Interested in reducing your consumption of natural resources and minimizing solid waste?

West Virginia Universitys Environmental Conservation Awareness Now program (WE CAN ) and West Virginia Sustainable Communities Project are sponsoring an energy/water conservation and waste reduction fair from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 26) and noon-5 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 27) at the Morgantown Mall.

Representatives from both organizations will provide tips and resources and distribute free conservation devices to help homeowners and businesses reduce water and energy usage and produce less waste. Giveaways include water aerators that reduce the amount of water used in household sinks and compact fluorescent light bulbs, which use less electricity while providing the same amount of light as the traditional incandescent light bulb.

Twenty-minute workshopsat 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sundaywill also offer information on how to decrease waste and water usage and increase energy savings in the home. Energy expert Chris Haddox, an assistant professor in the Division of Design and Merchandising at WVU and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified professional, will be on hand at 3 p.m. Saturday to provide additional advice for homeowners.

This is a great opportunity for community members to come out and learn how to reduce their household energy use, increase their recycling efforts and obtain some materials to get started,said Barbara Angeletti, WVU s recycling coordinator.This event is a joint effort among several groups, and we are pleased to be able to share WVU s message of sustainable practices directly with the community.

WE CAN is the Universitys initiative to increase recycling and conservation efforts across the WVU campus. Programs include a recycling program at each of the Universitys buildings; the Mountaineers Recycle program, which collects recyclable materials from tailgaters at Mountaineer Field; the annual Blue and Gold Mine Sale, a huge yard sale with items donated by students and employees that benefits the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties; and the Ecolympics, which encourages students living in residence halls to increase energy conservation and recycling efforts. For more information, visit http://wecan.wvu.edu/ .

The West Virginia Sustainable Communities Project is a collaborative effort of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Student Conservation Association, Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and Fayette County Commission. Project leader Doug Arbogast and a team of interns focus efforts on educating communities throughout West Virginia about pollution prevention and energy conservation.