U Maryland Diverts 89 Percent of Waste from Landfills
The university's Facilities Management Solid Waste and Recycling Unit recently confirmed the university has achieved an 89 percent institutional diversion rate in 2014. The rate increased by more than 10 percent from 2013. The institutional diversion rate reflects all materials the university diverted from landfills, including construction and demolition waste.
Harvard U Offers a Guided Meditation Hotline
The university's new hotline is one of several ways the university supports its mindfulness meditation program, which is just one of many programs designed to promote employee health and well-being, one of the pillars of the school’s sustainability plan.
Michigan State U to Stop Burning Coal
In a move that will reduce emissions at its T.B. Simon Power Plant and significantly advance its Energy Transition Plan, the university is taking steps to stop burning coal by the end of 2016, with a majority of coal purchasing and burning ending in 2015.
Emory U Seeks to Map Sustainability Community
Emory's students, faculty and staff who are actively involved in sustainability are contributing to a mapping project to visualize the university's sustainability community in an effort to understand who is actively engaged in sustainability on campus, the type of work they do, and to what extent these individuals and groups collaborate.
Emory U Enhances Student Experience Through Water Reclamation Facility
The university's water reclamation plant is the newest facility being used to enhance student learning and the student experience as interdisciplinary interest surges around the center, allowing faculty members to integrate its resources into undergraduate and graduate classes and research.
Local Food Connects U Kentucky Campus to the Commonwealth
University Dining partners with local farmers and producers to deliver that fresh, home-grown experience to a campus with more than 30,000 students and 14,000 employees. As the university and Aramark forged a 15-year, $245 million partnership last year to transform dining services, the opportunity to support Kentucky farmers and processors expanded.
MIT Hosts Fossil Fuel Divestment Debate [Video]
The MIT Climate Change Conversation explored whether MIT should divest its endowment as part of its response to climate change. Six prominent voices in the dialogue on climate change and energy were staged as two teams that present PRO-divestment and AGAINST-divestment arguments in a classic debate format moderated by Tony Cortese, principal of Intentional Endowments Network.
Furman U Celebrates STARS Rating With Gold Star Cake
On confirmation of an AASHE STARS gold rating, Furman celebrated with a dessert event on March 24th. Part of Earth Week programming, student assessment fellows offered remarks and presented a gold, star-shaped cake to President Elizabeth Davis. The event was was part of a campus-wide campaign to thank data contributors and educate campus about STARS-related successes and opportunities.
Rochester Institute of Tech Reduces Waste & Helps Hungry
The university's new program is an effort to alleviate student hunger and food insecurity and maximize sustainably efforts on campus. RIT FoodShare is about sharing what we have with those around us, building community, and enhancing sustainability. It aims to make the most of our pooled resources so that nothing goes to waste and students do not go hungry.
U Calgary Partners on Wastewater Research Facility
For the first time, university researchers are working with municipal operators to advance wastewater treatment technologies and knowledge that will lead to cleaner water, a better protected ecosystem and improved public health. The $38.5 million wastewater facility is a fully-integrated university research facility located within an operating industrial wastewater treatment plant.
U California Santa Barbara Goes Lights Out
Spurred on by the slogan "Gauchos Do It in the Dark," the residents of eight dorms at the Santa Barbara campus cut their electricity use by nearly 8 percent during a Feb. 16-March 8 competition, inching ahead of other University of California undergraduate campuses.
Central New Mexico CC Produces Film About Mt. Trashmore & RecycleMania
The college's Media Production team produced a short film highlighting “Mount Trashmore,” the key event during RecycleMania. The event served as an educational activity for students participating in Campus as a Living Lab and Service Learning projects while also emphasizing the college's relationships with community partners.
U Illinois Secures Deal on Recycled Paper
Offices on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus can now buy a ream of 30% recycled paper for less cost than a ream of virgin paper. University Housing, a participant in the new campus Certified Green Office program, is the first customer lining up to take advantage of the newly priced environmental paper option.
Paul Smith's College Students Communicate About Climate Change
A climate communication class recently organized a science, art and music festival, where students developed creative, place-based presentations on climate change in the Adirondacks for influential members of the region who can pass the information along to their constituents.
Stanford U Transitions to Efficient Heat Recovery System
The Stanford Energy System Innovations (SESI) system helps the university transition from a 100 percent fossil-fuel-based CHP plant to grid-sourced electricity and a more efficient electric heat recovery system. This system is anticipated to reduce campus emissions approximately 80 percent from current levels and save 15 percent of campus potable water.
Syracuse U Prohibits Direct Fossil Fuel Investment
Syracuse University recently announced that it is formalizing its commitment to prohibit direct investment of endowment funds in coal mining and other fossil fuel companies. The university will also continue to seek additional investments through its endowment in companies that are developing new technology related to solar energy, biofuels and advanced recycling.
U California Merced Develops System to Report Water Leaks
New software developed at UC Merced allows anyone on campus with a smart phone to report water leaks to Facilities in a couple of easy steps. Facilities and Operations in mid-March installed quick-response-code stickers that contain two different QR codes, one for leaky sinks and the other for leaky toilets, individually programmed for each specific restroom.
St. Mary's U Receives Fair Trade University Status
The university's new designation signals the 28th institution of higher education in the nation to receive the designation by Fair Trade Colleges and Universities. The university has worked with its food service contractor to make fair trade-certified foods, beverages and items available in its dining facilities, convenience stores, and university-hosted catered meetings.
Southern Oregon U Named First Bee Campus USA
On April 8, 2015, the university and Bee City USA will announce the launch of the national Bee Campus USA program, designed to marshal the strengths of college campuses for the benefit of pollinators. The university collaborated with Bee City USA to develop the guidelines for certification after being inspired by early adopters of Bee City USA, such as SOU’s hometown of Ashland, Ore.
Cornell U Building Earns LEED Gold
The new 480,000-square-foot research facility features high-efficiency mechanical systems that enable it to consumer 18 percent less energy than a minimally code-compliant structure by employing energy-saving mechanical systems, including a high-efficiency HVAC system, energy conserving heat exchangers, and daylight-responsive lighting controls.
U Northern Iowa Hosts Regional Sustainability Conference
The University of Northern Iowa is hosting its second regional sustainability conference, "Environmental Equity and Resilience in the Cedar Valley and Beyond." This conference focuses on actions needed to envision a sustainable world and the transformation needed to create it. The conference includes a keynote speaker and a variety of breakout sessions focusing on food issues, policy concerns, natural energy, and resources and health topics.
U Kentucky Conducts Campus Clean-Up
A beautiful campus and a litter-free campus go hand-in-hand, and groups at the University of Kentucky will be able to care for their own piece of Wildcat country during the month of April. A new element of the Pick It Up campaign, the Adopt-a-Spot program encourages registered UK student organizations, UK offices and other groups to participate in weekly clean-ups to eliminate litter at UK.
St. Edward's U Buildings Earn Green Rating
St. Edward’s University is happy to report that the Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) program has awarded its 3-star rating certificates to the John Brooks Williams Natural Science Center-South and the UFCU Alumni Gym. These buildings serve as yet another example of the university’s commitment to sustainability and the environment.
Loyola U Chicago Buildings Receive Green Designation
Loyola University Chicago has added five green-certified buildings to its list of high-efficiency constructions across its campuses. The United States Green Building Council recently granted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) designations to the university buildings, including three Gold certifications.
Bluefield College Offers Half Off Tuition
In an effort to lower college student debt upon graduation, prospective students who qualify for the federal Pell grant, live at home, and attend a school within a 45-mile radius of the college will receive tuition at $12,000 instead of the current $23,000 cost.
Boston U Increases Recycling Rate
The newly installed dual-stream recycling system on every floor of one of the campus' largest residence halls was the result of the university's Student Government Department of Environmental Affairs goal to increase access and convenience.
Loyola U Chicago Supports Divestment in Fossil Fuel Holdings
The university's campus senate recently agreed to immediately freeze any new investment in fossil fuel companies and divest from direct ownership within 18 months. The decision also includes a five-year plan to divest from any commingled funds that include fossil fuel public equities and corporate bonds, and recommends investments in renewable energy technology.
Maharishi U Offers Master's Program in Sustainable Living
During the first year of the program, beginning fall 2015, students will spend half their time in class and half in the community addressing challenges. The second year will be entirely devoted to a major community project, with one option being a 25-month hitch in the Peace Corps.
Northampton CC Plans Wind Turbine Project
The college is now acquiring bids for the installation of an on-campus 10-kilowatt wind turbine to sit atop a 73-foot monopole. The electricity-producing machine will be connected to the school’s electrical system in its electrical wiring laboratory.
Southern Oregon U Receives Seed Gift
The university's Center for Sustainability recently received the gift of seeds from Territorial Seed Company that will allow the university to grow fruits and vegetables to be distributed at a weekly low-cost farm stand to students, distributed to Dining facilities, and sold to faculty and staff through a community-supported agriculture program.
SUNY ESF Building Receives LEED Platinum
The building features a green roof used as a research and demonstration project, native plant species, solar panels, permeable pavement, rain gardens, and no-mow zones.
U Kentucky Breaks Ground on 30KW Solar Array
Tied into a campus building, the 30-kilowatt electricity-producing system, projected to produce approximately 1.5 percent of the buildings' needs, will provide a learning opportunity for students and the public through an online solar production tracking system.
U Kentucky Engages Students Through Sustainability Internship
A new partnership with the university's Office of Sustainability now allows up to six students in any academic program to participate in a year-long, 10-hour per week internship in the areas of energy, waste, transportation, food, urban forests, and water systems.
U Massachusetts Lowell Formally Opens Sustainability Office
The new office sprouted from the efforts of a private consulting firm contracted by the university to assist in completing the campus' first STARS and Princeton Review assessment. The office aims to be a centralized place to provide support, services and advancement to university sustainability.
U Nebraska-Lincoln Pilots Campus Energy Audit Course
The first-time class allows students to work with the university's energy projects engineer to interview building users, review energy usage data, and document building conditions during a series of walkthroughs. The collected information will be used to generate a final report that includes a list of possible improvements.
U Nebraska-Lincoln Students Vote in Favor of Green Fee
A recent survey showed nearly 4 out of 5 voting students said they were interested in paying $2 to a green fund that would be available for student-led sustainability projects. As a result, the Environmental Sustainability Committee is exploring two options for implementing the fee.
U North Carolina Chapel Hill Announces Campus Climate Dialogues
Inspired by the rising level of national and local discourse surrounding events and issues of equity and inclusion related to race, intellectual diversity, religion, identity and culture, the university recently began Carolina Conversations, a coordinated effort that gives the campus community an avenue to share thoughts and opinions with the administration. The campaign includes an interactive website, a calendar of all campus events related to diversity, equity and inclusion, and a series of ongoing events to encourage dialogue.
