U Vermont Approves Clean Energy Fund Projects
The University of Vermont Clean Energy Fund Committee has approved its first round of projects. The Fund assesses UVM undergraduate and graduate students a $10 fee each semester to establish new clean energy projects on and around the UVM campus, generating about $225,000 per year. This year, $174,669 was allocated for nine approved student projects; $32,000 was set aside for an annual education and outreach fellowship to support student involvement in clean energy projects, coordinate with classroom instruction, secure grant funding, and disseminate information; and $25,000 will be used for professional project management for any construction the funded projects require. $25,000 was also set aside as a contingency fund. Selected projects include a campus dashboard system; the development of an energy auditing course and a virtual carport course; the installation of solar trackers, a solar array, and a solar hot water unit; solar power and smart grid research; and evaluation of biomass potential on the Trinity campus.
Washington State U Students to Install Green Energy on WSU Farm
The student chapter of Engineers Without Borders at Washington State University have begun a project to install a wind turbine and solar panels on the campus' organic farm. The wind installation will provide 500 - 1,000 watts and the solar panels will generate 200 - 500 watts of power. The system will include a bank of batteries, a 600-foot underground cable, data tracking computers, and a weather station. As an educational project, the system will accommodate student and community tours, with signs explaining the project. The installations should be complete this summer.
York College Adds Sustainability & Environmental Studies Minor
York College (PA) has announced a new minor in sustainability and environmental studies that will launch this fall. The program will focus on sustaining resources and will teach students to consider how humans can prevent or lessen the negative impact made on natural resources and the environment based on decisions made in their respective fields.
Austin College Launches Green Effort
Austin College (TX) has launched a new sustainability initiative - Thinking Green. The initiative has been designed by students, faculty, and staff to encourage “greener” practices on campus and in the community. As part of the project, students are distributing free energy-efficient light bulbs, picking up garbage off-campus, and doing cleanup and landscape work for several area social service organizations.
Bowdoin College Awarded NASA Grant for Climate Change Research
Bowdoin College (ME) has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to conduct multidisciplinary climate change research in the Gulf of Maine. The grant will fund a team of Bowdoin scientists and their colleagues at Michigan Tech, U.S. Geological Survey, Yale University (CT), and the University of New Brunswick using NASA satellite imagery to assess the flux and processing of dissolved organic carbon and nutrients from three major river systems draining into the Gulf of Maine. The project will incorporate historical data sets to develop a baseline of land use and climate change over the past century, and will include models for predicting how hydrology and carbon cycling is likely to be altered with projected changes in land use and climate change over time.
Bucks County CC Completes Green Campus Building
Bucks County Community College (PA) has unveiled its expanded Upper Bucks Campus. The $15 million, 28,000-square-foot project features solar-powered hot water, geothermal heating and air conditioning, and a vegetation-covered roof to reduce storm water runoff.
Champlain College Aims to Reduce E-Waste
Champlain College's (VT) Information Services and Sustain Champlain, a group of faculty, staff and students dedicated to monitoring and reducing the college's environmental impact, have launched the "E-waste not for Landfills" campaign. As part of the initiative, there are now five blue cylinder bins located around campus to provide a way for people to properly dispose of their smaller electronics. Physical Plant workers will collect the recycled items until a local-based company picks them up. Acceptable materials for the recycling program include: CDs, DVDs, diskettes, printer cartridges, any handheld electronic device (cell phones, pagers, PDAs, iPods), batteries, chargers, and related cords and cables. In related news, Champlain will also host an electronic swap in which students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to swap or donate unwanted usable or unusable electronics.
Chatham U Employees Now Eligible for Bicycle Benefits
As part of its effort to promote sustainable practices and healthy living, Chatham University (PA) will now offer full-time employees the opportunity to receive a bicycle commuter benefit. Included as part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, this benefit will reimburse full-time employees who commute to work by bicycle for reasonable expenses up to $20 a month. The reimbursements will be excludable from an employee’s gross income and not subject to federal income tax. According to IRS guidelines, employees who sign up for this benefit will not be permitted to have a campus parking permit as they are required to certify that cycling is their primary mode of transportation to and from work during the time frame in which they receive the reimbursement.
CNN Posts Video on Sustainability at U Colorado Boulder
CNN has posted a video on sustainability initiatives at the University of Colorado, Boulder. "The Greenest University in America" covers the UC Boulder's composting program, zero-waste football games, biodiesel buses, hybrid campus vehicle, solar farm, water-bottled refill stations, the Campus Environmental Center, recycling center, and the University's effort to teach students to live more sustainably.
College of William & Mary Hires 5 Summer Sustainability Interns
The College of William and Mary (VA) Committee on Sustainability has announced the funding of five awards for sustainability internships for the summer of 2010. Summer internships are awarded annually in a competitive process and are intended to provide students with independent research opportunities that contribute to W&M's progress in achieving a sustainable campus environment. Internships are supported with funds from the Student Green Fee, which generates more than $200,000 annually.
Dept of Energy Announces Teams to Compete in Solar Decathlon
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced the 20 collegiate teams selected to compete in the next U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, which will be held on the National Mall in Washington, DC in the Fall 2011. For two weeks, teams of college and university students from across the United States and the world will compete to design, build, and operate the most affordable, attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house. Hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy, the competition will highlight affordable homes that combine energy-efficient construction and appliances with renewable energy systems that are available today. U.S. and Canadian teams include Appalachian State University (NC); the Research Foundation of CUNY (NY); Florida State University, The University of Central Florida, The University of Florida, and The University of South Florida; Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ) and the New School (NY); Massachusetts College of Art and Design and University of Massachusetts at Lowell; Rutgers the State University of New Jersey and New Jersey Institute of Technology; Middlebury College (VT); Florida International University; The Ohio State University; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Old Dominion University (VA) and Hampton University (VA); University of Maryland, College Park; Purdue University (IN); University of Calgary (AB); University of Tennessee; University of Hawaii; and The Southern California Institute of Architecture and California Institute of Technology.
Dept of Energy Releases Video Encouraging Students to Save Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy has released a new video encouraging college students to help America save energy, save money, and cut pollution. The video highlights the work of students at the University of Central Florida, who launched a dorm-based competition called "Kill-a-Watt" to reduce energy use and energy bills on campus with easy steps like unplugging your electronics, raising the air conditioning temperature when in class, and taking the stairs instead of an elevator. Students in different campus residence halls compete against each other to achieve energy savings with residents from the winning dorm earning up to $200 in scholarships.
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Posted Apr 19, 2010
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Other News
Dickinson College Receives Grant for Watershed Protection
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded Dickinson College’s (PA) Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM) a grant of $30,000 for its ongoing watershed protection efforts. Through the grant, ALLARM provides technical assistance in the form of training, resources, mentoring, and quality control laboratory analysis for watershed organizations.
Edgewood College Introduces Grad Certificate in Sustainability
Edgewood College (WI) is pleased to announce its new Sustainability Leadership Graduate Certificate Program. Participants in the program will join a cohort of working professionals in non-profit, government and corporate management, economic development, planning and design, education, facilities management, public health, and energy and utilities to explore systems thinking, ethical leadership, ecological design, natural capitalism, and sustainability indicators. Students will work with instructors and mentors to apply these concepts to real-world projects in their organizations and communities. The first cohort in the Program will begin coursework in August 2010.
George Washington U Res Hall Certified LEED Gold
The George Washington University's (DC) newest residence hall has received LEED Gold certification. South Hall opened in September 2009 and houses 474 fourth-year students in single-bedroom apartment-style living. Design and construction of the residence hall incorporated strategies for sustainable site development, water conservation, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. South Hall offers students bike storage, fuel efficient vehicle parking, and recycling facilities on each floor of the ten-story building. Prior to occupancy, rigorous air quality testing was completed. Low VOC paints were used throughout the building to reduce odor and irritation for indoor air contaminants. Highly insulated wall systems, energy efficient windows with double pane, low-e glass, and an Energy Star white roof improves energy performance of the building by 24.5 percent over the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards for residential buildings.
Grand Rapids CC to Offer Wind Farm Safety Certification
Grand Rapids Community College (MI) has signed a licensing agreement with Spain-based Ynfiniti Engineering Services (YES) and United Kingdom-based Safety Technology authorizing GRCC to become the first United States training center to offer the globally recognized YES/ Safety Technology (YST) safety certification program for the wind energy industry. GRCC will serve as the North American training hub for YST program instructors and the Great Lakes hub for individuals seeking certification. GRCC will begin offering the 80-hour certification program in May. Students will learn fall protection, OSHA rules regarding working in confined spaces, and what they need to do to rescue themselves and others if they get in trouble on the site.
Northern Arizona U Building Earns LEED Gold
The facility housing in Northern Arizona University’s Extended Campuses has been awarded LEED Gold certification. The 23,000-square-foot extension to the School of Communication houses classrooms, offices, and production studios to support NAU’s Extended Campuses programs. The building uses about 43 percent less energy than a typical building of the same size through passive ventilation, solar-preheating of outside heating air, an HVAC system called “active chilled beams,” and sophisticated lighting and environmental controls. Water use is reduced more than 60 percent through low-water use plumbing fixtures and irrigating with municipal reclaimed water. More than 30 percent of building materials have significant recycled content and were attained and manufactured locally.
Pomona College Installs Compost Bins
Pomona College (CA) has installed compost bins across campus to supplement ongoing efforts at the campus organic farm. The initiative was launched with funds from the President's Advisory Committee on Sustainability (PACS). Items that can be composted include produce, vegan food scraps, biodegradable paper, and thin paper products, such as tissues. If students begin to use the bins regularly, the committee plans to purchase four more. PACS has already purchased 20 smaller compost buckets that students can keep in their rooms or halls. The compost collected in the bins will ultimately be taken to the campus organic farm.
Portland State U Names Sustainability Center Director
Portland State University (OR) has announced that Robert Costanza will lead its Center for Sustainable Processes and Practices, the hub for interdisciplinary research, teaching, and engagement in sustainability at PSU. The Center administers the ten-year, $25 million challenge grant for sustainability made by the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation to PSU in September 2008. Costanza is currently the Gund Professor of Ecological Economics and director of the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics at the University of Vermont. He will join the University this fall.
Ramapo College Announces MA in Sustainability Studies
Ramapo College of New Jersey has announced a new Master of Arts in Sustainability Studies degree. Beginning in Fall 2010, the College will welcome its first class to the program, which will equip students to work in a diverse range of fields, including planning, policy, and design. Students will learn how to apply sustainability in a variety of institutional, organizational, cultural, commercial, professional, and geographical contexts. The two-year program is based exclusively on evening classes. Prospective students include those from the fields of social science, business, science, engineering, and liberal and fine arts.
RecycleMania Announces 2010 Final Results
Over 600 colleges and universities participated in RecyleMania this year, recycling or composting over 84 million pounds of material during the course of the 10-week competition. California State University, San Marcos won the Grand Champion spot, barely nudging out New Mexico State University. The US Coast Guard Academy (CT) claimed the Per Capita Classic award; North Lake College (TX) received its third Waste Minimization title; and Ursinus College (PA) and Johnson & Wales University-Denver (CO) each claimed their first awards with the Bottles and Cans and Food Waste Organics categories respectively. Rounding out the list, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering (MA) won the Paper category and Kalamazoo College (MI) won the Cardboard category.
Rice U Announces Green Dorm Initiative
Rice University (TX) has announced the Green Dorm Initiative, a program which encourages students to reevaluate their living habits by rating the environmental friendliness of their dorm rooms. When students register, they complete a questionnaire about their laundry habits, appliance and lighting usage, water consumption and recycling practices. For the next two weeks, participants complete a daily log about their energy and water usage. After the program finishes on April 22, students' rooms will be certified as bronze, silver, or gold and participants will receive prizes.
Stanford U Students Campaign for Sustainability in the Curriculum
A group of students at Stanford University (CA) have begun a campaign to include sustainability as a topic area in Stanford's "Education for Citizenship" (EC) general education requirement. EC mandates that undergraduates take classes in two of four designated areas: ethical reasoning, global community, American cultures, and gender studies. Students for a Sustainable Stanford (SSS), the group that has helped develop the initiative, is working to develop a proposal and plans to present it to faculty for feedback.
St. Bonaventure U Appoints Sustainability Committee
A new Sustainability Coordinating Committee has been appointed at St. Bonaventure University (NY) to focus university-wide efforts in the critical areas of sustainability and environmental issues. The committee, which includes faculty, staff, and student representatives, will be responsible for coordinating university community sustainability efforts with regard to academic and co-curricular activities, university policies and standards, development, land use, and go-green initiatives. The committee has already established six priorities and subcommittees: Education for Sustainable Development, Sustainable University Standards and Policies Committee, University Land Use Practices Committee, Go-Green Practices, Sustainability Resource Development, and Student Co-curricular Sub-committee.
Stony Brook Southampton to Scale Back Sustainability Programs
The State University of New York at Stony Brook Southampton has announced plans to shut down large portions of its campus due to a budget crisis. A marine-science program and a writing program will remain open at Southampton, and all other programs will be moved to the West campus. No new students will be admitted and all residence halls will be closed. Acquired in 2006, the Southampton campus focuses on sustainability.
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Posted Apr 19, 2010
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Other News
U Dayton Launches Alternative Transportation Website
Students in a University of Dayton (OH) Politics of Alternative Transportation class have designed "Beyond Brown," a website that offers students an alternative transportation guide to the sights and activities outside of Brown Street, one of the main streets that runs through campus. The sight is expected to launch soon.
U Idaho Installs Bike Racks, Boosts Bike Parking Awareness
The University of Idaho's Parking and Transportation Services (PTS) will install 23 new bike racks on campus. In addition, PTS will place warning tags on bikes parked outside of designated racks with increased enforcement levels on bikes that are impeding access or posing safety concerns.
U Idaho Unveils Energy Audit Internship Program
The University of Idaho Sustainability Center and Environmental Science Program are partnering with the Idaho Small Business Development Center at Boise State University to fund student internships to conduct energy audits in nearby towns. Paid interns will work in teams to evaluate energy usage in at least 40 regional businesses. Based on their findings, teams will make recommendations for increasing energy efficiency, thereby reducing costs and energy-related carbon emissions.
U Michigan Releases New Sustainability Website
The University of Michigan has launched a new U-M Sustainability Website to showcase its ongoing achievements in sustainability research, teaching, and university operations, as well as to raise campus awareness of — and engagement in — related issues and activities. Designed as a central portal, the site provides a comprehensive overview of sustainability news, information, events, and activities from across the entire campus. It will highlight the work being done to set campus goals for sustainable operations, and will communicate new operational milestones, such as the purchase of renewable energy credits. Further, the site offers an events calendar, a collection of facts about U-M sustainability, and featured initiatives.
U Wisconsin Madison to End Nike Licensing Contract
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has announced plans to end its licensing agreement with Nike as a result of the company's failure to adequately address the problems caused by the closing of two Honduran factories. At issue is the non-payment of severance to workers at two apparel factories, both of which were under contract with Nike to produce collegiately licensed apparel. Since the factories were closed without notice in January 2009, their owners have allegedly failed to pay workers a combined total of more than $2 million in legally mandated severance. While Nike did not own the factories in question, the company is obligated under the University's Code of Conduct for the actions of its subcontractors. The code addresses workers' wages, working hours, overtime compensation, child labor, forced labor, health and safety, nondiscrimination, harassment or abuse, women's rights, freedom of association, and full public disclosure of factory locations.
Boston Architectural College Announces Green MLA
The Boston Architectural College (MA) has announced the addition of a Master of Landscape Architecture Program. The five year professional degree and the School of Landscape Architecture will provide outreach and support to the greater Boston area through research programs that focus on emerging design issues in innovative interdisciplinary projects that enhance neighborhood and community sustainability and develop new knowledge that prepares the next generation of design professionals.
California Polytechnic State U to Launch Ctr for Sustainability
California Polytechnic State University's College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences’ (CAFES) has announced plans to launch its Center for Sustainability later this month. The new Center will support CAFES and university initiatives in sustainable practices in resource management and agriculture. The Center will facilitate cross-disciplinary collaborations on campus and will assist the Central Coast food and agricultural community by helping professionals make the most of exciting opportunities emerging in their field.
Chatham U Receives $750K for Green Efforts
Chatham University (PA) has received a $750,000 gift from the Richard King Mellon Foundation toward both the master plan and the University’s search for the dean of its new School of Sustainability and the Environment. The planning process is expected to continue until June 2010, after which the University will present the master plan to the Richland Township Board of Supervisors.
College of St Benedict, St. John's U to Start Bike-Shares
The College of St. Benedict (MN) and St. John’s University (MN) have announced plans to launch a bike-share program. St. Ben’s will introduce its Green Bike Initiative on April 23 as part of Earth Week. The program, which is still seeking donations for its fleet, will offer half of its bikes for a semester check-out and the other half will be made available for daily use. St. John's is working on a similar program which will replace a program that failed a few years ago.
Furman U Announces Grad Diploma in Corporate Sustainability
Furman University (SC) has announced plans to offer a new graduate diploma in corporate sustainability starting this fall. The intensive, five-session course, offered by Furman’s Center for Corporate and Professional Development in cooperation with the David E. Shi Center for Sustainability, will offer a broad overview of sustainability as well as a detailed review of major practices in sustainability. It will also identify the sustainable business strategies that offer the most effective return on investment and demonstrate how sustainability can become an ongoing strategic business practice.
George Mason U to Start Organic Garden
George Mason University (VA) has broken ground on a new campus produce garden. The community garden will provide produce for the campus community and local food banks, as well as create a place for students to learn and practice sustainable gardening. FCRP, a partnership of nonprofit environmental groups, county agencies, businesses and individual citizens, has assisted Mason’s Office of Sustainability in securing funding and resources necessary for the garden project to take shape.
Humboldt State U Holds Clothing Swap
Humboldt State University (CA) recently held a Campus Recycling Program Clothing Swap. During the event, students were invited to bring clean and gently used clothing to a designated room on campus where they could swap items with others. Students were not required to bring pieces of their own wardrobe to be able to take home clothes.
Lehigh U, Lafayette College Offer Eco-Friendly Graduation Gowns
Lehigh University (PA) and Lafayette College (PA) have announced plans to offer environmentally friendly graduation gowns this year. Lehigh University has opted to offer graduation gowns that will be used in the future. After the ceremony, gowns will be cleaned with earth-safe products. Lafayette College's gowns will be made to be worn once and to quickly biodegrade. The gowns are made from acetate fibers made of wood from managed forests and decompose completely within a year of being buried in soil.
Louisiana State U Completes Energy Conservation Competition
Louisiana State University has completed its second annual UNPLUG energy conservation competition. Students living in on-campus residence halls and apartments at LSU yielded an average 14 percent reduction in energy consumption — an estimated $10,368 in savings — over a one-month time period. Nine residence hall communities, which altogether house 4,800 residents and 135 resident assistants, and three Greek houses participated in the competition. The West Campus Apartments led the Residential Life competition with a 26 percent reduction, and Phi Mu sorority won the Greek division with a 45 percent reduction.
Mills College Approves On-Campus Organic Farm
Mills College (CA) has approved the creation of an on-campus organic farm. The plots will contain fruits and vegetables. The group managing the garden hopes to sell produce to the College's food service company. Future plans for the project include more on-campus work-study for students, the addition of a new course on sustainable horticulture and food production, and a possible farmers' market stand.
Palm Beach Atlantic U Unveils Green Wall
Palm Beach Atlantic University (FL) has unveiled a portable green wall that can be used indoors or outdoors. The vertical garden system can be planted with various types of plants and contains a built-in irrigation system. The irrigation can be set through a timer, and the plants can be replaced at any time.
Pennsylvania State U Installs Pilot Water Refilling Stations
Pennsylvania State University has installed four water refilling stations for students and employees in order to research the stations' practicality and whether they reduce the use of bottled water. The stations were donated by three difference companies.
St. Mary's College Announces New, Larger Campus Garden
St. Mary's College of Maryland has created a new, larger campus garden. The garden is meant to teach College and community members about sustainable agriculture while producing local, organic, and nutritious food. The group that manages the garden, the Community Garden Club, hopes to be able to sell produce to the College's dining services provider.
Sustainable Industries Magazine Covers Campus Sustainability
Sustainable Industries Magazine has published an article titled "Campus Sustainability: progress and prognosis" by Paul Rowland, AASHE's Executive Director. In the article, Rowland discusses the trends of campus sustainability and the ways the movement has progressed over the past few years.
Syracuse U Posts Lights Out Stickers on Campus
Syracuse University (NY) has announced the winner of its "Lights Out" sticker design contest held by SU's Sustainability Division, in partnership with the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG). The contest called on students to create a wall sticker for display above campus light switches to remind students, faculty and staff to turn off the lights when leaving an unoccupied room for more than 10 minutes. Winner Bill Hoelzer, a philosophy graduate student, designed a sticker that reads, "Steppin' out? Lights out! Help save juice in the 'Cuse." The sticker will be placed in nearly all SU offices and classrooms.
U California San Diego Installs Energy Dashboard
The University of California, San Diego has installed an Energy Dashboard that allows users to see up-to-the-second information on a structure-by-structure basis for 60 of the largest buildings on the La Jolla campus. The data is provided by UC San Diego Physical Plant Services from over 200 energy meters providing energy usage at the building level. The portal also features information coming from roughly 40 individual power meters that measure energy consumption in the office, e.g., a computer and monitor drawing power from a single socket. A denser deployment of meters, which would measure and display individuals’ energy use, is currently under planning and development. The Web portal provides statistics updated at least once every minute on total power consumption, power generation, imports from San Diego Gas & Electric, and a comparison between power usage and production.
U Kansas Enters $25M Energy Contract
The University of Kansas has entered into a $25 million contract with Overland Park energy company to help increase the campus's energy efficiency. KU expects to save nearly $2 million per year by addressing aging heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; by reducing energy and water use; and by educating the campus about responsible stewardship of resources. Work has begun and is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2011.
U Kansas Installs 6 Solar Panels
The University of Kansas EcoHawks engineering group has installed six solar panels on a campus shed. The group plans to transfer energy captured by the panels into a battery used as a fueling station for their 1974 Volkswagen Super Beetle.
U Kentucky Bike-Share Expands Fleet
The University of Kentucky Wildcat Wheels bike-share program has expanded its total fleet from 12 to 150 bikes. The program contains four sub-fleets that are designated for certain campus populations. Wildcat Wheels has also begun offering traveling workshops available to residence halls with tutorials on bike maintenance and upkeep.
U Massachusetts Lowell Announces Environmental Health Program
The University of Massachusetts, Lowell has announced plans to offer a new bachelor of science degree in environmental health starting this fall. Students in the program will study the effects of the environment on human health and of human activities on the environment, and ways to address those impacts. The degree program will begin with 10 to 15 students and grow to about 60 over four years, according to the university. It will be open to both first-year students and those transferring from other programs at the university or other institutions.
