The UREC’s Clear Water, Green Heart campaign hopes to promote sustainability and reward students who bring their refillable water bottles to the facility.
Between Sept. 15 and Nov. 21, the UREC is giving out punch cards to redeem for a free guest pass or “Love Purple, Live Gold, Geaux Green” grocery tote after bringing a refillable bottle to the UREC 10 times.
“This initiative is a 2-for-1,” said UREC Coordinator of Facility Operations Julie Faulkner. “We want to make sure people are well hydrated. It will encourage them to bring water bottles with them, which will help them and, in turn, help the environment.”
The program launched for the first time in fall 2013 and saw about 80 people complete cards; the number jumped to almost 150 during the summer 2014 campaign. Faulkner said this time, the goal is for more than 200 people to complete cards, which would keep 25,000 to 30,000 bottles out of the waste stream.
LSU is not the only SEC campus promoting sustainability. In 2012, the Sustainability Council at the University of Kentucky added 10 refilling stations around campus, and Ole Miss recently added 13.
Other campuses use refilling stations, but the University is the only school offering specific incentives.
The UREC-designed program follows the National Intramural Recreation Sports Association’s three-pronged approach to sustainability by addressing economic, social and environmental concerns.
Grocery totes and reusable bottles keep trash out of the environment, but the campaign may be good for the wallet as well. According to the UREC website, the average person spends more than $200 annually on water bottles, much more than the cost of a refillable bottle.
Refilling stations, which track the number of bottles being saved, can be found on the UREC’s first floor outside the cardio weight room and the gym, on the second floor on the north side of the track and near studios B and C.
Many students refill bottles without the incentives, Faulkner said, adding that the stations are being monitored more closely to see if this initiative increases the number of bottles being refilled.
Architecture junior Adrienne Erbesti, who regularly brings her refillable bottle to the UREC, said the program was a great addition.
“It’s really wasteful to keep using plastic water bottles,” Erbesti said. “And it reminds me to drink more to see these machines everywhere.”
Dietetics junior Lacy Rivette said she also thinks the initiative is a good idea and tries to plan ahead to bring her refillable bottle.
“I’m all for helping the environment, and the more we can do, the better,” Rivette said.
The UREC releases weekly sustainability tips on Facebook and Twitter.
“It’s hard for people to grasp what sustainability is,” Faulkner said. “But they just need to know that one small step makes a world of difference.”

Gallery • 1 Photos

Zoe Geauthreaux

LSU kinesiology junior Kelcey Pecquet brings her own reusable water bottle when she works out at the UREC.