Texas State University has begun the "Bobcat Blend" program, an initiative that offers closed-loop composting in campus cafeterias. Once the waste has decomposed, it is brought back to help fertilize campus flower beds and green space. The program was developed by a graduate horticulture student.

University at Albany has announced an initiative to research minimizing harmful automobile emissions and several new alternative transportation options. School of Business Associate Professor Sanjay Goel has been awarded the $25,000 AT&T Industrial Ecology Faculty Fellowship for research into the coordination and optimization of traffic signals as a means to minimize wait-times at intersections, thereby reducing automobile engine idling time and greenhouse gas emissions. The new alternative transportation options include hybrid buses, Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), public bus systems, and bike and ride sharing programs. The new 30-36-seat passenger hybrid buses will be integrated into the University’s mass transit fleet and used for student, faculty, and staff transportation between the University’s various campuses. The University’s GEMs — which now total 13 – are two and four-passenger, low-speed vehicles used for facilities services and repairs, athletics events and services, parking lot management, and transportation of campus mail and small equipment.

The University of New Hampshire has published, "The Sustainable Learning Community: One University's Journey to the Future." The new book details how the University of New Hampshire, home to one of the oldest endowed offices of sustainability in the nation, has been integrating sustainability across its curriculum, operations, research, and engagement in the last 10-plus years. The book shares the perspectives of more than 60 authors from UNH and beyond on subjects ranging from curriculum to climate change to compost.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has launched a new inter-departmental “Carolina Green” campaign to identify and promote university programs that support a healthy and responsible approach to the “green” issues of environmental integrity, economic prosperity, and social equity. Carolina Green offers an online directory of university resources, a range of committees working to improve campus practices, and resources to help individuals and departments have a greener impact on their world.

Utah State University College of Agriculture and College of Natural Resources students have presented three new campus gardens and companion interpretive panels. The gardens were completely designed and created by USU horticulture students in the Low Water Use Landscaping classes. Students from Natural Resources Interpretation classes teamed up to create interpretive wayside panels for each plot. The panels illustrate three thematic gardens, including the pollinator garden, ideas for gardening with native plants, and historical uses of Utah plants garden.

The Walter L. Rice Education Building at the Virginia Commonwealth University Rice Center has been named the region’s Overall Project of the Year and Green Project of the Year in the Mid-Atlantic Construction magazine’s Best of 2009 awards program. The LEED Platinum certified building was noted for the sustainable aspects of the structure and serves as an education tool for students.

Washington University in St. Louis (MO) has installed a 10,150-square-foot green roof on top of a campus residence hall. The roof contains grass, native plants, and 110,000 pounds of soil. The University expects that 90 percent of rainwater that falls on a green roof will be absorbed by the soil and vegetation, reducing the amount of runoff that flows to sewers and increasing the amount of rainfall naturally recycled through the atmosphere. The green roof also acts as insulation, keeping the building underneath cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, which reduces energy usage.

The Wayne State University (MI) College of Engineering has begun offering a graduate certificate program in sustainable engineering. The program is intended for both current graduate students as well as the technical and scientific workforce of the metro Detroit region. The new certificate requires 13 credit hours of sustainable engineering education in chosen courses from all of the engineering departments. Students can choose from such courses as "Water Supply and Wastewater Engineering," "Ethics in Engineering and Construction" and "Alternative Energy Technology System and Design.

Wilfrid Laurier University's (ON) Food Services has introduced a new, reusable plastic food container to reduce the amount of waste produced from cardboard takeout containers. The reusable “eco-takeout” containers cost $5. Regular, disposable takeout containers will still be available for a cost of 25 ¢, an “eco-tax” that will fully recover the cost of the disposable container. To ensure the reusable containers remain hygienic, students are able to drop off their eco-takeout container at any Food Services outlet on campus to be washed. In exchange they will receive a properly washed eco-takeout container or a card that will allow them to take an eco-takeout container the next time they need one.

Several U.S. campuses have submitted Climate Action Plans (CAP) as part of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment. The plans illustrate the specific steps schools are taking to reach climate neutrality. The CAP is the second major reporting requirement of the Commitment and is due within two years of signing. September 15, 2009 was the first deadline for the Commitment's original members. The submitted plans can be viewed through the ACUPCC Reporting System.

Arizona State University has begun a project to retrofit over 10,000 lighting fixtures in and around 13 buildings. The project, which is schedule for completion in December 2009, is expected to save $100,000 annually on utility bills.

Butte College (CA) has completed its new 77,000-square-foot Arts Center. The facility's energy use is 35 percent above the California Energy Code requirements and its water consumption is 48.5 percent less than traditional buildings of the same type. Green features include low-flow toilets, waterless urinals, a solar array, and an electric vehicle refueling station.

Carleton College (MN); Winona State University (MN); California State University, Chico; and Vermont Law School have established new car-share programs on their campuses. The institutions implemented the new programs to help reduce parking congestion and to offer alternative transportation to students, faculty, and staff. The University of Florida has expanded its current car-share program to include students and staff and has increased its car-sharing fleet to include 3 new vehicles.

Clemson University (SC) and Montana State University have launched fall farmers' markets on campus. At Clemson, students have established a monthly fall market that will offer food from Clemson's organic farm and from local growers. The market, which was pioneered by sophomore Angela Nixon, received a one-time $10,000 grant from the state Agricultural Department. At MSU, students have begun a fall market at which they sell vegetables that were grown on the University’s horticulture farm to faculty, staff, students, and the community.

Professor Bryan Wilson of Colorado State University has received the Maurice L. Albertson Medal in Sustainable Development from Village Earth, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable community-based development around the world. Professor Wilson has been a part of CSU’s Engines and Energy Conservation Lab for the past 18 years where he has helped to develop two-stroke engine retrofit technology. This technology is used to retrofit dirty engines mostly located in Asia. In 2006, Wilson co-founded Solix Biofuels to commercialize technology to produce oil from algae and turn it into biodiesel. He is now the director of CSU’s Clean Energy Super Cluster, which works to maximize the impact of energy solutions developed in laboratories across campus.

Concordia University (QC) has opened a new building that houses its John Molson School of Business. Green features include low-flow plumbing, use of grey water, and a roof top garden. The facility also contains a solar wall that can generate up to 25 kW of electricity and 75 kilowatts of heat. The school is registered for LEED Silver certification.

Elon University (NC) has established a new ride-share program to encourage faculty, staff, and students to car-pool. The program allows those interested in car-pooling to register through an online database. The database consists of two sections – one for normal commuting and one for special destinations.

The University of Washington, Boise State University, Oregon State University, Portland State University, and Washington State University have received the Pacific Northwest Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, a $2.6 million grant from the National Science Foundation that aims to increase the number of bachelor's degrees awarded to minorities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Currently, the four-year partners award about 350 degrees to underrepresented minorities in the STEM fields; the five-year goal is to increase this number to 700. Students will be provided with financial, academic, social and professional support in a coordinated effort to help them succeed.

Grist, an online environmental news network, has posted a video on campus sustainability. The video discusses green campus initiatives at the College of the Atlantic (ME).

Fourteen Kansas State University graduate students representing six departments and three colleges have been awarded assistantships to conduct research in sustainable energy for the 2009-10 academic year. K-State's Center for Sustainable Energy requests proposals annually from eligible K-State faculty in support of the assistantships for projects related to enhancing research on renewable energy topics. The assistantships are intended to expand the current research base at K-State and encourage new research clusters addressing issues related to renewable energy. Proposals included bioenergy research topics in plant genetics, biomass production, conversion processes and utilization, as well as wind, solar, and economic issues related to renewable energy.

Macalester College (MN) has received LEED Platinum certification for Markim Hall. The $7.5 million, 17,000-square-foot facility houses the Institute for Global Citizenship, civic engagement, study abroad and international programs, faculty and staff offices, meeting rooms, and an open atrium for campus events. Green features include native landscaping, storm water management, and triple-glazed and low-e glass in windows which have been treated to prevent transmission of heat. Energy simulation models predict that Markim Hall will use about 80 percent less energy than a standard building in Macalester’s climate. The Platinum level certification is the first LEED certification received by the College.

Northern Arizona University has combined the Department of Geology with the Center for Sustainable Environments to create the new School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability. The new department combines educational programs and outreach in environmental sciences, environmental studies and geology, and graduate programs in environmental sciences and policy and geology. The University hopes that by bringing these two departments together students will have more opportunities for hands on experience with federal agencies such as the National Parks Service and the Bureau of Land Management.

Portland State University (OR) has opened its new Green Building Research Laboratory. The lab, which will also serve as a teaching tool for students, provides a place for university researchers to work in close collaboration with industry partners to help solve the fundamental and applied research needs of the green building industry.

Portland State University (OR) has received the Cecil D. Andrus Leadership Award for Sustainability and Conservation from Sustainable Northwest, a nonprofit that works to promote solutions to land management challenges. PSU received the award for its partnership with the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation. The Cecil D. Andrus Leadership Awards for Sustainability and Conservation are bestowed annually to individuals, nonprofit organizations, or collaborative community-based efforts that demonstrate a commitment to conservation of the environment, outreach and service to community, adaptability and innovation, and leadership of others to pursue similar sustainable paths.

Santa Clara University (CA) has committed to doubling its annual use of renewable energy to 22,512 MW. Seventy-five percent of the University’s electricity is now purchased through renewable energy certificates which guarantee clean energy is being used.

Smith College (MA) has completed a full light replacement in its Indoor Track and Tennis facility. The project replaced 120 metal halide light fixtures, each of which used 1,000 watts, with 144 fixtures that use 600 watts per unit. Smith expects the lighting project to save $38,000 per year. The College plans to install motion sensors to automatically shut off the lights when not use.

The Temple University (PA) Computer Recycling Center has received one of the 2009 Environmental Achievement Awards from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Mid-Atlantic Region. The Center has recycled and rehabbed more than 27,000 computers, monitors, printers, and scanners since its inception in 2003. The Center is funded through income from a Temple policy that requires all Temple faculty and staff to pay a $50 recycling fee every time they purchase a computer through the University.

Texas State Technical College has received an $88,000 grant from Green Mountain Energy Company to install a 60-panel solar array that will produce 13,000 kilowatt hours per year. The installation is expected to save the College approximately $300,000 in electric bills over the next 30 years.

The King's University College (AB) has launched a new sustainability committee. The Campus Sustainability Coalition, which seeks to advance sustainability throughout the campus, is made up of twelve members that include students, staff, faculty, and the president. Coalition members have divided into three task forces that focus on researching the most effective methods to conduct annual environmental audits, integrating campus sustainability into all aspects of the University’s strategic plan, and seeking out external funding opportunities.

The University of California, Berkeley College of Letters and Science has completed its summer reading project, the On the Same Page program, in which first-year students were asked to read The Omnivore's Dilemma , written by UC Berkeley Professor Michael Pollan. Each year, the program selects a work or works by a leading thinker or artist for incoming students to read and reflect on, and for L&S faculty to teach to in seminars as well as their regular courses.

The University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium has been awarded LEED Silver certification. Green design features of the 50,805-seat football facility include a storm water management system that allows rain water to be captured into an underground filtering system outside the stadium where it is harvested, filtered, and drained into the Mississippi River; 90 percent recycled steel; a reflective roof to reduce heat island effect; and low VOC paint, carpet, sealants, and adhesives. Construction of the stadium began in July 2007 and was completed July 2009.

The University of Mississippi is partnering with SmartSynch Inc., a smart grid infrastructure company, to set up smart meters in campus buildings that will track power usage in real time. The University plans to publish the real-time results for the general public on Facebook, Twitter, and RSS feeds. UM to identify a detailed pattern of electricity usage at its buildings and, using the smart meter data, determine methods to reduce electricity consumption and carbon emissions. The program is part of the University's "Red, Blue and Green" campaign.

The University of Oregon has completed its first green orientation program, Project Tomato. The program enabled ten first-year students to embark on a four-day trip exploring UO dining services and its connections to local agriculture. The students biked to and camped at local farms, worked with farm staff to harvest about 1,000 pounds of tomatoes, and made pizza sauce to use in the dining hall. Participants also learned about permaculture, agriculture that relies on renewable resources and a self-sustaining eco-system. Project Tomato is managed by the OU Office of Sustainability.

University of Texas Athletics has begun an initiative to participate in the City of Austin's effort to conserve water. The department has chosen to only water athletic fields twice a week, and the new artificial football field has reduced water usage by 80 percent. UT has also turned off several landmark water fountains across campus.

The University of Wyoming has received a total of $2 million in federal stimulus funds through the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Health. The seven grants will fund research in climate change, astronomy, geology, insect cells, and neuroscience. The largest of the grants, $586,581, went to the Department of Atmospheric Science to research aspects of climate change.

West Virginia University’s Oglebay Hall has received LEED certification. The building, which was built in 1917, underwent a five-year renovation that included the installation of water-saving fixtures, a synthetic slate roof made of recycled rubber, and a more sustainable heating and cooling units. The structure, which now incorporates greater use of natural daylighting, reopened in 2007.

59 signatory campuses of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) have submitted public greenhouse gas inventories since the last update in the AASHE Bulletin on August 10, 2009. The GHG inventory is the first major reporting requirement of the Commitment and is due within a year of signing. New inventories were submitted by: Adams State College (CO); Aquinas College (MI); Austin College (TX); Brandeis University (MA); Central Connecticut State University; Chabot College (CA); Chatham University (PA); Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (OH); Coastline Community College (CA); Colorado State University; Columbus State Community College (OH); DePauw University (IN); Drury University (MO); Emory & Henry College (VA); Georgian Court University (NJ); Golden West College (CA); Goshen College (IN); Green Mountain College (VT); Iowa Lakes Community College; James Madison University (VA); Kent State University. Stark (OH); Lansing Community College (MI); Las Positas College (CA); Linfield College (OR); McLennan Community College (TX); Metropolitan State University (MN); Montgomery County Community College (PA); Nassau Community College (NY); New Mexico State University; North Shore Community College (MA); Orange Coast College (CA); Pomona College (CA); Pratt Institute (NY); Prescott College (AZ); Rhodes College (TN); Seattle University (WA); Simpson College (IA); South Suburban College (IL); State University of New York at Binghamton; Texas Christian University; The New School (NY); Trinity College (CT); Truckee Meadows Community College (NV); University of California, Santa Barbara; University of Florida; University of Houston - Downtown (TX); University of Louisville (KY) ; University of Maine at Augusta; University of Maryland, Baltimore County; University of New Hampshire; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; University of South Carolina, Columbia; University of South Carolina, Salkehatchie; University of South Carolina, Union; University of Tennessee, Knoxville; University of Vermont; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Wisconsin-Stout; and Utah State University. In related news, the College of William & Mary has also published a greenhouse gas inventory.

AASHE has announced the winners of its annual Campus Sustainability Leadership Awards, Student Sustainability Leadership Award, and Student Research on Campus Sustainability Award. The Campus Sustainability Leadership Awards recognize institutions that have demonstrated an outstanding overall commitment to sustainability in their education and research, campus operations, and administration and finance. The 2009 winners are: New York University, University of New Hampshire, Furman University (SC), and Butte College (CA). The Student Sustainability Leadership Award, given to Missy! Orr of Depauw University (IN), honors an undergraduate from an AASHE member institution who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in promoting campus sustainability. The Student Research on Campus Sustainability Award recognizes outstanding student research that advances the field of campus sustainability. This year's award was given to a team of graduate students from Stanford University (CA) for their paper, "EVs with PVs: Analysis of Electric Vehicle Integration at Stanford University Using Solar PV Panels.

AASHE has launched its Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) 1.0 Early Release. All colleges and universities are able to register for STARS 1.0 as Charter Participants. The STARS 1.0 Technical Manual is available online and registrants are encouraged to begin collecting documentation required for each credit. The STARS online reporting tool will be available in January and campuses may begin uploading their data at that time. Institutions that register before December 31, 2009, will receive a discount. Discounts are also available to AASHE members.

Governor Mike Beebe has announced that two- and four-year higher education institutions across Arkansas will receive a total of $42.5 million from the federal stimulus package. The money is slated to be used for renovation, energy-efficiency improvement, and expansion of facilities.

Bowdoin College (ME) has announced that it composted 100 percent of the trash and food waste at its annual lobster bake that follows Convocation. More than 1,800 guests were served approximately 1,256 lobsters, 78 gallons of Maine fish chowder, and 1,280 ears of corn on the cob. Bowdoin used compostable paper and biodegradable plastic products, eliminated plastic lobster bibs, offered bulk beverages to eliminate bottles, and eliminated individual packages of condiments. Dining staff manned each trash barrel location to make sure material would not be contaminated with non-compostable waste.

Butte College (CA) has received a Green Power Leadership Award from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for on-site generation of renewable energy. Butte was the only education institution recognized by the EPA. The College produces 39 percent of its electricity needs through solar arrays. Butte's current solar-power capacity includes 1.916 MW.

Dickinson College (PA) has partnered with Zipcar to make cars available to students and employees ages 18 and older. Two hybrids will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Gas, insurance, 180 free miles daily, and reserved parking will be included in the hourly and daily rates. Faculty, staff, and students can join Zipcar for $35 and can drive for as little as $8 an hour or $66 a day on weekdays and $9 an hour or $72 a day on weekends. Students also get $35 in free driving credit, valid for up to 30 days after joining, as part of a launch promotion.

East Arkansas Community College has announced that it will offer three new programs in renewable energy starting this fall. The programs include a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree, a one-year Technical Certificate, and a one-semester Certificate of Proficiency. The program is currently being funded by a grant through the U.S. Department of Labor; this funding also helps provide scholarships to students in the program.

The University of North Carolina, Greensboro; North Carolina A&T State University; Guilford College; Bennett College; and the Elon University School of Law have partnered to continue the Higher Education Area Transit service (HEAT) in Greensboro, North Carolina. The service, which would have been discontinued due to budget constraints, provides fare-free alternative transportation to seven area colleges. Government grants that funded the program expired this summer and the institutions were left with the decision of whether to continue the program. Its popularity with students, faculty, and staff led five of the area colleges to continue funding HEAT.

Harvard University (MA) has received LEED for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) Gold certification for Zhuang Lab, making it the 20th building on campus to receive a LEED rating. Green features of the Lab include daylight sensors and occupancy sensors; construction materials with re-used and locally manufactured content; and low VOC-emitting materials. In addition, fume hood face velocities are set at low but safe levels to conserve energy; hood exhaust rates are displayed in real time, reminding occupants to keep hoods closed when not in use; and temperatures in offices are set back and lights are turned off whenever they are unoccupied.

Kalamazoo College (MI) has received a $200,000 planning grant from the Arcus Foundation to prepare for the establishment of a social justice leadership center at the College. The center will help integrate social justice and service learning into the curriculum.

Luther College (IA) has been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service to lease 130 acres into the Emergency Watershed Protection Program–Floodplain Easements. By entering the EWP-FPE program, Luther has agreed to permanently lease the 130 acres to the NRCS, promising to restore the native habitat of the bottomland and never develop or utilize the ground for cropland. Restoration of EWP-FPE sites includes seeding native plants, plugging drainage ditches, breaking and blocking tile lines, breaking diversions, and breaching existing flood control levees. Shallow water excavation work will also be done to enhance surface water environments and improve habitats for wetland-dependent wildlife species.

Macon State College (GA) has begun demolishing three buildings to make room for its new School of Education. The brick and concrete from the demolished structures will be used in the construction of the new building and the metals will be recycled as scrap. Macon State estimates that the project will recycle approximately 85 to 90 percent of the materials from the old buildings.

Mercyhurst College (PA) and St. Cloud State University (MN) have opened farmers' markets on campus. The Mercyhurst market will offer fresh produce from both local farmers and Mercyhurst's garden, where students, faculty, and staff have been raising vegetables throughout the summer with chemical-free fertilizers. St. Cloud State has established a weekly farmers market aimed at bringing local, organic produce to students, faculty, and staff on campus. The new market, which is an effort to create a more sustainable campus community, will offer vegetables, fruit, preserves, flowers, candles, spiced pears, cinnamon apples, and organic meats, including duck, lamb, chicken, and pork.