Energy Dept. Solar Funding Opportunity
The U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative released a new funding opportunity designed to increase foundational knowledge of solar technology evolution, reduce solar deployment barriers and improve state energy planning practices. A brief, mandatory concept paper is due March 8.
Call for Papers: Integrating Education for Sustainable Development Throughout All Educational Levels
The special volume of the Journal of Cleaner Production (JCLEPRO) will highlight how education for sustainable development (ESD) can be integrated in a deeper and more holistic way through all spheres of education. The special volume will focus on recent developments and future visions in the field of ESD on all levels of education (from kindergarten to universities and adult education), and present and promote critical discussion of ESD. Contributions from scholars throughout the world representing different disciplines and educational functions are welcomed.
Call for Films: Real Food Films 2016
Produced by Real Food Media, Real Food Films welcomes four-minutes-or-less films on food, farming and sustainability by March 1. The team of judges and advisors is looking for powerful films about sustainable food and farming, compelling stories, original voices and stunning cinematography about coverage of underreported issues, innovative sustainability strategies, and compelling stories of food producers and workers. Grand prize winner will receive $5,000 and film debut, first runner up is slated $2,000, and there are cash prizes for three awards, student, people's choice and a special award.
Sustainability Officers Retreat
AASHE and the University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus will co-host this retreat designed for and by staff charged with leading institutional transformation for sustainability. Featuring Leith Sharp (Harvard University's Center for Health and the Global Environment), Aurora Winslade (Swarthmore College) and Leanne Bilodeau (the University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus), the retreat format will allow for the type of creative, intellectually curious, open-ended discussion that emerges best in a relaxed, safe environment. Through an intensive two and a half days of presentations, discussions, reflection, sharing and experiential learning activities, participants will explore common issues facing sustainability officers, learn about change management strategies and develop skills to be more effective sustainability leaders. Deadline to apply is April 15.
Call for Nominations: Best of Green Schools 2016
The Center for Green Schools at USGBC is now accepting nominations for Best of Green Schools program. The Best of Green Schools higher education institution category recognizes higher education schools or faculty members who have made a significant contribution to the K–12 green schools movement through partnership, research and/or scholarship. Winners will be announced at the 2016 Green Schools Conference and Expo, March 31-April 1 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Nomination deadline is Feb. 26.
Northeast Campus Sustainability Consortium 2016 Conference: Request for Proposals
The Northeast Campus Sustainability Consortium 2016 conference theme is Sustainability Professional Skillshare taking place from March 31 through April 1 at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Conference organizers are currently seeking proposals for conference presentations with a particular interest in engagement and outreach, education for sustainability, diversity and affordability, health and wellness, food and dining, and facilitation. Submission period ends Feb. 19.
University Partners Wanted to Explore & Strengthen Off-Campus Housing Sustainability
Currently comprised of a group of 10, mostly university towns, RentRocket.org is an innovative solution attempting to address sustainability challenges posed by the off-campus impact of student housing. RentRocket aims to enable renters to see and compare not just basic amenities but also information like utility costs, accessibility to alternative modes of transit and recycling options. RentRocket now seeks additional university partners interested in further exploring and developing ways to reduce the impact of the off-campus university housing environment.
Call for Papers: Just Sustainability: Hope for the Commons
The Seattle University Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainability invites papers for its second biennial conference Just Sustainability: Hope for the Commons to be held in Seattle on Aug. 7-9. Authors will have the opportunity to publish papers in a special issue of the journal Interdisciplinary Environmental Review. Papers related to environmental justice and sustainability from all fields of discourse, including but not limited to environmental studies, theology, business, philosophy, engineering, education, law, international development, anthropology, religious studies, geography and the natural sciences are welcomed. Abstracts of no more than 200 words are due by Feb. 22.
Campus Behavioral Energy Efficiency Survey
The Duke University Center for Sustainability and Commerce is collaborating with Duke Energy Corporation to research behavioral energy efficiency programs on college campuses. Campuses are invited to participate in a short survey about energy efficiency engagement and education efforts on campus. The information provided will be aggregated with information from colleges and universities across the country to better understand how energy education and engagement can be implemented in higher education to reduce energy consumption and contribute to the mitigation of climate change. For all who participate in the survey, results and analysis for use by your college or university will be provided.
RecycleMania Open Registration
Interested parties can now sign up to participate in Recyclemania, a friendly competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities. Over an eight-week period each spring, colleges across the U.S. and Canada report the amount of recycling and trash collected each week and are then ranked in various categories based on most recycling on a per capita basis, best recycling rate as a percentage of total waste, and amount of combined trash and recycling. Full registration in the competition must be completed by Feb. 4.
ISCN 2016 Call for Abstracts
The International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) has opened its call for abstracts for ISCN 2016 being held at University of Siena in Italy from June 13-15. Abstracts should be relevant to the conference focus, Leadership for Sustainable Development, and relate to one of the themes: innovative infrastructure and user behavior, holistic campus planning and sustainable urban models, and sustainability skills and competencies. All abstracts are due by Feb. 26.
SPLC 2016 Summit Call for Proposals
The Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council’s annual Summit brings together hundreds of visionary purchasing and sustainability professionals, suppliers and NGO experts from diverse sectors and regions in order to share, simplify and spread the best sustainable purchasing practices across the economy. This year's program welcomes your proposals for interactive workshops, roundtable and panel sessions, lightning talks and more. Submission deadline is Feb. 12.
SPLC Leadership & Case Study Awards
The Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council’s annual awards program recognizes organizations for leveraging institutional purchasing power to advance the long-term health and vitality of society, economies and the planet. There are two types of awards, both based on case study submissions: outstanding case study awards and leadership awards. All submissions are due March 18.
Eighth Annual International Sustainable Campus Network Award Application
The International Sustainable Campus Excellence Awards recognize sustainable campus projects that demonstrate leadership, creativity, effectiveness and outstanding performance. The award categories have been modified this year to reflect the evolution of campus sustainability. Campus projects can be submitted for one of the following categories: Buildings and Innovative Infrastructure, Campus Planning and Management Systems, Innovative Collaboration, or Student Leadership.
2016 EPEAT Purchaser Awards Open Application Period
All organizations that purchase EPEAT-registered products (Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool) are eligible to apply for the EPEAT Purchaser Awards. This award program recognizes the efforts of those driving environmental improvements through environmentally preferable electronics purchasing. Applications are being accepted through March 23.
Northeast Regional Sun Grant Center 2016 Competitive Grant Program
The mission of the Sun Grant Program is to focus the abilities of the nation's colleges and universities in partnership with the private sector and federal laboratories to enhance national energy security and independence through the development, distribution and implementation of bio-based energy technologies, the promotion of bio-based diversification and environmental sustainability of the region's agriculture, and the promotion of opportunities for bio-based economic diversification in rural communities. Strategic programmatic areas for 2016 include decentralized and distributed feedstock, bioenergy and bio-product systems, life cycle analysis, air and water quality impacts, and carbon mitigation and sequestration. Pre-proposals required, due by Feb. 8.
Campus Kitchen Project $5K Grant
Sponsored by the AARP Foundation, the Campus Kitchen Project is offering $5,000 startup grants to colleges and universities that are interested in creating food security for the older adult population in their community. The deadline to apply is Feb. 5.
Call for Papers: Symposium on Sustainable Development Research at United Kingdom Universities
The symposium being held at Manchester Metropolitan University, April 5-6, 2016 will provide an opportunity for researchers from natural and social sciences to come together to discuss research methods, empirical research and exchange ideas about on-going and future research initiatives focusing on sustainable development. All accepted papers will be part of the World Sustainability Series, an award-winning publication from Springer.
NREL No-Cost Solar Screenings and Implementation Assistance for Universities
In support of the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot initiative, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is offering no-cost technical assistance to universities seeking to increase solar energy on campus. Any U.S. higher education institution is eligible to apply. The program is designed to increase the deployment of mid-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems at universities, engage stakeholders to develop deployment solutions and empower decision makers. Applications for NREL’s solar screening and implementation assistance are due Jan. 15.
Princeton Review and Sierra 2016 Reporting Deadlines
AASHE continues its collaboration with the Princeton Review and Sierra Magazine in an effort to reduce the data collection and reporting burden for members. As in past years, campuses will be able to submit data required to earn a Princeton Review Green Rating and a Sierra Cool Schools ranking through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) Reporting Tool instead of having to complete separate surveys. Princeton Review's deadline is Feb. 29. Sierra Magazine's deadline is March 22.
Low Carbon IT Campaign
Offered by Energy Star, the Low Carbon IT Campaign is a nationwide effort to assist and recognize organizations for reducing the energy consumed by their information technology equipment. With six suggested ways to reduce the IT energy costs at your organization, the EPA will recognize institutions that implement two of them, putting computers to sleep and benchmarking data centers. Free phone and email consultations are available to answer questions.
Submit Your Sustainability Projects to Facilities Manager
The March/April 2016 issue of Facilities Manager magazine will focus on the broad topic of sustainability, and we are hoping to include a short description of your latest project or success. In 200 words or less, send your information to editor Steve Glazner at steve[at]appa[dot]org. A high-resolution photo or graphic (at least 300 dpi) can be included as well. The issue will receive extra distribution to the attendees of the 2016 Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, April 4-5. The deadline for submission is Jan. 15.
Geothermal Design Challenge 2016
The U.S. Department of Energy Geothermal Technologies Office, in partnership with the Center for Advanced Energy Studies and Idaho National Lab, is recruiting student teams to design an infographic that will illustrate how geothermal energy is clean, safe, reliable and sustainable. Winners will share a prize purse of $7,500 and present their infographic at a geothermal energy conference in California. Register now and submit a draft infographic by March 1.
Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference Student Summit
The Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference Student Summit in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 3, formerly the SEED Conference at American University, will bring together higher education students from across the country to participate in a day of curated workshops to gain skills, share best practices and lessons learned, hone personal sustainability, and be inspired by peers and professionals alike. Call for proposals now open for student presenters. Deadline to apply is Feb. 1.
Registration Open: RecycleMania 2016
Registration is now open for the university and college waste reduction competition known as RecycleMania. RecycleMania is a friendly competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities. Over an eight-week period each spring, colleges across the U.S. and Canada report the amount of recycling and trash collected each week and are in turn ranked in various categories. Registration ends Jan. 22.
Call for Proposals: Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences 2016
Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences (AESS) is now accepting proposals for for AESS 2016, themed Science, Empathy, Collaboration and Sustainability. Proposals can be for individual papers, poster presentations, full panels, workshops, discussion symposia and mealtime roundtables. Held in Washington, D.C., June 8-11, the theme and location of the conference offer a chance to consider multi-scale policy-making at local, city, state, regional, national and international levels. Deadline for submissions is Jan. 29.
The Campus Sustainability Movement: Forming a Library Action Plan for Engagement
This online course focuses on the role of the academic librarian in the sustainability movement. Through a reflective process, readings, exercises and participation in a discussion forum, participants will connect to the community-inspired energy that drives the sustainability movement. Emphasis will be on the curriculum and professional development, with a preliminary exploration of how facilities management and co-curricular activities tie into the teaching and learning of sustainability. The course runs from Jan. 4-29 and offers 1.5 continuing education units (CEUs).
APPA/NACUBO Key Facilities Metrics Survey Due Dec. 14
APPA and the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) are inviting people to participate in a survey to help explain the need for better incentives in energy efficiency for higher education. The survey asks for data on energy (BTU and electrical), water, waste and carbon. Participants do not need to have access to all the data in order to participate. Beta survey results will be released to participants in January 2016, with final results released in February or March. Eligible survey participants, those who complete at least two of the five consumption metrics, will be entered into a randomly selected drawing for a $500 Apple certificate. Two certificates will be given. Deadline to take the survey is Dec. 14.
University and College Car Sharing Survey
The Institute for Sensible Transport, on behalf of Monash University (Australia), is conducting research on campus-based car share services in North America. The short survey is designed for university campus transport, fleet or environmental programs staff to share their experience with car sharing, whether or not they actually have a car share service on campus. The results will be used to help plan car share services for the redevelopment and enlargement of a major Australian university campus.
New to AASHE STARS? Discount Available Through December 31
Through the end of this year, AASHE is offering a $250 discount to help institutions measure and track campus sustainability efforts. Universities and colleges that have never submitted a report can subscribe for a full Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) subscription with a $250 discount by using the promotional code: NEVERSUBMITTED. STARS is a transparent, self-reporting system that allows colleges and universities to measure, track and compare their sustainability performance over time. This discount is available from through Dec. 31.
Call for Proposals: EAUC Annual Conference
The Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges (EAUC) will take place at the University of the West of England from May 25-26, 2016. Conference session proposals are now being accepted.
Seeking Best Practices in Education for Sustainability in Education Development
Three educational developers from Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia and George Brown College are researching best practices of Education for Sustainability (EfS) in educational development to stimulate and support educational developers (EDs) to incorporate EfS into their practices, in particular to embed sustainability themes and outcomes within courses, programs, post-secondary institutions at national and international levels. The researchers hope to share these practices through social media, videos and text-based summaries. All three educational developers are members of the EfS Action Group of the Educational Developers Caucus. The project is funded by a grant from the Educational Developers Caucus (EDC) of the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.
REV Campus Challenge for New York Colleges and Universities
All two- and four-year public and private colleges and universities in New York State are eligible to participate in the REV (Reforming the Energy Vision) Campus Challenge. The REV Campus Challenge recognizes achievements among institutions of higher education and enables exchange of best practices and lessons learned, and seeks to help colleges and universities meet their financial, environmental, academic and community goals through clean energy solutions that also help scale up total clean energy use in New York State. The program will administer Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's $3 million clean energy competition. The three groups that propose the best ideas to invest in clean energy will each win $1 million to help implement their plans.
Campus Climate Adaptation Planning Survey
RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia is conducting a survey aiming to benchmark the current state of play of climate adaptation planning in the tertiary sector globally. Professionals involved in campus or facilities sustainability management or sustainability education are invited to add their response to this online survey that should take approximately 15-30 minutes. Institutions that have not yet worked on climate adaptation are also invited to participate. The final report will be made freely available to all survey participants in late December.
Application Deadline Extended: Sustainability Across the Curriculum Leadership Workshop
Applications are open for the Sustainability Across the Curriculum workshop with Peggy Barlett, Jan. 7-8, at Emory University in Atlanta. For faculty leaders of all disciplines, workshops involve an intensive two days of presentations, exercises, discussions, outdoor place-based activities and planning. Participants reflect on their own roles in the transformation of higher education, receive readings and organizational materials and share challenges and strategies with supportive fellow leaders. The extended deadline to apply is Nov. 13.
