Office for Sustainability

We've been seeing some intense heat this June! !🥵 Luckily, Virginia Energy Sense (@vaenergysense) has some great tips for staying cool while saving energy: 💡 Let the light in: Natural daylight is free—your electricity isn’t. 🌬️ Feel the breeze: Ceiling fans use less energy than AC. 🧺 Delay the heavy lifting: Washers and dishwashers work best (and cost less) early or late in the day. 🕶️ Step outside: Longer days mean more...

🦋 The common milkweed, or Asclepias syriaca, is a species native to Virginia and can be found in the Eco-Corridor. Milkweed is extremely important to monarch butterflies, who lay their eggs on it and drink its nectar, which contains toxins that protect them from predators. 🛟 Fun fact: If you were wearing a life vest during World War II, you might've been floating with the help of the common milkweed! Milkweed seeds are attached to silky...

🌱 The potatoes are ready for harvesting! 🥔🥔🥔 Remember the potatoes we planted around St. Patrick's day last spring? They are now ready to be unearthed! Join us on Wednesday, July 2, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. in Abby's Garden to help us dig up the potatoes — and even grab some to take home with you. Cook up some french fries, mash some potatoes, or even make your own potato chips. For more information, reach out to Joseph Day at...

🥵 On hot summer days like the ones we've had this week, the cool waters of the James River call to us! 🤔 But how do you know when the water is safe enough to take a dip? 🧪 Every Thursday from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the James River Association takes water samples from locations around Richmond. From this data, they are able to determine bacteria levels and update this data on their #JamesRiverWatch website. The site also has...