volunteer

Buffs help: water restoration goes a long way

Anonymous — Sat, 09 Nov 2019 07:00:00 +0000

Buffs help: water restoration goes a long way Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 11/09/2019 - 00:00

Making a difference can be more than a text. Water source restoration projects in �鶹ӰԺ, Longmont and other counties impacted by the 2013 floods are helping riverbanks and natural habitats recover quicker and stronger than before. On Oct. 19, your Ralphie's Green Stampede team worked with Longmont County Open Space to restore the St. Vrain Creek that was devastated by the flood. So much water moved through the creek in such a short period of time that the local vegetation was almost completely wiped out. We spent a Saturday morning helping to re-plant cottonwoods, wild rose, wild plum and black currant plants. These trees are native to the St. Vrain Valley and are key to the foundation of a healthy water habitat.

Planting new trees strengthens the ground around a flowing water source. The roots of growing trees white-knuckle the soil, holding it in place and providing a stronghold against potential harsh waters. The new trees help the animals, too. Beavers thriving along the St. Vrain creek feed on the cottonwoods, but curiously, don’t use their wood as material for dams.

There’s a number of opportunities to get involved in habitat restoration, water cleanups and other projects that improve our community and open spaces. Whether you’re seeking to get your hands dirty, educate others or learn more for yourself, there’s something for everyone. Gather your friends, family and fellow Buffs to help make a difference! By texting “CUwater” to 27126, Wells Fargo will offset 1,000 gallons of water, mitigating water use and protecting the Colorado river. Find passion and purpose in supporting our community today. Sko Buffs!

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CU �鶹ӰԺ wins Pac-12 Zero Waste Challenge

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 07:00:00 +0000

CU �鶹ӰԺ wins Pac-12 Zero Waste Challenge Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 02/08/2019 - 00:00

Thanks to hard work and dedication by Facilities Management and Ralphie's Green Stampede staff and volunteers, CU �鶹ӰԺ was named overall winner in the Pac-12 Zero Waste Challenge for the 2018 football season.

Press release from the Pac-12 Conference:

SAN FRANCISCO – One of the core pillars of Pac-12 Team Green, the Conference today announced that the �鶹ӰԺ has been selected as the overall winner of the “Pac-12 Zero Waste Challenge” for the 2018 football season. Also recognized as subcategory winners included the University of Arizona (most-improved), Arizona State University (best student-athlete engagement) and the University of Washington (best fan engagement). All four institutions will be recognized and honored during a special ceremony during the 2019 Pac-12 Sustainability Conference set for June 25-26 at the University of Washington.

“Sustainability is a very important key for us, something we take a great deal of pride in," said Rick George, athletic director at Colorado. "We want to be leaders in this area and we are certainly excited about being recognized in this way.”

The Pac-12 Zero Waste Challenge is held annually during both football and basketball seasons. Each university selects one home football game and one home basketball game to compete and provide a platform for engaging on best practices in waste diversion. As part of the competition, each university submitted a scorecard describing the efforts around its Zero Waste game. Criteria is weighted as such: 25 percent participation and partnerships, 25 percent innovation credit and 50 percent stadium diversion rate.

A total of five judges selected one overall winner and one winner in three categories. The judging panel consisted of:

Bill Walton – Pac-12 representative, sustainability advocate & basketball legend
Mike Carey – LEED Expert & sustainability coordinator at Orange Coast College
Graham Oberly – Sustainability coordinator at Ohio State University
Cheryl Wong – Assistant commissioner, sports management & championships, Pac-12 Conference

More information on the Pac-12 Zero Waste Challenge is available at Pac-12.com/teamgreen. More information on the 2019 Pac-12 Sustainability Conference set for June 25-26 at the University of Washington is available at Pac-12.com/sustainability.

Overall Winner – 2018 Football Season: Colorado (vs. Arizona State, Oct. 6, 2018)

Achieved 91.82% stadium diversion rate, including over 8,700 lbs in compost, over 3,900 lbs in bottles and cans and over 1,300 lbs to landfill.
The NCAA’s first Division I sustainable athletics program, “Ralphie’s Green Stampede” has seen Buffs athletics implement zero waste programs in all venues, zero net carbon emissions in all facilities, zero net water use practices in all facilities as well as a zero net-energy football practice facility.
In promotion of a circular economy, Colorado collects plastic bags from stadium activities and sends them to a recycler who then manufactures new 70% recycled content plastics bags, which the university then uses to collect tailgate recycling on gamedays.
As a zero-waste, zero-car and zero-glass organized tailgate, the “Franklin Field Tailgate” area of Colorado football games has become a platform for a high-diversion tailgate area with a zero-waste eco product package, complete with plates, napkins, cups and utensils.

Read the full story

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Pac-12 Sustainability Conference at CU �鶹ӰԺ leaves alum proud to be a Buff

Anonymous — Sun, 05 Aug 2018 06:00:00 +0000

Pac-12 Sustainability Conference at CU �鶹ӰԺ leaves alum proud to be a Buff Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 08/05/2018 - 00:00

Proud to be a Pac-12 Conference alum. Even more proud to be a Buff.

That’s how I felt throughout the 2nd Annual Pac-12 Sustainability Conference hosted at none other than the stadium with the best view in college football, CU’s very own Folsom Field. According to Commissioner Larry Scott and Deputy Commissioner and COO Jamie Zaninovich, Pac-12 “member universities and athletics departments are national leaders in minimizing their impact on the environment.” We really are a Conference of Champions, on the field and off.

In addition to the privilege of hearing from two Olympic medalists and environmental champions (U.S. women’s soccer alum Mary Harvey and Buffs snowboarder Arielle Gold), the Pac-12 released some BIG news: the launch of Pac-12 Team Green, the official conference sustainability platform.

Campus programs like Ralphie’s Green Stampede and cross-campus competitions like the Pac-12 Zero Waste Competition have been around for some years now. With Pac-12 Team Green, the accomplishments of our individual campuses and athletics departments are brought together under a unifying platform. All schools, now with even more support from the conference, can work together (and in competition) to further innovate and push the envelope in sports sustainability. Maybe even more importantly, we’ll now have a larger platform to reach fans.

Which is great news for Ralphie’s Green Stampede (RGS), CU’s comprehensive sports sustainability program whose mission is to influence fan behavior towards sustainability.

Fan engagement is critical to the RGS philosophy and sustainability programs across the conference are about to get some notable fan-facing screen time! Starting this fall, thanks to Pac-12 Team Green and founding partner Unifi, custom content and media assets featuring sports sustainability programs will be featured during Pac-12 Network game broadcasts.

Unifi will also be a sponsor for all Pac-12 Championships events, bringing even more attention to campus sustainability platforms, particularly those related to recycling. A textile company, Unifi has a line of fiber (REPREVE) made from recycled PET bottles which can be used to make all sorts of apparel items including t-shirts worn by the Zero Waste Goalies at Buffs football and basketball games.

Whether you’re a game-goer or prefer to cheer on the Buffs from the couch, keep an eye out for Pac-12 Team Green this season. You’ll see more ways the Buffs are making a positive impact on the community and learn how you can run with Ralphie’s Green Stampede by following our lead and going green at home, work and play!

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