Various campus organizations provided UW-Madison students with food and information about conserving energy, protecting natural resources and appropriately disposing waste Tuesday at a ""Smart Cookout"" on Library Mall.
Nathan Pinney, a UW-Madison Ph.D. candidate and director of UW Energy Hub, who co-sponsored the event, said the goal of the cookout was to unite student organizations on environmental, energy and conservation issues at UW-Madison.
""We are all promoting sustainable behaviors, sustainable consumer choices and, for this event, local food,"" he said.
Along with providing information at the event, organizers provided free sweet corn and locally grown apples to advocate purchasing locally grown food, which organizers said would cut fuel and production costs and play a role in energy conservation.
Organizers encouraged event participants to dispose their corn husks and apple cores in compost bins rather than traditional garbage cans as a better way to eliminate waste.
Powered Green, a local business in support of wind farms, was also present at the cookout to spread awareness about their company, along with other environmentally friendly groups on campus.
Brandon Gador, a UW-Madison alum and co-founder of Powered Green, said the company has been in business for one year and has already offset 1.2 million pounds of CO2 through the sale of various Powered Green merchandise.
Gador said UW-Madison students can easily support the program by purchasing the company's T-shirts and other Powered Green products.
""[Buying] Powered Green products is a really easy way for people to get involved and make an impact, but more importantly, show that they are a part of something,"" he said.
Michael Hoffman, a UW-Madison junior who was present at the event said it is important to be conscious about saving energy and recycling.
He also said the cookout was a great way to inform others about the importance of buying locally grown produce.
""I have always been into buying fresh, amazing produce from local places,"" he said. ""I just wish I knew more outlets and places I could do that.""
Organizations like WE CONSERVE, UW Engineers Without Borders and Rethink Wisconsin also took part in organizing and sponsoring the event.
