U California System Creates Competition for Carbon Neutrality
The new Cool Campus Challenge encourages students, faculty and staff to help make its campuses and medical centers carbon neutral by 2025 by asking university members to take specific steps, outlined in weekly sustainability themes, that result in lower carbon output. Accumulated points during the competition will reveal the "Coolest UC Campus".
U Edinburgh Launches Climate Change Campaign
(U.K.): In support of the university's climate strategy, the new campaign, Edinburgh Action for the Climate, harnesses the expertise of academics researching climate-related topics to influence and inform the global climate change debate.
Saint Joseph’s College Partners With EcoMotion to Advance Sustainability
EcoMotion’s tasks will include conducting a greenhouse gas inventory, developing a climate action and sustainability plan, advising on Saint Joseph’s newly established green revolving fund, formalizing campus engagement, along with providing strategic marketing and communications to document sustainability progress and foster community awareness.
Biomimicry Global Design Challenge Announces Finalists
The first food system-focused Biomimicry Global Design Challenge selected University of Oregon as top finalist with a design to help keep nutrients in the soil. In the student-only competition, a team from University of Calgary claimed first, University of California second and Wageningen University won third.
Yale U Partners With MAD for New Food Institute
Drawing upon Yale's varied programming in food studies, the university and MAD, a Danish nonprofit dedicated to improving food culture, just announced a partnership to develop the new institute that will tap into chefs' influence beyond the restaurant. The intent is to allow participants to think creatively and critically about food-related issues and to explore and implement solutions.
U Winnipeg Complex Achieves LEED Gold
The new building, previously the site of a roller rink, includes an atrium featuring living fig trees and a wooden wall made from the roller rink's wood flooring, natural daylighting, a heat recovery system to aid in energy efficiency, and reclaimed materials.
Huston-Tillotson U Installs 240KW Solar Array
Initiated by an Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps Fellow, the new 240-kilowatt photovoltaic array at the private, historically black university supports its sustainability efforts to reduce carbon emissions. The campus community will be able to view energy production through a web-based tracking application.
North Carolina State U Students Help Businesses Become More Sustainable
Through the Business Sustainability Collaborative of the university's Poole College of Management, the university launched the B Corp Clinic that assigns student teams to companies aiming to attain B Corp status. Students volunteer four to six hours a week evaluating their assigned company and present interim and final presentations with recommendations on how to achieve B Corp certification.
U British Columbia Volunteers Promote Zero Waste Goals
Supporting the university's zero waste action plan, volunteers and Sustainability Coordinator Program staff work with Ceremonies and Events to educate attendees about sorting their disposables. At a recent event with 4,000 participants, a desk bin-sized trash bag was remaining after composting and recycling everything else.
Shippensburg U Residence Halls Earn LEED Certification
Three university residence halls, opened in August 2014, were recently cloaked with LEED certification. Combined the halls have nearly 400 total student units with more than 900 beds. Students involved in the buildings' planning process stressed LEED as a key component.
Arizona State U Facility Earns LEED Gold
College Avenue Commons, the newest university building used primarily by the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, features environmental systems monitoring, an orientation that helps minimize the western exposure and adjustable LED lighting. One major goal of the project was to provide a living and learning resource for engineering and construction education.
Drew U Center Claims LEED Silver
The university's newly redesigned Ehinger Center features a renewable energy system, low-emission paint and recycled construction materials. Other features include an indoor composting station, pervious concrete pavers that allow rainwater to be reabsorbed and waterless urinals in the men’s bathroom.
Stanford U Releases 2014-15 Year in Review
The newly released, digital edition of Sustainability at Stanford: A Year in Review highlights 14 topical areas and monthly snapshots that represent collaborative efforts across multiple campus entities. Topical areas include assessment and evaluations, behavior-based programs, collaborative governance, interdisciplinary research, student leadership and activities, and training and education.
rootAbility Earns International Accolades for University Green Office Program
The U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization-Japan (UNESCO-Japan) prize for outstanding projects related to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) was recently awarded to rootAbility for its Green Office Model, which began at Maastricht University in 2010 and now has 14 green offices at 14 universities in six countries. rootAbility was awarded $50,000 for the honor.
The Guardian 'England's Universities are Losing Steam on Climate Change'
(U.K.): A recent analysis by Brite Green indicates more than three-quarters of England's universities are set to miss the 43 percent reduction by 2020, which was set by the Higher Education Funding Council for England in 2010. Institutions state that significant growth in institution estates and student population were taken into account when targets were set.
Enrollment in Food-Related Courses & Degrees Rises
Civileats.com released a partial compilation of universities and colleges that offer degrees and courses in food. The article discusses the surge in demand in recent years for food as an academic subject. Among other areas, students are interested in learning about food equality issues, the local and organic food movement and food policy.
U Albany Faculty Garners Solar Society Award
University Atmospheric Scientist Richard Perez has been selected by the International Solar Energy Society (ISES) to receive the Farrington Daniels Award. Named in honor of ISES founder, the award recognizes outstanding contributions in science, technology and engineering of solar energy applications that lead to enhancing our world and the conditions of human kind.
Inside Higher Ed: 'Does Divestment Cost?'
The recent article from Inside Higher Ed offers two opposing analyses of divestment from fossil fuels. The article goes on to discuss different strategies and reasons that some universities and colleges have for divestment and investment.
Penn State U Names First Transportation Coordinator
Cecily Zhu recently took the helm as the university's first transportation coordinator. Before coming to Penn State, she most recently worked as a transportation policy and planning fellow for the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group. Editorial Photo Credit: Lilyana Vynogradova / Shutterstock.com
U Colorado Boulder Expands Pollinator-Friendly Landscaping
The specialized landscaping across campus, totaling about 10,000-square-feet of land, is pollinator-friendly, can withstand heavy heat and minimal water, and enables pesticide-free practices to continue. The project was funded by the campus' sustainability fund and involved students from the university's Environmental Center and permaculture class.
U Colorado Boulder Expands Recycling Center With New Building
Designed to get the university closer to its goal of diverting 90 percent of campus waste from landfills, the new two-story, 19,500-square-foot building includes designated space for waste composition analysis and educational outreach and collaboration with students. An intent of the new facility is to more easily accommodate changing waste streams and difficult-to-recycle items.
Energy Department Defines Zero Energy Buildings
After leading a stakeholder engagement process over the past year and a half, the Energy Department states a Zero Energy Building is “an energy-efficient building where, on a source energy basis, the actual annual delivered energy is less than or equal to the on-site renewable exported energy." The findings were released in the recently published A Common Definition for Zero Energy Buildings.
Insight Into Diversity Magazine Recognizes 92 Colleges and Universities with Award
The Insight Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award recognizes colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion through initiatives, programs and outreach; student recruitment, retention and completion; and hiring practices for faculty and staff. This year, 92 schools were acknowledged.
University Business 'Inside Look: Sustainable Campus Buildings'
The recent article from University Business highlights the upward trend of colleges and universities that incorporate sustainability into new construction and renovations including energy and water efficiency, aesthetics, monitoring systems and learning opportunities for students.
U Maryland Sustainability Fund Reaches $1M Milestone
This semester marks a significant milestone for the university's Sustainability Fund. Since 2011, more than $1 million has been granted to 72 projects that promote environmental sustainability and positively impact the student experience.
Eastern Connecticut State U Enters $2M Built Environment Agreement
The new $2 million cooperative agreement involving the university's Institute for Sustainable Energy will launch a pilot program called Accelerate Performance that integrates performance-based procurement into new construction or major renovation projects. The initiative is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and includes Seventhwave and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
NY Times: 'Top Colleges Doing the Most for Low-Income Students'
The NY Times' The Upshot recently indexed colleges' efforts on economic diversity. The College Access Index is a combination of a colleges' Pell graduates and net price, compared with the average school. The table also shows the colleges' endowment per student, which is a measure of the resources available to colleges.
Williams College to Invest $50M in Carbon Reduction Activities
In response to a petition from alumni, faculty, staff and students calling for endowment divestment from fossil fuels, the college's board of trustees recently announced a $50 million investment effort to address climate change through a comprehensive set of initiatives targeted at reducing carbon emissions, obtaining carbon neutrality by 2020, and educational efforts related to climate change.
Frostburg State U Building Obtains LEED Gold
The university's newest LEED Gold-certified building utilizes recycled materials, conserves energy and water, manages storm water quality, minimizes the heat island effect and automatically adjusts temperature and lighting to fit the environment outside.
Vassar College Announces Two Major Clean Energy Initiatives
Vassar College closes two renewable energy power purchase agreement deals. A 2MW solar array will be built in Spring 2016 at a nearby decommissioned landfill. A small scale run-of-river hydro plant will provide the college with 1.9 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year starting this Fall. The two projects will cover more than 20% of the College's electricity needs.
Georgia Tech Receives $30M Grant for Education & Research Building
With $30 million from The Kendeda Fund, the university plans to construct a zero net energy and water consumption, education and research facility that will integrate into the university's Eco-Commons, a series of spaces designed to conserve natural resources and provide educational and recreational amenities. The project is slated to become a Living Building Challenge 3.0-certified facility.
U Utah Launches Ride Sharing Service
Partnering with Zimride by Enterprise, the university now offers an online ride-matching service that leverages the power of social media. By integrating with Facebook, Zimride connects drivers and passengers within a private university network heading to the same area.
U Utah Offers Graduate Certificate in Sustainability
Launched in January 2015, the university's Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Sustainability is open to any University of Utah graduate student or non-degree seeking student with a bachelor's degree. The intent of the certificate is to expand career opportunities and increase students' capabilities to be agents of transformational change within their communities and institutions.
Sheridan College Publishes Inaugural Sustainability Report
It's first sustainability report celebrates its recent AASHE STARS Silver rating and progress made toward its mission zero goals. The report highlights successes in four key areas of STARS, including improving energy efficiency and waste diversion, engaging the campus and local community, sustainability planning, and integrating sustainability into curriculum.
Loyola U Chicago Makes Carbon Neutral Commitment
During a full day symposium and teach-in on Pope Francis' Encyclical on Ecology on Sept. 9, the university released their climate action plan titled A Just Future that identifies a carbon neutral goal of 2025, and includes resiliency, engagement and accountability strategies.
U Wisconsin Milwaukee Rolls Out Bike
With marked lanes on many streets and miles of dedicated paths, this fall the opportunity to enjoy biking throughout the community will be much easier for students with help of six new Bublr stations totaling 230 bikes. Bublr Bikes offers students free, 60-minute passes for one year.
Richmond CC Announces Two Free Years of College
The North Carolina community college recently made the announcement offering two free years for students of public, private and home schools in Richmond and Scotland counties who have a 3.0-grade-point average or higher and have completed two college courses. Called the RichmondCC Guarantee, the program is slated to begin in fall 2016.
U California System Sells $200M in Coal & Oil Sands Holdings
The university system has sold off its endowment and pension fund holdings in coal and oil sands companies, a $200-million move that officials recently announced was in response to both environmental concerns and rising financial risk in those industries. The university has no plans to sell off holdings in oil and natural gas.
Boston U Dining Services Releases 2015 Sustainability Report
The new report presents the results of a fall 2014 student survey and outlines measurable progress. During the last year, Dining Services created the Wholesome Roots program focused on offering grass-fed ground beef, using Humane Certified, antibiotic-free chicken, and sourcing locally grown food.
Penn State U Campus Catering Composts 90% of Waste
After the general manager of Campus Catering began attending industry conferences, the amount of material diverted from landfills rose from nearly zero percent to approximately 90 percent over the past six years. One strategy in particular is using refillable jug water dispensers and compostable cups opposed to plastic water bottles.
Eastern Maine CC Receives $220K to Support Disadvantaged Students
With a $220,000 grant from the U.S. Education Department, the college's goal is to guide 150 low-income, first-generation and/or disabled students through the college experience to graduate from the community college or transfer to a four-year institution by offering programs specifically designed to meet students' academic needs including additional advisor appointments and tutoring.
Penn State U Pilots Trayless Dining
In an attempt to reduce the current food waste amount from 138 pounds of food per meal, the university's Findlay Dining Commons, an all-you-can-eat facility, will offer plates and bowls instead of trays and allow students to return to the buffet repeatedly.
Millersville U Acquires $1M Gift for Net Zero Building
County natives Samuel and Dena Lombardo donated the $1 million toward the net zero welcome center building, expected to use solar panels, water conservation and renewable building materials and host more than 10,000 visitors annually.
U Alberta Building Incorporates Sustainability Features
The university's Faculty of Engineering is now housed in the most energy-efficient building on campus and is on track to for LEED Gold certification. The new facility integrates many notable sustainable features including fan wall technology, chilled beam technology, motion-sensor lighting and low-flow fixtures. Future plans include installing a 60-kilowatt photovoltaic system.
U Virginia Releases 2014-15 Sustainability Report
Issued by the University Committee on Sustainability, provides a snapshot of sustainability progress over the past academic year. The report is framed around our core approaches: grounds stewardship, campus and community collaboration and engagement, and discovery through curriculum, research and campus grounds as a living laboratory.
U Colorado Boulder Athletics Expands Sports Sustainability Programs
Kicking off the 2015 home football season, CU Athletics introduced new programs that encourage recycling, using alternative transportation and reducing water consumption. Bring Your Bottle Back to Life, a partnership with PepsiCo, gives away T-shirts made with 50 percent recycled plastic fibers each time the Colorado Buffaloes score a touchdown.
Michigan State U Announces Student Solar Design Competition
In an effort to address some of the most urgent environmental issues facing our world today, the university is inviting students across the state to design a dynamic solar installation that values both aesthetic appeal and energy efficiency. With $10,000 in total prizes, the competition recognizes students who are advancing sustainability through their commitment to clean energy innovation.
