Big Blue Goes Green Begins Today

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 14, 2009) -- Big Blue Goes Green begins today with three great events.

The Arboretum: the Botanical Garden of Kentucky, located at Alumni and Arboretum Drive sponsors a Rain Garden tour 9:30–11 a.m. Participants can learn about the various ways of handling rainwater runoff. Parking is available.

Then, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Student Center Worsham Theatre, experts will present Sustainability 101: What is Sustainability? Students who want to know more about what they can do about global warming and the prospect of significant climate change in their lifetime will see a presentation that offers insights and perspectives on what every individual needs to know about sustainability. Whether new to sustainable activities or a relative veteran, everyone will benefit from this overview. The presenter is Ernie Yanarella, professor of Political Science, UK.

The movie "Liquid Assets: The Story of Our Water Infrastructure" will be shown at 8 p.m. in the UK Student Center, Worsham Theater. “Liquid Assets,” a PBS documentary, allows us to see the unseen, the hidden infrastructure of water, wastewater and stormwater systems in America. This documentary details the economic, political and engineering challenges facing cities today to address infrastructure needs. Presented by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government.

The Denim Drive begins today. Donate your denim garments (jeans, shirts, skirts, etc.), which will then be converted by Cotton Inc. into “Natural Cotton Fiber Insulation” and used in the construction of new homes and/or renovation construction with communities in need. Collection bins to accept used denim will be available at various locations throughout campus, including the UK Student Center as follows: 

Sept. 14 & 21, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., UK Student Center, near Starbucks;

Sept. 15-18 and Sept. 22-25, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., UK Student Center patio.  

The Denim Drive is sponsored by the Merchandising, Apparel & Textiles Department Club, UK School of Human and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture, and Cotton Inc.

See www.sustainability.uky.edu for a detailed schedule.