Inside Higher Ed Covers ACUPCC Reporting
Inside Higher Ed has published an article on the progress of American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment signatories. Currently 78 percent of signatories are meeting their reporting deadlines. The article includes interviews with presidents from several signatory institutions.
Kresge Announces Green Building Standards for Higher Ed Grants
The Kresge Foundation has announced that it is raising the bar on green building requirements for challenge grants awarded to applicants in the higher-education sector. Effective June 2010, the foundation will only consider proposals for facilities-capital grants from colleges and universities that plan to use the funding for building projects – new construction, renovations, and expansions – that meet the Silver or higher level certification standards established by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program or an equivalent rating agency.
Lafayette College Students Prepare Community Water Solutions
Students from a Lafayette College (PA) Technology Clinic class have prepared a set of recommendations for the town's West Ward Neighborhood Partnership on issues concerning the management of surface water runoff. Some of the group’s suggestions include slowing down runoff through the use of gravel and permeable pavement, green roofs, cisterns, and retention ponds; storing runoff with rain barrels, cisterns, and septic tanks; and reusing runoff to provide water for drinking, urban gardening, household applications, and energy through the use of turbines. In related news, a group of students from the same class created a marketing plan for a proposed flood museum in the community. The students’ mission was to create ideas and exhibits that focus on flood-related issues of immediate local importance for The Flood Project of the Nurture Nature Center. The students created interactive exhibits and multimedia presentations designed to engage the community and the College with issues surrounding floods.
NY Times Covers MBA Graduate Pledges for Social Responsibility
The New York Times has published an article on the increase in MBA programs that offer a voluntary or mandatory pledge to conduct business for the greater good and on the growing number of ethics courses and clubs. The article reviews pledges at Harvard University (MA) and Columbia University (NY) business schools and mentions ethics courses and student organizations at University of Pennsylvania and Columbia MBA programs.
Oberlin College Tractor to Run on Vegetable Oil
Oberlin College (OH) has converted its lawn-mowing tractor to run on vegetable oil. The tractor conversion will reduce the College’s consumption of fossil fuels by at least 700 gallons and eliminate more than 14,000 lbs of CO2 emissions. The fuel expenditure also will be reduced by about $1500 annually.
Ohio U Announces Commitment to Green Building
Ohio University has announced a new policy that requires all new construction and renovation projects to seek to meet or exceed LEED Silver certification. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis as to what level of certification is appropriate to a particular project.
Research Universities Worldwide Sign Sustainability Agreement
Vice-chancellors and presidents from Universitas 21, the international network of 21 research-intensive universities in 14 countries, have signed a statement on sustainability at their annual meeting held in Seoul, South Korea. The statement emphasizes the important role universities play in facing the challenges of climate change, the decline of biodiversity, the need for energy, food and water security, and of economic sustainability and of human health. Under the agreement, each university will develop, publish, and monitor targets, share the results with the others, undertake research aimed at a sustainable future, establish the university campus as a living laboratory for such a future, emphasize citizenship and engagement to promote faculty, staff, and student volunteers, and build capacity through cross-network collaboration and work. Fourteen of the university leaders also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a joint PhD program to enable doctoral students to undertake joint degrees. The universities believe this will enhance the students' international research and employment opportunities. American and Canadian participants include the University of British Columbia and the University of Virginia.
Rice U Reuses Office Supplies
Rice University (TX) has held a "freecycling" event in which campus members were able to donate excess or unused office supplies for use in other departments. Items that were not claimed by the end of the event were donated to a charitable organization.
Second Nature Announces Green Building Fellowship Grants
Second Nature has awarded 15 Kresge Fellowship Awards to advance campus green building at under-resourced institutions. Funding for these fellowships was provided by the Kresge Foundation, as part of a grant to Second Nature’s Advancing Green Building in Higher Education initiative. The fellowship provides a senior member of the college/university community with education on green building and sustainability in higher education as well as peer-to-peer networking opportunities. Fellowship selection was based on a committee’s assessment of the institutions’ level of need, statement of interest, and campus sustainability capacity. Winners include California State University, Bakersfield, College of Menominee Nation (WI), Houston Community College (TX), Kennebec Valley Community College (ME), Little Big Horn College (MT), Northeast Texas Community College, Onondaga Community College (NY), South Texas College, Tennessee State University, Texas Southern University, United Tribes Technical College (ND), Urbana University (OH), Western Technical College (WI), and Zane State College (OH).
Syracuse U to Build Off-the-grid Data Center
Syracuse University, New York State, and IBM have entered into a multiyear agreement to build and operate a new computer data center on the University's campus that will incorporate advanced infrastructure and smarter computing technologies. The 6,000-square-foot data center will feature an on-site electrical co-generation system that will use natural gas-fueled microturbine engines to generate all electricity for the center and provide cooling for the computer servers, allowing the center to run completely off the grid. In addition, SU will conduct research and analysis of the data center's power and cooling technologies and develop models and simulation tools to monitor, estimate, plan, and control energy use to achieve the goal of reducing average data center energy use by 50 percent.
U Richmond Becomes 100th Signatory of Talloires Decl on Civic Roles
The University of Richmond (VA) has signed the Talloires Declaration on the Civic Roles and Social Responsibilities of Higher Education (which is separate from the Talloires Declaration on Sustainability), making it the 100th worldwide institution to do so. The Talloires Network began in 2005 when the Declaration was drafted by 29 university presidents, rectors, and vice chancellors from 23 countries. By signing this international declaration, the University of Richmond has committed to educating for social responsibility and civic engagement, and to strengthening the application of university resources to the needs of local and global communities.
U Winnipeg Receives $18M Grant for Env'l Research Complex
The University of Winnipeg (MB) has received an $18,042,000 infrastructure grant from the Government of Canada to construct the Science Complex and Richardson College for the Environment. The Complex, which will seek LEED Silver certification, will engage students and faculty in research and development related to the North, urban ecology, water stewardship, green chemistry, and indigenous science. The expected completion date is March 2011.
Virginia Tech Students Produce Biodiesel
A group of Virginia Tech students have produced more than 200 gallons of biodiesel as part of a senior design project for the department of mechanical engineering. The Virginia Tech Bio-Fuels group uses the B100 fuel, which is made from waste vegetable oil obtained from local restaurants, to run two pickup trucks.
Washington U Opens Building Designed to Meet Living Building Challenge
Washington University in St. Louis (MO) has opened its new Living Learning Center. Located on 2,000 acres of woods, prairie, ponds, and savannahs, the 2,900-square-foot facility is built to meet the Living Building Challenge, a program by the Cascadia Region Green Building Council that contains 16 green building requirements. The center is designed to be a zero-net energy and zero wastewater building and will capture rainwater and purify it for drinking. The facility also features porous paving that will absorb almost all storm runoff, a composting toilet, a 3,000 gallon underground cistern, and a 17-kW photovoltaic system that will power the building.
Western Michigan U Health Building Receives LEED-EB Gold
Western Michigan University's College of Health and Human Services building had received LEED-EB Gold certification. The structure is the first higher education building in the US to receive higher than a LEED-EB Silver award. The 200,000-square-foot building was completed in the summer 2005 and includes cork flooring, motion-activated lights, and rice paper between sheets of glass that provides translucent windows along hallways.
Wheelock College Dedicates Green Campus Ctr & Residence Hall
Wheelock College (MA) has dedicated its new Campus Center and Students Residence Hall. The 58,000-square-foot facility, which provides housing for 108 students, features a green roof and light-absorbing windows and is registered for LEED certification.
Appalachian State U Students Test Green Construction Methods
Students in the Building Science and Appropriate Technology Program at Appalachian State University (NC) have constructed a 500-square-foot model house to test innovative technologies and building practices. The structure is designed to be a self-sufficient and adaptable disaster relief dwelling. The building’s energy-efficient features include use of structural insulated panels (SIPs) for the building’s exterior walls and roof; solar panels, which will generate energy needs for the occupants, a system to collect rainwater from the roof, and low-flow plumbing fixtures. The structure can accommodate up to five occupants.
Butte College Unveils Solar Arrays on Parking Structure
Butte College (CA) has installed a solar array on one of its campus parking lots. The new array, which also provides shade for cars, will generate energy for seven buildings and four greenhouses. The College expects to save $8 million over the life of the array. This installation is the fifth solar project the College has embarked on in the last four years. Overall, 45 percent of the College's electricity needs are now met with solar power.
California State U San Marcos, U Minnesota Host Farmers' Markets
California State University, San Marcos has begun a new farmers' market on campus. The weekly market is a joint project of CSUSM and the San Diego County Farm Bureau. The University of Minnesota has also begun hosting its community farmers' market. The weekly event features produce from the students organic farm, meat and cheese from the University's laboratories, and food from local vendors.
Drexel U Announces Public Service Fellowships
Drexel University (PA) has announced the establishment of the Constantine Papadakis Public Service Fellowships, an academic tuition award available for any public service worker who enrolls in any of the 11 programs being offered at the University's Center for Graduate Studies in Sacramento, CA. The Fellowships will reduce tuition by 15 percent for any individual working at least 20 hours per week in a qualified public service job, including a not-for-profit organization, any governmental or quasi-governmental agency, or any other public service employer.
Florida Legislators Deny Student Green Fee
Florida state legislators did not pass a proposal to allow public colleges and universities in Florida to institute green fees for on-campus renewable energy projects. Such fees had been approved in student referendums at several of Florida's public institutions. Students plan to continue the campaign through next year's legislative session.
Green Purchasing Survey Reveals Growing Role of Sustainability Programs
The National Association of Educational Procurement (NAEP) and SciQuest, a procurement automation company, have announced the findings of "The Current State of Green Procurement Trends within Higher Education" survey. The survey, which garnered responses from procurement professionals at more than 100 colleges and universities in the U.S., found that: nearly half of respondents plan to institute a green purchasing policy in the next year; more than 62 percent of colleges and universities have a sustainability plan in place, but only 24 percent have green procurement policies in place to support them; more than 85 percent of respondents believe the call to "do the right thing" is the most important reason for implementing sustainability initiatives; only 30 percent of respondents have the ability to promote green certified suppliers; and more than 60 percent have no way to determine how much is spent on environmentally friendly products. The survey is intended to provide a benchmark from which the profession can gauge the growing role of procurement within sustainability efforts.
John Brown U Partners to Help Community Measure Wind Potential
The John Brown University Renewable Energy Department and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Energy Office have partnered to develop an anemometer loan program designed to allow land owners in Arkansas to measure wind energy potential and to help promote wind energy throughout the state. Through the program, selected participants will borrow wind measurement instrumentation to conduct a one-year measurement study on their site. Faculty and students from JBU will install the equipment and monitor the data from campus. They will also develop a wind resource analysis for each participant at the end of the measurement period. Once the one-year measurement period is completed and the data is collected, the equipment will be relocated to other selected participants.
Manchester College Launches Sustainability Website
The Manchester College (IN) Green Campus Initiative has launched a new website. The site provides green tips, lists current campus sustainability projects, and posts the College's sustainability policy. The site also has an on-line meter of electric and gas usage on the campus and links for activism opportunities and green jobs.
NY Times Covers Increasing Number of Organic Farm Internships
The New York Times has published an article on the increasing number of liberal arts students who are opting to intern at organic farms during the summer. The article mentions Barnard College (NY), Kenyon College (OH), Washington State University, and New York University.
Rockingham CC Students Install Solar Arrays
Students at Rockingham Community College (NC) have installed 17 photovoltaic panels on the northwest side of a 1,000-square-foot home built on campus. The array will meet all electricity needs for the structure. Students have also installed a solar panel for the house's hot water heater. Professors plan to use the arrays as teaching tools in the future.
San Diego CCD Opens Green Campus
San Diego Community College District has opened its West City Campus, the newest site for its Continuing Education program. The structure, which is registered for LEED Silver certification, features low E-rated windows and solar tubes that help maximize natural daylighting; sensors that automatically dim lights in response to available lighting; low-flow and waterless plumbing fixtures; low-VOC paint, adhesives, and carpeting; and a high percentage of recycled construction materials.
Students Campaign for Econ Textbooks to Address Sustainability Issues
Students have begun a campaign, called Toxic Textbooks, to support and coordinate protests against college and university economics textbooks that do not consider social and environmental externalities. The group desires a textbook that instead focuses on human well-being and quality of life and teaches students to distinguish between poverty in terms of low quality of life and in terms of low monetary income.
U Mass Online Announces 3 Sustainability-Related Academic Prgms
The University of Massachusetts Online has announced three new programs: a concentration in Sustainable Entrepreneurship, a graduate certificate Environmental Public Policy, and the Green Building Professional Development Series. The concentration in Sustainable Entrepreneurship will include courses on holistic health, sustainable food and farming, geothermal energy conservation, and green building. The Environmental Public Policy graduate certificate comprises two required and two elective courses, all of which are entirely online. The required courses are: Public Institutions and the Policy Process and Environmental Policy. Electives include Environmental Consequences of Globalization, Administrative Law, Environmental Law, and Ocean Policy and Law. Credits earned through the graduate certificate program will be transferable into the University's Master's degree in Public Policy anticipated for calendar year 2010. The Green Building Professional Development Series includes courses in Sustainable Building and LEED Certification, Energy Efficient Housing, The Built Environment, Green Building and Indoor Environmental Quality, and Sustainable Sites for Green Building.
U Northern British Columbia Announces Biomass Gasification Project
The University of Northern British Columbia has selected Nexterra Energy Corp. to supply and install a turnkey biomass gasification system to heat the Prince George campus and to anchor its new Northern Bioenergy Innovation Centre. The gasification system will convert locally-sourced wood residue into clean-burning renewable synthetic gas that will displace up to 85 percent of the natural gas currently used to heat the campus. The project, which is jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments, is expected to begin in June 2009. It will be complete by mid-2010.
U Texas Arlington Names First Sustainability Director
The University of Texas at Arlington has named environmental lawyer Kathryn C. Poulos, a commissioner for the Environmental and Energy Advisory Commission in Oak Park, Ill., as the University’s first sustainability director. Poulos, who will begin her new job on August 1, 2009, earned her law degree along with a certificate in environmental law from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1993.
Wayne County CCD Announces Green Efforts as Part of Budget Strategy
Wayne County Community College District (MI) has announced that it will, among other strategies, reduce energy costs through environmental sustainability initiatives in an effort to decrease spending in the 2009 fiscal year budget. The District decided to implement the fiscal strategies due to a decrease in revenue from local property taxes and state aid. WCCCD has also announced plans to launch the "Workforce Education and Green Careers Initiative" through which the Eastern Campus will become a model green campus. The District's new workforce education model will also include an "Open Door Equity Initiative" designed to assure that those individuals who experience barriers to career and academic success due to low income and limited literacy skills will have access to support services such as career counseling, financial aid, and literacy, and basic job skills education.
Western State College Installs 3 Solar Arrays
Western State College of Colorado has installed three solar systems on Kelley Hall, a building that houses the Environmental Studies and Behavioral and Social Sciences programs. The system, which is primarily meant to provide a solar laboratory for student research, includes two solar electric systems that will offset a portion of the structure's electricity usage and a solar thermal system that will provide heat for domestic water for hand-washing in the restrooms and some space heating for the building.
WSU Reinstates 'The Omnivore's Dilemma' as Common-Reading Book
Washington State University has decided to reinstate the original plan for distribution of its Common Reading book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma , as a result of a private contribution to support the program. Earlier this year, WSU administrators made the decision not to distribute the book, which examines industrial agriculture and the American diet, and not to bring author Michael Pollan to campus, for either budget or political concerns, depending on different points of view. Some people believed that the University, which had already purchased 4,000 copies of the book and has a prominent agriculture college, bowed to pressure from agribusiness interests, but the University affirms that the decision was due to budget difficulties.
Yavapai College, Habitat for Humanity Partner to Build Eco-House
Yavapai College (AZ) has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to construct a grid-tied house that generates all of the power it needs on-site. The 1,200-square-foot house features an insulated concrete slab, solar panels, an airtight frame, balanced fresh-air ventilation, a solar-power hot water heater, and Energy Star appliances.
2 Indiana Campuses to Receive Shuttle Service
Citilink, a service of the Fort Wayne, IN Public Transportation Corporation, has announced plans to begin a campus shuttle service this fall that would provide free rides to and around Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and Ivy Tech Community College. The company will provide the campus shuttle service free of charge and will offer discounted passes to faculty and students to use other Citilink services.
Arizona State U Partners to Advance Solar Technology
Arizona State University has partnered with Advent Solar, a solar technology company, to develop solutions for improving energy harvesting of solar systems. ASU and Advent Solar will collaborate to develop solar technology based upon an integrated cell-to-module architecture that delivers higher energy efficiency at lower production costs.
Benedictine U Joins Illinois Sustainability University Compact
Benedictine University has joined the Illinois Sustainable University Compact, an organization of universities and community colleges across Illinois which, in conjunction with the Illinois Green Government Coordination Council, is committed to creating a greener, healthier environment. In joining the Compact, BU has agreed to such objectives as purchasing renewable energy, implementing green building practices, developing sustainable transportation options, improving water conservation efforts, and incorporating sustainable dining practices.
Bethel U Installs Green Roof
Bethel University (MN) has installed a green roof on its Brushaber Commons building. The roof is covered with approximately 4,000 square feet of sedum.
Case Western Reserve U to Pilot New Energy Reduction Technologies
Case Western Reserve University (OH) has announced plans to pilot Cisco's new building energy use reduction technology in its biomedical Wolstein Research Building and in one of its largest residence halls. The initiative, known as Connected Real Estate project, aims to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions.
Central Piedmont CC Campuses Certified as Wildlife Habitat
The National Wildlife Federation has certified all six Central Piedmont Community College (NC) campuses as Certified Wildlife Habitat sites. NWF officials believe that accomplishment makes CPCC the first multi-campus community college in the country to certify the grounds of all its campus locations. To become a Certified Wildlife Habitat, spaces must include four essential elements: food, water, cover and places to raise young. Over the past two years, the CPCC community has collaborated to reach this goal on all six campuses; CPCC’s Harper Campus, became the sixth and final campus to receive certification in March 2009. In addition, CPCC’s Presidential Cabinet awarded its Center for Sustainability six $2,000 innovation grants to help each campus create and maintain its own unique wildlife habitat.
Colgate U Plants Biomass Farm
Colgate University (NY) has planted a new 7.5 acre willow biomass farm that will help to heat its campus. Depending on the soil, weather, and overall conditions, CU's planting of 60,000 8-inch shrub willow shoots should yield about 900 dry tons of biomass over a 20-year period. The biomass farm was funded by a gift from the Class of 2008.
Kansas State U Begins Composting Project
Kansas State University dining facilities has partnered with the K-State student farm to develop a composting program on campus. Food waste in K-State dining halls is now taken to the student farm to be composted.
Lafayette College Creates Film on Campus Sustainability Project
Students and faculty at Lafayette College (PA) have created Dig the Earth , a feature length film documenting the College's Corn on the Quad sustainability project and the academic and cultural issues the project explores. Corn on the Quad was a companion project to the Fall 2008 first-year students’ orientation reading of Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma . The project consisted of three plots of corn planted by students, faculty, and staff at the center of campus. Students in a film theory and practice course worked as production assistants and creative consultants on the 45 minute film. The students operated camera and editing equipment, conducted on camera interviews, edited footage, and reviewed and critiqued other students’ work. The film was director by the students' professor, Andrew Smith. Smith plans to show the film at film festivals and to pitch it to PBS.
Macomb CC Announces Renewable Energy Certificate
Macomb Community College (MI) has announced a Renewable Energy Certificate to be launched in fall 2009. Students in the new program will study wind, solar, biomass, geo-thermal and hydrogen fuel cell in a 15 credit hour sequence that can stand alone or be woven into a students’ associate degree program.
Maharishi U Mgmt Receives Recycling Grant
Maharishi University of Management (IA) has received a $12,000 grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to support the construction of five more recycling sheds on campus, the construction of mobile recycling stations in the dorms, and an awareness campaign to increase the amount of recycling on campus. The sheds have bins for plastic, clear glass, colored glass, aluminum, white paper, colored paper, newspaper, and glossy paper, as well as an area for cardboard; the mobile stations for dorms will be dollies with recycling bins stacked three high; and the educational campaign will cover the value of recycling.
Middlebury College Funds Carbon Reduction Initiatives with Parking Fee
Middlebury College (VT) has announced plans to begin charging students $50 per semester to park a car on campus. The College will use funds generated by the new fee, which will go into effect this fall, to support its carbon neutrality initiative. The revenue will be distributed between carbon reduction efforts and public transportation, in addition to paying for maintenance of parking lots.
Northwestern U Commits to Green IT, Improves Data Ctr Efficiency
Northwestern University's (IL) Information Technology (NUIT) department has created a Green Technology Commitment Statement, officially promising to guide efforts toward best practices in reducing energy consumption through power management, disposing of e-waste in an environmentally friendly manner, and encouraging the use of emerging communication technologies for environmental campaigns. As part of the commitment, NUIT has announced an initiative to virtualize university administrative services located in NUIT Data Centers to improve development, deployment, and disaster recovery functions while decreasing power consumption and increasing operational uptime.
Oregon State U Opens Green Building
Oregon State University has opened the newly renovated Kearney Hall. The structure, which houses the civil and construction engineering programs, is registered for LEED Silver certification.
Pepperdine U Launches Center for Sustainability
Pepperdine University (CA) has announced the creation of the Center for Sustainability. The new Center, which has also launched a new website, seeks to advance sustainability at Pepperdine through the implementation of sustainable measures, the communication of successes and challenges, and the education of the university community. The Center for Sustainability has already implemented several new initiatives including switching to all recycled paper towels, biodegradable to-go ecotainers in cafeterias, and composting of food waste. Other new efforts include the availability of rental cars through Hertz Car Sharing and expanded e-waste recycling and battery collection.
