Five Reasons to Attend the 2015 LivingGreen Fair

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Don’t miss the 2015 LivingGreen Fair on May 14 from 11 am to 2 pm at Mission Bay, Rutter Center (1675 Owens Street Conference).  The LivingGreen Fair showcases sustainability efforts around the UCSF campus and highlights fun ways to live green. Free eco-friendly prizes.  Free e-waste recycling.  Free veggie lunches while supply lasts.  And, for all UCSF employees and staff, a free Bear Hug if you ride your bike to work on May 14th. 

Over 75 organizations will provide information and activities related to water conservation, zero waste opportunities, sustainable food, green products, toxics reduction, and more. In addition, the fair will highlight the university’s Sustainability Action Plan, along with Bike to Work Day and a Reclaimed Art Show.  Please note that the Fair will be held at Mission Bay this year (not at Parnassus).

So mark your calendar and plan on attending May 14th from 11 am to 2 pm.  Here are five reasons you will want to attend:

  1. Learn more about Living Green
  2. Taste yummy, healthy food
  3. Get a free Bear Hug if you ride to work
  4. Recycle e-waste for free
  5. A chance to be creative

Reason #1:  Learn more about LivingGreen

The fair will offer many fun and engaging resources on how you can live green at work and home.  Learn more about the LivingGreen Office/Lab Certification Program as well as the Sustainability Action Plan.  There will be a variety of fun activities, including:

  • Check out a Nissan Leaf electric car
  • Check out the Scoot Network electric scooters
  • Take the UCSF Commuter Survey
  • Learn from environmental organizations and government agencies such as 350.org, Fix-It Clinic, SF Estuary Partnership, SF PUC, Nature in the City, and Pesticide Research Institute
  • Participate in the used bike auction
  • Purchase eco gifts and healthy food items
  • Learn About how to green your lab (a dozen scientific equipment and supply vendors will be highlighting their green equipment)

Reason #2:  Taste Yummy, Healthy Food

Who said there is no such thing as a free lunch?  A limited supply of free vegetarian lunches will be available at the fair (first come, first served, so come early).  There will be other fun opportunities to sample sustainable food as well as learn about UCSF’s sustainable food programs and sustainable food vendors.

Reason #3:  Get a Free Bear Hug

All UCSF employees and staff who ride their bike to work on May 14th as part of Bike to Work Day will get a free Bear Hug. UCSF Transportation Services will have a Parnassus energizer station at Irving at 2nd Avenue.  The Mission Bay energizer station will be located at 16th and Owens Street.  Stations will provide water, coffee, fresh fruit, and pastries to all UCSF student, faculty and staff who bike to work.  The station hours are from 7:00 am – 9:30 am. 

Reason #4:  Recycle your E-waste for Free

Want a safe way to dispose of that old cell phone or laptop?  Bring your items to the Fair and drop them off at the E-waste recycling station.  Any working or non-working electronics that do not have labels or UCSF asset tags can be recycled.  For questions, e-mail the UCSF Recycling Program at recycling@ucsf.edu.

Reason #5:  A Chance to be Creative

This year the fair will include a repurposed art station hosted by the Museum of Craft and Design.  In addition, check out the third annual Recycled/Reclaimed Art Show.  The recycled/reclaimed theme is appealing to even the “non-artists,” as many of the submissions are from people who don’t normally show in the annual staff and faculty show.  Artwork is made from a range of reclaimed materials.

Two Other April Events to Check Out

Beyond Skin Deep: Reducing Exposure to Chemicals in Cosmetics

Wednesday, May 13, 12-1pm

Rock Hall – 102 Pottruck Auditorium, 1550 4th Street, Mission Bay Campus

The day before the fair, check out the event on how to reduce your exposure to chemicals in cosmetics. The Committee on Family Services, LivingGreen and Campus Life Services invite you to a talk by Kim Harley, PhD, Associate Adjunct Professor of Maternal and Child Health at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health and Associate Director of the Center for Environmental Research and Children’s Health (CERCH).  Dr. Harley will share findings from The HERMOSA Study, a youth empowerment study of reducing Latina girls’ exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals in cosmetics.  Endocrine disruptors mimic, or block, or otherwise interfere with the hormones and can be found in make-up and other personal care products such as sunscreen, soaps and fragrance. Dr. Harley will also share practical information for parents regarding chemicals in cosmetics and beauty products, as well as healthful alternatives. Please join us following the talk for tea, cookies and conversation with the presenter. RSVP encouraged, but not required. Also available via live stream from myfamily.ucsf.edu.

Fifth Annual Better World Books drive

Thursday, May 14 through Friday, June 19

Proceeds will go to the National Center for Families Learning.

Drop Boxes will be located at:

Mission Bay FAMRI Library (Rutter Community Center, Room 150) UCSF Library, Parnassus

To learn more about acceptable donations go here: http://www.betterworldbooks.com/go/campus-acceptance-guidelines.