Elon U Expands Composting Efforts
Elon University (NC) has added another campus cafe to its list of campus composting locations. The Office of Sustainability has organized volunteers to stand near the composting bins during high traffic hours in an effort to educate students about the benefits of composting. During the 2009-2010 school year, the university diverted more than 100,000 pounds of waste from the landfill through food composting initiatives.
Emory U Sets World Record to Raise Sustainable Seafood Awareness
Emory University (GA) set a world record for the longest taco line in an effort to raise awareness for sustainable seafood. Dining Services set out a line of 260 tacos filled with over 80 pounds of fish, including wild Alaskan cod, which is sustainably harvested. In related news, Emory University's student-run Rollins Environmental Health Action Committee has coordinated with Moore Farms and Friends to offer a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) option of local produce, meat and cheese to the campus community.
Northern Arizona U Green Fund to Support Sustainable Landscaping
With the help of a $26,952 student Green Fund award, students at Northern Arizona University will conduct a pilot project to study sustainable landscape methods for campus lawns based on organic principles without the use of chemical herbicides. The grant will cover material, labor and student internships for the project and is expected to start this spring. Students at the university overwhelmingly voted to create the Green Fund last month, a $5 per semester fee.
Northwestern U Ranks Fifth Among Green Power Buying Institutions
Northwestern University (IL) has announced that it ranks fifth among colleges and universities represented in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recent list of the largest green power purchasers. The university supports green power by matching 30 percent of its total annual electricity use with Green-e Certified Renewable Energy Certificates. The EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program encouraging organizations nationwide to buy green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with purchased electricity use. Green power refers to renewable sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and low-impact hydropower. The University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University (PA), Drexel University (PA) and Pennsylvania State University round out the top five.
Rice U Students Initiate Campus Composting
Rice University's (TX) Baker College servery has expanded its locally sourced food efforts to include composting, thanks to student efforts. During the fall 2010 semester course, "Environmental Issues: Rice into the Future," that looked at the food waste created by the campus' serveries, a student proposed asking the farmers involved in the Rice University Farmers Market if they could use campus food scraps for compost. In what the university calls its "farm-to-fork-to-farm" program, the university now delivers its food scraps back to the farmers who grow the food.
San Diego Miramar College to Seek LEED Gold with 2 New Buildings
San Diego Miramar College (CA) has opened the doors of two new buildings that will seek LEED Gold certification. Funded as part of the San Diego Community College District’s $1.55 billion Propositions S and N construction bond program, its $34.4 million dual-classroom building project was the first to be fully integrated in Building Information Modeling (BIM), allowing for the creation of the building in digital space before building it in real space. Sustainable features include recycled materials, high-efficiency lighting and efficient thermal "massing," which delays the transfer of heat throughout the course of a day and minimizes the impact of a heating or cooling load on a building. The college also debuted the Compass Center, the new central gathering point on campus.
San Diego State U Students Save $2.5 Mil in Textbook Costs
As a result of a $1.1 million grant from the Department of Education Fund for Innovation in Post Secondary Education (FIPSE), the campus bookstore at San Diego State University (CA) is enjoying the benefits of an expanded textbook rental program. Nearly all titles priced at $10 or more are now available for rent, encouraging the reuse of textbooks in an effort to decrease the demand for new books. Sixty percent of students chose to rent instead of buy this spring and students have saved about $2.5 million in textbook costs during the 2010-2011 school year.
Students Help Dickinson College Farm Become USDA Organic
On the heels of the announcement of its plans to raise cattle, the Dickinson College Farm (PA) has been certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Students were instrumental during the three-year process, which concluded recently in collaboration with the college's assistant professor of international business and management, who integrated the certification inspection into her first-year seminar course, "The Business of Organic Food." Managed through Pennsylvania Certified Organic, the certification is recognition that the college farm adheres to a USDA-approved approach of agricultural food production that involves building and enhancing the soil naturally, environmental protection and the avoidance of toxic or synthetic substances such as pesticides.
U Calgary Switches to Compostable Food Packaging
Based on a recent Students' Union poll that revealed overwhelming support for a switch to compostable packaging, the University of Calgary's (AB) MacEwan Conference and Events, along with Chartwells and Good Earth vendors, will eliminate plastic foam packaging for take-out foods on campus. Seventy-seven percent of the more than 2,500 respondents to the survey were willing to pay 25 cents more for a meal if served in compostable packaging, the upper end of what the campus community will likely pay for the switch.
U Colorado Boulder Green Loan Fund Earns 38% Return
Three years after University of Colorado at Boulder student leaders invested $500,000 in an endowment for energy efficiency projects, the university is receiving, on average, a 37.8 percent return on investment. Compared to first-year efficiency savings of $24,000, the university is expecting third-year savings of $143,500. The fund has financed 80 micro-projects aimed at increasing efficiency in the campus' student, recreation and health center.
U Florida Hosts Green REthink Campaign
The University of Florida has launched its REthink campaign, an effort to engage, educate and empower students to reduce, reuse and recycle with a campus-wide cleanup. The Office of Sustainability recruited nearly 300 volunteers to collect nearly 3,000 pounds of garbage. Numerous events to engage students will be ongoing until the campaign's completion on April 22, 2011.
U Idaho Awarded $20 Mil USDA Grant for Climate Change Research
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture has announced an award of $20 million to the University of Idaho to fund research to better understand and plan for a changing climate in the Pacific Northwest. A research team led by the university that includes researchers from Washington State University, Oregon State University and the USDA Agricultural Research Service will study impacts of climate change on Northwest wheat and barley production with a focus on cereal production systems and their management under projected climate change scenarios for the region.
U Texas at Austin Receives $1.6 Mil for Solar Project
The University of Texas at Austin has received a $1.6 million grant from the State Energy Conservation Office. The grant money was made available by federal stimulus funds and will be used to finance 80 percent of the cost of two solar systems on campus. The systems have the potential to create 434,000 kilowatt hours each year. The total cost of the project amounts to $2 million and the university will pay for the remainder of the project. Work on the project has already begun and is projected to be completed this April.
Yale U Awards 16 Workplace Green Certifications
The Green Workplace Certification Program, administered by Yale University's (CT) Office of Sustainability, has recognized 16 university offices and departments for sustainable practices. Participating offices earn certificates by accumulating points for action items ranging from recycling printer and toner cartridges to participation in the university's departmental bike share program.
Agnes Scott College Installs Touch Screen Energy Monitors
Students in two first-year residence halls at Agnes Scott College (GA) will compete for the title of "greenest residence hall" with the help of new touch screen displays that will tell them how much electricity their building is using in real-time, and how much it has used in the past. The displays also reveal how much power the building is using compared to its rival residence hall. The college is planning to add displays in several other campus buildings over time but has chose the two first-year residence halls as the initial sites. The data for the displays is generated by the college's energy dashboard, which tracks electricity in seven buildings on campus. Natural gas and water tracking will be added to the displays and energy dashboard in the near future.
California State U Sacramento Signs Water Consulting Contract
California State University, Sacramento has signed a $300,000 consulting contract with California’s Department of Water Resources to troubleshoot difficulties with the state’s water delivery and conservation measures. The contract stipulates that the university is responsible for providing consulting, research, education and training services to the water resources department.
Dalhousie U Receives $1.4 Mil for Natural Gas Conversion
Dalhousie University (NS) has received a $1.4 million grant from the Nova Scotia government to help finance its conversion from heating oil to natural gas. The total project will cost $1.8 million and the conversion will not only help reduce the university’s greenhouse gas emissions, but it will also expand the natural gas distribution infrastructure in Nova Scotia.
Dickinson College Names New Sustainability Chairs
During a recent Board of Trustees meeting, Dickinson College (PA) honored two new Distinguished Chairs in Sustainability Studies. The tenured faculty are Ashton Nichols, professor of english, and Candie Wilderman, professor of environmental studies.
Duke U Graduation Gowns to be Made of Recycled Plastic Bottles
Commencement apparel for Duke University (NC) graduates this May will be made of material produced from recycled plastic bottles. Made of fabric spun from molten plastic pellets, each cap and gown will keep 23 used plastic bottles from winding up in landfills. The caps and gowns from Salem, Va.-based Oak Hall Cap & Gown Company will be shipped in boxes made of recycled cardboard and in storage bags made from recycled plastic.
Duke U Preps New Student-Initiated Campus Farm
Duke University (NC) has erected a greenhouse as the first phase of a planned campus farm. An idea that grew from an undergraduate environmental studies class last spring, the pilot project will grow one acre per year until the donated 12-acre land from Duke Forest is filled. The aim of the farm is to provide campus dining halls with fresh seasonal food and allow students the opportunity for engagement with food studies.
Lynchburg College Slashes Energy and Water Consumption
Lynchburg College (VA) has saved 4.5 million gallons of water in the first semester of a $4.65 million campus conservation project. The college achieved its goal of saving 30 percent of its water usage by installing low-flow toilets, faucets and showerheads throughout campus. The college's electricity consumption dropped by 8 percent due to the installation of solar panels and energy-efficient light bulbs in buildings. New meters have been installed in dormitories to track water and electricity consumption. The project is expected to pay for itself by reducing the college’s utility bill by about one third.
Michigan College Students Face Food Aid Halt
Perhaps another push toward the increasing trend of campus food pantries, as many as 20,000 college students in Michigan who now receive food stamps could lose their eligibility in April. According to a new state policy that will go into effect this spring, college students won't qualify for the federally funded Food Assistance Program without particular circumstances like caring for young children or working at least 20 hours a week. Spurred by state Republican lawmakers who have raised concerns about food stamp fraud, the policy changes the way the state has administered its food program for about two decades. Poverty experts say they have yet to see evidence of rampant card abuse among students and worry that the policy change will cut off families who financially depend on the help.
Montana State U Saves 40,000 Gallons of Water in a Week
A weeklong campaign at Montana State University increased water conservation on campus and produced a savings of 40,000 gallons of water. The events during the campaign included documentaries, presentations and community meetings. The Water Conservation Week focused on four individual consumption habits: shaving a minute off your showers, turning the water off while you brush your teeth, doing larger loads of laundry and not buying bottled water.
North Central Missouri College to Build New Campus with USDA Loan
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a variety of projects that will be funded through its Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program. A new agricultural and natural resources campus for North Central Missouri College will be constructed with the help of Grundy Electric Cooperative, who received a $740,000 loan for the project.
Obama's Budget Proposes Cuts to Career and Technical Education
The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that President Barack Obama's recent proposed budget would make millions of dollars in cuts to student aid to preserve the Pell Grant program, the primary college financial aid program for low-income students. Under the president the maximum award was increased to $5,550. To maintain a maximum Pell award of $5,550, the president's fiscal 2012 budget would eliminate the in-school interest subsidy on loans to graduate students and end a policy that allows students to receive two Pell Grants in a single year. Some 9.6 million students are expected to receive the awards next year, up from six million in 2008. The budget also calls for a 20 percent cut in funding for career and technical education, threatening to undermine the president's goals of reducing unemployment and graduating five million more Americans with certificates and degrees by 2020.
Pomona College Wins Claremont Colleges Power Down Challenge
With an overall reduction of 10.5 percent in dorm electricity use, Pomona College (CA) won the Claremont Colleges Power Down Challenge that took place in November 2010. The residence hall that with the largest energy savings on campus, the Oldenborg Center at 23.4 percent, will decide which campus sustainability project they will fund with $6,000 provided through the college's President's Office and Office of Facilities and Campus Services. Contenders include the expansion of the campus compost program and the installation of a hydration station for filling reusable water bottles.
Sam Houston State U Undertakes Energy Conservation Program
Sam Houston State University (TX) has announced a new 20-year contract with Schneider Electric Buildings Americas, Inc. to renovate campus buildings to reduce energy and water consumption. Slated projects include the installation of water-efficient appliances, campus-wide lighting retrofits, laundry machine upgrades and energy monitor installation in the 117 facilities on campus. These projects will save the university an estimated $33 million over a 20-year period.
Seattle Central CC Awarded $2 Mil Conservation Grant
Seattle Central Community College (WA) has received a $2 million conservation grant from the State Jobs Act for Public K-12 and Higher Education Institutions. The grant money will be directed towards an energy efficiency project that will upgrade the Energy Management System in many of the campus’ buildings and be used for retrofitting energy appliances.
Syracuse U Cancels Bulk Delivery of Phone Books
Verizon telephone directories will be delivered to Syracuse University (NY) based on pre-orders from individual departments rather than a bulk delivery to buildings and departments for the second year in a row. Initiated last year, the university ordered 1,490 copies in 2010 versus the approximately 7,000 phone books that were distributed across campus in 2009.
U California Berkeley Earns Fifth LEED Certification
With the recent LEED Silver certification of Durant Hall, the University of California, Berkeley received its fifth LEED building certification. Completed last summer, the renovation lets a high degree of daylighting into the work spaces and features new mechanical and electrical systems that exceed California's mandated energy efficiency standards by 17 percent. Eighty-eight percent of the construction waste was diverted from landfills.
U California San Francisco Unveils Medical Center Green Roof
The University of California, San Francisco has opened the doors of its Dolby Regeneration Medicine Building, which features a terraced green roof. The $123 million building was paid for with grants and donations. The university has $12 million left to raise.
U Central Florida Builds Weather Station for Research
The University of Central Florida has built a weather station atop a green roof on the Physical Sciences buildings on its East Orlando campus. The weather station is updated hourly and can be viewed online. The hourly updates include temperature, humidity, dew point, wind speed and precipitation. This tool will allow researchers to study the various cooling potentials of native plants.
U Chicago Receives $50K Grant for Green Roof
With the assistance of a $50,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the University of Chicago (IL) will help fund a 5,000-square-foot green roof atop the new Chicago Theological Seminary building. By providing a rooftop lawn, the building will reduce the heat island effect and reduce stormwater runoff. The grant was made available through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The building is a construction partnership between the university and the Chicago Theological Seminary.
U Guelph Significantly Reduces Emissions with Student Green Fees
The just-released Community Energy Plan report for the University of Guelph (ON) shows that the university saved $734,000 and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 1,363 tons in the 2009/2010 school year with energy and water conservation programs. Funded by a $10 per semester fee for students, the programs focused on developing a greenhouse gas tracking inventory, renovating outdated windows in residence halls, installing retrofit lighting and a heat-recovery system, and implementing a water conservation project in its Aqualab.
U Maryland College Park Announces 631KW Solar Project
After receiving a grant from the Maryland Energy Administration Project Sunburst Initiative, the University of Maryland, College Park is scheduled to install more than 2,600 solar panels on the roof of its Severn Building. Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc. will finance a portion of the project in return for the university’s agreement of a 20-year purchasing contract. The result of this project amounts to one of the largest solar power systems in Maryland. It will produce 792 megawatt-hours of electricity annually, reducing the university’s carbon footprint by more than 600 tons a year.
U Mass Medical School Adds Natural Gas Turbine to Power Plant
The University of Massachusetts Medical School is expanding its power plant to accommodate a new 7.5-megawatt gas-fired combustion turbine that will boost the plant's capacity to generate steam, electricity and chilled water. Fueled by natural gas, the new turbine will replace a 35-year-old gas and oil-fired boiler. The turbine will also feature a catalytic reduction system to remove pollutants before the exhaust gasses are discharged through the existing smokestack.
U Mass Medical School Reduces Campus Paper Usage
As a result of urging the campus community to think about their use of paper over the last two years, the amount of paper used by the University of Massachusetts Medical School dropped in fiscal year 2010. Of the paper used, significantly more of it was made from recycled content. In fiscal year 2009, the university purchased 7,224 case of paper, of which 13 percent were made with recycled content. In fiscal year 2010, the total amount of paper bought dropped to 7,096 cases, with 27 percent recycled paper.
U New Hampshire Debuts Sustainable Agriculture Program
The University of New Hampshire has launched a new major that reflects the region's agricultural landscape and growing appetite for local, sustainable food, products and services. The sustainable agriculture and food systems curriculum combines plant, animal and environmental sciences with related topics like nutrition, forestry, aquaculture, and business disciplines such as entrepreneurship and marketing. The major offers both Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees.
U Northern Iowa Installs Solar-Wind Hybrid Station
The University of Northern Iowa's new solar-wind hybrid power station recently celebrated its first day of power. The station, which will help to power the campus grid, is funded by a grant from the Iowa Alliance for Wind Innovation and Novel Development, state and local funds, educational institutions and the private sector. In the works since March 2010, students, faculty and contractors worked together to implement the 12-kilowatt station.
U.S. Dept of Labor Kicks Off Community College Summits
As a follow-up to the White House Community College Summit last fall, the U.S. Department of Education will hold a series of regional community college summits. The last meeting in April will be a virtual symposium that will present findings on issues discussed at the regional summits. Bringing together representatives from community colleges, students, business and industry, philanthropy, labor, and state and local government, these summits are intended to further the conversation regarding community colleges' role in workforce development and student success, in particular President Barack Obama's goal of an additional five million Americans earning a college credential by 2020.
U Virginia Launches Global Sustainability Minor
The University of Virginia's Office of the Provost has approved a new interdisciplinary minor in global sustainability, open to undergraduates in any discipline. Requirements include one foundation course, "Global Sustainability," and options within the three categories of environment, equity and economy. The creation of the minor was a student initiative.
Zero Net Energy Plans for U California Santa Barbara Rec Center
The University of California, Santa Barbara's Recreation Center has been chosen by Southern California Edison as a "Zero Net Energy Demonstration Showcase." The electric utility company will perform an energy efficiency analysis of the center and provide recommendations for achieving zero net energy performance within the facility. With assistance from the utility company's incentive and rebate programs, the university will purchase and install the recommended solutions. The university hopes to make all of its facilities energy independent by the 2015-2016 academic year.
Zipcar Grows Network of Campus Car Share Programs
With its latest partnerships with the University of Texas at Austin, Michigan State University, the University of Richmond (VA), Christopher Newport University (VA), Hampshire College (MA), Seton Hall University (NJ), Meredith College (NC) and North Carolina State University, Zipcar, Inc. has a presence on more than 225 college campuses. The car sharing program allows students, faculty and staff to rent a car only when they need it, providing a cost-effective alternative to car ownership. Within this network of campus programs, 1.7 million students, faculty and staff are now within a short walk of a Zipcar.
13 New Institutions Sign Presidents' Climate Commitment
Thirteen new institutions have signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) since the last update in the July 19, 2010 issue of the AASHE Bulletin. In doing so, these campuses have committed to develop comprehensive plans for achieving climate neutrality. The new signatories are: Ronald Berkman of Cleveland State University (OH), Mark Erickson of Wittenberg University (OH), John Fry of Drexel University (PA), Jerry Sue Thornton of Cuyahoga Community College (OH), John Delaney of the University of North Florida, Cleveland Sellers of Voorhees College (SC), Greg Weisenstein of West Chester University (PA), Thayne McColluh of Gonzaga University (WA), Janet Eisner of Emmanuel College (MA), Beverly Tatum of Spelman College (GA), Kenneth Ender of William Rainey Harper College (IL), Thomas Cole of Interdenominational Theological Center (GA) and David Gipp of the United Tribes Technical College (ND). A total of 677 college and university presidents are active ACUPCC signatories.
American U Launches Green Sustainability Fund
American University (DC) has implemented a Green Eagle Sustainability Fund to enable students and community members to apply for grants in support of sustainability research and initiatives on campus. The Sustainability Fund board composed of undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, faculty, staff and other community members will allocate funds for worthy projects and provide support for applicants to put their ideas into action throughout the year. The Sustainability Fund replaces a Clean Energy Revolving Fund and will not be limited to projects that pay themselves back, creating more opportunities for students and community members to design sustainability projects with greater flexibility and resources.
Antioch U New England Takes Sustainability MBA Online
Antioch University New England (NH) has announced a new online version of its sustainability MBA program. The first cohort of the fully accredited, two-year program will begin in May 2011. Along with a 24-month weekend program and an accelerated 12-month program, the university now offers three sustainability MBA degree delivery options.
California State U San Bernardino to Install Fuel Cell Plant
California State University, San Bernardino has announced a partnership with Southern California Edison Company to install a utility-owned 1.4-megawatt fuel cell power plant on campus, powered by natural gas. The excess heat generated by the plant will be used in a combined heat and power configuration to heat the university’s water system.
Clemson U Expands Recycling Efforts
With a grant from Alcoa, the College and University Recycling Coalition and Keep America Beautiful, Clemson University (SC) has expanded its campus recycling program with more than 7,000 recycling bins for offices, classrooms and residence halls at a cost of about $49,000. Each office will receive a bin for paper and a mini trash bin for non-recyclable waste. In the residence halls, students can use the bins for paper, cardboard, glass, plastic and aluminum. Trash cans will be removed from classrooms and recycling stations will be placed in convenient locations in the hallways. The university hopes to up its current recycling rate of 22.25 percent to between 35 and 40 percent.
Cleveland State U Starts Composting Program
Cleveland State University has announced a partnership with Rosby Farm to implement a composting program on campus. Raw and cooked foods, soiled paper items, coffee filers and cardboard from the university's main production kitchens will be kept out of landfills and manufactured into soil products for plant growth.
Colorado State U Offers Online Green Building Certificate
Colorado State University has begun offering an online green building certificate program open to the public starting in February. The program was developed by the director of the university's Institute for the Built Environment. The courses may also qualify as prerequisites to LEED accreditation and to LEED credential maintenance.
