Virginia Commonwealth University
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

The VCU Instagram shares information on current sustainability programs and events across campus. It also highlights sustainability knowledge and key figures relevant to current events on and off campus. 

URL: https://www.instagram.com/vcusustainability/

VCU has “Gardens for Life, landscaping for the Chesapeake Bay” signage around its life sciences building that highlights and educates on features such as bayscaping, urban forestry, and rain gardens planted around the building. The signage includes the following information:

Bayscaping: Gardens of native plants capture stormwater runoff from surrounding buildings and paved surfaces. The plants reduce the amount of polluted water traveling to the James River by retaining and filtering water in the soil thereby improving water quality of the James River. These gardens are one step to a cleaner James River that will in turn protect the health of the Chesapeake Bay. 

Urban Forest: The Urban Forest is necessary urban infrastructure. Not only do trees abate stormwater runoff, mitigate soil erosion, provide wildlife habitat, and sequester carbon dioxide and particulate matter from the atmosphere, in urban environments they provide shade to cool buildings and surrounding air, attenuate noise, improve aesthetics, and increase property values. The presence of trees reduces energy consumption, cleans out air and water, protects the James River, saves money, and makes living, both inside and out, more comfortable. 

Rain Garden: A Rain Garden is a planted depression that allows rainwater runoff from surrounding buildings, paved surfaces and compacted lawn areas the opportunity to collect and be absorbed. The rain garden reduces the amount of polluted water traveling to the Jame River by retaining and filtering water in the soil thereby improving the water quality of the James River. These gardens are one step to a cleaner James River that will in turn protect the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

VCU also has signs up designating LEED buildings and informational signage within and around the buildings noting features like green cleaning programs, native landscaping, water efficient irrigation, bike racks and showers, low flow faucets, and sustainable building materials and practices used at the building. 

VCU’s Green Map identifies green infrastructure on campus like bike air compressors, bike share stations, rain gardens,  and LEED Gold buildings. 

URL: https://sustainability.vcu.edu/campus/

The VCU Sustainability green guide can be used to learn about sustainability at VCU and in the Richmond community, including our current sustainability initiatives on campus, sustainability tips and helpful resources.

URL: https://sustainability.vcu.edu/green-guide/