Green Activities

Go Green and Lead the Society

We promote green living with Green Team via rooftop farming and environmental conservation actions.

Recruitment of Student Energy Ambassadors for
"Energy Conservation Incentive Scheme for Student Hostels"

Background

In 2023 the University introduced the Energy Conservation Incentive Scheme for Student Hostels (ECIS-SH) with the participation of all CUHK hostel buildings of the Colleges, Postgraduate Halls and I-House. The aim of ECIS-SH is to encourage positive behavioural change among student hostel residents and raise awareness throughout the University of the importance of energy consumption and conservation.

Roles of Student Energy Ambassadors

Student Energy Ambassadors will be nominated by College to initiate publicity, education and/or engagement projects on responsible and smart energy consumption in our student hostels. They will compete for the annual Innovation and Engagement awards (e-certificate with cash prize of $4,000 for each award).  Training on smart energy consumption will be provided.

Registration: Please complete online application by 12:00pm, 5 October 2023 (Thursday). Shortlisted students will be contacted later.

Enquiries: Ms Sonia Yu (3943 3937 / soniayu@cuhk.edu.hk)

[Re-scheduled] The Art of Green Woodworking @ Kadoorie Farm

Experience a transformative journey of using wood debris to craft unique wood product with us. You will visit the wood workshop, learn about different wood recycling methods and get hands-on experience using hand tools to craft raw wood chunks into DESKTOP VASE DECORATION. To complete your journey, the instructor will lead a relaxing tree walk in the Lower Farm area to let you open your hearts, listen and be alive to nature.

Date: 07/10/2023 (Saturday)

Gathering Time and Location (Shuttle Bus)
9:00 am @ University MTR Station
9:15 am @ College Gallery, Wu Yee Sun College
* Participants should wear suitable outfit, shoes, socks and bring along their own packed lunch, adequate water, personal hiking equipment, sun block, mosquito repellant and rain gear. Love the nature, take your own litter home.

Dismissal Time and Location (Shuttle Bus)
~4:30pm @ College Gallery, Wu Yee Sun College
~4:45pm @ University MTR Station

Destination: Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden

Registration: https://cloud.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk/webform/view.php?id=13672981

Deposit: Please submit HK$350 refundable deposit to College Office (G03) on or before 26 September 2023. Deposit will be refunded in full upon completion of the whole activity.

Enquiries: Ms. Sonia Yu (3943 3937 / soniayu@cuhk.edu.hk) 

Sunny Living Week

Sunny Living Week, echoing with the College's initiative ‘House of Sunny Living’, is a full-week event targeting on the well-being of the body, mind and spirit of our students and their contributions to the environment and society.

Mosquito Repellent Workshop

Feeling annoyed by the buzzing mosquitoes and itching bites? Learn from experts of Greeners Action to make use of natural ingredients mugworts and coffee grounds can repel these tiny buzzing insects from your peaceful sleep and outdoor activities. 

Date: 12 October 2023 (Thursday)
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: W112-W114
Quota: 20 (first-come-first-served) 

Registration: Submit an online application at https://cloud.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk/webform/view.php?id=13670736 AND refundable deposit of HK$100 at College Office (G03) by 3 October 2023. Place is limited. First-come, first-served. Time of deposit payment will be the determinant.

Activity Highlights

Eco-cultural Tour: Hakka Culture @ Kuk Po

Led by Professor Kwai-cheong CHAU (鄒桂昌教授), Member of College Campus Environment Committee, participants gained a better understanding on the indigenous knowledge of Hakka people and how their wise use of natural and cultural resources shed light on sustainable development.

You may take a glimpse through the Virtual Eco-cultural Tour to follow the steps of Professor Kwai-cheong CHAU and our alumnus Chi-yip KUNG in exploration of natural beauty and Hakka culture in Northeast New Territories.

Click the photo to begin our exploration!

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Whispers of Plants

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Successful applicants of Self-motivation Fund for Green Activities will share their experiences and insights of their participation in green activities with support of the fund. Demo session of dried floral arrangement and making yarns with plant fibres were held. Each participant has taken their art of nature home.

Tree Planting Day

Participants gained valuable knowledge about the significance of planting trees as an effective strategy to restore the damage to ecosystems under SDG #15 (“protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”) and UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030.

 

Self-motivation Fund for Sustainability Activities

Self-Motivation Fund for Sustainability Activities encourages students to participate in various kinds of sustainability activities that promote sustainable development and reduce inequality.

Take a look on the GUIDELINES and REFLECTION TEMPLATE.

Extract of Students’ Reflections

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“As a person who has never practised farming, these activities have inspired me in terms of the difficulties in growing crops and maintaining financial sustainability of a farm in Hong Kong. Apart from the land use conflict between urban development and rural preservation, farmers also face shortages of resources and insufficiency in marketing knowledge. Such insight has enabled me to realise the importance of collective power in order to support the local agriculture system.”

Wing-nam Yuen (Journalism and Communications/ 2021)

Certificate in Sustainable Communities, 有機耕種基礎

 

Rooftop Farming

Rooftop Farming is one of our signature initiatives, working closely with Green Team, to engage students in green living. After planting in around October, the harvest in January – April is apparently the most expected and fruitful outcome for all farmers. We take a step beyond that.

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To protect and nourish the soil during summer, cover crops like green beans, sunn hemp and sunflowers will be planted on rotational basis. The practice helps maintain the soil structure, improves soil fertility and lower farmers’ reliance on chemical fertilizers. “Put carbon back into soil” is also seen as one of the possible ways in fighting climate change.

 

Green Team

Green Team is formed by a group of passionate students to promote green living and sustainability. They have closely collaborated with College to implement a variety of activities, programmes and actions ranging from rooftop farming, eco-tours, green workshops and educational campaigns.

Any green ideas in mind, reach Green Team at Instagram | Facebook | Email

 

Green Actions

Guidelines for Sustainable Event Planning and Management

The following points deserve special attention and can also serve as an action checklist to

facilitate advance planning and duty assignment. Please always refer to the full guidelines

for implementation details and other environmentally-friendly suggestions.

  • Go electronic and reduce paper consumption whenever possible and appropriate;
  • Limit the number of handouts and souvenirs provided;
  • Purchase fair trade or green products, and choose products without excess packaging;
  • Do not provide corsages and, if name badge holders are used, choose reusable ones and collect them after the event;
  • Do away with single-serving bottled water of 1L or below and avoid individually packed beverages and food items;
  • Minimize disposables like dishware and utensils (e.g., by reminding guests to bring their own mugs, lunchboxes and cutlery);
  • Do not use polyfoam meal containers;
  • Help to protect threatened species by not serving or consuming the following food items: shark’s fins, bluefin tuna, black moss, humphead wrasse, Hong Kong grouper and sturgeon caviar;
  • Reduce food waste: avoid buffets, and order a 6-course menu for Chinese banquets;
  • Adopt measures to reduce waste at source, facilitate waste separation and arrange in advance for the collection of recyclables and unconsumed food;
  • Keep air-conditioner temperatures at 25.5oC + 2oC during the summer months;
  • Turn off lights, air-conditioners and equipment after use; and
  • Engage the services of social enterprises which employ the disadvantaged or minorities.
  • Encourage the participants to offset carbon emissions from their air travel.

CUHK Waste Management Policy and Guidelines

CUHK's Waste Management Policy, based on a 'waste management hierarchy', emphasizes the '6Rs' principle: Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle (or Recover).  We accord top priority to waste reduction at source and encourage cyclical use of resources.  Disposal is the last resort.

Read more about CUHK's Waste Management Policy and Guidelines