Century College Develops Introductory Solar Energy Design Classes
Century College (MN) and the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society have developed one-day introduction courses for students interested in learning the basics of designing solar photovoltaic and solar hot water heating systems. The college will also offer a half-day course for students interested in exploring renewable energy careers.
Delta College and Saginaw Valley State U to Start Campus Shuttle
Delta College (MI) and Saginaw Valley State University (MI) have partnered with Bay Metro to provide a campus park-n-ride route. Delta College hopes that the new bus route will alleviate the need for additional parking spots in the future and help reduce the campus' carbon footprint. To start, 30 parking spots will be available, with plans to put in bike racks. The cost per ride is 75 cents for students.
Emory U Diverts 68 Tons of Animal Bedding from Landfills
Emory University (GA) has announced the diversion of more than 68 tons of animal bedding from Georgia landfills since the start of its composting program in November 2009. The bedding, which consists of wood waste and is used primarily with campus lab rats and mice, used to be incinerated or buried in landfills. Now the university has partnered with Greenco Environmental, which handles the composting of non-infectious animal bedding materials and campus food waste. To date, 196 combined tons of animal bedding and food waste have been collected from the university and sent to Greenco. The campus plans to divert 95 percent of its bedding materials from landfills by 2015.
Emory U Uses Energy Savings for Haiti Relief Efforts
Student teams from Emory University (GA) are off to Haiti to work on earthquake relief efforts thanks to $33,000 in savings due to a reduction in campus energy consumption. Faculty, students and staff cut back their energy use by four percent as part of the Haiti Relief Energy Conservation Challenge. With the energy funds saved, students selected by the university's Global Health Institute are working through August in rural Haiti on the expansion of safe water access through a household water chlorination program and a project assessing mental health.
Fairfield U Plants Vegetable and Herb Garden
Fairfield University (CT) has started planting the campus’ first vegetable and herb garden. The garden’s harvest will be used for student dining this fall and stock the shelves of area food pantries this summer. Root vegetables, perennial herbs, hot and sweet peppers, cherry tomatoes and pumpkins are among the vegetables that will be planted in 18 raised beds. Faculty, students, staff and alumni will tend the garden.
Fanshawe College Debuts Green Roof
Fanshawe College (ON) has installed its first living green roof. Drought-resistant perennial plants cover 850 square feet of rooftop space. The plant modules, each filled with six different types of sedum, are designed to be waterproof and impenetrable while supporting drainage and root growth. The roof will reduce noise and storm water runoff, save energy, improve air quality, provide better insulation and aid in fire prevention. Students who worked on the roof received training and professional certification in green roof installation.
Furman U Receives Grant for Solar Panel Project
Furman University (SC) has received a $340,000 grant to install 304 photovoltaic solar panels this fall. The installation at the Physical Activities Center is expected to quadruple the solar energy output on campus. The solar panels will have a peak production output of 92 kilowatts and are expected to save the university $9,300 per year based on current electric rates.
Lakeshore Tech College Installs Wind Turbine for Training Opps
Lakeshore Technical College (WI) has installed the campus' second wind turbine. At 120 feet, the 50-kilowatt turbine will provide opportunities for student training and field testing. Regular maintenance of the turbine will be performed by second-year students in the wind energy technology associate's degree program. A third wind turbine is scheduled for installation later this summer.
Mountain State U Introduces Environmental Sustainability Degree
Mountain State University (WV) is offering a new Bachelor of Science in environmental sustainability. The biology-based program integrates a traditional science curriculum with environmental awareness. The program will prepare students for job opportunities in the fields of academics, research, development and implementation of sustainable and green technologies.
North Carolina State U Installs Green Roof
North Carolina State University has completed the installation of a 3,780-foot green roof at the campus' new engineering building. The roof features 10 drought-resistant plants and will save the university an estimated 25-50 percent in heating and cooling costs.
Pennsylvania State U Receives Grant to Install Wind Turbine
Pennsylvania State University has received a $96,425 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to install a 10-kilowatt wind turbine. A portion of the grant money will go toward the development of a two-year renewable energy major, to debut this fall. The program will introduce students to the installation, troubleshooting and maintenance of photovoltaic, wind turbine and solar thermal systems.
Syracuse U Connects Neighborhood Food Desert with Local Farmers
Syracuse University's (NY) Environmental Finance Center has partnered with Central New York (CNY) Bounty to provide fresh, local and organic foods to neighborhoods in need of alternative food options. In these areas, known as "food deserts," residents must travel long distances to supermarkets that don't provide fresh or local food options. Through the CNY Bounty online farmers' market, residents can order food for pick-up at the university's South Side Innovation Center. The collaboration will also support the local economy by connecting Syracuse residents with small-scale local farmers and producers.
U California Riverside Students Vote for Green Tax
Students at the University of California, Riverside have passed a green fee referendum. After campaigning in favor of the green tax, students will now pay $2.50 per quarter for four years. Part of the proceeds will go toward the installation of solar panels to boost renewable energy on campus. The university plans to install solar panels atop the student union structure in the next few years.
U Mass Medical Implements Cooking Oil to Biodiesel Program
The University of Massachusetts Medical School has announced a 35 percent reduction in cooking oil use with the implementation of a new oil filtration process that extends the life of the oil. The filter is able to screen out food particles 100 times smaller than the previous system, extending the oil's usable life. When the oil can no longer be used for cooking, it is collected by Baker Commodities, a firm that processes the oil for use as biodiesel.
U Mass Medical Opens Green Ambulatory Care Center
The University of Massachusetts Medical School will seek LEED Silver certification for its new Ambulatory Care Center. Green features of the center include a white roof, insulated windows, low-flow/low-flush plumbing fixtures, lighting occupancy sensors, passive solar design and recycled construction materials.
U Mississippi Uses Biodiesel for Lawnmowers
The University of Mississippi has started using 20 percent biodiesel fuel to operate all campus mowers. The biodiesel fuel is made by research technicians at the University of Mississippi Mineral Resources Institute, who say that the new practice should cut campus lawnmower pollution by as much as 50 percent. Seven industrial lawnmowers use biodiesel and the landscaping crew is also experimenting with biodiesel in small engine machinery.
U Ottawa Unveils Community Garden
The University of Ottawa (ON) has started a 32-square-foot community garden project. A student volunteer organization will look after and manage the garden, which has 42 plots open to the community. Four communal plots are also on hand for campus projects. Students and faculty can apply for the reserved plots for research purposes.
Vanderbilt U Residence Halls Awarded LEED Gold
Three Vanderbilt University (TN) residence halls have earned LEED Gold certification. Combined, the Stambaugh, Hank Ingram and Murray House buildings are expected to reduce energy use by 15 percent. The university used 26 percent recycled materials during the $40 million construction and diverted more than 74 percent of demolition and construction waste from landfills.
Virginia Polytechnic Wins Solar Decathlon Europe 2010 Competition
Lumenhaus, a solar-powered home designed and built by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University students and faculty, has won the top award at the Solar Decathlon Europe 2010 Competition in Madrid, Spain. Universities from Europe, the Americas and Asia entered model homes in the 10-category competition. Lumenhaus generates electricity using a 9-kilowatt solar photovoltaic array and includes a geothermal heat-pump system and radiant floor heating.
Washington State U Students Build Green Roof
Washington State University landscape architecture students have built a green roof as part of a multi-phased display garden. The students had the opportunity to design a space, do a cost estimate on the materials and build the roof. Located atop a shade and storage pavilion, the roof was constructed almost entirely from 100-year-old recycled wood. The roof supports small drought-tolerant plants and will reduce water runoff.
Washington State U Students Initiate Bike Rental System
Students at Washington State University have funded the BIXI bicycle system, to debut this fall. The bike program will allow students to take a rental bike from any given location and drop it off at another during a free, 24-hour rental period. The campus will receive 30 BIXI bikes with four docking stations.
Bowling Green State U Receives $911,658 Energy Grant
Bowling Green State University (OH) has received $911,658 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. The university plans to upgrade the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems in computer science and information technology building, Hayes Hall. Energy-efficient lighting and a computer-based building management system to control lights and temperature will also be installed.
College of Saint Rose 'Sustainability House' Reduces Energy Use
The College of Saint Rose (NY) has announced a significant decrease in energy use since the inception of its sustainability-themed campus housing. Last year, members of the college's Environmental Club proposed that a campus house be converted into a place where residents could live a more sustainable lifestyle by cutting back on water, electricity and waste. The house features water restrictors on the showers, compact fluorescent light bulbs and three composters for food waste. The Sustainability House residents' goal for the next school year is to bridge the sustainability gap between the campus and community with mandatory community service projects for those who live there.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical U Creates Clean Energy Systems Degree
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (FL) has announced the addition of a clean energy systems degree to its engineering department. The curriculum will cover turbines, systems that make energy from the heat of the sun, earth and ocean, and systems for storing energy. Students will have the opportunity to take courses and complete projects related to hybrid vehicles, solar lighting, green engineering and eco-friendly aviation. The program is slated for a fall 2010 start.
Emory U Debuts Online Sustainability Map
Emory University (GA) is kicking off its Walk N' Roll campaign with the launch of an online sustainability map. Funded by an $18,000 Urban Land Institute grant with matching funds from the university, the campaign aims to reduce the university's carbon footprint by creating a pedestrian campus core to include walking, wheeling and biking. Users of the online map can find bike share locations, walking tours and trails, or embark on a scavenger hunt for Emory's LEED-certified buildings. The map also identifies educational campus gardens, a compact fluorescent light bulb recycling center and the campus farmers' market.
Gonzaga U Science Center Earns LEED Gold
Gonzaga University's (WA) PACCAR Center for Applied Science has earned LEED Gold certification. Environmentally friendly achievements include the reduction of potable water use by 34.4 percent, energy cost savings of 30.5 percent and 210 tons of on-site construction waste diverted from the landfill. More than 34 percent of the building materials were harvested and manufactured within 500 miles of the project site. The location provides access to day lighting, promotes open public green space and provides opportunities to connect and extend the campus pedestrian system.
Ithaca College Reduces Dining Carbon Footprint by 26%
Dining Services at Ithaca College (NY) has reduced its energy bills by 30 percent and carbon footprint by 26 percent through several recent upgrades. Hoods that automatically control fan levels based on kitchen temperature were installed in campus dining halls and the food court, along with walk-in cooler and freezer air curtains and low-flow spray nozzles. Ithaca Dining Services plans to purchase an updated bakery oven that will save $19,500 annually, making the return on investment in 1.8 years.
Owens CC Installs Solar Panels with Students
Students at Owens Community College (OH) received hands-on training with the installation of the college's new solar array. The 1.7-kilowatt array features eight panels and will be used to convert sunlight into electricity for regular operational purposes within the Community Education and Wellness Center. The college's photovoltaic installation program will teach students about photovoltaic systems and theory. Course content includes system sizing and construction, codes and standards, interconnection safety, troubleshooting and maintenance.
Rochester Inst of Tech Awarded $1 Mil for Sustainability Center
The Rochester Institute of Technology (NY) has received a $1 million disbursement from Eastman Kodak Company's Rochester economic development fund in support of the Golisano Institute for Sustainability. The funding supports a lab for collaborative research, as well as scholarship, equipment and operations at the sustainability institute.
Stanford U Initiates Freezer Retirement Program
Stanford University's (CA) Department of Sustainability and Energy Management is urging researchers to get rid of their old ultra-low temperature freezers. The freezer retirement initiative is offering cash incentives for researchers to upgrade to more energy-efficient models through August. Stanford has more than 2,000 freezers at an operational cost of $5.6 million each year. The freezers consume an estimated 40 million BTUs of energy and generate 3,600 tons of carbon dioxide.
Students at U Hawaii-Maui CC Install Solar Panel Grid
University of Hawaii-Maui Community College has debuted a new solar panel grid that was installed by students. The panels were installed over the course of the spring semester by a team of 20 students as part of the college's solar energy technology training program. Another team of electronics and computer engineering students spent two semesters designing the grid. The solar energy system is made up of 84 photovoltaic panels that feed the campus grid. The college estimates electric bill savings of up to $10,000 per year.
Swarthmore College Good Food Project Starts Campus Window Farm
Swarthmore College's (PA) student-led Good Food Project has built a campus hydroponic window farm. The farm is made from stacks of plastic bottles which each contain a dirt filter and a small plant. Water trickles down each stack until it reaches the bottom, where a hydroponic pump recycles it to the top of the stack. Window farms have low ecological impact while supporting edible produce and can operate year-round indoors with enough sunlight. The farm currently houses small lettuce plants. Organizers hope to grow small tomatoes and peas later in the summer.
Tennessee Technology Center Opens Green Sustainable Energy Campus
Tennessee Technology Center has opened a Green Sustainable Energy Campus that will serve as a training facility for students. The building is powered by solar energy and harvested from an array of solar panels around the building. Students will learn how to install solar panels and how the solar equipment works. After completion of the program, students will have entry-level knowledge of photovoltaic installation.
U California San Diego Partners with SANYO for Energy Research
The University of California, San Diego has announced a research collaboration with electronic corporation SANYO. The multi-year, multi-disciplinary collaboration will focus on renewable energy and energy storage research, development and education. The partnership will explore ways to combine technology through joint research, and create an Energy Development Open Platform to propose application services able to optimize energy use.
U Chicago Recycling Event Collects 22,680 Pounds of E-Waste
The University of Chicago (IL) has announced that 22,680 pounds of recyclable materials were collected during the university's first electronic waste recycling event. Among the unwanted items dropped off by community members and university staff, faculty and students were TVs, radios, cell phones, DVD players, vacuum cleaners and almost 700 pounds of plastic foam. By properly recycling electronic waste, materials were diverted from the landfill and the contaminants often found in these products were prevented from leaching into the water supply.
U Colorado Boulder Residence Hall Earns LEED Gold Certification
The University of Colorado, Boulder has received LEED Gold certification for Andrews Hall. Green renovations to the residence hall are expected to reduce energy use by 25 percent and water usage by 20 percent. New features include double-pane windows, sensors that suspend heating and cooling systems when windows are open, dual-flush toilets, low-flow showerheads, aerators on faucets, energy-efficient lighting with automatic controls, and carpet and other finishes made from recycled materials.
U Mass Dartmouth Awarded $1 Million Energy Conservation Grant
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth will open a sustainability resource and training center with a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The first project will teach more than 100 unemployed and underemployed Boston-based citizens how to weatherize homes for maximum energy conservation. The university plans to renovate the fourth floor of a 110-year-old mill for the center, which will include multi-disciplinary learning and laboratory spaces to facilitate sustainability research and education.
U Minnesota Morris Plans to Install More Wind Turbines
The University of Minnesota, Morris has unveiled plans to install two 1.65-megawatt wind turbines near its existing turbine of the same size. The $7.4 million-project is expected to cut the university’s carbon footprint by more than 80 percent. The new turbines combined with the existing renewable energy facilities on campus are expected to generate 5 megawatts of power, enough to power the entire campus.
U Notre Dame Purchases New Recycling Compactors
The University of Notre Dame has purchased new single-stream recycling compactors. Eighteen trash-to-recycling compactors have been distributed across campus, with more compactors scheduled for installation in heavily-used buildings. The single-stream compactors have been converted to handle the increasing volume of recyclable materials, making it easier for people on campus to recycle.
U Pennsylvania Powers Down
The University of Pennsylvania experienced a 21 percent reduction in its typical campus electrical load during a recent hour-long Power Down Challenge. Led by staff and faculty Eco-Reps, many departments participated in the challenge by turning off lights and powering down electrical devices. The challenge showcased opportunities for the university community to conserve energy and enact behavior changes on a regular basis. A portion of the financial savings from the energy test will be invested into the university’s Green Fund.
U Richmond Implements Employee Benefit to Purchase Local Food
The University of Richmond (VA) has created a new employee benefit that allows them to purchase shares of local produce through a payroll deduction. Employees may elect to purchase full or half shares of produce to be delivered to campus for 14 weeks by Rural Virginia Market CSA, a cooperative of a half-dozen farms in central Virginia. The new benefit compliments the university’s community garden, established last year with 25 plots where students and employees can access locally grown and organic produce.
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Posted Jul 5, 2010
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Other News
U San Diego Kicks Off AMSOLAR Campus Installation Plan
The University of San Diego (CA) will install a 1.23-megawatt solar energy system as the debut project of Solano Beach, Calif.-based AMSOLAR's plan to build 20 megawatts of solar installations on school campuses. The $100 million project will be financed by GCL Solar Energy, a San Francisco-based subsidiary of silicon chip producer GCL-Poly Energy Holdings.
U Washington Approves Increase of Sustainability Fund
The University of Washington has approved a student-pushed sustainability fund increase. After 5,511 student signatures of support, the university’s Board of Regents approved to raise the quarterly fee from $113 to $117 per student. The university will now secure $339, 805 for the Campus Sustainability Fund.
Vermont Law School Receives Energy Grant for Green Renovations
Vermont Law School has received a $250,000 energy efficiency grant as part of the Clean Energy Development Fund to help convert a historic building into a center for legal advocacy. The building will be historically preserved and upgraded to high standards of energy efficiency using green building practices.
Vermont Law School Receives Grant for Smart Grid Research
Vermont Law School’s Institute for Energy and the Environment has received a $450,000 federal grant to conduct smart grid research and analysis. The project will assess the U.S. power grid’s legal and regulatory structures on the national, regional and state levels to improve load management and system efficiency. The project will also provide the legal and policy foundation needed to protect customer information and increase the efficiency of the transmission system, which will reduce financial costs and environmental emissions.
West Virginia U Dining Services Goes Green
West Virginia University's Dining Services will experiment with various waste reduction techniques this summer before students arrive in the fall. Among the solutions are eliminated trays from most dine-in campus locations and the installation of new light and cooling systems to reduce energy use.
25 Higher Ed Institutions Receive Green Building Fellowships
Second Nature has awarded 25 under-resourced institutions the 2010 Kresge Fellowship based on their level of need and institutional awareness of sustainable practices. Through the fellowship awards, institutions are provided with educational and networking opportunities to develop their green building and institutional sustainability competence.
Appalachian State U Residence Hall Earns LEED Gold
Appalachian State University's (NC) Frank Hall has been awarded LEED Gold certification. The residence hall is the university's first LEED certified building, featuring low-flow shower and sink fixtures, recycled and reused lobby furniture, and water-source heat pumps in each room. The project incorporated pervious concrete under exterior brick layers to help control water runoff and each floor of the building has a recycling center. More than two tons of recyclable material was collected from Frank Hall during the 2009 - 2010 academic year.
California State U Bakersfield to Install 1MW Solar Energy System
California State University, Bakersfield has begun the installation of a $9.5 million solar energy project funded by SunEdison. The 1-megawatt solar photovoltaic collection system is expected to provide 25 to 30 percent of total university energy and provide shade for 500 parking spaces. The solar power energy will be sold back to the university at a cost of five percent less than it currently pays. The project is slated for a late summer 2010 completion.
