Recycling bins. Forests. Retrofitting. They all have one thing in common: they’re green.

“Going green” is a term defined as “adapting your lifestyle so as to do less damage to the environment,” according to a glossary of climate change terms on the University of Maryland website. It has become not only a trend, but also an irresistible sensation. Kent State University is now taking part in the “green sensation” and has begun numerous projects in order to “go green.”

One of the many ways Kent State has begun “going green” is recycling. Kent State University Stark (a satellite campus to Kent State University) staff and students have recycled 41 tons of paper and 4.5 tons of plastic, aluminum, and glass combined according to the Stark County Regional Planning Commission.

Thomas Dunn, Director of Campus Environment and Operations (the department responsible for the maintenance, the distribution of energy and “everything that makes Kent State run,” said Kent State University has been recycling for 10 years. “We are trying desperately to reduce the amount of waste,” Dunn said.

Campus Environment and Operations has run numerous projects to conserve energy such as motion-censored lighting and air conditioning. In 2005, Kent State University received the Ohio governor’s energy efficiency award.

Energy conservation is dealt with in many ways at Kent State University. “Our lights go off and on automatically. Copiers are on sleep mode if no one uses them, our computers are on sleep mode,” said Lori Cantor, manager of the student media department at Kent State University.

“We are focused on energy. We want to reduce consumption ever further by an additional 20 percent...and purchasing additional hybrids,” said Dunn.

Energy conservation has been extended to all departments. The Kent State University Field House was recently retrofit so that it consumes half the power that it did originally. Dunn considered it a tremendous breakthrough. In fact, Dunn considers Kent State University one of the top universities, “if not the top” university in energy conservation.

Green chemicals are a recent change Kent State University made only three years ago. All chemicals used by the custodial staff are green and environmentally safe said Dunn.

It’s no surprise that Kent State University has received awards such as the “Tree Campus USA 2008 award” the first college in the state of Ohio to receive it, according to Dunn. The Tree Campus USA 2008 award recognizes tree planting and the care of trees in universities according to the Arbor Day foundation website.

Kent State University also had the honor of receiving the “Federal Environmental Protection Agency award in 2007 recognizing them for their “green qualities and efforts.”

Students and staff seem to enjoy these “green” benefits and contribute to this “green movement. “It’s [the green movement at Kent State University] is wonderful, “ said Cantor.

“A lot of people throw away paper and plastic in the recycling bin. Every building has a blue garbage can,” said Kent State University sophomore Frank Yonkof.