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To the Pointt: Wildfires

Environment ·

To the Point: What Is the Effect of Wildfires on Air Quality, and How Concerned Should We Be?

Professor of Environmental Science Valentina Aquila answers our question of the week
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Students standing by compost buckets at TDR

Environment ·

AU Ranks Second in Key Category in Annual Campus Race to Zero Waste Competition

AU ranked second among large universities for composting, keeping 21,009 pounds of food waste out of landfill.
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Solar panels on the roof of an AU building.

Environment ·

Leading Environmental Change: AU Continues to Be a Power Player, Five Years after Achieving Carbon Neutrality

How do you quantify carbon neutrality? The energy saved since AU reached the historic milestone in 2018 is equivalent to planting around 4.5 million trees—more than double the total number in the District.
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Gemma Puglisi's PR Capstone students hold events to spread awareness on The Climate, Inc. for AU Beautification Day

Communications ·

PR Students Use Strategic Savvy and Shovels to Stop Climate Change

PR students work with The Climate, Inc. on its newest Trillion Tree Campaign by planting trees across campus for AU Beautification Day.
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The scarlet oak on the quad is a stop during a moonlight tour of the AU Arboretum.

On Campus ·

Blooms Beneath the Stars: Community Members Explore AU’s Arboretum

More than 100 neighbors and local green thumbs explored the sights and (floral) scents of campus during a moonlight tour of AU’s Arboretum and Gardens.
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Students Emma Aikin, Zoe Swaine, Emma Spencer, Sarah Long, Victoria Ortiz

Science ·

Birds of a Feather: AU Students Intern at Smithsonian’s Bird House

Students gain hands-on skills in environmental interpretation, bird banding, and more
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To the Point: Cherry Blossoms

Science ·

To the Point: Have DC’s Iconic Cherry Blossoms Arrived Earlier Than Usual?

Professor and environmental scientist Michael Alonzo answers our question of the week
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Heat map showing energy use on main campus. The dark green bands (equating to periods of low energy use), called out by a “black box” outline, show building energy reductions.

Environment ·

AU’s Latest Winter Energy Curtailment Efforts Result in Significant Energy and Cost Savings

AU reduced its emissions by 222 metric tons during the December 2022 winter break closure. It also resulted in an $77,318 reduction in energy costs for the university.
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AU's fleet of buses provides sustainable travel to campus.

Environment ·

DC Competition Rewards Sustainable Commuting

Lace up your sneakers and log your trip to work—even if it’s a home office—for a chance to win Nationals tickets, gift cards, and more.
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CAS student Ekua Hudson used AU's Design and Build Lab to construct a sustainable farming system.

Environment ·

A Bountiful Future: AU Student Crafting Sustainable Food Plan for DC Public Schools

Driven by the desire to create equitable food systems for underserved communities, public health major Ekua Hudson, CAS/BA ’24, is teaching herself how to design and build sustainable hydroponic farms to help feed Washingtonians.
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