USC Upstate Sustainability

06/03/2026

A few days left to register for this AMAZING multi day event in Spartanburg at the University of South Carolina Upstate George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics!

If you ever talk about the environment, sustainability, or the climate you are an informal educator and should join this great community!

05/28/2026

Happening soon! A few spots are still available! Please share and register soon for these amazing youth camps!

https://secure.touchnet.net/C21544_ustores/web/store_cat.jsp?STOREID=63&CATID=128&FROMQRCODE=true&fbclid=IwdGRjcASEZphleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe-vgbU8BPfShNDScwwbQVwSwk02_mhDRptTvGdmoPeG2n9eVm8pLwvvHN180_aem_X4U1lGxS8aSwahE03N_jzQ

Camp Discovery 🌎
We still have a few open spots in our FUN and educational science camp. Please share with your students and friends. More info and link in comments.

05/07/2026

Another project done ✅ 🪏 👨‍🌾

The Carolina Fence™ is an SCWF habitat garden concept that blends South Carolina’s natural and cultural heritage. Using a traditional split‑rail fence, native plants, and state symbols, the Carolina Fence provides food, cover, and nesting opportunities for wildlife while showcasing state pride and stewardship values.

Check it out at our Food Forest 🌳

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day! 🌱

From campus to community, every action and interaction counts.

How are you showing up for the planet today? 🌎✨

(Photo credit 📷: 1 million women)

04/21/2026

Wow! The Food Forest plants are sparkling! 💚They must know it is Earth Month! 🌏

How many of the plants in the photos below can you identify? Take a guess and let us know! 🌳🌱🌸🌾

04/20/2026

Wash Clothes in Cold Water

🌀💧 Washing clothes in cold water saves energy and helps clothes last longer—while still getting them clean. A simple switch with a big impact.

Massive Energy Savings: Roughly 90% of a washing machine’s energy consumption goes toward heating the water. Cold water cycles significantly reduce this, lowering household carbon emissions.

Reduced Carbon Footprint: Switching to cold can reduce a person's laundry-related carbon footprint by 10%. The US could cut greenhouse gas emissions by over 2 million metric tons if all households switched.

Less Microfiber Pollution: Hot water causes synthetic clothes to shed more microfibers, which pollute waterways and marine life; cold water helps mitigate this damage.

Less Chemical Pollution: Lower temperatures lead to better control over chemical release from detergents into the environment.

https://www.chhs.colostate.edu/dm/programs-and-degrees/community-engagement-and-service-learning/sustainable-laundry/sustainable-laundry-practices

04/19/2026

Earth Month - Day 1️⃣9️⃣ - Buy Nothing for a Day
🚫🛍️ Try a “buy nothing” day to reflect on habits, reduce waste, and appreciate what you already have. Sometimes the most sustainable choice is not buying at all.

04/18/2026

Earth Month is a great time to visit a park!

🌳 Spend some time in a local park or natural area. Visiting green spaces builds appreciation for the environment—and reminds us why conservation matters.

Where do you visit to escape into nature? Need some inspiration? Check out the Spartanburg Area Conservancy (SPACE) Earth Day Fest at Glendale Shoals today!
https://www.spartanburgconservation.org/events/39/spartanburg-earth-day-festival

Join us at the Glendale Shoals Nature Preserve as we celebrate nature and local conservation! Bring the family and spend the day outside with us enjoying live music, good food, and something fun for everyone!

04/17/2026

Air dry your laundry and skip the dryer when you can!

☀️👕Air drying clothes saves energy, reduces wear on fabrics, and lowers utility costs.

Energy Savings: Dryers consume roughly 3% of residential energy in the United States. Using clotheslines or racks removes this energy demand entirely.

Reduced Carbon Emissions: Air drying can reduce a household's carbon footprint by 2,400 pounds annually, equivalent to significant driving reductions.

Extended Clothing Life: Machine drying causes high fabric wear, leading to 50% loss of tensile strength in 20 cycles. Air drying reduces the need to replace clothes, decreasing textile waste.

Reduced Pollution: Air drying eliminates the release of microplastics into the air, which occurs during the high-heat tumble process.

https://news.umich.edu/clothes-dryers-and-the-bottom-line-switching-to-air-drying-can-save-hundreds/