U Arkansas Places Bike Repair Stations
Students working with the director for sustainability created the momentum for the new bike fix-it stations that were installed to improve bicycle infrastructure on campus.
U Georgia Introduces Solar-Powered Waste Compactors
The university is co-locating its outside trash and recycling receptacles by installing 30 BigBelly Solar compactors across campus to make it easier to recycle. The recycling bins are set up for single-stream recycling.
U Maryland Initiates Post-Consumer Waste Audit
In an effort to focus their outreach efforts, facilitators of the ongoing audit aim to reduce the amount of trash bags used and increase the amount of composted and recycled material.
U Toronto Launches 'Faces of Sustainability'
The university's sustainability office's new the bi-monthly feature recognizes the individuals who are contributing to campus sustainability, bridging dialogue across campus with varying stakeholders.
Vancouver Island U Appoints First Elder-in-Residence
The first full-time elder, Geraldine Manson, will provide support and guidance to aboriginal and non-aboriginal students and share traditional practices and knowledge within the curriculum of the Faculty of Health and Human Services.
Alfred State College Introduces Waste Reduction Initiatives
In an effort to continue to reduce waste on campus, the college now works with compostable packaging and service items in its new Ever Green coffeehouse. Also, The Terrace, the college's main all-you-can-eat dining venue, now offers reusable takeout containers.
Case Western Reserve U Receives $6M Gift
The Weatherhead School of Management received the gift from Fairmount Minerals for the newly formed Fowler Family Fellowships, a fellow program that supports MBA students who focus on application of the principles of sustainability in business.
Castleton State College Erects Wind Turbines
The four newly installed one-kilowatt micro-wind turbines on the college's Hoff Hall are installed with a 29-kilowatt solar array. The system is designed to be a hybrid system with solar generation happening during the day and wind energy generation occurring at night.
Coastal Carolina U Receives $5M Donation
Along with supporting the university's athletic program and endowed scholarships, a portion of the donation from TD Bank Group will support the continued sustainability initiatives of the university.
Colgate U to Install Solar Thermal System
In an attempt to lessen the university's use of number 2 heating oil, which is dirty and costly, one of 16 residence halls will soon have 12 solar panels that heat water from the sun for domestic uses in bathrooms and kitchens.
Four U Utah Buildings Earn LEED Gold
Three newly constructed buildings and one remodel exceeded state and university sustainable building mandates. The Marriott Residential Scholars Community is recognized for its location, which is close to train and bus stations, and for its ability to monitor energy use by floor. The Natural History Museum of Utah features photovoltaic panels contributing nearly 9 percent of the buildings' energy, water efficient landscaping and pervious pavement in the parking lot. The Sorenson Molecular Biotechnology Building includes attention to energy use efficiency and local materials. The University Data Center features high-efficiency server equipment with outside air recirculation to aid cooling efficiency.
New Mexico State U Maps Outdoor Recycling Bins
Attempting to understand how far campus members have to walk to recycle, student researchers in the Spatial Applications and Research Center discovered only 22 percent were located within 25 feet of building, whereas 70 percent of the trashcans were within 25 feet.
Northern Illinois U Hosts First Diversity Festival
After faculty members attended a diversity conference, the university's Latino Student Alliance group hosted the inaugural Unity Conference and Celebration that focused on celebrating the differences within its diverse student body.
Portland State U Joins 'Healthy Purchasing Coalition'
After a recent report indicating a high level of concern about better purchasing practices the university joined the coalition, which fosters the goal to create demand for non-toxic products and better disclosure of product information. The group also provides a forum for sharing best practices in purchasing and procurement.
Syracuse U Renovation Implements Operational Sustainability
The university's Dining Services implemented a pilot trayless dining program in its Sadler Dining Center after a recent audit indicated less food waste when trays were not used. To further its efforts, diners can now choose to compost their leftovers. The facility also offers a gluten-free spot and a green roof.
Taylor U Begins Sustainability Assistants Program
After a recent trip to the Bahamas, a honors cohort conceptualized and brought to fruition a program where volunteer student representatives educate students in residence halls about environmental issues and act as change agents for sustainable living.
U California Berkeley Opens Food Research Institute
Called the Berkeley Food Institute, the new interdisciplinary center brings together five colleges to foster innovative connections between research, education, policy, practice, and social movements that develop and strengthen sustainable food and agriculture systems which are healthy, just, diverse and resilient.
U California Irvine Receives Accolades from EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently acknowledged the university for its zero waste and food recovery efforts. The zero waste program diverts 83 percent of the campus’ total waste materials from landfills by recycling, reusing and composting. The university has increased its food waste diversion from 90 tons in 2010 to 500 tons in 2012, when it joined the EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge.
U Illinois Chicago to Retrofit Science Building
An upcoming energy retrofit of the university's Science and Engineering Laboratories Complex and a supporting office building is projected to save $1.8 million annually and cut energy consumption by 30 percent.
Valparaiso U Opens Solar Energy Research Facility
The newly dedicated and fully operational James S. Markiewicz Solar Energy Research Facility will provide undergraduates and graduates with engineering and research opportunities. Funding for the facility came from a gift from James S. Markiewicz and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Villanova U Awarded Fair Trade Status
Firming up its commitment to partnerships that promote greater social equity, the university's new designation strengthens its efforts to shore up equity in purchasing decisions. Dining Services has increased the fair trade options available in all dining halls and cafes, and the University Shop has added a line of apparel manufactured in a socially-responsible manner.
Wesleyan U Installs Solar-Powered Waste Compactors
The university recently installed four BigBelly Solar trash compactors to increase its recycling rate and reduce the number of collection bins necessary, which also decreases labor involved in collection of the materials.
Yale U Partners on New Health Program
In commemoration of the city's 375th anniversary, the Yale School of Public Health, Yale-New Haven Hospital and Community Services have initiated the program aimed at reducing obesity by establishing working groups to strengthen nutrition and exercise in underserved communities.
Adrian College Announces New Loan Repayment Plan
The new plan to be rolled out in fall of 2014, AdrianPlus, is a loan repayment assistance initiative that offers to pay all or part of its students' loans if they are unable to secure a well paying job post graduation.
Binghamton U Building Receives LEED Platinum
The university's Engineering and Science Building incorporates passive solar energy for heating, geothermal technology for heating and cooling, energy-efficient windows and skylights to allow for maximum use of daylight.
Duke U Builds Cardboard Structure to Conceptualize Waste
Reusing boxes from the recent student move-in, Sustainable Duke, Duke Arts Festival, and Duke Sanitation and Recycling Services collaborated on Fort Duke to break the world record and enable students to visualize the move-in waste stream.
Elon U Building Establishes LEED Silver
The university’s 18th LEED-certified building, the Numen Lumen Pavillion features a high-performance building envelope, low-flow water fixtures, occupancy sensors, natural daylighting, and was designed to encourage the use of outdoor spaces. Ninety-eight percent of the construction waste stream was diverted from the landfill.
Emerson College Hires First Sustainability Coordinator
Strengthening its commitment to sustainability, the college named Eric Van Vlandren to the new position within Facilities Management. Vlandren, whose career experience is in the nonprofit sector, stated his first priority as energy reduction. Under his leadership the college recently instituted its first EcoReps program, which uses student employees to administer sustainability awareness and education within four residence halls and off campus.
Emory U Increases Local Food
In support of the university's sustainability goals, new dining options at Cox Hall include procurement of locally-sourced food and support of smaller, independent businesses.
EPA Announces Green Power Leadership Award Recipients
Georgetown University and The Ohio State University were recently honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for achievements in advancing the nation's renewable energy market. Both universities are Green Power Partners of the U.S. EPA.
Essex CC Students Erect Solar Charging Station
The recently constructed nine-foot pole holds a single 30-watt photovoltaic panel. Erected by students in the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design and Solar Training course, the charging station will serve as a working lab.
Jacksonville State U Students Propose Green Fund
Inspired by other green fund campaigns in Alabama, two student clubs have teamed up with the Coalition of Alabama Students for the Environment to propose a new campus fund that would support student-designed projects for energy independence, efficiency, renewables and water conservation.
Rutgers U Approves Gender-Neutral Lyrics to Alma Mater
A decades-long debate ended this semester when the university song was changed from "My father sent me to old Rutgers/ And resolv'd that I should be a man” to "From far and near we came to Rutgers/ And resolved to learn all that we can." This change more accurately reflects the 65,000-student college where nearly half are female.
Selkirk College Achieves Fair Trade Designation
Over two years in the making, students helped the college earn the designation, which promotes fair working conditions for those who are in the coffee, tea and chocolate growing industries.