Green Bag Lunch Series

The Office of Energy & Sustainability offers a number of lectures and panel discussions through the academic year during the lunch hour, our Green Bag Lunch Series. We supply drinks (coffee, tea, water) and a dessert and ask that those attending pack or bring their own lunch. The events typically run about an hour long and time is provided for questions and discussion.

We'd love to hear from you if you have an idea for a future lunch topic.


Below is a list of our past Green Bag Lunch topics. Many of the presenters have let us post their slides for download. The most recent event is listed first.

Past Green Bag Lunch Events

June 2020 | Green Bag Lunch Series: Composting Opportunities at Home

Virtual Event

  • Stephanie Corbett, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Sustainability and Energy Director
  • Carin Miller, Education Specialist at the
  • Zoe Hazel, Residential Services Manager at 
  • Laura Klingler, Assistant Director of ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ University Events

Slide deck & Cuyahoga Solid Waste District Composting Guide | pdf | 4.8 - 5.5 MB 

February 2020 | Green Bag Lunch Series: Green Buildings, Climate, and Health 

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

  • Stephanie Corbett, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Sustainability and Energy Director
  • , Medical Director Community Integration,

Powerpoint presentation | pdf | 66 MB | Green Buildings, Climate & Health Presentation 

January 2020 | Green Bag Lunch Series: Changing Ecosystems at the ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ University Farm

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

  • Stephanie Corbett, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Sustainability and Energy Director

Powerpoint presentation | pdf | 6.1 MB | Mike Benard GBL intro slides Jan 2020

  • Associate Professor of Biology,

Powerpoint presentation unavailable due to unpublished research 

November 2019 | Green Bag Lunch Series: Sustainability and History at the Cleveland Metroparks

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

  • Stephanie Corbett, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Sustainability and Energy Director
  • Nancy Desmond, Special Projects Administrator, with the

Powerpoint presentation | pdf | 9.9 MB | Metroparks Sustainability & History presentation 

September 2019 | Green Bag Lunch Series: The Circular Economy Beneath Your Feet

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

  • Stephanie Corbett, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Sustainability and Energy Director
  • Wendell Hadden, Vice President of Education at 

Powerpoint presentation | pdf | 1.3 MB | Inferface Sept 19 GBL

July 2019 | Special Green Bag Lunch: Urban Biking 101

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

  • Stephanie Corbett, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Sustainability and Energy Director
  • Annie Pease, Transportation Manager at 
  • Deltrece Daniels, Outreach and Membership Manager at

Combined powerpoint presentation | pdf | 4.3 MB | Urban Cycling 101

April 2019 | Green Bag Lunch Series: Climate Action Plan Update

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

  • Stephanie Corbett, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Sustainability and Energy Director

February 2019 | Green Bag Lunch Series: The Global Goals and You

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

  • Stephanie Corbett, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Sustainability and Energy Director
  • Katherine P. Gullett, Senior Director at and  Megan Schulstad Buchter, Operations Manager of at the Fowler Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit

Powerpoint presentation | pdf | 26.9 MB | The Global Goals and You presentation

January 2019 | Green Bag Lunch Series: How everyday chemicals affect our health & behavior

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

  • Stephanie Corbett, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Sustainability and Energy Director
  • Dr. Kurt Rhoads, Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

Powerpoint presentation | pdf | Jan GBL 19

October 2018| Green Bag Lunch Series: A Second Life for your Excess Office Furniture

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

  • Stephanie Corbett, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Sustainability and Energy Director

Powerpoint presentation | pdf | Oct 18 GBL Intro

  • Rebecca Lowry, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Interior Designer

Powerpoint presentation | pdf | 28.7 MB Buying Furniture Presentation

  • Mark Capuria, Vice President of (no powerpoint)
  • Terri Geiger, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½  Coordinator of Business Services at Thwing Center Engagement & Operations (no powerpoint) 

 

September 2018 | Green Bag Lunch Series: Conserving Energy at Home

Tinkham Veale University Center Ballroom A

  • Erin Kollar, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Sustainability and Energy Assistant Director

Powerpoint presentation | pdf | 9.2MB Sept 18 GBL Intro

  • Liz McQuaide Program Manager, Franklin Energy

Powerpoint presentation | pdf | 90KB FirstEnergy Ohio Home Audit Program

  • Gene Matthews, Retired ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Facilities Director 

Powerpoint presentation | pdf | 3.1 MB Green Energy Tips 

March 2018 | Green Bag Lunch Series: Local Farmer Panel 

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

  • Stephanie Corbett, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Sustainability and Energy Director

Powerpoint presentation | pdf | 13.2MB March GLB Intro

Powerpoint presentation | pdf | 749KB Hartzler Presentation 

  • Aaron Miller of Miller Livestock

Powerpoint presentation | pdf | 2.7MB Miller Presentation

  • John McMicken of

Powerpoint presentation | pdf | 2.8MB McMicken Presentation 

February 2018 | Green Bag Lunch Series:  Cleveland Climate Action Plan & Climate Ambassadors Working Together

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

January 2018 | Green Bag Lunch Series: Advocating for your Park with the Trust for Public Land

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

  • Shanelle Smith, current MBA student at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ and State Director at the 
    Matt Schmidt, Program Director at the 
    Powerpoint presentation | pdf | 11.1MB | TFPL Climate Smart Cities

October 2017 | Green Bag Lunch Series: Sustainability at Local Zoos

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

September 2017 | Green Bag Lunch Series: All About Trees

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

June 2017 | Green Bag Lunch Series: New Sustainable Transportation Options for Circle Employees

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

April 2017 |  Green Bag Lunch Series: Lake Erie's Past, Present & Future with Dr. Reutter

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

March 2017 | The State of Composting at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ and North East Ohio

Tinkham Veale University Center Ballroom A

  • Erin Kollar, Assistant Director of Sustainability, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½
    Power point presentation | pdf | 27.8MB | State of Composting at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Intro and Info
  • Kathleen Rocco, Education Specialist, Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District
    Power point presentation | pdf  2.1MB | Composting at Home
  • Ana Locci, PhD, University Farm Director, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Biology, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½

February 2017 | Rain Barrels & Rain Gardens

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

February 2017 | Climate Action in Labs @ ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ | Green Labs and the -80 Freezer Rebate Program

Biomedical Research Building, Room 105

January 2017 | Natural Capital with The Nature Conservancy's Bill Ginn

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

  • Bill Ginn, Executive Vice President for the Global Conservation Initiatives Team with 

November 2016| Greening the Holiday Season with Upcycled Gifts

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

  • Nicole McGee, Artistic Director at 
    Large screen presentation | pdf | 566KB | Green Gifts

October 2016 | Green Design for Your Home 

Tinkham Veale University Center Ballroom C

  • Chuck Miller of 
    Powerpoint presentation | pdf | 2.6MB | Miller presentation 
  • Richard Bole, a local developer and owner of a new green home built on a Shaker Heights infill lot
     article about the Bole's green home (pages 38-42)

September 2016 | Alternative Fuel Vehicle Panel and Ride-n-Drive

Tinkham Veale University Center Ballroom C, Lot 84 on Bellflower Road (former CIA parking lot)

  • Andrew Chiarelli of Motorcars Honda
    Video | 
  • Jimmy Smith of Ohio EV Solutions
    Powerpoint presentation | pdf | 1MB | Jimmy Smith Intro power point
  • Christina Yoka of the Earth Day Coalition Clean Transportation program
    Powerpoint presentation | pdf | 346KB | Yoka intro 
  • Anand Natarajan of the  and ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ alum
    Powerpoint presentation | pdf | 2.3MB | Natarajan intro

June 2016 | Your Eco-Friendly Lawn

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

April 2016 | Biking to Work - A Conversation on How to Actually Do It Panel Discussion

  • Ryan Pierce, ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½  project coordinator, Coach and Staff Adviser to  (ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½'s cycling club and race team), Promoter for the Battery Park Criterium Race (part of the NEOCycle Cycling Festival), board member at the  and daily bike to work commuter
    Powerpoint introduction | pdf | 151MB | Ryan Pierce Intro
  • Sarah O'Keeffe, Weatherhead Alum, Sustainability Manager at University Hospitals, Heights Bicycle Coalition board member and bikes to work three days a week, three seasons of the year and otherwise takes mass transit
    Powerpoint introduction | pdf | 391KB | Sarah OKeeffe Intro
  • Rob Thompson, Communications and Membership Manager at  and on average a three days a week bike to work commuter
    Powerpoint introduction | pdf | 402KB | Rob Thompson Intro

March 2016 | Recycle Like a Master

Tinkham Veale University Center Ballroom C

No Powerpoint presentations

  • Diane Bickett, Executive Director of the 
  • Pat Holland, (ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½'s e-waste recycling vendor) Founder and former Executive Director of the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste Management District
  • David November, Sustainability Manager at  and member

January 2016 | Putting Solar Power on Your Roof

Tinkham Veale University Center Senior Classroom

  • Ali Ahmed, Senior Manager of Workplace Resources, Global Energy Management and Sustainability at , recently  installed a solar array on his home
    Powerpoint introduction | pdf | 139KB | Ali Ahmed Intro
  • Phil Taylor of  at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½, installed the first residential solar installation in Ohio
    Paper about his experience | pdf | 2.0MB | Solar Odyssey by Phil Taylor
  • Matt Gray, Director of Sustainability for the , who is working to make it easier to get solar in the city
    Powerpoint introduction | pdf | 2.2MB | Matt Gray Intro

November 2015 | Green Gift Giving

Tinkham Veale University Center Student Organization Space

September 2015 | Tinkham Veale University Center’s Green Building Features  

Tinkham Veale University Center Student Organization Space