Introduced as part of the resources available under the Green Office Programme (GO!), ‘Green Matters’ is an e-newsletter aiming to provide the University community a platform for sharing sustainable practices/stories/tips as well as upcoming green events. 'GO!' is developed to promote a number of simple actions staff and students can take to make their workplaces more environmentally-friendly. For details about 'GO!', please refer to the ‘GO!’ website.
Launch of Phase 2 of the Green Office Programme (GO!)

Phase 2 of the CUHK Green Office Programme (GO!) will be launched on 9 April 2013. We look forward to acknowledging all Phase 1 ‘GO!’ offices for their support and commitment and inviting academic and research units to join ‘GO!’!

How we are doing in 2012
Since the launch of ‘GO!’ in May 2012, we have 66 offices (with over 2,000 staff and students) joining in Phase 1, including all offices of the senior management, the nine Colleges and majority of the administrative units as well as seven student bodies and a few academic departments who volunteered. This Spring, we have received the first year-end e-checklists from all Phase 1 ‘GO!’ members and would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to all members for their commitment and efforts in taking out actions according to the ‘GO! Checklist’, sharing practical tips in the e-news flash Green Matters, and participating in the sharing session in November 2012. Though changing culture and behaviour is a formidable task, we are gratified to see changes happening – bit by bit, and every small step from the GO! members counts.

FOR ‘GO!’ MEMBERS
Green Office Programme (GO!) Phase 2 Launch Ceremony cum ‘Bring Your Own Cup’ (BYOC) tea party on 9 April
Purpose:To acknowledge the contributions of ‘GO!’ Phase 1 offices and welcome new ‘GO!’ members.
Date:9 April 2013 (Tuesday)
Time:9:00am-10:30am
Venue:Lee Shau Kee Building, 1/F, LT7
Features:
  • VC as the officiating guest
  • Sharing of green practices
  • Tea reception with organic fair-trade coffee and green souvenirs for all participants
    • All members of ‘GO!’ offices are welcome! Online registration page
    Your Achievement
    We are pleased to report that most member offices have successfully fulfilled the requirements of ‘GO!’ in 2012. It is even more encouraging that 96% of the participating offices have fulfilled 2/3 or more action items on the GO! Checklist. To acknowledge member offices’ support and achievements, we cordially invite all ‘GO!’ Phase 1 members to a BYOC (“Bring Your Own Cup”) tea party officiated by the Vice-Chancellor on 9 April 2013. For details and registration, please check our post in ‘For “GO!” Members’ section.

    Inviting Academic and Research Units to join GO!
    We are now extending ‘GO!’ to academic and research units in Phase 2. If your office has not registered as a member of ‘GO!’ yet, please visit our online registration form to become a member and register to attend the ‘GO!’ Phase 2 Launch Ceremony on 9 April 2013!

    A simpler GO! Checklist!
    Based on the feedback and suggestions collected from Phase 1 members of ‘GO!’, we would also like to unveil a simpler and more user-friendly ‘GO! Checklist’ for ‘GO!’ participants to use in Phase 2 of the ‘GO!’ programme. Please check out the new checklist on our website, or view an updated information sheet on ‘GO!’.

    Sustainability in action!
    With the successful conclusion of the Phase 1 of ‘GO!’, many ‘GO!’, we are pleased to learn from the checklists that many member offices in Phase 1 have demonstrated their dedication to green practices by fulfilling all requirements under ‘GO!’; many have even done more. In this issue, United College and the School of Life Sciences (an academic and research units that joined ‘GO!’ in Phase 1 as a pioneer) have some green office practices and thoughts on ‘GO!’ to share.
    School of Life Sciences - Pioneer in Green Purchasing
    When ‘GO!’ was first launched in 2012 and invite the participation of the University’s university management offices, college offices and administrative and service units, School of Life Sciences are among the few pioneer academic and research units joining GO! in Phase 1.
    United College - Reducing Carbon Footprint Together
    Committed to sustainable practices, reduction of carbon footprint and the enhancement of campus environmental quality, United College has adopted various environmental friendly measures since joining the Green Office Programme (GO!). With the collective efforts of the College’s members, the College has made a difference!
    Sustainable News on Campus
    Signing of the HK3030 Energy Saving Charter Harvest Festival Held on Roof of the School of Architecture Building
    In recognition of the significant impact that the built environment has on GHG emissions and global climate change, CUHK signed the ‘HK3030 Energy Saving Charter (Education Sector)’ organized by the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) at a HK3030 Activation Ceremony held on 3 March 2013. As a signee, CUHK pledges to integrate environmental considerations into the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of facilities and services as well as take various measures to raise awareness among on staff and students and reduce energy use in buildings substantially.
    A harvest festival was held at the roof garden of the recently completed An Integrated Teaching Building on March 25 to celebrate the first harvest of a permaculture workshop course held collaboratively by the School of Architecture and the Permaculture Institute. Aiming to promote green life style and to demonstrate how human can live in harmony with nature through practicing permaculture, the bi-weekly workshops commenced in mid-January and provided guidance on organic farming to participating students and staff. Vice-Chancellor Professor Joseph Sung, guests, students and staff harvested organic vegetables and sampled freshly made salad at the festival.
    2013 Spring Issue of CUHK's Sustainable Campus Available Request for Shredded Paper for Experiment
    View it online here!
    		 Professor Chiu Siu Wai of the School of Life Sciences is seeking shredded waste paper for a composting research project. If your office has shredded waste paper to contribute to the project, please contact Mr. Yip Ho Yin of the School of Life Sciences at 3943-6390 or b105862@mailserv.cuhk.edu.hk for pickup arrangements (shredded office paper is preferred; shredded photos are less suitable).
    Live a Vibrant Green Life
    9 Apr - 21 Apr 2013 10 Apr 2013
    Art and Science of Trees, Birds, and Butterflies Photo Exhibition
    Time: 10 am – 10 pm
    Venue: Jockey Club Creative Art Centre (JCCAC) Central Courtyard and L1
    Exhibition of 400 tree, bird and butterfly photos, talks, eco-film shows and more
    Rundown | Poster     		6:30pm-8:30pm
    The Fate of Fruit- Jam DIY
    Join this workshop to learn how to make fruit jam using leftover fruits. For more information, please check the CUHK Green World’s Facebook page for more details.
    Application deadline: 5 April
    22 Apr 2013 22 Apr 2013
    International Earth Day 5:30pm-7:30pm
    ‘Waking the Green Tiger－the Rise of a Green Movement in China’ will be premiered at LT6 of Lee Shau Kee Building. The event is free and open to the public. Registration and details
    Mar - Jul 2013 5 May - 8 May 2013
    "All About H2O" Lecture Series and Special Exhibition by Water Supplies Department Details International Conference on Solid Waste 2013 - Innovation in Technology and Management by Hong Kong Baptist University Details
    This e-news flash is produced by the Campus Planning and Sustainability Office. For enquiries, to contribute information or to unsubscribe, please email GO@cuhk.edu.hk. Sharing of green events, stories about green practices and green tips are welcome! Please provide your contact information in the email, in case we need to get in touch with you for more details. Green Matters would like to thank the following people or offices for sharing information:
  • Lee Woo Sing College
  • United College
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  • School of Life Sciences
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