Blog 3

The program that I find most interesting from the AASHE website would have to be the STARS program. STARS stands for The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System and is a self reporting framework that colleges and universities use to measure their sustainability performance. I find this program so interesting because it provides universities and other institutions with a common set of measurements that they can use to compare their level of sustainability between one another. It also provides institutions that have made steps towards becoming more sustainable with the recognition that they deserve. 

      The most interesting program that I came across in the Sustainable Carolina website would have to be the Campus "Food Team". Ever since I took an environmental science course here at USC, I have become more aware of the ecological impact that my food choices have on the environment. It seems like the Food Team works to limit the campus's overall impact by promoting sustainable dining practices in our on campus dining facilities, as well as coordinating discussions and lectures to educate students on food issues. 

   The question that I have for Margret Bounds is whether or not converting our campus to more sustainable dining facilities would drive up the cost of student's meal plans? In other words, would it costs students more to eat sustainably?