“Combustible fósil. Gasolina sin plomo. Petróleo” I recited to myself amidst a room filled with students busily soaking in as much of the Spanish language as possible before the upcoming verbal assessment on the natural environment. As I noticed the trend of exhaustible resources in the vocabulary list, I began to wonder why renewable energy remained an overlooked topic in my classroom. After further thought, … Continue reading Sustainability in the Classroom

By Tyler Carlson I have enjoyed every second I have spent here on Furman University’s campus.  Some of my most cherished memories were created here with my friends and family.  Likewise, I have made decisions here that have altered my education as well as my current outlook on life.  With that being said, it is easy to see how Furman has become ingrained into my … Continue reading An Inside Look Into Furman’s Greenbelt

By Jade Carberry Basic energy services such as heating and cooling are often taken for granted, especially in developed countries. Lack of access to affordable energy services, however, often results in difficulty in satisfying many basic needs. According to a recent study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE),  (http://energyefficiencyforall.org/sites/default/files/Lifting%20the%20High%20Energy%20Burden_0.pdf), low income households spend almost 7.2% of their household income on utility bills, … Continue reading Why Do We Weatherize? The National Energy Burden & Benefits of Weatherization

Did you know that the average American will produce 600 times their own weight in garbage by the time they die?  That’s nearly 90,000 lbs. for the average 150 lb. adult.  We live in a world that produces way too much trash for its own good.  To counteract this, we, as humans, have picked up sustainable practices to ease the impact we have on this … Continue reading Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Quick. What feeling comes to mind when you hear the word “bicycle?” Excitement, joy, frustration, anxiety, annoyance? When I speak about my interest in bicycles, I sometimes get surprised looks of slight confusion. Why focus one’s efforts on bicycling of all things? Why do bike lanes matter? What’s the point? Answers to these questions have been evolving along my journey with bicycles. Entering my Sophomore … Continue reading The Meaning of the Bicycle

As a health science major, I am very cognizant of the benefits of physical activity. Endless studies show that being physically active can reduce your risk of disease, have a positive effect on mental health, and generally improve one’s quality of life. In fact, most people do not need a course to understand this. I have also always had a passion for saving and maintaining … Continue reading Health and The Environment

  For the longest while, I’ve been purchasing certified USDA Organic products. Before working at Whole Foods Market, I never really knew what it meant for a product to be considered USDA Organic. However, after a dreadful three-days-worth of training videos, I can confidently tell you what it means for a product to be certified USDA Organic. For a product to get the USDA Organic … Continue reading Food As We Know It

Coming into the position as the “River Report Card Fellow,” I expected to learn more about water quality levels and South Carolina’s upstate region. However, the most memorable event that I have had the pleasure of being a part of was a strengths building retreat with the members of the Upstate Forever office. Upstate Forever has done a great job of establishing themselves in the … Continue reading River Report Card Fellow

Americans across the country are effected by Healthcare, but those individuals who lack resources can be effected exponentially more. Many people know how expensive a trip to the hospital can be, so they try to avoid it at all costs. They use other means of accessing care in the form of primary care physician visits and over the counter medications to alleviate diseases in their … Continue reading Community Outreach to Promote Sustainable Health Outcomes