Linfield College Library Renovation to Reduce Energy Use by 30%
With the recent renovation of its historic library building, Linfield College (OR) expects to decrease the building's energy use by 30 percent. Built in 1936, the library offered inadequate space to install a modern heating and cooling system. The college selected radiant ceiling panels for both heating and cooling.
Monmouth College Installs Rain Garden to Curb Water Pollution
Monmouth College (IL) has installed a rain garden at the front of its educational garden to help minimize water pollution. The garden features low maintenance perennial plants and is expected to help reduce stormwater runoff, recharge ground supplies, increase wildlife habitat and reduce the need to mow. To help cover the costs, the college received a $740 Illinois Rain Garden Initiative grant from the Illinois Conservation Foundation and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Education, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
New Report Reveals Continued Gender Gap in STEM Fields
A new report from the U.S. Department of Commerce highlights the gender gap in science and technology fields. Although women fill close to half of all jobs in the U.S. economy, they represent less than 25 percent of the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) jobs. The report also notes that women with a STEM degree are less likely than their male counterparts to work in a STEM occupation.
Oregon Public Universities Plan to Go Solar
Oregon public universities have announced plans to launch a new solar project. A 5-megawatt solar system is planned for Oregon Institute of Technology, Oregon State University and Eastern Oregon University. Officials expect to start construction by the end of August once the contracts are finalized. Students will have the opportunity to learn about renewable energy and also benefit from the energy cost savings. Four other Oregon public universities will build solar projects next year as part of the second phase. Much of the total costs, estimated at more than $26 million, will be covered by state and federal tax credits.
Salisbury U Receives First LEED Gold with Renovation
The renovation of Salisbury University’s (MD) Pocomoke Hall has achieved the university’s first LEED Gold certification. More than 15.8 percent of building materials were sourced and manufactured within 500 miles of the construction site and 22 percent were made from recycled materials. Approximately 75 percent of construction waste was diverted from landfills and 67 percent of the wood used in the building was from Forest Stewardship Council-certified products.
Taylor U Installs 2 Wind Turbines
Taylor University (IN) has installed two wind turbines on campus. The twin turbines are part of a plan to power the new science complex with a combination of wind, geothermal and solar energy. The two 50-kilowatt turbines are expected to be operational by the end of August. The 137,000-square-foot science complex, scheduled to open for the fall 2012 semester, will use 42 10-kilowatt solar cells.
Temple U Creates Community Medicinal Garden
Temple University (PA) has unveiled a community medicinal garden on campus with the intent to engage students and the community in the natural origins of medicine. In addition to allowing first-hand experience with plants with medicinal purposes for health sciences students, the garden contains planters with edibles like tomatoes, basil and cucumbers that community members are free to take as they pass by.
U Alaska Anchorage Debuts First Student Campus Garden
Student members of the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Sustainability Club have constructed a raised-bed garden and whiskey barrel planters for the first student garden on campus. Students planted swiss chard, radishes, spicy salad mix and lettuce. The whiskey barrels are being used to grow potatoes, zucchinis, herbs and berry shrubs. The Sustainability Club plans to harvest the produce and hold a community feast.
U California Los Angeles Offers Green Commuting Incentives
The University of California, Los Angeles' Transportation department has launched a web-based program that offers incentives for students to commute to campus in an environmentally friendly manner. Members of the Bruin Commuter Club can access services ranging from discounted parking to an emergency ride service. The program is designed for students, faculty and staff who carpool, use public transportation or bike and walk to campus. Since the club’s induction on July 11, more than 1,000 members of the university community have registered. The incentives, including an annual gift card for restaurants and online carpool matching program Zimride, will continue to be added to the program in 2012 to encourage ongoing sign-ups.
U Kentucky Earns First LEED Certification
The University of Kentucky has earned its first LEED certification with the recent LEED Gold certification of its Davis Marksbury building. Part of its College of Engineering's Digital Village, the three-story, 45,014-square-foot building includes photovoltaic collectors on the roof to convert sunlight into electrical power to help serve the building and provide research opportunities.
U New Hampshire, Climate Counts Partner to Address Climate Crisis
The University of New Hampshire has partnered with independent nonprofit Climate Counts to expand the effort to bring consumers and companies together in addressing the climate crisis. Climate Counts will operate its main office on campus to take advantage of the university’s climate research, engaged scholarship and campus-wide Sustainability Academy. The partnership will provide new research opportunities for students and will advance the work of Carbon Solutions New England, which conducts independent analysis and research on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and growing economic opportunities.
U Notre Dame Installs Thin-Film Solar Array
The University of Notre Dame has completed the installation of a 10-kilowatt flexible thin-film solar array and monitoring system on the roof of its Fitzpatrick Hall of Engineering. The lightweight flexible panels lie flat and are attached directly to the surface of the roof with an adhesive. Connected directly to the university's power grid, the array will help meet the building's electricity demand. The array will also offer research opportunities for faculty and students with a real-time monitoring system that will allow for an analysis of the array's productivity under different conditions.
U Notre Dame to Save 45K with Fume Hood Set-back Modes
The University of Notre Dame (IN) is installing a set-back mode on its teaching lab fume hoods. The set-back mode will be activated by the last faculty member to use the lab each day by pressing a button near the door, which will reduce the minimum flow in the hoods from 240 to 90 cubic feet per minute. The set-back mode is being installed on 158 hoods in Jordan Hall and is expected to reduce the university's carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 711 tons per year and save $45,000 in annual energy costs. The savings is expected to repay the cost of the retrofit in about six and a half years.
U Texas Arlington to Add Free Electric Vehicle Charging Station
In anticipation of an expanding electric car market, the University of Texas at Arlington has announced plans to add a free public electric vehicle charging station on campus. Donated by City Electric Supply's Arlington office, the charger is being installed in a new campus garage that is slated to open in 2012. Room for six additional chargers are included in the plans for the final phase of the garage.
U Victoria to Pilot Green Ship Technology
With $1.19 million in federal funding, the University of Victoria (BC) has announced plans to retrofit the former Tsekoa II into a plug-in hybrid "green ship," powered by electricity, hydrogen fuel cells and low-emission diesel fuel. The hybrid system will provide energy for low-speed maneuvering and power for ship systems, communications and instrumentation. The new green ship technology was created by the university's green transportation research team and the Province of British Columbia's marine engineering and alternative power system sectors.
U Wisconsin Madison Fights Invasive Species with Goats
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has enlisted a herd of goats to clear an overgrown slope behind its School of Human Ecology building, which is undergoing a renovation and expansion. The goats are clearing invasive species like black locust, honeysuckle and buckthorn, which will be replaced with terraces of native canopy trees and a mix of native wildflowers and grasses.
Vanderbilt U Launches Sustainability Project
Vanderbilt University (TN) has launched the Sustainability Project for the 2011-2012 academic year with the goal of creating a dialogue across all parts of the campus about environmental, social and economic sustainability. More than 30 classes will incorporate sustainability themes, and the initiative will infuse sustainability into many other phases of the coming academic year including a speaker series, documentary film series and field trips. The initiative is supported by the College of Arts and Science Fant fund.
Washington and Lee U to Install 450 kW Solar Energy System
Washington and Lee University (VA) has signed an agreement with solar energy developer Secure Futures L.L.C. to install two solar photovoltaic arrays totaling 450 kilowatts on campus. As part of the 20-year power-purchase agreement, the university will buy solar-generated electricity from Secure Futures and will have the option to purchase the solar arrays in the future.
Western Oregon U Building Earns LEED Platinum
Western Oregon University’s Ackerman Hall has achieved LEED Platinum certification. The 91,000-square-foot facility mixes both scholastic and housing programs into a single community on university grounds. Rooftop solar thermal panels preheat water and air for use in the facility, resulting in a 50 percent reduction in potable water usage and 35 percent reduction in energy consumption. Other sustainable features include energy monitoring systems, low-flow plumbing fixtures, a rainwater harvest system, permeable paving and passive solar design.
Yale U Awards Microloans to 3 Campus Sustainability Projects
Yale University (CT) has chosen three campus projects to be supported by the Yale Sustainability Microloan Fund in the coming year. The fund promotes creative ideas that make the university a more environmentally and financially sustainable place by providing small loans for projects with short payback periods. Thin-film photovoltaic arrays, consumer-level smart grid technology and high-efficiency lighting installations are features of the three winning projects.
Appalachian State U Pilots Program to Remove Classroom Trash Cans
Appalachian State University (NC) has developed a pilot program to remove trash cans from campus classrooms in an effort to increase recycling rates and improve collection efficiency across campus. Recycling and trash collection containers will be placed throughout the hallways in each building for convenience. The university expects the program to increase campus recycling rates and improve waste collection and recycling efficiency. In addition, expenses associated with the costs of trash bags will be reduced.
Arizona State U Announces Patent-Pending Solar Design
Arizona State University's Tempe campus has revealed a patent-pending solar structure design planned for a parking lot adjacent to its Sun Devil Stadium. A partnership between the university and NRG Solar, the 5.25-acre PowerParasol™ design will cover 800 covered parking spaces and generate 2.1 megawatts of electricity. Within the 25-year, $10.5 million agreement, NRG will own and operate the PowerParasol™ and in exchange, the university will pay flat electricity rates during the term. Within three to four years, the university should experience reduced electricity rates. The university can also reduce the total project cost through revenue streams including PowerParasol™ advertising. Construction is slated for mid-August and should be completed before the end of 2011.
Bridgewater College Debuts Sustainable Residence Hall
Bridgewater College (VA) has debuted a new green student residence hall that will seek LEED Silver certification. Some of its environmentally responsible features include reduced stormwater runoff, recycled building materials, insulation composed of renewable materials, occupancy sensor lights and low volatile interior paints and adhesives. Twenty percent of all materials used during construction were made or harvested within 500 miles.
Cal Poly Pomona Students to Conduct Campus Restaurant Audit
Students and faculty at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona are conducting an environmental audit of the university's Collins College of Hospitality Management restaurant. Food sourcing, food waste and energy, and water consumption will be studied closely. The restaurant operates as a classroom where undergraduates can learn all aspects of a hospitality business. Each quarter, a lunch class and a dinner class operate the restaurant, which is open to the public. The restaurant currently features a culinary garden, energy- and water-efficient equipment, and some locally sourced food.
CC Students Receiving Pell Grants Increases 92% in 5 Years
The number of community college students receiving Pell Grants has increased by 92 percent in the last five years according to a new policy brief from the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). In the past academic year alone, the number of recipients increased 21 percent. The cost of the federal program in helping students in part pay for a higher education has also increased; over the same five-year period, expenditures for Pell Grants have swelled 182 percent, including 19 percent in the last year. In related news, Pell Grants were spared in the debt bill at the maximum of $5,500 for all students, reports Inside Higher Ed. While it provides stability to the program for a couple of years, all programs will face a difficult Congressional environment with spending cuts going forward.
Duke U Debuts New Car Sharing Program
Duke University (NC) has announced that it is replacing its current car sharing service with Enterprise Rent-A-Car's WeCar. The new service provides the university with 16 vehicles, including an electric car that can be rented by students, faculty and staff. The WeCar vehicles will be spread across the university’s campuses. Vehicles can be reserved online, accessed using a membership card and returned to the same location where it was picked up. The new program also offers several enhancements including longer reservations, a higher daily mileage limit and competitive overnight rates.
Florida Int'l U Solar House to Become Sustainability Office
A team of Florida International University students and faculty have designed and engineered a house for the 2011 Solar Decathlon competition, taking place in the fall. When the house returns to the university, it will become the new home of the Office of University Sustainability. The house emphasizes adaptability and customization as key components of its energy performance. Designed for south Florida’s potentially harsh hurricane seasons, the house features floor-to-ceiling windows protected by an advanced louver system designed to both provide shade when opened and protection from high winds when closed. One hundred percent of the total energy will be produced by solar panels.
Harvard U Earns 50th LEED Certification
Harvard University (MA) has become the first higher education institution to achieve its 50th LEED certification. The green building milestone includes six platinum-level projects and represents more than 1.5 million square feet of labs, dormitories, libraries, classrooms and offices. An additional 3 million square feet of space is registered and pursuing LEED certification. In April, the university announced a 10 percent decline in the university’s overall greenhouse gas emissions reflecting energy supply improvements, efficiency measures and the engagement of faculty, staff and students in activities designed to transform behavior.
Illinois Central College to Provide Green Building Training
Illinois Central College has announced plans to offer a 12-week training course for green building professionals. The training will provide a comprehensive look at the design, construction and operation of green buildings and communities. Emphasis will be placed on the categories developed by the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program including sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation in design. The training is sponsored by the Green Workforce Alliance. Funding for the training is provided by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.
New York U Reduces Energy by 15% During Heat Wave
New York University students and employees took the lead in reducing their energy usage during recent record-high temperatures, cutting the university's energy consumption by about 15 percent. The university's executive vice president announced in a university-wide email that unnecessary lighting, elevators and air conditioning were to be shut off per the request of Con Edison, which faced a peak power emergency as a result of record-breaking temperatures across the New York City. Students, faculty and staff were encouraged to change their individual behaviors to reduce electrical usage and campus sustainability advocates helped spread the word about the curtailment and the need for conservation on campus.
Northwestern U Students Construct 'Tiny House'
Students and alumni of the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science at Northwestern University (IL) have begun construction on a Tiny House project that will serve as a display to the community. Part of a movement stemming from high energy prices and an increased interest in sustainability, the tiny zero net-energy house - with a toilet in the shower - will produce its own electricity using solar panels and collect all of its water. The tiny house movement, which emphasizes living simply and creatively using the space one has, is defined by some enthusiasts as less than 140 square feet. Construction began in the spring and the team intends to complete the home in the fall.
Pell Grant Paycheck Pilot Program Shows Early Success
A pilot program that uses surplus Pell Grant money after tuition costs as a biweekly paycheck for students has earned positive results in its first year at Mt. San Antonio College (CA), reports Inside Higher Ed. Believing that students who are receiving a paycheck may be more likely to give their studies more focus, "Aid Like a Paycheck" - a joint project from the Institute for College Access and Success and policy research organization MDRC - aims to improve completion rates. Students in the pilot phase have reported that being paid to stay in college makes them take their studies more seriously, and that they have pared back hours on outside jobs, giving them more time to focus on school.
Robert Morris U Fosters Diversity through Student Service
With nearly 50 students from Saudi Arabia's cultural-exchange program scheduled to arrive in the fall, Robert Morris University (PA) has announced a new service project designed to expose the incoming students to as diverse a set of classmates as possible, reports The Chronicle of Higher Education. The students from Saudi Arabia will join members of the university's Black Male Excellence Network, Hillel chapter, Coalition for Christian Outreach and Hispanic Student Association for a service project in Coraopolis, a distressed Pittsburgh community near the university. The students will work on activities like outfitting a building to operate as a food pantry and clothing bank, setting up a community garden, and serving a Thanksgiving dinner. The program was initiated in response to President Barack Obama's Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge, which invites higher education institutions to commit to a year of interfaith and community service programming on campus.
Saginaw Valley State U Hall Earns LEED Silver
Saginaw Valley State University’s (MI) Pioneer Hall has earned LEED Silver certification. Sustainable features of the $16 million renovation include high-performance glass for optimized energy performance and thermal comfort, regionally manufactured materials and passive solar design.
Santa Clara U Debuts Sustainable Energy Graduate Program
Santa Clara University’s (CA) School of Engineering has announced a new graduate degree in sustainable energy. Debuting this fall, the interdisciplinary program’s coursework will focus on societal responses to environmental problems, allowing graduate students to later pursue careers in energy management, smart grids, and energy generation and distribution. The program places a heavy reliance on project-based learning, case analyses and industrial practices. The master’s degree program is open to all students who have completed their bachelor’s in any engineering discipline.
Six Colleges Selected for Green Campus Network Program
The Tennessee Valley Authority and the Alliance to Save Energy have selected six regional colleges to participate in the Green Campus Network pilot program. Including Calhoun Community College (AL), University of Alabama, University of Memphis (TN), University of Mississippi, University of the South (TN) and Western Kentucky University, the program involves students, faculty, administrators and campus support staff in cutting energy use on college campuses. The program will also work to incorporate energy efficiency into curricula, encouraging students to pursue careers in sustainability after graduation, and increasing general awareness of energy efficiency. The Tennessee Valley Authority funding will cover program implementation and wages for student interns, who will develop and execute on-campus energy efficiency projects and campaigns with support and guidance from the Alliance.
STARS Ratings Pass 100 Institution Mark
With submission deadlines last week, 104 institutions have now submitted reports to AASHE's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) during the past year. A total of 22 institutions have received a gold rating, 55 have earned a silver rating, and 21 have received a bronze rating. Six institutions also submitted their data as a STARS Reporter, indicating that they were not seeking an overall score but wanted to make their data public. The ratings are indicators of the sustainability performance of an institution using a broad and comprehensive set of credits. More than 260 institutions from the U.S. and Canada are currently participating in STARS. The remainder will be submitting their reports throughout the next year.
St. Michael’s College Installs Solar Electric Vehicle Chargers
St. Michael’s College (VT) has installed two solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations. The stations will be paired with a solar photovoltaic system placed atop the college's Klein Center. When the electricity generated by the solar array isn’t needed to charge vehicles, it will go into the grid and offset the college’s overall energy consumption. The stations are compatible with all types of electric vehicles currently available on the market.
SUNY Cortland Creates 'No Mow' Zone
State University of New York at Cortland has initiated a “no mow” zone in order to reduce fuel emissions and encourage natural habitats. A decline in fuel and equipment usage will reduce carbon dioxide emissions while saving money. The Physical Plant department expects to gain at least 10 labor hours each week, helping the university's ongoing effort to maximize its resources. Birds, butterflies and other animals will find food and habitats while native wildflowers will claim spots to bloom.
SUNY Delhi Solar Project Offers Educational Benefits
State University of New York at Delhi has begun installing a system of solar electric modules to provide a permanent site for demonstrating renewable energy technology to students preparing for careers in electrical and building construction. The installation involves 100 solar panels mounted on poles adjacent to the college's Electrical Technologies Center. The proximity to electrical technology classrooms will provide an ongoing learning experience for the university's students and for participants in the college's accredited photovoltaic workshops. Two additional solar modules will be installed exclusively for a laboratory where students will learn how to set up and break down a solar electric system. The project was funded by a $172,000 grant by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
Technical College of the Lowcountry Installs Geothermal System
The Technical College of the Lowcountry (SC) has installed a geothermal heat pump system. The college will begin training people next month to become accredited installers of the pumps. The new system and training are the latest manifestations of the college’s ongoing push into alternative energy education. The new system was funded through a $25,000 grant from the S.C. Energy Office.
U Alaska Anchorage Installs Energy Consumption Monitors
The University of Alaska Anchorage has installed a system to monitor energy expenditures of individual buildings. The digital monitoring will be used to create a baseline to determine the energy and water use per square-foot of each building, assess the performance of campus building systems, and to reward occupants who lower their energy consumption.
U Arizona Students Harvest Mesquite Pods for Dining Services
The University of Arizona has begun harvesting mesquite pods from campus trees. The student-led project has volunteers fanning out across campus twice a week to harvest the pods, which ripen to make flour. Campus chefs are working on recipes that will use the flour including scones and cookies. The project will also work to educate the community about the nutritional benefits of eating mesquite products, as well as appreciate it as a sustainable practice.
U Kentucky Helps Fund New City Bike Lanes
For a more interconnected campus and city bicycle network, the University of Kentucky will help fund new bike lanes and sharrows in the adjacent community. A partnership between the university and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, the project aims to increase the viability of biking as an alternative to driving.
U Maine Offers Renewable Energy Curriculum
The University of Maine has announced three new undergraduate minors in renewable energy. The renewable energy engineering minor will focus on the design and implementation of both existing and emerging technologies. The renewable energy science and technology minor will focus on electricity production, climate change and life cycle analysis, providing students with a foundation in renewable energy science, both in terms of generation and lasting environmental impacts. The renewable energy economics and policy minor will focus on the financial, ethical, political and legal considerations that constrain or enhance energy decisions, providing a conceptual understanding of energy science and detailed exposure to the varied impacts of energy systems. The College of Engineering is also designing a Master of Science in renewable energy engineering and the environment for deployment in fall 2012.
U Maryland Eastern Shore Renovation Earns LEED Gold
The renovation of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore's Somerset Hall, a 60-year-old former dormitory that is now the campus' most energy-efficient building, has received LEED Gold certification. Renovations to the building, which now houses the pharmacy school, were designed and built to consume less energy. Sustainable features include housekeeping products that are recyclable and non-toxic, designated parking spaces for electric and hybrid cars, and bicycle racks.
U Washington Creates Campus Sustainability Dashboard
The University of Washington has created a new sustainability dashboard. The site provides a one-stop source for information on all the sustainability measures happening on campus. The site is also hopes to be a resource for the growing number of organizations and publications that are ranking and reviewing the sustainability efforts of universities and other major institutions.
U Wyoming 'Clean Coal' Project on Hold
The University of Wyoming's High Plains Gasification-Advanced Technology Center research project is delayed indefinitely. The university's partner, General Electric, said the energy market is too uncertain to move ahead with the project, which aims to turn coal into a gas that will burn more cleanly than does coal itself. General Electric cites low energy prices and the lack of a clear federal energy policy, but says that it will take another look at the situation in 18 to 24 months.
Campus Sustainability Planning: An August Update
The University of Kansas has created its first Campus Sustainability Plan. For the past year, a group of more than 150 administrators, faculty, staff and students have been working on a host of action steps and recommendations that will build a more sustainable community over the next 40 years. The plan focuses on nine major areas: administration, built environment, campus grounds, curriculum and research, energy, procurement, student life, transportation and waste reduction. In related news, Pennsylvania State University has begun drafting its first strategic plan for sustainability. The development will involve students, faculty, staff, leadership, alumni, supporters and corporate partners. The council’s plan aims to make the university a living laboratory of sustainable ideas. The goals under consideration include ensuring that graduates have a deep understanding of sustainability; engaging the community in learning about and pursuing sustainability; creating an integrated living laboratory for global sustainability; and advancing sustainability within the greater community.
Canadian Research Teams to Study Climate Change Adaptation
Five teams made up of Canadian institutions and universities in developing countries will participate in the International Research Initiative on Adaptation to Climate Change (IRIACC). Each team will receive $2.5 million over five years to study how best to protect people, communities and vital economic sectors, like agriculture and tourism, that are most at risk from the effects of climate change. Two teams will focus specifically on vulnerable indigenous populations. Together, the research projects, which will take place in Canada and in developing countries across four continents, aim to address how to anticipate, manage and reduce climate risk vulnerability through adaptation.
