Boise State U Sustainability Club Creates a Community Garden
Boise State University’s (ID) Sustainability Club has created a new community garden and sustainable space as an educational outreach tool and venue for community networking and engagement on sustainability. The space will emphasize integration of people as part of the environment and demonstrate the relationship between our behavior and natural systems. It will include a garden, compost area and water management system. Community members can participate in the garden by becoming shareholders at the beginning of the year or by volunteering labor to the maintenance of the garden. Shareholders will receive a portion of the garden’s produce. The garden was funded through a Fulbright Canada Eco-Leadership Grant.
Chatham U Installs Solar Array Atop Residence Hall
Chatham University (PA) recently installed the first of two solar arrays atop one of its residence halls to provide students with solar heated water. The initiative was funded in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority.
CNBC Highlights Green Job Training at Community Colleges
More than $500 million of stimulus money for education is targeted for green job training, says recent CNBC article “Hype Aside, ‘Green Jobs’ Are For Real.” The article highlights the growing "green" industry and the efforts of higher education institutions to meet the challenge of training students for “green-collar” jobs. Programs at Columbia Gorge Community College (OR), St. Phillip’s Community College (TX) and Lane Community College (OR) are featured for their alignment with the Sustainable Education and Economic Development Center, which helps community colleges develop green job training programs.
College of the Atlantic Student Turns Food Waste into Energy
A College of the Atlantic (ME) student has created a start-up business that turns food waste into an alcohol-based, butanol fuel at the college’s Sustainable Enterprise Hatchery. A half-gallon of fuel can be produced within a week. As part of the college’s new sustainable venture incubator, the student and partners hope to receive additional grants in the fall to help purchase larger equipment to increase fuel production. The goal is to use food waste from the college cafeteria and surrounding businesses to produce enough butanol to replace gas and heating oil on campus.
College of William & Mary Announces Green Fee Awards
The College of William & Mary’s (VA) Committee on Sustainability has announced its spring 2011Green Fee Project Awards. The 10 projects selected for funding include bike commuting outreach, reusable bags for incoming students, floating treatment wetlands, plastic bag recycling bins and water bottle refill stations. The projects were funded by the student green fee, a $15 per semester fee totaling about $210,000 annually.
Concordia U Launches Sustainable Investment Certificate
Created in response to the growing interest in sustainable investment approaches, Concordia University's (QC) John Molson School of Business has launched a sustainable investment professional certificate. The program is designed to provide professionals in the finance, investment and corporate world with a unique set of skills, knowledge and analytical thinking.
Cornell, Northwestern Host Int'l Impact Investing Challenge
Cornell University's (NY) Johnson Graduate School of Management and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University (IL) recently hosted the first International Impact Investing Challenge. The invitation-only pitch competition asked students to design investment vehicles that create sustainable impact and are large enough to attract institutional investors, which distinguishes impact investing from traditional socially responsible investing. A team from Kellogg won first place for its Grain Fund Depot, a real estate investment trust with a focus on building grain storage facilities and renting that space to small farmers in India.
Cornell U Hires Ag Operations Director with Sustainability Focus
Cornell University (NY) has hired a new director of agricultural operations for its Agricultural Experiment Station, Glenn Evans. With the goal of achieving a net-zero campus, Evans will help inform system-wide decisions for the most efficient use of resources including greenhouse and farming practices.
Cornell U Students Hosts 'Dump and Run' Event
Cornell University (NY) students recently organized a Dump and Run event, which has raised and donated nearly $200,000 over the past eight years. The event collects household goods, clothing, working appliances and electronics, sporting items, toiletries and nonperishable food to benefit local charities. Donations will be sorted over the summer and sold at the Dump and Run community sale in August.
Dept of Energy Announces $70 Mil Toward Geothermal Advancements
In support of partnerships with academia, national laboratories and industry, the U.S. Department of Energy has announced the availability of up to $70 million in new funding over three years for technology advancements in geothermal energy. The funding will be used to research and develop innovations in exploration technologies to locate geothermal energy resources and improvements in resource characterization, drilling and reservoir engineering techniques.
Hartnell CC Receives $900K Clean Energy Grant
Hartnell Community College (CA) has received $900,000 from the National Science Foundation to fund the Salinas Valley Consortium for sustainable energy, education and research. The grant will be used to prepare engineers and technicians to address the problems of efficient energy use with a minimal carbon footprint. A key component of the project will also be a sustainable energy laboratory, micro-grid and test bed that will give students the opportunity to do experiments on generating, monitoring and storing energy.
Harvard Achieves 520K in Annual Savings with Retro-Commissioning
A recent retro-commissioning effort of Harvard University's (MA) Laboratory for Integrated Science and Engineering has resulted in $520,000 in annual savings and a reduction of 800 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. Previously the Faculty of Arts and Sciences' second largest greenhouse gas emitter, the laboratory's existing building systems were combined into a more "closed loop" controlled feedback approach that allows for common data to be shared amongst the systems.
Harvard U Students Study Geothermal Feasibility
As part an “Engineering Design Seminar” course, 16 undergraduate engineering students at Harvard University (MA) have discovered that existing geothermal wells on campus can supply more energy without overwhelming the system. The students’ research, calculations, experimentation and sophisticated computer modeling concluded that the geothermal heating and cooling system that serves the university’s Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study will also be able to supply energy to the nearby Fay House, currently undergoing a $13 million renovation of its mechanical, electrical, plumbing and life safety systems. The students also took the investigation several steps further, recommending that the wells should all run simultaneously for the 15-hour day (rather than in shifts) and the building's thermostats should be raised gradually over the course of each morning for optimal efficiency.
Life U Dining Hall Earns LEED Gold
Life University (GA) has earned its second LEED-certified building with the recent Gold certification of its new campus dining facility. In addition to sustainable water and energy consumption during operation and green waste management, the Socrates Café sources local and organic produce and uses compostable dining ware.
Living Routes Earns Innovation in Sustainability Award
Living Routes, a program that partners with the University of Massachusetts, Amherst to run ecovillage-based programs around the world, has received the first annual Innovation in Sustainability Award from international education and experiential travel resource GoAbroad. Presented at the NAFSA: Association of International Educators Conference and Expo this month, the awards acknowledge institutions, organizations and individuals who are creating initiatives to move the field of international education forward and going beyond the conventional. Highlighted Living Routes efforts included co-founding the Green Passport Program, pioneering virtual tabling at study abroad fairs and advocating for "carbon consciousness" in the field of international education.
Michigan State U Dim Down Program Reduces Campus Energy Use
Michigan State University’s Office of Campus Sustainability recently hosted the annual Dim Down program, designed to bring awareness to the amount of electronics people have on during the day, especially electronics not in use. From noon to 1 p.m. every Friday during the month of April, students and faculty were expected to unplug any unused electronics. By the end of the program, 4.2 percent was the highest energy reduction in a day and some departments on campus created their own monthly Dim Down event.
National Outdoor Leadership School Unveils 24.8 kW Solar Array
The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), which partners with colleges and universities for college credit, recently unveiled a 24.8-kilowatt solar array atop the NOLS Rocky Mountain's Noble Hotel. The hotel, located in Lander, Wyo., primarily provides housing to NOLS Rocky Mountain students and instructors, as well as a place to hold community events. This solar array is projected to provide 10 percent of the hotel's energy needs, making it an important step towards NOLS' 2020 carbon reduction goal of 30 percent below 2006 levels.
Northern Wake Tech CC Offers Free Solar Installation Course
Northern Wake Technical Community College (NC) has partnered with the City of Raleigh’s Office of Sustainability to offer a free solar photovoltaic installer course as part of the Green Building Training Series. The curriculum for the course is based on the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners Solar Photovoltaic Installer job task analysis. Students should gain a thorough understanding of the tools used to complete site evaluations, perform necessary measurements and calculations, and specify balance of system components. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant.
RecycleMania Competition Recycles 91 Million Pounds
The 11th annual RecycleMania concluded its eight-week challenge to increase on-campus recycling rates in early April. This year, 91 million pounds of recyclables and organic materials were recovered, which prevented the release of nearly 270 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. The competition ran from February 6 - April 2, 2011.
Triple Pundit Names Top 10 U.S. Climate-Ready Cities
University leadership was factored into the new list of top 10 climate-ready cities in the U.S. by new media company Triple Pundit. The list looks at which large U.S. cities are mitigating their impact on climate change as well as investing in appropriate climate change adaptation solutions. Other ranking elements included political commitment, green buildings, transit access and use, clean tech investment, and energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
U Albany Receives Renewable Energy and Economic Development Grant
The University at Albany’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (NY) has received a $225,000 Renewable Energy and Economic Development grant. Funding presented by the National Grid will be used to develop, install and demonstrate a Photovoltaic Control and Monitoring Center. The center will enable gathering of research data that will provide designers, architects and installers with critical feedback to accelerate the construction and integration of roof-mounted solar systems. The university will partner with EYP Energy and Alteris Renewables to establish the center, which is part of a larger $1.35 million solar demonstration initiative that will evaluate and compare state-of-the-art, thin film-based solar photovoltaic technologies as a means of accelerating the use of clean energy technologies.
U California Berkeley Awards TGIF Grants
The University of California, Berkeley's The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) has awarded a total of nearly $248,000 to 15 campus sustainability projects. Winning projects include the institution of composting options in campus buildings, a campus bicycle initiative and green certifications for student groups. This year's awards will also fund 32 new green student internships and various education and behavior change initiatives. Since its inception, TGIF has awarded a total of $956,000.
U California Davis Launches Online Campus Sustainability Map
The University of California, Davis has debuted an online, interactive campus sustainability map. The map can be used to find places or things on campus that demonstrate ways that the campus community is taking action towards creating a more sustainable future. The map has a companion web page that provides information about the map points. The university hopes to use the map as a springboard for creating tours, downloadable maps and more information about campus infrastructure and sustainability.
U California San Francisco Launches Green Office Certifications
The University of California, San Francisco has launched a new Green Certification Program. The initiative aims to assess offices and administrative spaces, identifying areas where occupants could improve sustainability within their respective area. The Office of Sustainability will work closely with department-based Green Teams, requesting that a given team complete a self-assessment. Additional opportunities for making the space more environmentally friendly will be provided by Green Campus interns.
U California Santa Barbara Announces TGIF Grants
The University of California, Santa Barbara's Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) Grant Making Committee has announced its grant recipients for the 2010-2011 funding cycle. Composed primarily of undergraduate and graduate students, the committee received 37 applications for various campus sustainability projects from students, staff and faculty, and selected 18 projects to receive awards totaling $177,080. Projects include the construction and operation of a student-owned Student Food Collective Sustainable Food Cart; the conversion of a campus theater's halogen lights to energy-efficient, low-wattage LED fixtures; and a cover on the campus pool to prevent heat from escaping and water from evaporating during non-operation hours that is expected to cut energy costs by $48,750 per year.
U Chicago Installs First Energy Dashboard
The University of Chicago's (IL) Searle Laboratory recently became the first building on campus to feature an energy monitoring building dashboard system. The Lucid Design Group interactive display of real-time energy consumption reveals energy data across multiple time scales and according to different unit equivalents including gallons of gasoline, tons of carbon or dollars. The dashboard is the first step in an eventual campus-wide installation of energy monitoring systems.
U Colorado at Boulder Installing Carport Solar Array
The University of Colorado at Boulder is installing 100 kilowatts of solar photovoltaic panels atop a new carport on campus. The university has partnered with design and construction company EcoDepot for project financing and has the opportunity to buy the solar installations after seven years at a fraction of the original cost.
U Colorado Boulder Phases Out Herbicide Use with Compost Tea
The University of Colorado at Boulder has announced plans to phase out the use of herbicides on campus fields. The university will treat the grounds with a “compost tea,” a liquid that can be used as both a fertilizer and to prevent plant diseases. The first phase will reduce the use of herbicides by 45 percent in 2011. By the end of 2012, all turf areas will no longer receive synthetic herbicide applications. The final phase includes eliminating the use of synthetic pesticides after the 2016 growing season.
U Minnesota Morris Educates with Fitness Center Solar Panels
The University of Minnesota, Morris recently celebrated the successful installation of a 32-panel solar thermal array at its Regional Fitness Center with two solar swims for the community and students. Organized by the Students Using Natural Energy (SUN-E) team, the swim gatherings are drawing crowds of about 100 people who swim in water heated by the sun and enjoy free pizza and a poolside DJ. This summer, the center will feature kiosks that show live temperature data at each juncture of the system, carbon dioxide output and the amount of energy produced by the solar panels over time. A diagram of the pool and the panels detailing the heating system as well as information on other green energy platforms on campus will complement the live data.
U Minnesota to Reduce Coal Use in Power Plant
The University of Minnesota has created a new plan to use natural gas and biomass to produce steam to reduce the amount of coal burned in the campus power plant. Oat hulls, a waste product from the General Mills cereal plant, will be used for the biomass. Coal will be reserved for the coldest days of winter, reducing its use by 85 percent.
U Texas Arlington to Install 1,500 Low-Flow Showerheads
The University of Texas at Arlington has received 1,500 low-flow shower heads from the City of Arlington as part of an ongoing effort to promote water conservation and sustainable practices. The shower heads will be installed in residence halls and other student housing locations during the summer. The university expects to save 14.2 million gallons of water each year, saving more than $100,000 a year in water, sewer and natural gas fees.
U Washington Develops Software to Reduce Computer Energy Use
Researchers at the University of Washington have created an energy-efficient program that reduces the energy consumption of powerful computers, data centers and mobile devices. The program has cut energy use in simulations by up to 50 percent and has the potential to reduce energy use by as much as 90 percent. The software works like a dimmer switch, letting some transistors run at a lower voltage. Researchers are now designing hardware to test their results in the lab. The long-term goal is to improve the battery life of a computer.
Wilfrid Laurier U Takes on Canadian Commuter Challenge
Members of the Wilfrid Laurier University (ON) community recently competed in the Canadian Commuter Challenge, a friendly competition between organizations in Canada to reduce greenhouse gases. Staff and faculty at the university pledged to use environmentally friendly modes of transportation like biking, walking, car pooling or public transit to get around town and to commute to and from work. The university has also announced that 25 bike racks and three crosswalks will be installed over the summer on campus. The Sustainability Office is also researching a formal carpooling program and the feasibility of an electric fleet of vehicles for use on campus.
22 Campuses Complete Climate Action Plans
Twenty-two new campuses have submitted Climate Action Plans (CAPs) as part of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) since the last update in the AASHE Bulletin on Feb. 7, 2011. The plans illustrate the specific steps schools are taking to reach climate neutrality. The CAP is the second major reporting requirement of the Commitment and is due within two years of signing. The new submissions are, in alphabetical order: Albion College (MI); Alfred University (NY); Bemidji State University (MN); Bergen Community College (NJ); Case Western Reserve University (OH); DePauw University (IN); Drury University (MO); Lake Superior College (MN); Mercer County Community College (NJ); Missouri University of Science & Technology; Pomona College (CA); Roxbury Community College (MA); St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley (MO); State University of New York Upstate Medical University; The Ohio State University - Columbus; University of La Verne (CA); University of New England (ME); University of New Mexico-Taos; University of South Carolina Upstate; Valencia Community College (FL); Wells College (NY); and Willamette University (OR).
Aquinas College Plants Community Garden
Aquinas College (MI) has created a community garden on campus. The garden was recently planted with a variety of fruit, vegetables, herbs and flower seeds. Volunteers will look after the new plot and no synthetic fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides will be used.
Babson College Eco Reps Create Freshman Sustainability Class
Student Eco Reps at Babson College (MA) have created a sustainability class as part of the First Year Seminar (FYS) curriculum starting this fall. Designed to help entering students realize how their behaviors can make a positive impact on campus and in the world, the class gives an overall view of the college's sustainability efforts and encourages students to become change agents for a better planet. The Eco Reps developed "A Student's Guide to Sustainable Behavior," a case study, quiz and optional extra credit for the class, as well as a Teacher's Guide for FYS instructors.
Case Western Reserve U to Create Solar Energy Center
Case Western Reserve University (OH) has been recommended for a $2.88 million grant to work with industry to improve the productive lifetime of solar energy technologies, energy-efficient lighting, roofing and building exteriors. The grant will help fund the Solar Durability and Lifetime Extension Center. The center will include a sun farm on campus and provide companies with facilities to expose and evaluate materials, components and products under solar radiation and under extremes in temperature, humidity, freezing and thawing cycles. The grant is funded by Ohio Third Frontier.
Clackamas CC Students Will Construct Wind Turbines
Clackamas Community College (OR) has announced the creation of the Homebuilt Wind Turbine workshop that focuses on the mechanical and electronic processes of making a wind turbine. Students will have the opportunity to construct and assemble a wind turbine from scratch using everyday hand tools. Turbines constructed by students will generate approximately 20-kilowatts of electricity a day. The workshop’s $350 fee will go to creating a 12-foot wind turbine on campus.
Delta College Announces Green Fridays
Delta College (MI) has announced that campus will be closed on Fridays throughout the summer in an effort to reduce its campus carbon footprint. The “Green Fridays” initiative will extend hours Monday through Thursday enough to meet the needs of the campus community. The initiative is one part of a larger effort toward the development of an environmentally sustainable campus.
Harvard U Custodial Services Achieves Green Seal Certification
Harvard University’s (MA) Facilities Maintenance Operations Custodial Services has achieved Green Seal certification. Green Seal is a nonprofit organization that certifies products and services that meet rigorous environmental safety standards. The process took several years and required the university to adjust the cleaning products and procedures as well as invest in new equipment. Custodial services customized a cleaning program to meet the specific environmental needs for each building.
Harvard U Dormitory Earns LEED Existing Buildings Certification
Harvard University’s (MA) Thayer Hall, an undergraduate dormitory, has achieved the university’s first LEED Existing Buildings certification. A team was created to identify sustainable practices that could be extended to other residential buildings. Each team member focused on a different LEED category and worked to ensure the building’s compliance with relevant prerequisites and implement operational and infrastructural changes. Sustainable modifications ranged from cleaning protocols to snow removal, lighting retrofits, temperature adjustments and landscaping services. The dormitory reduced its energy consumption by 10 percent in two years. The students of the Resource Efficiency Program also coordinated a recycling campaign and waste audit.
Indiana U Announces Sustainability Course Development Fellowships
Two Sustainability Course Development Fellowships have been awarded to Indiana University Bloomington faculty. This year’s recipients will receive $8,000 to provide support for newly developed courses in sustainability. The two courses are “Exploring the Challenges of Sustainability: Ecology & Society” and “Sustainability Law & Policy.” The fellowship represents an instructional component of a broad-based initiative originally developed by the university’s Task Force on Campus Sustainability. It is intended to provide support for individual faculty members interested in expanding their teaching into topics related to sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Marshall U Evaluates Wind Energy Potential on Former Mining Sites
Marshall University’s (WV) Center for Environmental, Geotechnical and Applied Sciences has installed a wind turbine on three former mountain top removal sites (MTR). The university is using Second Wind’s satellite wind data service to evaluate the wind energy potential on former mining sites. The university’s goal is to help surface mine property owners determine whether they can make MTR sites productive again through conversion to renewable energy uses.
Meredith College Student Housing Receives LEED Silver
Meredith College’s (NC) student housing project, the Oaks, has achieved LEED Silver certification. Opened in August 2009, sustainable features include dual flush toilets, drip irrigation for landscaping, low-emitting materials and construction materials sourced and manufactured regionally. Approximately 89 percent of construction waste was diverted from the landfill.
Morgan State U Students Design App to Encourage Recycling
To encourage campus recycling, Morgan State University (MD) students have created a mobile phone application that sends alerts to users’ phones when they are in the proximity of recycling units on campus. Born out of the lack of emphasis and notification about where to recycle on campus, the solution also required the development of special transceivers to transmit signals from the recycling units and receive signals back from the cell phones. Funded by a U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant, the student research team that developed the app ranged from history to industrial engineering majors.
Penn State U Invests in PC Power Management Software
Pennsylvania State University has invested in PC power management software called BigFix. The software enables IT staff to ensure computers are in sleep mode when they are not being used and remotely wakes up the machines when they are needed. The software has been installed on 20,000 computers. The university expects to reduce its utilities bill by $800,000 a year.
Stetson U Replaces Public Safety Dept SUV with Electric Vehicle
Stetson University’s (FL) Public Safety Department has replaced its sports utility vehicle with a MILES Electric Vehicle. The $13,000 electric vehicle is battery-fueled and has an estimated battery life of 25,000 miles. The university may buy more electric-motor-utility vehicles for its Facilities Management Department if the recently purchased vehicle is a success.
St. Lawrence College to Install 1,200 Solar Panels
St. Lawrence College (ON) has announced a planned installation of more than 1,200 solar panels atop a variety of buildings on its campus. The 250-kilowatt project is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The college expects the $3 million investment to pay for itself within the next 10 years. The rooftop solar project is part of an initiative created by the Ontario government to install 10 new solar panel projects at various locations throughout the city. The government will pay 71.3 cents for every kilowatt-hour generated.
Syracuse, SUNY ESF Students Hold Sustainability Showcase
Syracuse University (NY), in collaboration with the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, recently organized a sustainability showcase in an attempt to engage a broader campus audience in sustainability efforts. From highway design alternatives to algae biofuel to several sustainable product prototypes and proposals for ecotourism and lifestyle changes, the Showcase 2011 Green Museum featured more than 100 graduate and undergraduate sustainability ideas.
