Syracuse U Renovation Implements Operational Sustainability
The university's Dining Services implemented a pilot trayless dining program in its Sadler Dining Center after a recent audit indicated less food waste when trays were not used. To further its efforts, diners can now choose to compost their leftovers. The facility also offers a gluten-free spot and a green roof.
Taylor U Begins Sustainability Assistants Program
After a recent trip to the Bahamas, a honors cohort conceptualized and brought to fruition a program where volunteer student representatives educate students in residence halls about environmental issues and act as change agents for sustainable living.
U California Berkeley Opens Food Research Institute
Called the Berkeley Food Institute, the new interdisciplinary center brings together five colleges to foster innovative connections between research, education, policy, practice, and social movements that develop and strengthen sustainable food and agriculture systems which are healthy, just, diverse and resilient.
U California Irvine Receives Accolades from EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently acknowledged the university for its zero waste and food recovery efforts. The zero waste program diverts 83 percent of the campus’ total waste materials from landfills by recycling, reusing and composting. The university has increased its food waste diversion from 90 tons in 2010 to 500 tons in 2012, when it joined the EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge.
U Illinois Chicago to Retrofit Science Building
An upcoming energy retrofit of the university's Science and Engineering Laboratories Complex and a supporting office building is projected to save $1.8 million annually and cut energy consumption by 30 percent.
Valparaiso U Opens Solar Energy Research Facility
The newly dedicated and fully operational James S. Markiewicz Solar Energy Research Facility will provide undergraduates and graduates with engineering and research opportunities. Funding for the facility came from a gift from James S. Markiewicz and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Villanova U Awarded Fair Trade Status
Firming up its commitment to partnerships that promote greater social equity, the university's new designation strengthens its efforts to shore up equity in purchasing decisions. Dining Services has increased the fair trade options available in all dining halls and cafes, and the University Shop has added a line of apparel manufactured in a socially-responsible manner.
Wesleyan U Installs Solar-Powered Waste Compactors
The university recently installed four BigBelly Solar trash compactors to increase its recycling rate and reduce the number of collection bins necessary, which also decreases labor involved in collection of the materials.
Yale U Partners on New Health Program
In commemoration of the city's 375th anniversary, the Yale School of Public Health, Yale-New Haven Hospital and Community Services have initiated the program aimed at reducing obesity by establishing working groups to strengthen nutrition and exercise in underserved communities.
Adrian College Announces New Loan Repayment Plan
The new plan to be rolled out in fall of 2014, AdrianPlus, is a loan repayment assistance initiative that offers to pay all or part of its students' loans if they are unable to secure a well paying job post graduation.
Binghamton U Building Receives LEED Platinum
The university's Engineering and Science Building incorporates passive solar energy for heating, geothermal technology for heating and cooling, energy-efficient windows and skylights to allow for maximum use of daylight.
Duke U Builds Cardboard Structure to Conceptualize Waste
Reusing boxes from the recent student move-in, Sustainable Duke, Duke Arts Festival, and Duke Sanitation and Recycling Services collaborated on Fort Duke to break the world record and enable students to visualize the move-in waste stream.
Elon U Building Establishes LEED Silver
The university’s 18th LEED-certified building, the Numen Lumen Pavillion features a high-performance building envelope, low-flow water fixtures, occupancy sensors, natural daylighting, and was designed to encourage the use of outdoor spaces. Ninety-eight percent of the construction waste stream was diverted from the landfill.
Emerson College Hires First Sustainability Coordinator
Strengthening its commitment to sustainability, the college named Eric Van Vlandren to the new position within Facilities Management. Vlandren, whose career experience is in the nonprofit sector, stated his first priority as energy reduction. Under his leadership the college recently instituted its first EcoReps program, which uses student employees to administer sustainability awareness and education within four residence halls and off campus.
Emory U Increases Local Food
In support of the university's sustainability goals, new dining options at Cox Hall include procurement of locally-sourced food and support of smaller, independent businesses.
EPA Announces Green Power Leadership Award Recipients
Georgetown University and The Ohio State University were recently honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for achievements in advancing the nation's renewable energy market. Both universities are Green Power Partners of the U.S. EPA.
Essex CC Students Erect Solar Charging Station
The recently constructed nine-foot pole holds a single 30-watt photovoltaic panel. Erected by students in the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design and Solar Training course, the charging station will serve as a working lab.
Jacksonville State U Students Propose Green Fund
Inspired by other green fund campaigns in Alabama, two student clubs have teamed up with the Coalition of Alabama Students for the Environment to propose a new campus fund that would support student-designed projects for energy independence, efficiency, renewables and water conservation.
Rutgers U Approves Gender-Neutral Lyrics to Alma Mater
A decades-long debate ended this semester when the university song was changed from "My father sent me to old Rutgers/ And resolv'd that I should be a man” to "From far and near we came to Rutgers/ And resolved to learn all that we can." This change more accurately reflects the 65,000-student college where nearly half are female.
Selkirk College Achieves Fair Trade Designation
Over two years in the making, students helped the college earn the designation, which promotes fair working conditions for those who are in the coffee, tea and chocolate growing industries.
Smith College to Install Photovoltaic System
Set to begin construction this semester, the new solar array will be comprised of 1,500 panels and is projected to produce about 550,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity. This project is in collaboration with a third party to help make it financially sustainable.
St. Mary's College of Maryland Institutes Gender-Neutral Housing
Inaugurated this fall, students of the college are given the freedom to choose their roommates independent of gender, sex, sexual identity or sexual orientation. "Open housing" was employed to respond to the needs of students who do not identify with traditional gender norms, and to provide options for all students who feel that they would have a more positive shared-living experience with a roommate of the opposite sex or gender.
Tufts U Creates 'Sustainability House'
Students helped implement what is now the Sustainability House, an on-campus housing initiative where students who have a common interest in sustainability can live in community together. Students in the community are required to work on research related to sustainability or work with groups that seek to create change on campus.
U Georgia Building Awarded LEED Gold
The university's historic College of Environment and Design Jackson Street building features photovoltaic panels, efficient heating and cooling, rainwater collection and grey-water system, a green cleaning program, recycling collection and public transportation.
Western U Health Sciences Signs Solar Contract
A 20-year power purchase agreement was signed with Washington Gas Energy Systems for a 772-kilowatt rooftop photovoltaic system projected to supply 1,110 megawatts of electricity per year. Completion of construction is set for October 2013.
College of the Canyons Holds Inaugural Sustainability Event
(U.S.): Dedicated to promoting sustainability awareness and practices within the student body and community, the event, in concert with the Santa Clarita Environmental Consortium, will focus on environmental issues and is open to the public.
Emory U Building Achieves LEED Gold
(U.S.): The university's 10th LEED-certified building, the residence hall features energy efficiency, transportation options, use of low volatile organic compounds in paints, furnishings and carpeting, and a gray water reclamation system.
Emory U Partners for Textile Recycling
(U.S.): Reducing its waste load and carbon footprint, the university's new partnership with re:loom allows old uniforms to be remade into new products. In summer 2013, the university donated over 100 pounds of custodial uniforms and 300 pounds of athletic uniforms to the service.
Erie CC Opens Green Building Training Center
(U.S.): The recently opened Green Building Technology Center will house training in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and workforce development in emerging green building technology. With funding assistance the building was constructed with renewable energy and energy efficiency techniques and equipment.
Falmouth U, U Exeter Cornwall Launches Green Living Project
(U.K.): Student members of the Falmouth and Exeter Students’ Union are launching two projects aimed at promoting more sustainable behaviors within the student and staff populations. The projects aim to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions and reduce resources being sent to landfills.
Farmingdale State College Cuts Ribbon on Solar Carport
(U.S.): The new carport/charging station, the first of its kind within SUNY, accommodates 20 electric vehicles and is powered by 390 solar panels. Students, faculty and staff can pay a $10 refundable deposit to use the charging station for one year.
Georgetown U, Energy Dept Collaborate on Energy Efficiency
(U.S.): The two organizations recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on the Georgetown University Energy Prize, a competition to encourage innovative, replicable and scalable approaches to reduce energy consumption in communities. The winner will receive $5 million in funding for the multi-year proposal.
HKUST Receives Grant
(Hong Kong): The Ford Motor Company recently announced the university is the recipient of HKD500,000 for the Ford-HKUST Conservation and Environmental Research Grants which support postgraduate environmental and conservation science, and conservation engineering advancements. A maximum of 20 project will be supported during the 2013-14 academic year.
