CAUSES to Host Green Living Expo DC alongside 9th Annual Back to School BBQ

The 2014 Green Living DC Expo will be held on Thurs., Sept. 11, in conjunction with the 9^th Annual Back to School BBQ for the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). Conjoining the two events will lead to meaningful experiences as the University explores how it and the local community can continue to collaborate in adopting sustainable initiatives beyond the Expo and in our everyday lives. The events will be held on Dennard Plaza on UDC’s Van Ness campus from 12:00 - 8:00 p.m. The Green Living Expo, which officially starts after the BBQ ends, is free and open to the public. 

New this year, events will be designed to be “Zero Waste,” meaning water bottles will be discouraged, refuse will be recycled, compostable and recycled paper and plastic goods will be used and food waste will be composted, among other environmentally-friendly initiatives. There will be various programs for kids to help them understand the concept of environmental sustainability. Kid-friendly events will be offered beginning at 3.30 p.m. and listening sessions geared toward adults will begin at 6:00 p.m.

Nearly 50 exhibitors will be on hand to help attendees discover why DC is steadily becoming the model of a sustainable city. Green businesses, energy-saving devices, green roofs, locally grown food, urban forests, urban biking, and green infrastructure are just a few of the featured topics and services that will be available. Visitors can consult with environmental experts while enjoying demonstrations, live music and local food. The event also includes panel discussions, speaker presentations, and an eco-bike tour around the Van Ness campus and the surrounding communities to highlight leading examples of urban sustainability. Kids aged K-12 will be entertained and educated with interactive displays, games and more provided by exhibitors and UDC’s College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES).

CAUSES is the primary host of the Expo, in conjunction with Going Green Today and Green Living DC. Going Green Today is a leader in community-based sustainability initiatives and teaches individuals how to shift to a low-carbon lifestyle. They are currently running the Do It For DC! Challenge in conjunction with the DC government to help make DC the greenest, most livable city in the nation. Green Living DC is a volunteer organization, which grew out of the D.C. Office of Planning’s 2009 Neighborhood Sustainability Indicators Project.

The University of the District of Columbia is located at 4200 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20008. Dennard Plaza is accessible from Van Ness St., just around the corner from the Van Ness metro. 

For more information on Green Living Expo DC, please visit www.greenlivingdc.org. Additional photos from last year’s event are available on the CAUSES Facebook page. For more information on CAUSES, visit www.udc.edu/causes.