U Northern British Columbia Announces Biomass Gasification Project
The University of Northern British Columbia has selected Nexterra Energy Corp. to supply and install a turnkey biomass gasification system to heat the Prince George campus and to anchor its new Northern Bioenergy Innovation Centre. The gasification system will convert locally-sourced wood residue into clean-burning renewable synthetic gas that will displace up to 85 percent of the natural gas currently used to heat the campus. The project, which is jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments, is expected to begin in June 2009. It will be complete by mid-2010.
U Texas Arlington Names First Sustainability Director
The University of Texas at Arlington has named environmental lawyer Kathryn C. Poulos, a commissioner for the Environmental and Energy Advisory Commission in Oak Park, Ill., as the University’s first sustainability director. Poulos, who will begin her new job on August 1, 2009, earned her law degree along with a certificate in environmental law from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1993.
Wayne County CCD Announces Green Efforts as Part of Budget Strategy
Wayne County Community College District (MI) has announced that it will, among other strategies, reduce energy costs through environmental sustainability initiatives in an effort to decrease spending in the 2009 fiscal year budget. The District decided to implement the fiscal strategies due to a decrease in revenue from local property taxes and state aid. WCCCD has also announced plans to launch the "Workforce Education and Green Careers Initiative" through which the Eastern Campus will become a model green campus. The District's new workforce education model will also include an "Open Door Equity Initiative" designed to assure that those individuals who experience barriers to career and academic success due to low income and limited literacy skills will have access to support services such as career counseling, financial aid, and literacy, and basic job skills education.
Western State College Installs 3 Solar Arrays
Western State College of Colorado has installed three solar systems on Kelley Hall, a building that houses the Environmental Studies and Behavioral and Social Sciences programs. The system, which is primarily meant to provide a solar laboratory for student research, includes two solar electric systems that will offset a portion of the structure's electricity usage and a solar thermal system that will provide heat for domestic water for hand-washing in the restrooms and some space heating for the building.
WSU Reinstates 'The Omnivore's Dilemma' as Common-Reading Book
Washington State University has decided to reinstate the original plan for distribution of its Common Reading book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma , as a result of a private contribution to support the program. Earlier this year, WSU administrators made the decision not to distribute the book, which examines industrial agriculture and the American diet, and not to bring author Michael Pollan to campus, for either budget or political concerns, depending on different points of view. Some people believed that the University, which had already purchased 4,000 copies of the book and has a prominent agriculture college, bowed to pressure from agribusiness interests, but the University affirms that the decision was due to budget difficulties.
Yavapai College, Habitat for Humanity Partner to Build Eco-House
Yavapai College (AZ) has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to construct a grid-tied house that generates all of the power it needs on-site. The 1,200-square-foot house features an insulated concrete slab, solar panels, an airtight frame, balanced fresh-air ventilation, a solar-power hot water heater, and Energy Star appliances.
2 Indiana Campuses to Receive Shuttle Service
Citilink, a service of the Fort Wayne, IN Public Transportation Corporation, has announced plans to begin a campus shuttle service this fall that would provide free rides to and around Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and Ivy Tech Community College. The company will provide the campus shuttle service free of charge and will offer discounted passes to faculty and students to use other Citilink services.
Arizona State U Partners to Advance Solar Technology
Arizona State University has partnered with Advent Solar, a solar technology company, to develop solutions for improving energy harvesting of solar systems. ASU and Advent Solar will collaborate to develop solar technology based upon an integrated cell-to-module architecture that delivers higher energy efficiency at lower production costs.
Benedictine U Joins Illinois Sustainability University Compact
Benedictine University has joined the Illinois Sustainable University Compact, an organization of universities and community colleges across Illinois which, in conjunction with the Illinois Green Government Coordination Council, is committed to creating a greener, healthier environment. In joining the Compact, BU has agreed to such objectives as purchasing renewable energy, implementing green building practices, developing sustainable transportation options, improving water conservation efforts, and incorporating sustainable dining practices.
Bethel U Installs Green Roof
Bethel University (MN) has installed a green roof on its Brushaber Commons building. The roof is covered with approximately 4,000 square feet of sedum.
Case Western Reserve U to Pilot New Energy Reduction Technologies
Case Western Reserve University (OH) has announced plans to pilot Cisco's new building energy use reduction technology in its biomedical Wolstein Research Building and in one of its largest residence halls. The initiative, known as Connected Real Estate project, aims to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions.
Central Piedmont CC Campuses Certified as Wildlife Habitat
The National Wildlife Federation has certified all six Central Piedmont Community College (NC) campuses as Certified Wildlife Habitat sites. NWF officials believe that accomplishment makes CPCC the first multi-campus community college in the country to certify the grounds of all its campus locations. To become a Certified Wildlife Habitat, spaces must include four essential elements: food, water, cover and places to raise young. Over the past two years, the CPCC community has collaborated to reach this goal on all six campuses; CPCC’s Harper Campus, became the sixth and final campus to receive certification in March 2009. In addition, CPCC’s Presidential Cabinet awarded its Center for Sustainability six $2,000 innovation grants to help each campus create and maintain its own unique wildlife habitat.
Colgate U Plants Biomass Farm
Colgate University (NY) has planted a new 7.5 acre willow biomass farm that will help to heat its campus. Depending on the soil, weather, and overall conditions, CU's planting of 60,000 8-inch shrub willow shoots should yield about 900 dry tons of biomass over a 20-year period. The biomass farm was funded by a gift from the Class of 2008.
Kansas State U Begins Composting Project
Kansas State University dining facilities has partnered with the K-State student farm to develop a composting program on campus. Food waste in K-State dining halls is now taken to the student farm to be composted.
Lafayette College Creates Film on Campus Sustainability Project
Students and faculty at Lafayette College (PA) have created Dig the Earth , a feature length film documenting the College's Corn on the Quad sustainability project and the academic and cultural issues the project explores. Corn on the Quad was a companion project to the Fall 2008 first-year students’ orientation reading of Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma . The project consisted of three plots of corn planted by students, faculty, and staff at the center of campus. Students in a film theory and practice course worked as production assistants and creative consultants on the 45 minute film. The students operated camera and editing equipment, conducted on camera interviews, edited footage, and reviewed and critiqued other students’ work. The film was director by the students' professor, Andrew Smith. Smith plans to show the film at film festivals and to pitch it to PBS.
Macomb CC Announces Renewable Energy Certificate
Macomb Community College (MI) has announced a Renewable Energy Certificate to be launched in fall 2009. Students in the new program will study wind, solar, biomass, geo-thermal and hydrogen fuel cell in a 15 credit hour sequence that can stand alone or be woven into a students’ associate degree program.
Maharishi U Mgmt Receives Recycling Grant
Maharishi University of Management (IA) has received a $12,000 grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to support the construction of five more recycling sheds on campus, the construction of mobile recycling stations in the dorms, and an awareness campaign to increase the amount of recycling on campus. The sheds have bins for plastic, clear glass, colored glass, aluminum, white paper, colored paper, newspaper, and glossy paper, as well as an area for cardboard; the mobile stations for dorms will be dollies with recycling bins stacked three high; and the educational campaign will cover the value of recycling.
Middlebury College Funds Carbon Reduction Initiatives with Parking Fee
Middlebury College (VT) has announced plans to begin charging students $50 per semester to park a car on campus. The College will use funds generated by the new fee, which will go into effect this fall, to support its carbon neutrality initiative. The revenue will be distributed between carbon reduction efforts and public transportation, in addition to paying for maintenance of parking lots.
Northwestern U Commits to Green IT, Improves Data Ctr Efficiency
Northwestern University's (IL) Information Technology (NUIT) department has created a Green Technology Commitment Statement, officially promising to guide efforts toward best practices in reducing energy consumption through power management, disposing of e-waste in an environmentally friendly manner, and encouraging the use of emerging communication technologies for environmental campaigns. As part of the commitment, NUIT has announced an initiative to virtualize university administrative services located in NUIT Data Centers to improve development, deployment, and disaster recovery functions while decreasing power consumption and increasing operational uptime.
Oregon State U Opens Green Building
Oregon State University has opened the newly renovated Kearney Hall. The structure, which houses the civil and construction engineering programs, is registered for LEED Silver certification.
Pepperdine U Launches Center for Sustainability
Pepperdine University (CA) has announced the creation of the Center for Sustainability. The new Center, which has also launched a new website, seeks to advance sustainability at Pepperdine through the implementation of sustainable measures, the communication of successes and challenges, and the education of the university community. The Center for Sustainability has already implemented several new initiatives including switching to all recycled paper towels, biodegradable to-go ecotainers in cafeterias, and composting of food waste. Other new efforts include the availability of rental cars through Hertz Car Sharing and expanded e-waste recycling and battery collection.
U Buffalo to Support Local Clean Energy Companies
The University at Buffalo has received a $1.5 million grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to establish a clean energy business incubator program that will provide business support to accelerate the successful development of early-stage, clean energy technology companies in Western New York. UB's program, Directed Energy, is designed to utilize the technical expertise of scientists and engineers at the University with the business development skills of the University's Technology Incubator in order to foster clean energy companies and job growth in Western New York. The Directed Energy program also will develop curricula to better prepare university students for the green economy and to help companies provide quality continuing education to employees. Alfred University is a partner of the program.
U Calgary Receives Funding for Cogen Plant, Energy Upgrades
The University of Calgary (AB) has received $29.8 million from the Federal and Provincial Governments to support the construction of an energy efficiency cogeneration plant and a campus-wide energy performance program that will convert an ageing heating and cooling plant into a 12-15 megawatt cogeneration facility. The new system will generate electricity from natural gas and capture the waste heat to be used in buildings across campus. It is expected to result in $3.5 million in cost savings on energy bills per year and reduce the University’s carbon dioxide emissions by 80,000 tonnes per year when it comes online by the end of 2011.
U California Santa Barbara Housing Complex receives LEED Gold
The University of California, Santa Barbara's San Clemente Villages graduate student housing complex has been awarded LEED Gold certification. San Clemente Villages features four separate apartment buildings with 973 beds in 325 one-, two-, and four-bedroom apartments. The structure, which was completed in fall 2008, is believed to be the largest LEED-certified housing facility on any college or university campus in the country.
U California Santa Cruz Building Awarded LEED Silver
The University of California, Santa Cruz's Engineering 2 building has been awarded LEED Silver certification. The structure, which was completed in 2004, is cleaned with environmentally friendly products, saves 276,000 kW of electricity and 17,000 therms of natural gas annually compared to a similar conventional building, and features trees planted nearby to replace those cut down during construction.
U Florida Football Complex Receives LEED Platinum
The University of Florida's Heavener Football Complex has received LEED Platinum certification. The $28 million complex includes offices, conference rooms, an atrium, and weight-training facilities. The facility’s energy-saving features exceed state and national standards requirements by 35 percent and include low-e glazing on glass, insulation, and reflective materials, which make the heating and air conditioning systems more efficient. The structure also contains energy-efficient lighting and light sensors that turn off automatically when the room is empty; a system for analyzing future energy use; light-colored roofing and concrete pavement on the plaza to keep temperatures lower in and around the building; low flow fixtures, dual-flush toilets, and water-saving shower heads; and a green roof. Additionally, one hundred percent of the building's irrigation is reclaimed water, and native plants combined with non-evaporating sprinklers allow the landscaping to use 50 percent less water. The complex is the first building in Florida and the first athletic facility in the nation to achieve LEED Platinum status.
U Illinois Chicago Signs Talloires Declaration
The University of Illinois at Chicago has signed the Talloires Declaration. By signing this international declaration, UIC commits to implement a 10-point action plan to incorporate sustainability and environmental literacy into its teaching, research, operations, and outreach.
U New Hampshire Completes Landfill Gas-to-Energy Project
The University of New Hampshire has completed a project that uses purified methane gas from a nearby landfill to power its five-million-square-foot campus. UNH will receive up to 85 percent of its electricity and heat from the gas, making it the first university in the US to use landfill gas as its primary fuel source. After the gas is purified and compressed in a processing plant at a nearby landfill, it travels through a 12.7-mile-pipeline to UNH’s cogeneration plant, where it will replace commercial natural gas as the primary fuel source.
U Oregon Installs Electricity Generating Fitness Machines
The University of Oregon has installed 15 elliptical machines in its Student Recreation Center that generate electricity while in use. An average half-hour workout on the fitness machine produces enough electricity to power a laptop computer for one hour. The product, known as ReCardio, captures and diverts the kinetic energy normally produced by exercise and given off as heat to an inverter that changes the energy into the alternating current that's used in the electrical grid. The University plans to add five more energy generating machines in the near future.
U Tennessee to Host State Solar Institute
The University of Tennessee has announced plans to join Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Tennessee Valley Authority as a partner in Governor Phil Bredesen's proposed Volunteer State Solar Initiative. UT and ORNL will be home to The Tennessee Solar Institute, one of two projects in the proposed initiative subject to U.S. Department of Energy approval. The Tennessee Solar Institute would receive $31 million to focus on basic research to improve solar product affordability and efficiency.
U Texas Austin Hires Sustainability Director
The University of Texas at Austin has appointed Jim Walker as its first director of sustainability. In his new position, Walker will be part of the University's Campus Planning and Facilities Management unit. He will work closely with the President's Task Force on Sustainability and plans to meet frequently with on-campus and off-campus stakeholders to identify existing sustainability efforts and opportunities for collaboration. Walker will assume his new position full-time by August 1, 2009.
U Wisconsin Extension Creates Online Sustainability Mgmt Degree
The University of Wisconsin-Extension has created an online Sustainable Management Bachelor's degree, a program designed to provide students with the management skills needed to lead sustainable business strategy. The 63-credit BS degree, which is only available to students who have completed an Associate's degree or the first two years of a Bachelor's degree, is an interdisciplinary program that helps students gain a broad understanding of the ways in which business systems, natural systems, and social systems intersect. The curriculum includes courses in Environmental Studies, Triple Bottom Line Accounting, Natural Resource Management, Information Systems, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, and Sustainability.
U Wisconsin Oshkosh Cancels Plans to Bring KFC to Campus
The University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh has cancelled its plans to sign a six-year contract with Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) after a group of faculty, students, and staff expressed concerns related to animal welfare and argued that the contract would go against the University's commitment to sustainability. After researching the issue further, students collected over 450 signatures on a petition calling for the University to drop KFC and the University decided to consider other options.
27 New Campus Greenhouse Gas Inventories Released
26 signatory campuses of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) have submitted public greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories since the last update in the AASHE Bulletin . The GHG inventory is the first major reporting requirement of the Commitment and is due within a year of signing. New inventories were submitted by: Oregon State University; University of Southern Mississippi; University of North Texas; Sewanee: The University of the South (TN); Brandeis University (MA); University of Alaska, Anchorage; University of Minnesota-Rochester; Oregon Institute of Technology; New England Institute of Technology (RI); Xavier University (OH); University of Baltimore (MD); St. Mary's College of Maryland; Life University (GA); Loras College (IA); Temple University (PA); Illinois College; Roger Williams University (RI); The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey; Bergen Community College (NJ); Lewis and Clark Community College (IL); SUNY Rockland Community College; Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MN); The Community College of Baltimore County (MD); Manchester Community College (NH); Durham Technical Community College (NC); and Bristol Community College (MA). In related news, Elon University (NC) has also published a greenhouse gas inventory.
6 Colleges Test Electronic Book Reader
Case Western Reserve University (OH), Pace University (NY), Princeton University (NJ), Reed College (OR), Arizona State University, and the Darden School at the University of Virginia have partnered with Amazon and major publishers to supply a portion of the student population with the Kindle e-book reader this fall. Case Western has announced plans to give students the large-screen Kindle with textbooks for chemistry, computer science, and a freshman seminar already installed. Case hopes to compare the experiences of students with and without the new device.
Anne Arundel CC Installs Rain Garden
Anne Arundel Community College (MD) has installed several rain gardens on its campus. More than 600 plants were installed near storm water drains to slow rushing water and filter out impurities. The project, which was funded by a $24,000 grant from the nonprofit Chesapeake Bay Trust, was initiated by a student in an environmental science course.
Arizona State U Expands Student Financial Aid
Arizona State University has established the Barack Obama Scholars Program to help students from low-income families afford tuition. The program, an expansion of an already existing program, will provide funding for direct costs to all academically qualified Arizona freshmen from families that earn less than $60,000 per year. It more than doubles qualifying family income from $25,000 to $60,000 and more than triples the number of scholars from 500 first-year students this year to more than 1,600 students entering ASU in fall 2009.
College of the Atlantic Class Installs Wind Turbine
Students in the College of the Atlantic's (ME) Practicum in Wind Power course have installed a wind turbine on the campus' Beech Hill Farm. The College hopes that the wind turbine will provide enough electricity to power the farm.
Delta College Switches to 4 Day Schedule
Delta College (MI) has begun Green Fridays, a new schedule in which the campuses closes on Fridays. The campus extended its hours Monday through Thursday for students, faculty, and staff to perform their usual activities. The initiative seeks to reduce campus emissions without decreasing the level of education and services provided.
Georgia Tech, Caltech Partner Globally for Sustainability
The Georgia Institute of Technology and the California Institute of Technology have joined with five international technological universities to form the Global Alliance of Technological Universities. The Alliance brings together these engineering-based universities in the belief that one of the best ways to address global societal issues is through the joint and concerted development of technological solutions based on top class research in science and technology. “Grand Challenges” identified by the Alliance include biomedicine and health care, sustainability and global environmental change, security of energy, water and food supplies, and changing demographics/ population.
Humboldt State U to Improve Stadium Lighting Efficiency
Humboldt State University (CA) has announced plans to upgrade the Redwood Bowl stadium lighting. The Relight the Redwood Bowl project, which began with a student proposal, will finance the purchase of new fixtures that focus light directly on to the field. The number of light fixtures will drop by 40 percent, and the University estimates a savings of $186,221 and a reduction of 1,525,000 kilowatt-hours over a 25-year period.
Ithaca College Kitchen to Undergo Student-Designed Green Upgrade
A group of Ithaca College (NY) students have developed a plan to reduce energy consumption in the campus dining hall. Working in partnership with the Sodexo, the College's food service provider, the students conducted a water and energy audit, examined every piece of equipment for energy efficiency, and developed a baseline estimate of dining-service energy consumption and carbon emissions. The team then identified short and long range ways to curb energy use that included installing energy-efficient exhaust fans, making employees more aware of energy use, and adding light sensors. The team's plan will cut the energy bill by nearly $140,000 per year via low-cost or no-cost projects. Investments in energy-efficient equipment will cost just over $215,000 and will pay for themselves in 19 months.
Johns Hopkins U Releases Climate Change Report
Johns Hopkins University (MD) Task Force on Climate Change has released its final report. The document recommends that the University reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 51 percent by the year 2025. The report also calls for the University to expand its focus on the student experience, ensuring that students have more opportunities to get involved in climate change research activities, community-based learning, and sustainability-related social activities. Likewise, the report recommends that academic leadership find creative ways to match interested professors with meaningful sustainability projects on the Johns Hopkins campuses and in the surrounding communities. During the next several months, the University plans to develop an implementation plan based on the report.
Lafayette College Installs Water Refilling Stations
Lafayette College (PA) has installed seven "refilling stations" in high student traffic buildings on campus. The new installations, which work faster than a normal water fountain, aim to promote using reusable water bottles over disposable ones.
Louisiana State U Reduces Dorm Energy Use 18%
Louisiana State University has completed its UNPLUG Competition, a contest to reduce energy consumption in nine campus dormitories. As part of the competition, students were asked to make small adjustments in their daily routines in an effort to impact overall energy consumption. These adjustments included using task lighting and natural light whenever possible, adjusting the temperature in dorm rooms, unplugging nonessential electrical devices whenever possible, taking the stairs rather than the elevator, and taking shorter showers. Residents collectively reduced their energy use by 18 percent, saving the University $13,763 over the month of March.
Maharishi U Mgmt Students Build Community Greenhouse
A group of Maharishi University of Management (IA) students have helped to construct a greenhouse on a nearby farm. The students participated in a workshop held by the nonprofit organization Practical Farmers of Iowa in which the students, along with several members of the community, installed the 35 by 96 foot hoop house. The students' participation was part of the curriculum for MUM's Sustainable Living program.
Mount Allison U Adopts Carbon Emission Reduction Policy
Mount Allison University (NB) has adopted a campus-wide Carbon Emission Reduction Policy. The Policy concentrates on three major areas responsible for most of the University’s emissions: heating, electricity, and transportation. Reduction strategies include fuel-switching to lower emission sources as they become available and represent viable options, priority purchasing of high efficiency model appliances and computer hardware, and creating a central accounting system to monitor travel distances and mode of all university expensed travel.
New York Times Covers Campus Green Fees
The New York Times has published a blog post on the increasing number of colleges and universities that are implementing student-imposed green fees. The article mentions current or upcoming fees at Northland College (WI), Portland State University (OR), and Texas A&M, as well as green fee initiatives within the state legislature in Texas and Florida.
Northland College Class Installs Solar Panels on Library
Students in a "Sustainable Living: Photovoltaics" course at Northland College (WI) have selected and installed a 38 solar panel array on the campus library. The new photovoltaic system, which employs bifacial panels, can capture direct sunlight and light reflected by the building’s white roof. It is expected to produce 14 kilowatts of power, approximately the amount used by the library’s geothermal heating and cooling system.
