U Chicago Renovates Building to Incorporate Sustainable Practices
The University of Chicago (IL) has renovated its Young Memorial Building to make it a more sustainable place to work. The extensive renovation not only considered ways to reduce its environmental footprint, but also ways to promote complementary individual action. Water fountains have a water bottle-filling feature to encourage the community to use reusable bottles and bike racks are mounted on the wall and a shower room installed to support bike commuters. Reusing rather than replacing the building and its fixtures was strongly emphasized during the renovation. Other sustainable features include a cork floor, low-flush plumbing, recycled and reclaimed ceiling tiles, and energy-efficient lighting.
U Illinois Chicago Receives $15K Federal Grant for Seed House
The University of Illinois at Chicago's Hull-House Museum has received a federal grant of more than $15,000 to open a public heirloom seed library to provide free, regionally adapted seeds to urban farmers and gardeners. The public can apply for library cards to obtain seeds if they agree to plant the seeds, nurture the plants and return some seeds from the next generation at the end of the season. The museum is one of 14 national recipients of the Institute of Museum and Library Services' new Sparks! Ignition grants. The program funds innovations that use time and money most productively to expand library and museum services.
U Minnesota Twin Cities Bldg Earns LEED Gold
The University of Minnesota's Science Teaching and Student Services Center (STSS) has achieved LEED Gold certification, the first LEED Gold building on the Twin Cities campus. The building utilized regional materials, a natural air convection system, low-flow fixtures and a high efficiency irrigation system. The exterior glass will reduce solar heat gain by 50 percent and 94 percent of the construction debris was diverted from the landfill to be reused or recycled.
U Tennessee Knoxville to Develop Campus Energy Management Program
The University of Tennessee Knoxville, in partnership with Knoxville Utilities Board, has agreed to develop a long-term plan to enhance energy efficiency and energy management on campus. The Tennessee Valley Authority’s EnergyRight Solutions for Business program will work with the university to create a 10-year strategic energy road map. Training will be provided for campus energy managers in the areas of energy performance measuring systems, developing peak and minimum load management strategies, and the implementation of best practices for communicating energy efficiency efforts. The first phase of the plan is expected to be complete by fall 2011.
U Texas Austin Celebrates Solar Power System Completion
The University of Texas at Austin has completed the installation of a solar power system. The project consists of two grid-tied solar arrays. One system is a ground-mounted array of solar panels in a field and the other system is an array of panels over a newly constructed carport. A monitoring system has been installed to track the energy generated by each installation. The university hopes the project will offer instructional opportunities for academic engineering programs.
U Winnipeg Local Food Initiative Influences City Food Scene
Two years after University of Winnipeg President Lloyd Axworthy's decision to buy out the contract of the university's large, multinational catering firm and establish its own culinary company, the university has revolutionized the local food scene in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Diversity Foods, in partnership with local nonprofit SEED Winnipeg, was mandated to serve organic, locally grown food of an ethnically diverse variety, and to employ inner-city residents as its primary labor force. As a result, the food is so popular that the university's executive chef is the city's most in-demand caterer and the school's buying power has persuaded suppliers to finally provide sustainable, organic products to the city, once deemed too small a market to justify such deliveries. Local farmers have increased production and the city's menus have changed as a result. This summer, the university will open a fine dining restaurant open to the public.
Yale U Announces Return of ROTC
Yale University (CT) has announced the reinstatement of its Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program with a Naval unit. The institution joins Stanford University (CA), Columbia University (NY) and Harvard University (MA) as the latest institutions to reinstate the ROTC program following Congress' repeal of a ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military.
2 Grand Valley State U Buildings Receive LEED Certification
Grand Valley State University’s (MI) new student housing project and dining hall have both received LEED certification. The 279,974-square-foot housing project provides rooms for 600 students and achieved LEED Gold certification. The 24,000-square-foot food service building was awarded LEED Silver certification. The buildings feature energy-efficient lighting, heating and air conditioning systems, as well as landscaping that requires minimal irrigation with expansive stormwater management systems.
Antioch U New England Pres Named to Climate Adaptation Committee
Dr. David Caruso, president of Antioch University New England, has been named to Second Nature's Adaptation Committee. Composed of higher education and climate adaptation experts, the committee will be introduced during the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) Climate Leadership Summit in June. The committee will evaluate how colleges and universities can use research, teaching, knowledge, skills and local outreach to serve as climate adaptation hubs in their communities.
Arizona State U Tempe Campus Installs Solar Energy System
Arizona State University’s Tempe Campus has installed four new solar energy systems. The systems have a combined capacity of 750-kilowatts and utilize 3,572 solar modules. The rooftop installations were placed in strategic locations around campus for optimum solar energy usage. The new solar energy systems are part of the university’s goal to achieve 20-megawatts of solar generating capacity by 2020.
Arizona Western College Breaks Ground on Solar Project
Arizona Western College has partnered with Main Street Power and Arizona Public Service for a five-megawatt solar project. The solar system will feature both single-axis trackers and dual-axis trackers. The installation will have private demonstration systems featuring photovoltaic technology for corporate and government comparisons and will be made accessible to students and researchers. The university expects the installation to produce almost 100 percent of the campus’ daytime electric needs. The project was funded by the APS Renewable Energy Incentive Project.
Atlantic Cape CC Announces Solar Energy Project
Atlantic Cape Community College (NJ) has partnered with Pepco Energy Services, Inc. to install a solar photovoltaic system. The project will be designed, owned and operated by Pepco, and the college will buy the solar energy produced from the company. The solar panels will form two rows of carports, which will cover nearly three-quarters of a parking lot. Students and staff will have the opportunity to view a kiosk that will include information about the amount of energy being produced and the amount of carbon emissions being offset. The college hopes to save $220,000 in utility costs in the first year. The solar photovoltaic system is expected to be completed by mid-August.
Bard College Civic Engagement Center Receives $60 Mil
Bard College (NY) has received a $60 million contribution from the Open Society Foundations in support of its Center for Civic Engagement. The center's programs include helping people in New York State prisons earn degrees, assisting in the development of the first liberal-arts institution in Russia, and operating several public high schools in New York and New Jersey.
California State U Los Angeles Competes in EcoCAR 2
California State University, Los Angeles' College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology has been selected to build a zero-emissions vehicle for the EcoCAR 2 Plugging In to the Future international competition. Established by the U.S. Department of Energy and General Motors, the three-year collegiate competition provides engineering students the chance to design and build vehicles that demonstrate cutting-edge automotive technologies. The competition challenges 16 North American universities to reduce the environmental impact of vehicles without compromising performance, safety and consumer acceptability.
Cal Poly Pomona Constructs Water Tank for Guatemala Residents
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona's Engineers Without Borders club recently traveled to Guatemala with the government's permission to construct a 90-cubic meter water tank in San Lorenzo. Designed by the university's students, the tank was based on a previous site assessment and made specifically for the area's needs.
Cal Poly Pomona Residential Suites Earns LEED Silver
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona’s new Residential Suites building has achieved LEED Silver certification. Environmentally friendly features include green space, bike racks and parking spaces for hybrid vehicles. Each one of the 150 residences is equipped with a dual-flow toilet and metering to ensure energy-efficient heating and cooling. The residences are part of the university’s climate commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
Centenary College Plants 200 Blue Spruce Saplings
Centenary College (NJ) has planted 200 blue spruce saplings that they received from Verizon Wireless. The college was one of five institutions that received the donation as a result of the college’s ongoing initiatives related to Earth Day and sustainability. The college will donate a portion of the saplings to the community. The tree planting initiative is part of the Verizon Wireless Tree Donation Program, which was established with the goal of planting 100,000 trees across the U.S. and 14 other countries by the end of the year.
Chronicle of Higher Ed: Rethinking Access to Higher Education
Public anxiety over college costs is at an all-time high and low-income college graduates or those burdened by student-loan debt are questioning the value of their degrees, The Chronicle of Higher Education recently reported in an article that examines the findings of two surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center. One survey collected responses from 1,055 college leaders from mid-March to mid-April in association with The Chronicle, and the other surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,142 adults age 18 and older by telephone. Three-quarters of the public said college was out of reach for most people. Twenty-five years ago, six in 10 Americans felt that way, according to a survey by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The responses of presidents at public two-year, for-profit and less-selective four-year colleges show a struggle with declining state support, while tuition-driven private colleges confront a student market that has said "enough" to paying more. To meet financial challenges and President Obama's goal of having the world's highest proportion of college graduates by 2020, says "Harnessing America's Wasted Talent" author Peter M. Smith in the article, colleges will have to rethink how they do business and expand access to students who are less prepared, who are the first in their families to attend college and who are juggling classes with work and family. Ideas addressed in the article include three-year degrees, year-round classes, online courses, adopting learning outcomes tied to real-world standards and changing federal financial-aid policy to meet nontraditional students' needs.
Coastal Carolina U Holds Campus Salvage Yard Sale
Coastal Carolina University’s (SC) annual Campus Salvage yard sale has collected $2,000 toward campus sustainability efforts. Students living in residence halls on campus filled 25 PODS with donations during move-out week. Donations included electronics, lamps, bedding, rugs, appliances, clothing and food. The sustainability team made donations to local nonprofits prior to the community sale.
College of William & Mary Launches In-House Carbon Offset Program
Faculty, staff and students at the College of William & Mary (VA) now have the opportunity to contribute personally to an in-house carbon offset program. The program offers individuals and institutions ways to contribute money toward carbon reducing projects that offset their personal carbon producing lifestyles. The college plans to direct 100 percent of the donations to campus energy reduction projects. An example offset is $23 for each 1,000 miles driven in an SUV, truck or minivan, which will contribute to projects including the installation of occupancy sensors, fan drive upgrades, and heating and cooling upgrades. Participants will be able to contribute to energy-saving programs underway through a website that features a contribution calculator.
Concordia U Wisconsin Enviro Stewardship Bldg Earns LEED Platinum
Concordia University Wisconsin recently achieved LEED Platinum certification for its Center for Environmental Stewardship. Environmentally friendly features include geothermal heating and cooling, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, and T-8 fluorescent and LED lighting. Intended as a teaching tool for students and visitors, the $4 million center opened in August 2010.
Connecticut College Auditorium Awarded LEED Silver
Connecticut College’s largest classroom has achieved LEED Silver certification. The auditorium, which seats up to 150 people, was one of the first major construction projects completed after the adoption of a college-wide green building policy in 2005. A quarter of the total building materials used for the renovation were manufactured using recycled materials and nearly half of the building materials were manufactured regionally. More than 63 percent of the construction waste generated on-site was diverted from landfills.
Dixie State College Plans Energy Efficiency Upgrade
Dixie State College (UT) has announced the launch of an energy efficiency upgrade that is expected to save $6.2 million in utility costs over the next 17 years. The college has entered into a $4 million contract with Johnson Controls that will replace hundreds of plumbing fixtures, seal buildings, upgrade thermostat controls and automate lighting and ventilation systems. If the project does not save at least $284,000 the first year, Johnson Controls will cover the difference.
Duke U Begins Coal-Free Era
For the first time since the 1920s, Duke University (NC) is not using coal to produce steam to heat buildings, sterilize surgical equipment or maintain proper humidity for artwork and lab research. The university has burned the last of its remaining stock of coal, a major phase of the university’s Climate Action Plan to become carbon neutral by 2024. The coal pile, which once stood high above the top of its giant containment area, hasn’t been replenished by rail car since February 2009 and now sits empty. Renovations to its West Campus steam plant started in May and are anticipated to be completed by October 2012. The university replaced the coal-fired boilers with gas-fired steam boilers in its East Campus plant last year.
Faculty Organizations Kick-Off College Access Campaign
Representatives of faculty organizations and groups devoted to promoting college access officially kicked off their "Campaign for the Future of Higher Education" in May, it was recently reported The Chronicle of Higher Education. The initiative seeks to have higher education organizations work together to promote the idea that the nation's future depends on making an affordable college education available to all segments of American society. A think tank that will emerge from the campaign will initiate research leading to new legislation and new state or campus policies, bringing together researchers who already do work related to college access but have had little interaction with each other.
Hartwick College Art Students Recreate Tree Planting Initiative
Inspired by the social and environmental implications of German artist Joseph Beuys’ "7,000 Oaks" project, Hartwick College (NY) students enrolled in "Contemporary Art History" recently recreated the artist's tree planting initiative. Beuys erected a stone pillar beside 7,000 individual oak trees planted in Germany, providing the viewer with a juxtaposition between growth and stability. The students planted one tree alongside a basalt pillar on campus. Each class member was involved in the project in a variety of different roles including sourcing materials and seeking administrative approval. Beuys claimed his original intent for the "7,000 Oaks" project was to continue and extend the project around the globe. The students intend to continue the legacy and also hope that the project at the college can be continued by future generations.
Indiana U-Purdue U Indianapolis Creates Office of Sustainability
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) has announced the creation of an Office of Sustainability and plans to hire a full-time director by July 1. With the new office, the university will work to develop a coherent, campus-wide sustainability program by coordinating academic, research, operations and student activities; develop and manage a program of environmental stewardship, energy conservation, environmental literacy, community outreach and applied environmental science and policy research; and promote a culture of sustainability throughout campus.
Institutions Earn Presidential Recognition for Community Service
Six colleges and universities received Presidential Awards in the 2010 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, announced this month. Augsburg College (MN), Rollins College (FL) and San Francisco State University (CA) were honored in the General Community Service category; St. Mary's University (TX) and Loyola University, Chicago (IL) received Promise Neighborhood awards; and California State University, Monterey Bay took home the Summer Learning award. Administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, 511 institutions were named to the Honor Roll with 114 receiving Honor Roll with distinction recognition including Ohio Wesleyan University for the third consecutive year.
Johnson County CC Students Create Sustainability Sculptures
Johnson County Community College (KS) has unveiled five student-made sustainability sculptures. The installations display students’ personal experiences with waste, recycling and reuse, and will remain on display into the fall to encourage discussions amongst the campus community. The sculptures were funded by a grant from the Student Sustainability Committee.
LA Mission College Debuts Environmentally Friendly Fitness Center
Los Angeles Mission College (CA) has unveiled its $38 million health, physical education and fitness center. Previously, the physical education and athletic programs were housed in leased buildings dispersed off campus. The 87,000-square-foot building’s sustainable features include a constant monitoring of indoor air quality levels, a two-week preoccupy flush to remove construction-related contaminants, green housekeeping practices and low-VOC paints, carpets, adhesives and sealants. The center also features bicycle storage areas to encourage alternative transportation.
Meredith College Student Housing Earns LEED Silver
Meredith College’s (NC) newest student housing, opened in August 2009, has achieved LEED Silver certification. The apartments' sustainable features include dual-flush toilets, energy-efficient light fixtures, water-efficient landscaping and a drip irrigation system. Construction materials were made from recycled materials and extracted and manufactured regionally.
Michigan State U Plans Wind Turbine Installation as Teaching Tool
Michigan State University has ordered four wind turbines and other renewable energy systems as part of its electrical technology teaching program and hands-on training apprenticeship. Part of a $100,000 technology budget, the Altronics Energy products will also serve as energy sources for the university.
Missouri Institutions Assist with Tornado Relief Efforts
In the wake of the deadliest tornado in the U.S. in more than 60 years in Joplin, Mo. on May 22, area colleges are assisting with disaster relief efforts. Missouri Southern State University, Crowder College's Davidson Hall and Ozark Christian College are operating as triage centers and emergency shelters. Ozarks Technical Community College is collecting items for donation to the tornado victims.
Rochester Institute of Tech Announces Community Grants
The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute housed at Rochester Institute of Technology (NY) has announced the 2011 recipients of its Community Grants Program. The grants will provide monetary assistance to communities to advance the development and implementation of programs and initiatives in pollution prevention. The Rochester Child Care Council will use the funds to further advance its Eco-Healthy Kids Program. The second recipient, the Monroe County Department of Environmental Services, will use the funds to launch Pollution Prevention Education for municipal employees. The training effort is designed to assist municipal staff to better incorporate pollution prevention techniques in their operations while also providing information on new state and federal regulation related to waste collection.
San Diego Mesa College Opens Renovated Design Center
San Diego Mesa College (CA) has unveiled a new Design Center, renovated with funding by the district's $1.555 Propositions S and N construction bond program. Sustainable features include extensive use of natural lighting; design materials made with recycled content; and a landscape plan that utilizes water-efficient irrigation and low water-use plants and shrubs.
Santa Barbara City College Shaves $650K off Energy Costs
Since rolling out its energy conservation and environmental impact plan in 2001, Santa Barbara City College (CA) has announced a total savings of $650,000 in energy costs. The college installed a 235-kilowatt solar array of photovoltaic carports in 2009, funded with a low-interest loan from the California Energy Commission and district construction funds. The college reports a savings of $90,000 per year in utility costs as a result of the system, which will pay for itself within 10 years. The college has also improved its stadium lighting system by installing automatic security lights that turn on and off at scheduled times, with game lights only turned on when necessary, and plans to implement an Internet-based energy management system that will allow the institution to monitor and control its lighting and mechanical equipment online.
SUNY ESF Receives Grant to Produce Biofuel from Wood
Scientists at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry have begun researching ways to turn locally produced wood into sustainable biobutanol. Researchers are experimenting with different strains of bacteria that can ferment sugars extracted from wood into biobutanol that can be pumped into automobile gas tanks. Biobutanol is one of a handful of fuels that can be produced from wood sugars and is considered to be more efficient than ethanol in producing energy, and easier to add to the existing gasoline distribution infrastructure. The research is supported by a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and $75,000 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
U Iowa Students' Move-Out Donation Diverts 2 Tons from Landfill
A recent student sustainability class project at the University of Iowa resulted in the diversion of more than two tons of household items and clothing from landfills. The waste reduction initiative brought together representatives from Goodwill of the Heartland, Habitat Restore, the Crisis Center, and the university's Office of Sustainability and Housing and Facilities Management departments. Student volunteers collected unwanted items acquired over nine months of living on campus for distribution by the nonprofit agencies.
U Maine Fort Kent Receives $500K Grant for Biomass Boiler System
The University of Maine at Fort Kent has received a $500,000 grant from the Maine Department of Conservation to convert the oil heating system for the two largest campus buildings into a biomass system. The system will provide heat for 1.75 acres of floor space and is expected to save the campus nearly $1 million in heating costs in the next decade. The entire project will cost $858,000.
U Missouri-Kansas City Building Receives LEED Gold
The University of Missouri-Kansas City's Student Union, opened in August 2010, has achieved LEED Gold certification. The building’s sustainable features include public transportation access, stormwater control and natural lighting.
Unity College Names New President with Sustainability Focus
Unity College (ME) has announced Dr. Stephen Mulkey as its new president. The director of the environmental science program at the University of Idaho will assume duties in July. Dr. Mulkey's scientific research spans more than three decades including the functional ecology of forests in Eastern Amazonia, tropical forest canopies in wet and dry forests of Central Panama and tropical alpine rosette species in East Africa. "This is an opportunity to lead Unity College to continue developing its strategic contacts within the higher education, philanthropic and sustainability communities both regionally and nationally," said Dr. Mulkey in a Unity press release.
U Oregon Launches Grad Sustainability Certificate Program
The University of Oregon has announced a new one-year graduate certificate program, "Oregon Leadership in Sustainability." Housed in the Department of Public Policy, Planning and Management, the sustainability "boot camp" will provide 30 students a year with the hands-on skills and experiences needed to contribute to a professional work environment engaged in sustainability issues including public agencies, nonprofits and private firms. The program's three components include leadership skills; core courses in energy and climate change issues and solutions for cities, green cities and ecological design; and a practicum working on projects for a real client.
U Oregon Students Prep Local City for Green Makeover
Springfield, Ore. will be the focus of the University of Oregon's Sustainable City Year, an initiative that joins student projects with city needs. Promoting environmentally sustainable design and development, the two-year old program invites cities who are interested in having students involved in creating green buildings, developing parks, improving traffic planning and refurbishing neighborhoods to apply. The work in Springfield, who will pay the university $230,000 to participate, is still being decided but could include the redevelopment of a former 40,000-square-foot grocery store and 17-acre lumber mill site. Last year, the initiative's focus on Salem, Ore. received attention in The New York Times. Salem paid $330,000 and in return received an estimated 80,000 hours of work from more than 500 students working on 16 projects that were part of 28 different academic courses in 10 different departments.
USA Today Covers Rise in Recycled Graduation Gown Orders
More than 250 institutions have ordered graduation attire this year made from recycled plastic bottles from Virginia-based Oak Hall Cap & Gown, up from 60 last year, reports USA Today in a recent article. George Mason University (VA), which recently graduated 7,392 students in the recycled gowns, is mentioned. With an average of 23 bottles to make each cap and gown, Oak Hall Cap & Gown estimates that it is keeping more than seven million plastic bottles out of landfills. Students also have the option of dropping them off at a recycling bin where they can be turned into yet another product. Other institutions are using graduation gowns made from biodegradable wood pulp. In related news, Hartwick College's (NY) Commencement Committee also chose Oak Hall's graduation outfits for its 2011 graduation ceremony. The college’s Grassroots Environmental Club also asked the graduating class to sign the Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibilities upon graduating. The pledge states: "I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organization for which I work." The mission is to build a global community of responsible graduates improving society and the environment through the workplace.
Western Carolina U Students Donate Items to Goodwill
Western Carolina University’s (NC) Department of Residential Living recently partnered with Goodwill Industries to collect donations from students as they moved out of the residence halls in order to reduce the volume of reusable items entering the waste system. Goodwill provided bins in the residence halls for students to drop off items. Students have donated 7,812 pounds of items including clothing, fans, coffee makers, microwaves, televisions, shelving and cookware.
Western Washington U Announces Green Fee Recipients
From a new solar array to water bottle refilling stations, Western Washington University has announced the campus sustainability projects slated to receive funding from its Green Energy Fee grant program. Students pay $21 each academic year for the Green Energy Fee and the majority is used to pay for renewable energy credit. The money left over is used to fund the Green Energy Fee grant program.
Wharton School Hosts Sustainability Innovation Tournament
The winners have been announced of the global Innovation Tournament hosted by Knowledge@Wharton, an online journal of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, and IT solutions provider Wipro Technologies. This year's tournament themes included new ideas in the area of sustainability and implemented solutions related to sustainability. The tournament received more than 160 submissions with winners from India, the Grenadines, Tanzania and the U.S. Egg Energy, a low-cost solution for electricity distribution in Africa, received the grand prize of $20,000.
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Posted May 31, 2011
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Other News
Adelphi U Offsets 100% of Electricity with Wind Power
Adelphi University (NY) has announced plans to offset 100 percent of the electricity consumed on its Garden City campus with the purchase of 20,206,800 kilowatts hours of renewable energy credits generated by wind farms across the country. The university will purchase the credits through Colorado-based Renewable Choice Energy. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that this purchase helps avoid a similar amount of CO2 emissions as that produced by nearly 2,775 passenger vehicles annually, or the electricity use of 1,761 average American homes. Renewable Choice Energy credits are third-party certified by Green-e Energy.
College of the Desert Announces Plan for Net-Zero Campus
The College of the Desert (CA) has announced a new partnership with Southern California Edison to unveil a net-zero West Valley Campus in 2014. The college will work with the utility company on a 10-megawatt solar installation. Other sustainable features of the new campus will include earth-shelter buildings, cross ventilation, drought-resistant landscaping and a cistern.
Colorado State U Installs Fully Automated Composting System
Colorado State University's Housing & Dining Services has invested in a fully-automated composting system called the Earth Flow. Pre- and post-consumer food waste from campus dining centers is composted in the enclosed, 30-yard capacity compost bin. The Earth Flow accepts 2,000 pounds of material per day and composting is completed in 15 days inside the bin. The compost is piled on-site to cure for at least three to four weeks before being used in landscaping projects on campus.
