Video: MUW Celebrates Earth Day, Look To Be More Energy Efficient

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Wendesday’s sunshine made it the perfect day to celebrate the 45th Anniversary of Earth Day for many across north Mississippi.

Dedicated as a time to appreciate the earth’s beauty and environment, students at Mississippi University for Women took promoted “green” living.

“It’s a beautiful day to celebrate Earth Day,” said MUW Student, Leigh Rice.

Every year, Earth Day is celebrated on April 22nd.

It’s a time to spend outside, enjoying all nature has to offer.

Students at The W are working to educate those on campus on how to “go green” and help sustain the environment.

“Earth Day is about making the effort to sustain the resources we have here because our natural resources, once they’re gone, they’re gone, we cannot get those back,” added Rice.

Information tables were set up throughout campus where people could read and share tips for energy efficiency.

Students in an Environmental Science class recently conducted an energy audit on several buildings on campus, all to come up with solutions to help cut down on costs and become more environmental friendly.

“The students worked in teams of 6 to do an energy audit on 6 buildings here on campus, in that process, they look at lighting, they look at heating and air conditioning, they look at usage of space,” said Dr. Nicole Welch, Professor of Biology.

The buildings were graded based on their results.

Welch teaches the environmental science class and says a pattern was noticed in newer buildings versus older buildings.

“We’re seeing a trend that they most recently the building was renovated, the more energy efficiency it is, makes sense,” said Welch.

Tips on how to save energy were given to those in each building.

Welch says those tips can also be implemented at home.

“It increases everyone’s awareness of simple things we can do in our offices, in our dorm buildings to save the university energy, it’s also things that people can take home and use themselves in their homes to help make the world more efficient,” added Welch.

Tips to “Go Green”: 

– Unplugging electronics

– Turning Off Lights

– Washing full loads of laundry and dishes

– Using a refillable water bottle

– Buying locally grown food