainable Community Programs Coordinator. “I look forward to future participation and measured impact of WSU’s sustainability programs in the years to come.”
In addition to the community program offered through WSU, the program’s partner HEAT is also distributing 100 smart thermostats and over 1,00 LED light bulbs available at no cost to low- and moderate-income residents who qualify. For more information about the HEAT Program, and to see if you qualify for a no-cost Nest E thermostat, visit the HEAT Program Website.
Sustainability Snapshots 
Faculty from three different colleges will be presenting this November in the ongoing Sustainability Snapshots series which features examples from faculty engaged in sustainability regarding their teaching, research and/or applied projects. Learn more about attitudes regarding water on campus, Utah’s air quality, and the big picture topic of the “Anthropocene in Western Political Thought.”
All are welcome to attend sessions in this series, Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m., either in person in Lindquist Hall 395, or via Zoom. The following is the schedule for November:
11/09/2021 - Environmental Sociology in Practice: Uncovering Attitudes Toward Water at WSU through Course-Based Research
Carla Trentelman, Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology & Anthropology, WSU
11/16/2021 - Summer Wildfire Smoke and Wintertime Inversions: Utah's Air Quality Problems and Solutions
Hal Crimmel, Brady Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of English Language and Literature, WSU
There will be no Session on 11/23 during the week of Thanksgiving
11/30/2021 - The Anthropocene in Western Political Thought
Thom Kuehls, Professor Political Science and Chair, Department of Political Science and Philosophy