NY Times Covers Sustainability at Oberlin College
The New York Times recently published a story on one of Oberlin College's (OH) campus sustainability initiatives. The article discusses the creation of the Student Experiment in Ecological Design, Oberlin's sustainability house, and the experience students had as they moved in and adjusted to living in a more sustainable manner.
Portland State U Offers Course on Reducing Campus Carbon Emissions
Portland State University (OR) recently offered a new senior capstone course entitled, "Towards Carbon Neutrality at Portland State University." The course, which is open to all majors, was designed to teach students about climate change, to let them be directly involved in the process towards carbon neutrality, and to get students involved with campus decision making around sustainability practices. The students were tasked with gathering information for a campus emissions report, which will be presented
Presidio School of Mgmt Appoints 4 Faculty in Sustainable Mgmt
The Presidio School of Management (CA) has appointed Hunter Lovins, Gil Friend, Jay Ogilvy, and Sissel Waage as faculty in the new Executive Program teaching team. They will work with senior-level professionals on the practical applications of sustainable business frameworks, tools and metrics, and their courses will teach participants how to apply sustainability principles to achieve greater profitability and integrated bottom line results.
Rider University Clears Trees with Plow Horses
Rider University (NJ) recently hired a company to clear four acres of felled trees using plow horses instead of bulldozers in an effort to keep a residence hall construction project more environmentally friendly. CitiLog, the company hired to clear the trees, plans to reuse the wood once the project is complete.
San Francisco State U Completes GHG Inventory
San Francisco State University (CA) has completed its first greenhouse gas inventory, which reports 1990 – 2006 emissions. The inventory calculates emissions from purchased electricity, natural gas, air travel, university fleet, commuter transportation, and solid waste. It also calculates sequestration from composting. The report found that, in 2006, the campus emitted 61,184 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, a 47 percent increase from 1990. The campus plans to spend this summer and next year developing a Sustainability Action Plan.
Sullivan County CC to Offer Green Building Associate's Degree
Sullivan County Community College (NY) has announced plans to offer a new Associate's degree in green building maintenance and management. The new associate of applied sciences degree will be a four-semester, on-campus program designed to prepare green collar workers for careers in managing and maintaining high-performance commercial buildings.
U British Columbia Launches Energy Monitoring Project
The University of British Columbia has launched an initiative to track energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions in five campus buildings. The project will track electricity, steam, and water consumption in the buildings using software and power meters, and the results can be seen in real-time at website hosted by Small Energy Group, UBC's partner in the project. In a related project, a UBC Ph.D. candidate will investigate how occupants in two of the five buildings can use this real-time energy data to reduce energy consumption and increase comfort.
U New Mexico Receives Recycling Award
The University of New Mexico recently won an award from the New Mexico Recycling Coalition for the Best Community-Based Recycling Program. The recycling program was nominated for holding education environmental fairs to increase awareness of pollution prevention activities, for holding e-waste events and for offering tours to elementary and middle school students to educate them about recycling. The award nomination cites the program for great customer service, pointing out the stripping of old refrigerators into recyclable component parts, and spreading the word about a new market for recycled Styrofoam. Additionally, the UNM Recycling Program won 10 bins in a competition co-sponsored by the National Recycling Coalition and Coca Cola.
U Oregon Program Causes Participants to Reduce Their Carbon Footprint
The University of Oregon Climate Leadership Initiative recently completed a review of the Climate Master program's first year. The review found that participants in the program reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by two tons per person over the course of the first year. As a result of the information studied during the program, students began to take their carbon footprint into consideration when making daily decisions. Participants also reported that they gained a "sense of community" and a greater s
U Washington to Form College of the Environment
The University of Washington has announced plans to merge six existing academic disciplines that focus on oceans, the atmosphere, and forests to form the College of the Environment. The new college would join Forestry, Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, Earth and Space Sciences, Marine Affairs, and Oceanography, and it would add a new program, Environment, Society, and Culture.
U Wisconsin-Superior Students Convert Garbage into Art
The University of Wisconsin-Superior Campus Sustainability group has developed "The Art of Garbage," a program in which UWS art students take regularly discarded materials and turn them into art. The "Art of Garbage" exhibition is expected to open in September 2008. The initiative is part of UWS's participation in the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment.
UW Oshkosh Approves Sustainability as Essential Learning Outcome
The University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh Faculty Senate has unanimously approved "the knowledge of sustainability and its applications" as part of the new set of Essential Learning Outcomes for all students in the University. The learning outcomes were developed by the University’s Liberal Education Reform Team (LERT) and Resource Group, comprised of faculty, staff and students.
3 California Colleges Receive Energy Conservation Rebates
Contra Costa College (CA), Diablo Valley College (CA), and Los Medanos College (CA) recently received a rebate from Pacific Gas & Electric for reducing the amount of non-renewable energy used on campus. CCC will receive $1 million for energy conservation, and DVC and LMC will receive $2.8 million and $2 million respectively for solar panels installed on campus.
Appalachian State U Library Recognized for Green Design
The Appalachian State University (NC) Carol Grotnes Belk Library and Information Commons was recently recognized for its green architectural design in the April 2008 issue of American Libraries and in the December 2007 issue of Library Journal. Green features of the building include an emphasis on natural lighting, mechanical equipment for energy savings, cork flooring, an energy-efficient elevator system, electronic sensor faucets and toilets, computer-controlled shades and recycled/recyclable carpeting. The Belk Library opened in 2005.
Appalachian State U Partners with Community to Restore Creek
Appalachian State University (NC) recently partnered with the city community to restore a 150 foot section of Boone Creek, a creek that runs through campus and parts of the downtown. The restoration group plans to filter storm water runoff, stabilize the banks, and incorporate native plants and shrubs that will shade the creek and provide better habitat for wildlife. The project is the result of an idea from a 2004 project management class taught by an Assistant Professor in ASU's Department of Geography and Planning.
Arizona State U Art Exhibitions Feature Sustainability
The Arizona State University Institute for Humanities Research recently held an art exhibit entitled, "Sustainability and the Visual Arts." The exhibition, which was on display last semester, explored the relationship between human beings and nature and proposed solutions within existing cultural structures. The exhibition featured work from students and community members, and showcased two-dimensional and small-scale sculptures from eight artists. The artists were asked to explore new meanings and inter
Bemidji State U Students Approve Green Fee
The Bemidji State University (MN) Student Senate recently passed a $5 per student per semester green fee to fund student projects and support 50 percent of the sustainability coordinator salary. Beginning in 2010, the green fee will subsidize 100 percent of the sustainability coordinator's salary. A survey of 318 students conducted before the vote found that more than 65 percent of students were willing to pay a green fee of $5 or more per semester.
Butler U Breaks Ground on Green Pharmacy Building Expansion
Butler University (IN) recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new addition to the pharmacy and health sciences building. Butler hopes to achieve LEED Silver certification for the expansion, which will feature waterless urinals, bicycle storage, and natural classroom lighting. The University also plans to recycle the construction waste material and install recycled carpet and flooring throughout the addition.
Carleton College Purchases 2 Hybrids
Carleton College (MN) recently purchased two new hybrid cars, replacing two older non-hybrids in the campus fleet. The decision to purchase the hybrid vehicles came after an extensive study of the College’s fleet fuel consumption and expenses. The study found that upgrading cars that were already due for replacement to hybrids would be an efficient and cost effective decision.
CSU, Chico Receives Forest Stewardship Council Certification
California State University, Chico's University Printing Services was recently awarded Forest Stewardship Council chain-of-custody certification by Scientific Certification Systems, an independent third-party certifier of environmental, sustainability, food quality, and food purity claims. The chain-of-custody certification means that products by CSU, Chico’s Printing Services bearing the FSC trademark meet strict tracking requirements ensuring that they come from responsibly-managed forests. The University’s paper purchases for FSC-trademarked products will be audited annually to make sure that they come from a well-managed forest.
Evergreen State College Purchases Electric Vehicle
Evergreen State College (WA) recently purchased a street-legal electric vehicle and has plans to purchase four more by the end of June. The additional electric cars will be financed in part with a grant from the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency.
Florida Gulf Coast U to be 100% Solar
Legislatures in Florida have allocated $8.5 million to fund the installation of a solar farm on 16 acres of the Florida Gulf Coast University campus. The project, which awaits approval by the Governor, has an expected completion date of summer 2009. If successful, the solar farm, including the panels purchased with private donations, would generate 2 megawatts per day, enough to provide 100 percent of FGCU's energy needs. Governor Charlie Crist is expected to approve the plan.
Gateway CC to Offer Sustainable Building Advisor Certificate
Gateway Community College (CT) recently announced that, starting this fall, the College's Center for a Sustainable Future will offer a Sustainable Building Advisor Certification Program as part of its Division of Corporate and Continuing Education program. The program, which will be offered in a one weekend per month format, is approved through the U.S. Green Building Council and is designed for practicing engineers, architects, contractors, building managers and other building industry professionals.
George Washington U to Install Green Roof
George Washington University (DC) recently announced plans to install a green roof atop the Elliot School of International Affairs City View Room Terrace this summer. The 2,000 square foot green roof pilot project is the result of an initiative by GWU's Net Impact chapter, and will feature storm water run-off reduction and potential energy savings and will offer research opportunities to students.
Higher Ed Paper Reduction Website Goes Live
ConnectEdu, a curriculum, college, and career planning information technology company, recently launched StudentsPlantTheSeed.com, a website aimed at reducing the amount of paper used during the college application process. The website provides paper-reducing methods for college admissions and a petition for high school administrators and higher education institutions to participate in the initiative.
Kansas State U Hires Director of Sustainability
Kansas State University recently appointed Ben Champion as the first ever Director of Sustainability to develop a university-wide approach for addressing sustainability at K-State. Champion will provide leadership and oversight to existing initiatives such as campus recycling and construction of green buildings on campus, and he will also identify opportunities for new initiatives, help develop curriculum, facilitate interdisciplinary research, work with students, and engage the broader community in areas where K-State can be a leader in terms of sustainability.
Kendall College Launches Sustainability Education Initiative
Kendall College's (IL) School of Culinary Arts recently announced an ecological sustainability education initiative that is specifically tailored for the foodservice industry. The nationwide initiative was launched with the release of a brief instructional video. The production explains the basics of environmental sustainability and how foodservice industry professionals can take a few simple steps to benefit both their businesses and the environment. Many of the video‘s tips can be implemented at little or no cost and result in net operational savings. Kendall is exploring the development of a number of other resources such as training materials for foodservice personnel, instructional materials for use by educators, presentations at foodservice industry conferences, and additional videos. The initiative is in partnership with the Green Restaurant Association.
Middlebury College Offers Green Study Abroad Incentives
Middlebury College (VT) recently awarded its first-ever sustainable study abroad grants to assist students with research and projects related to sustainability while abroad. Other resources available to help students have a greener study abroad experience include: A “Going Green” guide for directors of the Middlebury Schools Abroad with guidance for greening the office and facilities, environmental programming, and other sustainability activities; the “Green Passport” program which helps students keep track of their actions while abroad within suggested guidelines for responsible travel; a carbon offset program to help students reduce the impact of their energy use while abroad; and a list of sustainable travel resources including a sustainable travel checklist that considers things like the travel provider’s environmental policy and whether the provider supports environmental issues in the place being visited.
Northland College Students Install Solar Panels on Campus
The Northland College (WI) Photovoltaic Installation class recently installed a solar electric system at the home of the Northland College President. The students installed twelve 175 watt solar panels mounted on a pole. The array of panels is attached to a sun-watt tracking system, a mechanism that automatically rotates the panels from east to west as well as tilts them up and down to follow the sun through the course of the day. Together, the panels will produce about 3,300 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. The President is funding the project with her personal finances with help from renewable energy grants provided by the State of Wisconsin.
Oberlin College Offsets its Commencement Carbon Footprint
Oberlin College (OH) recently purchased carbon offsets for its 2008 Commencement/Reunion weekend. The purchase aimed to offset the carbon emissions created from travel, lodging, meals, energy consumption, waste disposal, production, and other incidental factors for more than 5,000 alumni, family members, and friends that attended commencement weekend events. The weekend also featured local food, bioware plates and flatware, and a 100 percent post-consumer paper Commencement/Reunion program.
Seattle U Named Greenest Campus in Washington State
Seattle University (WA) was recently named the greenest college in the state of Washington by Washington CEO . The magazine honored the University with a "Green Award," the first given to an educational institution in the state. SU received the honor for the maintenance of its 48-acre campus without the use of pesticides, for its custom-built compost facility for food waste, and for other green initiatives.
Stanford U Hires Manager of Sustainable Programs
Stanford University (CA) recently hired Fahmida Ahmed as the new Manager of Sustainable Programs in the University's Office of Sustainability and Energy Management. Ahmed will support the office's executive director in implementing and improving sustainability programs throughout the University. In addition, she will assist in the development and implementation of a campus greenhouse gas reduction plan and will manage the office's communications and community relations programs and, overall, assist in efforts to achieve long-range sustainability goals. Ahmed has served as sustainability specialist at the University of California-Berkeley since 2006, managing the California Climate Action Partnership and other campus sustainability programs.
Stetson U Students Perform GHG Inventory
A Stetson University (FL) Environmental Science class recently completed a survey of the University's carbon emissions footprint. The students followed the Clean Air-Cool Planet Model, and assessed carbon, methane, and nitrous oxide, but did not assess chlorofluorocarbons because data was not available during the audit.
Suffolk U, NYU Donate Unwanted Items
Suffolk University (MA) students recently donated 5,500 pounds of unwanted goods to two local organizations during move out. The Dump and Run Program allowed students to donate clothes, shoes, furniture, toiletries, and other supplies to serve 16 families. Students were also able to donate food to a local service center as part of the program. Likewise, New York University recently completed its Green Apple Move Out collection project where students donated linens, clothing, electronics, and more. Program Coordinators and volunteers collected the refuse of 5,600 students in 10 residence halls for donation to local charities. While the final tonnage has yet to be counted, the coordinators expect the amount of donated items to exceed 25,000 tons.
U Central Florida Adopts Sustainability Plan
The University of Central Florida recently adopted a Sustainability Plan for its Sustainability Alliance, a three-pronged committee consisting of operations staff, faculty, and students. The Sustainability Plan maps out the responsibilities and organizational structure of the Sustainability Alliance, as well as establishes a base from which sustainability can be instituted into the University’s Emergency Preparedness and Response plan. The adopted plan consists of 6 purpose statements which define the role of the Sustainability Alliance at UCF. These statements include how the Alliance will identify, initiate, and complete projects effectively while maintaining the highest level of sustainable management.
U Illinois to Cut Energy Use by 10%
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign recently established a goal to cut energy use in existing buildings by 10 percent in three years and reach 1990 levels within five years. The reduction is expected to save the equivalent of 300 million kilowatt-hours of energy, and would be achieved by controlling growth, developing incentives to reduce usage, encouraging the campus community to be more energy conscious and stimulating investment in energy-saving measures.
U Oregon Children's Center Receives Energy Efficiency Award
The University of Oregon's Moss Street Children's Center was recently awarded an Oregon State Energy Efficient Design Award (SEED) from the Oregon Department of Energy. The Center operates at 32 percent better than code and features passive cooling and night flush, south facing glazing for passive solar gain, radiant floor heating and cooling, and hybrid ground source heat pumps. The SEED program requires the Oregon Department of Energy to review all new state buildings and major renovations to ensure that they incorporate all cost-effective energy measures and make the building at least 20 percent more energy efficient than code.
U Waterloo to Open Eco-Cafe
The University of Waterloo (ON) recently announced plans to open the Eco-Café this fall. The café will be located in the School of Accounting and will offer locally sourced foods. The café will also feature an educational component.
UW Green Bay to Pilot Universal Bus Pass
The University of Wisconsin, Green Bay recently partnered with the city to allow students to ride city buses for free. A student-led initiative led the Green Bay Transit Commission to approve the pilot program, called U-Pass, which gives students, faculty, and staff free rides just by showing a campus ID. The pilot program will run July 1 through June 30. If U-Pass continues after the pilot program, a less than $3 per student per semester student fee and a parking pass fee increase would cover the costs required by Green Bay Metro to implement the program.
Western Carolina U, Florida Intl U Pilot 4-day Work Week
Western Carolina University and Florida International University will offer a four 10-hour day work week to its employees for the summer. The initiative aims to reduce weekly driving time, the cost of lighting and air-conditioning, and CO2 emissions.
Western Washington U to Install Rooftop Solar Panels
Western Washington University recently announced plans to install 12 solar panels on the roof of the Viking Student Union. The panels will generate an estimated 2,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. Along with the panels, WWU plans to install an educational kiosk to explain the project and show the amount of power the solar panels are generating. The project is an initiative of the WWU Students for Renewable Energy, an Associated Student club that began organizing and planning for the solar panels in 2006.
7 Campuses Become Founding Reporters in The Climate Registry
Cornell University (NY), Syracuse University (NY), University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Davidson College (NC), Saint Olaf College (MN), Northland College (WI), and Vermont Technical College have all signed up to be "Founding Reporters" in The Climate Registry, a non-profit organization established to measure and publicly report greenhouse gas emissions in a common, accurate, and transparent manner consistent across industry sectors. By joining the group, the campuses have voluntarily committed to measure, indep
Arizona State U Sustainability Institute Moves to Green Building
The Global Institute of Sustainability and the School of Sustainability at Arizona State University recently moved into a newly renovated green building. The building's carpet, resilient flooring, and gypsum sheathing are all made of high recycled content material, and the indoor air quality is enhanced through the use of GreenGuard certified furniture and low-emitting paints, coatings, and interior signage. The building also features waterless urinals, low-flow toilets, and automatically monitored landscaping irrigation. As landscaping work continues, native drought-tolerant plantings will reduce the demand for irrigation and the incorporation of porous paving will control the amount of storm water run-off from the site. Additionally, wind turbines have been mounted on the roof and solar panels will be installed soon. ASU is pursing LEED certification for the building.
Bowdoin to Use Organic Lawn Treatments, Hold Green Commencement
Bowdoin College (ME) recently announced that, this spring, it will start using organic lawn care products on parts of the campus that sit above the town aquifer. Organic fertilizer, liquid corn gluten, compost tea, and BT, an organic bacterium to fight insects, are examples of what will be used. In related news, Bowdoin has taken several steps to help make this year's graduation more environmentally friendly: biodegradable cups, bowls, plates, and utensils for all outdoor meals; recycle bins will be placed in outdoor areas, electricity for the weekend will be offset using Renewable Energy Credits from Maine low-impact hydro and wind power; and all programs will be printed on 100% recycled paper.
Columbia U Establishes Center on Sustainable Intl Investment
Columbia University (NY) recently announced the establishment of the Vale-Columbia Center on Sustainable International Investment. The center aims to promote learning, teaching, policy-oriented research and practical work within the foreign direct investment (FDI) area, paying special attention to the sustainable development dimension of investments. The center will study outward FDI from emerging markets, while its practical work will include workshops on such topics as resource endowments, FDI sustainability in the mining industry, and sustainability and risk assessment/mitigation in the FDI area. A $1.5 million grant, provided by Vale over a five year period, will help to establish the center, which was a joint undertaking by the Columbia School of Law and the Columbia Earth Institute.
CSU, Chico Bans Bottled Water & Passes Green Purchasing Policy
California State University, Chico students recently voted to ban the sale of bottled water on campus and to implement a Social and Environmental Purchasing Policy. The Take Back The Tap initiative passed with the support of 85 percent of voting students, and the SEPP, which encourages the Associated Students to buy environmentally and socially responsible products, passed with the support of 87 percent of voters. Both projects are the result of student campaigns.
Emory U Residence Hall Awarded LEED Silver
The Emory University (GA) Turman Residence Hall, which opened to freshman last August, recently received LEED Silver accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council. Turman is the first in a series of halls that will comprise Emory’s freshman housing complex. The second phase of the complex, Freshman 2 and 3, is currently under construction and is aiming to achieve LEED Gold certification.
Maharishi University of Management Expands Composting Project
Maharishi University of Management (IA) recently announced plans to move its vermicomposting program to a larger space. The new space will provide hands-on experience in composting and vermicomposting for students. The end product will be used on the University's organic farms, the student garden, and campus landscapes.
Notre Dame Computer Processors to Heat City Greenhouse
University of Notre Dame’s (IN) Center for Research Computing and the City of South Bend have announced plans to relocate a cluster of high performance computer servers to the city's desert plant greenhouse. The relocation of the servers will substantially lower the cooling expenditures associated with high performance computing on the University’s campus. In turn, the heat associated with the computer cluster now provides a heating infrastructure for the Greenhouses at a cost much lower than the city would pay for natural gas.
Purdue U, Indiana U Students Donate Unwanted Items
Purdue University (IN) and Indiana University recently completed their end of the year move-out collections in which unwanted dorm room items were donated to local collection agencies. Purdue's "Project Move Out" expanded this year to include donations from a nearby neighborhood, whereas in previous years, the initiative only included residence hall student donations. Students from both schools were able to donate clothing, shoes, cleaning supplies, electronics, books, furniture, laundry soap, winter coat
