‘Going Green’ no longer just a hippy thing

TEMPE — Arizona State University showed the campus and the community that “going green” is a smart business move toward a more sustainable world.

Last week’s Green Summit was the first student-led environmental initiative at ASU. Organizers said it was well attended and changed the way people think about the environment in business terms.

“It’s not about being some crazy hippy, it’s about realizing you can make money and still show support for the environment,” said Jeff Yancey, an ASU senior.

The eco-conscious event lured 61 companies from throughout the state, Yancey said. The companies came to share their passion for the environment and bring awareness about topics ranging from sustainable energy to recycling, art, cleaning products and more.

Green Summit had three main goals:
• Provide information about green products and businesses,
• Match students with internships and jobs with companies that promote sustainability,
• Showcase what ASU is doing to promote environmental consciousness.

Anne Sawyer, project manager for an environmental building consultant called Green Ideas, said students showed a lot of interest and curiosity. She said he hopes to hire some of them for future jobs.

Organizers say Green Summit will evolve into a company offering a search engine for people to find environmentally conscious organizations and resources.

“People are full of excitement,” Sawyer said. “Our business is growing like crazy and we need people. If we find students who are interested, there could be a long term relationship here.”

Recycling officials displayed signs preaching that recycling one aluminum can could save enough energy to run a television for three hours.

“Lots of people are still under the myth that it doesn’t affect anything, but it affects our lives,” said Kelli Collins, a City of Mesa solid waste outreach specialist. “All goods recycled come back to us in one way or another. Carpet can be made from plastic bottles and garden hoses from rubber tires.”

Collins said her goal for coming to Green Summit was to raise recycling awareness and encourage people to call their cities to find out the recycling specifics.

Green Summit took place to provide “real practical solutions” to sustainable energy, Lamoreaux said.

“ASU students still have a long way to go as far as learning about sustainability,” Lamoreaux said. “Hopefully they will take the initiative to realize it’s everyone’s environment.”

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