Greeks Follow Co-Ops' Example on Sustainability

Both co-ops and Greek houses are partnering with the city of Berkeley in an effort to become more sustainable.

Beginning this semester, Greek houses are modeling themselves after co-ops by increasing composting and recycling.

The co-ops currently employ a sustainability coordinator who inspects the houses for inefficiencies that may waste energy. The houses also buy local and organic food, while the kitchens send their grease for processing into biofuel.

Greek officials said the co-ops were a good model of sustainability because they were able to unify many houses under one goal.

"We knew that it would work because they made it work so well," said Alpha Chi Omega member Andrea Hardlund, a co-facilitator of round-table discussions that bring members of each sorority together to share ideas. "It's a collective effort to work towards this as a group as opposed to working towards it individually between houses."

Sorority houses each volunteer or elect one sustainability chair. The chairs get together to share ideas for saving energy, reducing waste and conserving water.

"Everyone who is there is really passionate about these issues and we're doing our best to help each other out and utilize what resources we have available," said Delta Gamma member Cameron Davidson, another co-facilitator.

While individual fraternities have yet to appoint sustainability chairs, groups of fraternity brothers such as Green in the Greeks are also trying to make the houses more sustainable, said co-founder and Sigma Chi member Tyler Humphrey.

The group distributes free energy-saving light bulbs and water-saving shower heads while educating community

members about reducing waste.

Greek houses are also working with Councilmember Gordon Wozniak's office to increase use of the city's free recycling and composting services.

"My goal is to stir up the sororities and fraternities and try to get them to use these services that the city provides," said Kelly Kirkpatrick, legislative aide to Wozniak.

Interfraternity Council President Michael Marino said in a Facebook message that more than half of fraternities currently recycle.

Co-ops spokesperson Jennifer Heller said composting can work anywhere.

"We told the Greek community ... (to) make it easy, make it accessible and educate," she said in an e-mail. "We have compost bins in every bathroom and kitchen, which are all well-labeled with what should go in there. And because we've educated them in how it not only saves the earth, but also saves them money, they're going to put it in the compost bin."

The co-ops started working with the city in 2000 to compost solid food waste. Currently, the co-ops are recycling or composting 50-85 percent of their waste, said Tania Levy, acting recycling programming manager for the city.

Levy said the co-ops' success at composting influenced the city's decision to expand composting efforts.

"We are allowing large apartment buildings and offices and so on to participate if they show that they can be organized ... and the residents want to do it," she said. "The co-ops gave us some confidence when we did that."

Patrick Ford, president of the co-ops' Board of Directors, said the nature of communal living makes co-opers more environmentally conscious.

"I think it's an easy jump from being considerate of your neighbors to being considerate of the impact you're having on the world," he said.

Tags: GREEK SYSTEM, CO-OPS