Grand Valley State U Releases Sustainability Impact Report
The economic impact of the university’s sustainability efforts in the region is more than $900 million according to the university’s first collective sustainability impact report. The report, compiled by the university’s Sustainable Community Development Initiative, uses 2010-2011 data. It includes 11 sections that outline practices used by students, faculty and staff members to decrease the university’s footprint and increase the impact of sustainable activity on campus and in the community.
Harvard Law School Earns LEED Platinum for Office Renovation
Ninety-five percent of construction waste was diverted from landfill during the renovation of the Hauser Hall Basement Office Suite, which now features lighting, temperature and ventilation occupancy sensors, and materials manufactured within 500 miles of the project site.
Hawaii Pacific U Introduces Carpooling Website
The university has launched GreenRide, an online map-based carpool program that connects people who want to share rides. The free service will also let users see how much they save by sharing a ride to campus.
Hollins U Installs Geothermal Well System
The university has completed the construction of a geothermal well field that will serve Tinker Hall, the largest student residence on campus. The system is expected to improve temperature control and indoor air quality, and reduce energy costs.
Indiana U-Purdue U Indianapolis Initiates Single Stream Recycling
The Office of Sustainability has launched a new single-stream recycling initiative to boost recycling among the 812 students in campus apartments. The university received a grant from Keep America Beautiful and The Coca-Cola Foundation for 305 recycling bins.
Johnson County CC Debuts Green Classroom
Designed to meet LEED Platinum certifications, the classroom facility features an interactive computer screen and explanatory boards that introduce students to environmentally sensitive mechanical systems and sustainable features including rainwater harvesting, photovoltaic systems, net metering of electricity and a wind turbine. The building was designed and constructed by Studio 804, a nonprofit design-build project of graduate architecture students at the University of Kansas.
New Duquesne U Residence Hall to Seek LEED Gold
Designed to meet LEED Gold certification requirements, the 384-bed facility features recycled construction materials, water bottle filling stations and elevators that generate electricity as they slow down.
Tennessee Technological U Installs Solar Panels
The university has connected several large solar panels to the Tennessee Valley Authority’s power grid. The university received a one-time $1,000 payment as an incentive for becoming a TVA Generation Partner and will receive 12 cents for each kilowatt of power the panels produce.
Texas State U San Marcos Announces New Water, Environment Center
The university's planned $10 million expansion of its water and environmental quality research and teaching program will include a new Meadows Center for Water and the Environment. The initiative will be funded by a $1 million gift from the Meadows Foundation, additional endowment gifts during the next few years totaling $5 million, and state funds earmarked for emerging research universities.
U Cincinnati Installs Green Roof
Installed atop the College of Nursing’s Procter Hall, the green roof contains drought resistant plants that will help achieve energy savings, sound insulation and stormwater run-off reduction.
U Iowa Introduces Car Sharing Program
The university has partnered with Zipcar to launch a campus car sharing program for students, faculty, staff and members of the Iowa City community. The university and Iowa City have identified 10 designated parking places around campus and downtown where registered members can find vehicles to rent.
U Kentucky Opens Green Energy Lab
The university’s Center for Applied Energy Research has debuted a new laboratory that will support research and manufacturing of biofuels, solar technology and high-tech batteries. The 43,000-square-foot facility is expected to achieve LEED Gold certification and features geothermal heating.
U North Carolina Chapel Hill Debuts Bike Sharing Program
Students living in three south campus residence halls will have access to 30 bicycles for one-day rentals as part of the recently launched Tar Heel Bikes. The two-year pilot program received $40,000 in grants and hopes to expand to include the entire campus.
U Wisconsin Campuses to Offer Graduate Sustainable Mgmt Degree
Five campuses are pooling their resources to launch a collaborative online Master of Science degree in sustainable management. The program is a follow-up to the Bachelor of Science degree in sustainable management, which was developed three years ago.
Wake Technical CC Adds Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Two charging stations have been installed on the campus as part of a U.S. Department of Energy funded research project focused on the large-scale adoption of plug-in vehicles, led by Progress Energy Carolinas. Data collected from the public-access stations will inform charging needs outside the home as well as the impact on the grid and associated costs and issues. At the project's completion in April 2013, ownership and maintenance responsibilities for the stations will transfer to the college.
American U Accredited for Green Arboretum Practices
(U.S.): The university’s Arboretum and Gardens has been awarded a Level II Accreditation through the ArbNet program, an international initiative to support the work of arboreta in saving and planting trees. A Level II accreditation means that the university has at least 100 kinds of trees or plants that were planted and grown in accordance with an arboretum plan; a collections policy; one or more employees whose job responsibilities specifically include management or operation of the arboretum; and an enhanced educational program.
American U Retail Stores Eliminate Plastic Bags
(U.S.): The university has replaced plastic bags with a selection of reusable canvas totes and paper bags at several campus retail locations. The Subway store on campus will also introduce adhesive labels as a means of securing sandwich wrappers, eliminating the need for bags.
Brazil to Reserve Public University Seats for Low-Income Students
(Brazil): Brazil’s Senate has passed a law that would require 50 percent of all places at free public universities to be set aside for students who studied in state-run secondary schools. Of that 50 percent, half of the available openings would be given to students whose family income is less than $460 per person.
California State U Sacramento to Buy Power from Solar Panels
(U.S.): The university is set to begin buying electricity generated by solar panels on the roofs of the campus library and recreation center at a constant rate of 11 cents per kilowatt-hour for the next 20 years. The privately owned and maintained solar system generates about 1.6 percent of the campus' total usage.
Clarkson U Offers New Master’s in Environmental Politics
(U.S.): The university’s Institute for a Sustainable Environment will introduce an environmental politics and governance program this fall. The curriculum will cover the process of policy-making to promote science-based environmental legislation, regulations and policy, including energy policies and decisions within both the public and private sectors.
European Universities Commit to Promoting Gender Diversity
(Europe): In response to reports that Europe is losing a considerable amount of its female research capacity in academia, the 21 member universities of the League of European Research Universities have recently committed to promoting gender diversity among academic staff. The universities will follow a report from the league, "Women, Research and Universities: Excellence Without Gender Bias," which sets out actions to overcome discrimination against women that prevents them from playing a full part in Europe’s research effort.
Excelsior College Debuts Renewable Energies Program
(U.S.): The new renewable energies technology concentration is part of the college’s four-year technology management program, beginning this fall. The college has also partnered with General Electric Co. to offer a program that allows the company’s wind technicians to earn on-the-job college credits toward a bachelor’s degree.
IIT Bangalore Launches Bicycle Sharing Initiative
(India): The institute has partnered with Ride A Cycle Foundation’s Namma Cycle to offer bicycles for rent to the campus community. Based on the success of the pilot, the project may be expanded to incorporate areas surrounding the campus.
Institutions Freezing, Reducing Tuition to Recruit Students
(U.S.): As higher education enrollment drops, private and public colleges and universities are increasingly freezing or reducing tuition in an attempt to retain or recruit more students, reveals a recent article in The Hechinger Report. Burlington College (Vermont), Ancilla College (Indiana), Tabor College (Kansas), Urbana University (Ohio), Franklin Pierce University (New Hampshire) and Pacific Union College (California) are among the institutions that have frozen tuition this fall. Success stories include Oklahoma City University, which has 30 more freshmen enrolled this fall than last, and the University of the South: Sewanee, which saw a 17 percent rise in applications after cutting tuition by 10 percent and promising to keep the cost unchanged for entering freshmen for four years.
Maharaja Sayajirao U Holds Green March, Plants 10,000 Trees
(India): Students, faculty and administrators in the university’s Environment Army recently participated in “The Environment March” to raise awareness of the need to conserve trees. The event also kicked off a campaign to plant 10,000 trees on campus, in which members of the campus community will adopt saplings to nurture over the next three years.
McMaster U Creates Teaching Community Garden
(U.S.): The objective of the university's new garden is to facilitate local food production while providing teaching and learning opportunities and engaging the greater community. The design features two raised beds, two street level beds and permeable paving pathways. The garden plan includes a variety of plants and vegetables.
Montana State U Explores Geothermal-Based Heating and Cooling
(U.S.): In an ongoing effort to implement a comprehensive energy plan, the university has begun drilling test bore holes to explore the use of geothermal-based heating and cooling as a way to reduce energy consumption and costs on campus. After the holes are drilled, a group of engineering students will take part in the process of attaching testing equipment to the systems and analyzing the data collected.
Newsweek Magazine Releases 'Most Affordable Colleges' List
(U.S.): Among the categories in the recently released "2012 Best Colleges For You" list are the "25 Most Affordable" and "25 Least Affordable" institutions in the nation. Debt, total cost, financial aid and future earnings were all factors in compiling the lists. In addition to culling information from the National Center for Education Statistics, the Institute for College Access & Success, PayScale, CollegeView and the College Board, the magazine partnered with College Prowler, which provided data on student contentment, politics, campus culture and peer opinion.
Prescott College Debuts Sustainable Student Housing
(U.S.): Designed to meet LEED Gold certification requirements, the 104-bed residence hall features passive solar design and solar photovoltaic technology that is expected to generate 100 percent of its energy needs.
Sierra Club Names 2012 'Coolest Schools'
(U.S.): Sierra Club's sixth annual ranking of America's greenest colleges emphasizes the Sierra Club's environmental priorities and rewards schools that do a good job of measuring and mitigating their impact.
Study Finds Racially Diverse Law Students Beneficial to Society
(U.S.): According to recent findings of a 10-year multidisciplinary University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill research study, a racially diverse law student body fosters richer interactions and positive educational outcomes that benefit students, institutions and society. The researchers examined linkages of race (and other factors) with educational diversity, tracking law students from their enrollment in law school through graduation. The study used national data from more than 6,500 incoming law students attending a random representative sample of 50 American Bar Association-approved U.S. law schools.
Temple U Introduces Electric Car Charging Stations
(U.S.): Students danced the "Electric Slide" as two hybrid-electric cars were introduced to campus recently as part of the PhillyCarShare program. The university has also unveiled two new electric car charging stations for use by the campus community. The electric cars and stations are part of the university's goal of reducing energy consumption by 25 percent in two years.
Temple U to Launch Financial Aid Fundraising Campaign
(U.S.) The university has announced plans to launch a $100 million fundraising campaign to boost financial aid and help reduce the cost of education. The university also announced that it would not raise tuition for the 2012-2013 academic year; a first since 1995.
U California Merced Student Wins Brower Youth Award
(U.S.): The Earth Island Institute has honored Martin Figueroa with the Brower Youth Award for his leadership in water conservation and energy efficiency. Figueroa coordinated last year's competition to see which residence hall on the UC Merced campus could save the most water. The competition, which used new water-monitoring technology to track progress and identify leaks in campus water lines, resulted in savings of more than 14 percent of the normal water usage.
UC Berkeley Helps Train Laid-Off Workers for New Careers
(U.S.): The university has launched a five-month technical education program offered through nearby Laney College that aims to enhance workers’ skills, restore their confidence and enhance their job prospects as they look to re-enter the workforce. Participants continue to receive unemployment benefits during the training program. The pilot program was developed with funding from Alameda County’s Workforce Investment Board
U Florida Performs Green Waste Audit
(U.S.): To help achieve its goal of zero waste by 2015, the university’s Office of Sustainability has embarked on a baseline audit to identify and prioritize areas for improvement. Students, faculty and staff will fill out a checklist and record the amounts of energy, water, waste and food they conserve this fall.
U Memphis Constructs Outdoor Recycling Center
(U.S.): In an effort to engage students and provide a place to hang out, the new recycling site features benches, wireless Internet, and a wall constructed from recycled broken stones. The sustainable campus fee provided funding for the project.
U Minnesota St. Paul Students Host 'Weed Dating' Event
(U.S.) In addition to bringing together like-minded people who care where their food comes from, the recent Cornercopia Student Organic Farm event was a good opportunity to get some extra weeding done on the campus farm.
U Queensland Student Groups Debut Sustainability Market
(Australia): Organized by the university’s Ipswich chapter of Doctors for the Environment and Towards International Medical Equality, the university’s first Sustainability Market on campus featured information stalls, a clothing exchange, bike accessories, fresh local produce and a community garden booth. Organizers hope the market will become a regular event to promote sustainable products and services that can be accessed in the community.
U West England Installs 2 Solar Arrays
(England): The university, in partnership with Solarsense, has constructed a 50-kilowatt array on its Centre for Sport and a 32-kilowatt array atop the Department of Planning and Architecture. The university is also implementing a program to replace existing campus lights with low energy lamps.
U Western Cape Wins Africa’s Greenest Campus Award
(South Africa): The university was recently awarded the national 2012 Green Campus of the Year award at the inaugural African Green Campus Initiative conference. Students are actively involved in managing the university’s 74-acre private nature reserve, an international biodiversity hotspot, through eradicating alien vegetation and maintaining firebreaks. The university also received five additional awards including most innovative programs, best-designed outfit made from recycled materials, recognition of student achievement, and the award for the most environmentally proactive South African campus.
Vanderbilt U Announces Environmentally Friendly Paper Practices
(U.S.): The university’s parking map will be the first campus publication to carry the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified mark, and will be printed on paper containing 50 percent recycled content and 30 percent post-consumer waste. The university aims to certify 99 percent of its printed publications.
Western Nevada College Constructs Second Solar Array
(U.S): The college, in partnership with Black Rock Solar, has constructed a 100-kilowatt photovoltaic array consisting of 840 panels. The system is expected to save the college $14,000 per year in energy costs.
Yale U Students Volunteer in Local Neighborhoods this Summer
(U.S.): As part of the Yale President’s Public Service Fellows (PPSF) program, 33 students planted trees and spruced up buildings in neighborhoods around New Haven this summer. This is the first year that the PPSF participants spent a few days undertaking volunteer work as part of the program.
2 U California Berkeley Buildings Earn LEED Gold Certification
Sustainable features of the 55,000-square-foot addition to the university’s Law Library include a rooftop garden, thermal and lighting controls, and the use of low-VOC and recycled materials. The university’s Li Ka Shing Center features reclaimed wood paneling, low-emitting office carpeting, rubber lab floors and a green roof planted with vegetation attractive to native butterflies and bees.
