General Tips
Be realistic. It may not be easy or reasonable to implement everything that we’ve listed in the coming pages. Find the aspects that are the easiest for you to do and start there. Add another sustainable element to every event that you do from there.
Make a commitment. Advertise that your event will be sustainable before it takes place. Write an email to all participants, committing to having a green event. Then, hold yourself accountable to these standards.
Control input. Look for areas to reduce the waste that will be generated at your event. Ask your vendors to do this as well, as they bring in a substantial portion of the waste that comes out of an event.
Choose products that are recyclable. Think about sustainability before you place your orders. Make sure that you choose products that can be recycled.
Thank your participants for contributing. Make your guests feel like they’re a part of something important.
Don’t hold midday events indoors. Energy demand is the greatest in the afternoon hours and the UCLA Cogeneration Plant can’t provide all the energy needed. Extra energy is supplied by LADWP, which includes unclean coal power. Using energy at peak times is also more expensive than at other times.
Utilize natural light. Hold events during daylight and in locations that can be lit naturally.
Make sustainable choices for temporary power needs. Consider using either UCLA power from the Cogeneration Plant, or a bio-diesel generator.
Measure your success. Talk to your Event Manager about weighing your waste to see your diversion percentage. Or use visual markers to show your accomplishments. Show your participants that they have only created a 5 – 10 bags of landfill, while everything else was diverted into recycling. Bring the bags onstage to give them a visual. Click on “Contact Us” and share you success stories with the Event Sustainability Committee so that we can feature your event on our website.