The College of Architecture turned green on Earth Day 2008 with the kickoff of its Maroon is Green Sustainable College Initiative.
The April 22 Maroon is Green launch included an environmental fair, live music, sustainable living demonstrations, guest speakers and even green cuisine — an assortment of locally grown organic vegetable dishes.
The Flyers, a homegrown band with several members currently enrolled in Texas A&M College of Architecture degree programs, helped kick off the celebration with a short set.
Several organizations demonstrated sustainable practices, and representatives from the Maroon Bike Project brought their tools to work on students’ bicycles. Also, Atkinson Toyota brought two hybrid vehicles to the fair.
The event also drew extensive regional media coverage on TV, radio and in local newspapers. KRHD-TV Channel 40 sent a reporter: a text version of the station’s coverage is available at http://www.abc40.com/Global/story.asp?S=8211730
The Battalion sent reporter Madiha Rizvi to cover the event. Her story is available at online.
The Bryan Eagle had a front-page Earth Day story that was accompanied by a large photo of some of the 100 green balloons that adorned the Langford Architecture Center. The story and photo are available at
http://www.theeagle.com/local/It-s-kind-of-easy-being-green.
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Pam Humphrey, left, of the American Society of Landscape Architects, shows Devon Blosch and Sarah Taylor a display at the ASLA booth detailing how florescent bulbs use less electricity than standard bulbs.
Bob Turek of the Flyers sings during the band's set at Maroon is Green. Turek is an environmental design student.
Attendees got the latest green doings of the recycling center at the Texas A&M Physical Plant Department.
100 balloons adorned the Langford Architecture Center to denote the college's Earth Day Maroon is Green festival.
Eva Peterson talks about the College of Architecture's groHome, the College of Architecture’s entry in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon in 2007.
Green cuisine was on hand at Maroon is Green. The eats consisted of low-carbon footprint appetizers made from local, organically grown vegetables.
Chris Mahler of the Maroon Bike Project works on a bike. Project members are looking to educate the community about bicycles, promote the use of bikes instead of motor vehicles and set up a community bike shop where students can come work or rent a bike for a semester.
College Station city councilman John Crompton, a distinguished professor of recreation, park and tourism sciences at Texas A&M, spoke about the need for citizens to pressure city government to adopt green policies.
David Rose checks out a Toyota Highlander, a hybrid vehicle that uses gas and electric power.
Ann Eastwood, administrative coordinator with the college's office of student services, moves boards used to anchor the Maroon is Green balloon display outside the Langford Architecture Center.
There were plenty of booths to stop by and get information about all things green.
Maroon is Green T-shirts, two of which are sitting on the table, were big sellers.
Joseph Reza, an intern with the Brazos Valley Solid Waste Management Agency, talks about the agency’s composting training program.
The Design-Build Institute of America’s booth had T-shirts and information on the dwelling they designed for Habitat for Humanity’s recent “Shack-a-Thon.”
The Texas A&M Physical Plant Department had a display touting its recycling efforts.
The Flyers opened up Maroon is Green with a set in the newly renovated Wright Gallery in Langford building A.
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