U California to Combat Climate Change
Through direct investments following United Nation guidelines and the establishment of a framework for sustainable investments and solar energy purchases, the university will continue to take steps toward carbon neutrality by 2025 for a cleaner environment through solar energy.
U Illinois Chicago Building Earns LEED Gold
The university's Mile Square Health Center earned certification due to aspects that include a green roof, high-efficiency flush fixtures and low-VOC carpet, paint and furniture to reduce chemicals and improve air quality.
U Maine Reduces Waste
The university recently reduced waste with a new unlimited meal plan for students where they no longer need to swipe for a lunch or dinner, which caused a significant decrease in food waste.
Appalachian State U Stadium Now Zero-Waste
To help the university meet its 90 percent waste diversion rate by 2022, a plan was recently developed for the 2014 season to include compost and recyclables waste collection areas each game day.
Carnegie Mellon U Starts New Sustainability Program
A new voluntary, self-guided initiative recently began to promote offices that are taking steps toward reducing their environmental footprint through conserving water, saving energy and minimizing waste.
College Idaho Provide Eco-House
A self-sustaining college sponsored residency provides opportunities for students to promote food consciousness and a more environmentally friendly lifestyle for a second year.
Emory U to Protect Bees
The university’s Office of Sustainability Initiatives recently released a new campus pollinator protection policy that will protect pollinators to further its sustainability vision to reduce the university's impact on the local environment.
Florida A&M U Introduces New Initiative
The university is focused on advancing the research, teaching and application of innovative solutions to global socio-economic, ecological and energy sustainability issues in which the new Sustainability Initiative will play a pivotal role toward helping the university to achieve this mission throughout the 2014/15 school season.
Gonzaga U Brings Local Food to Campus
Students can now expect more sustainable food options in the cafeteria thanks to a new partnership between the university and Local Inland Northwest Cooperative Growers. This partnership will contribute toward the Real Food Challenge pledge to source 25 percent of food from local providers by 2020.
Johnson C. Smith U Students Garden
In an effort to provide a sustainable garden and food source to the campus, the university had students plant fall crops for harvesting in November and December. This garden will also encourage healthy eating habits.
Penn State U to Increase Sustainability at Sporting Events
Throughout the upcoming football season, the university will work to achieve a 100 percent landfill diversion rate starting within the suite sections of the Beaver Stadium to surpass the 97 percent diversion rate accomplished in the 2013 season.
San Diego County Water Authority Promotes Conservation
Students are invited to participate in a new selfie contest of a picture with themselves and a magnet from the authority that says, “When in Drought” in a campaign to increase water conservation efforts such as turning off the water when brushing their teeth.
San Diego State U Conserves Water
The university will soon identify where water is being used to find ways in which water usages can be reduced, such as through the recent installation of a rainwater collection system toward a goal of cutting consumption by 20 percent.
Sustainable Endowments Institute Analyzes STARS [LINK UPDATED]
An analysis was recently released of STARS data from institutions that earned at least one of the six investment credits. AASHE was briefed about the research process, but the report was developed independently and AASHE has not partnered nor endorsed the report.
Temple U Unveils New Diversity Site
The university rolled out a new website to support its mission to maintain a campus climate that welcomes diversity and will provide easy access to information and resources for those interested in fostering diversity across the campus.
Three Institutions Support Expansion of Pittsburgh 2030 Program
This sustainable program recently expanded into Oakland, PA thanks to Carlow University, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and others toward 50 percent reductions in energy consumption, water use and transportation emissions by the year 2030.
U Albany Launches Sustainability Campaign
New green initiatives at the university began recently including an effort to reduce electricity use around the campus, provide water through a water refill station to students and faculty and the implementation of a new ZipCar service.
Colorado State U Get Solar Panels
In order to increase solar energy, the university recently installed panels to increase the amount of sustainable energy 6,600 kilowatts with the ability to power approximately 1,200 homes to benefit the institution and the surrounding community.
DePauw U Names New Senior Advisor to Promote Diversity
Renee Madison, attorney and associate director of enforcement for the National Collegiate Athletics Association, will now serve on the university’s Cabinet as Senior Advisor to the President for Diversity and Compliance, announced the university’s president this September. She will lead university efforts to promote a campus culture of respect and inclusion.
Indiana U Purdue U Indianapolis Repurposes Food Waste
The university’s new student-led food rescue and distribution operation will turn wasted food into meals for those in need while creating opportunities for student leadership and empowerment, service learning opportunities and additional community partnerships, to promote sustainability throughout the campus to community.
Institutions Boost Sustainability Movement
U.S. News: Colleges and universities lead the charge to increase renewable energy efforts such as green residency buildings, clean energy courses and upgrades to promote fuel efficiency.
North Carolina State U to Save Trees
To prevent cankerworms from damaging university trees, volunteers will wrap and attach polyfill fabric and special paper around tree trunks this fall, and later they will slather the bands with a sticky paste to prevent eggs being laid.
Portland State U Boosts Recycling Bin Locations
Thanks to a grant from Keep America Beautiful and The Coca-Cola Foundation, 1,000 new recycling bins designed specifically for placement in its residence halls were recently installed to increase waste diversion efforts.
Two Emory U Hospitals to Divert Waste
Starting in the operating rooms, Emory University Hospital Midtown and Emory University Hospital aim to reduce landfill waste by 65 percent by 2015 through recycling more and donating unused supplies.
U Louisiana Lafayette Works Toward Zero-Waste
The university recently piloted several programs to increase sustainability efforts in their zero-waste initiative around the campus that includes an increase in recycling bins, Goodwill donation bins to divert waste and the donation of leftover food.
Virginia Tech Pilots Green Project
On home game days, the university will now have additional recycling bins as part of a new test program to increase recycling efforts by 50 percent by 2050.
Wright State U Students Advocate for Fair Trade
In order to increase the variety of products and price points to consumers at the university, the Fair Trade Student Association will soon begin a campaign to increase the availability of eco-friendly products by laborers who were treated fairly and ethically.
Yale U Introduces New Sustainability Initiatives
In order to boost clean energy efforts, the university plans to invest funds to improve energy consumption, introduce carbon pricing to meet climate change objectives, install solar panels, adopt third-party verification of our campus greenhouse gas inventory, green innovation fellowships and the re-evaluation of the current university Sustainability Strategic Plan.
Albright College Opens Sustainability House
Five college undergrads will take part in green activities at a new affinity house focused on sustainability, such as recycling and tracking their energy use, developing a relevant event for students on campus, and writing a grant application for a capital item for the house, such as a solar panel.
Appalachian State U Welcomes Chief Diversity Officer
Bindu Kolli Jayne started as the chief diversity officer and associate vice chancellor for equity, diversity and compliance this past June. Jayne will be responsible for the university’s compliance with laws, regulations and guidelines related to affirmative action, equal opportunity and disability services.
California State U System Engages Local Business
With a new bill, California State University pledges to source 20 percent of its food purchases from local community based farms by 2020, while Sonoma State University supports local business and promotes sustainable practices within the university’s dining venues.
Frederick CC Increases Diversity
Minority students and faculty increased at the community college in the past year, which has spurred the need for a new Office of Diversity director to address this growing change at the campus.
Hastings College to Create Green Space
The college plans to create a pedestrian mall to replace a busy intersection located between residence halls and the student union by next summer to unite the campus and improve college experience while promoting an increase in green areas.
Joliet Junior College to Take on STARS
In order to promote a sustainable culture, economy and social environment, and to capture current sustainability efforts as a baseline for improvement, the college recently formed a committee to complete a STARS assessment as part of its strategic goals.
Lane CC Identifies Energy Efficient Projects
The Energy Carryover Fund, the college’s green revolving fund, was created in 2006 with an allocation of $165,585 from surplus funds in the utilities budget to help the college meet their sustainability goals and formalize a process to identify energy efficiency projects. The fund averages 22.9 percent and has achieved a total of $113,087 in savings to date.
Portland State U Studies Air Quality
Researchers recently found that an increase in urban forests led to a reduction in the amount of nitrogen dioxide, an air pollutant that can cause asthma, which can save approximately $6.5 million per year by avoiding missed school and work days, emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
Princeton U Starts Light Efficiency Upgrade
As part of its Facilities Organization project, the university started to convert over 100,000 light fixtures to light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs across the campus this past July, and is expected to be completed by December 2016 to contribute as much as a 15 percent reduction in carbon emissions as outlined by the Princeton Sustainability Plan to 1990 levels by 2020.
