Clarkson U Operates 100% Local Grill
In an effort to increase local food offerings, every ingredient used at the university’s Main Street Grill comes from a farm within 200 miles of the Quebec campus.
DePauw U Begins Organic Farm
The new one-acre farm for students, faculty and staff serves as a learning lab while 10-15 percent of the food grown will be donated to the local emergency food pantry.
Franklin Pierce U Launches Sustainability Awareness Campaign
In an effort to help students gain practical experience in the field of sustainability communication, the student-run Pierce Media Group has created Voices: Engaging Communication for Sustainability. This year-long project includes guest speakers, student-created media announcements and a column in the campus newspaper.
Iowa State U Offers Online Green Roof Course
The new eight-week class, lead by the university’s extension office, covers design, installation and management of high rise gardens. Iowa State University has nine green roof installations.
Loyola U Chicago Opens New Environmental Center
The university’s new Institute of Environmental Sustainability offers students opportunities to study policy, land management, conservation and restoration, environmental science, business, sustainable food systems, and public health care. The new building houses biodiesel production labs, a greenhouse, a geothermal heating and cooling system and rainwater harvesting.
Loyola U Reinvents a Vacant Block
A recent decision by the local City Council turned over a vacated street which the university plans to use for expansion of its Rogers Park footprint. The space will be transformed into green space connecting campus and creating a safer area for students.
New Program Increases Community College Access
As the country grapples with how to make college more affordable, the new Benefits Access for College Completion program aims to help low-income community college students connect to social services support such as child care subsidies and food assistance. The three-year $4.84 million pilot initiative is funded by Ford Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, Lumina Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, and managed by the Center for Law and Social Policy and the American Association of Community Colleges.
Portland State U Grant Supports Climate Modeling Computer
A recently awarded $350,000 grant from Murdock Charitable Trust supports research related to climate, air pollution and energy-efficient transportation systems. Additional support provided by Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science (MCECS), the Institute for Sustainable Solutions and PSU’s office of Research and Strategic Partnerships.
St. Olaf Creates New First-Year Dialogue Program
The newly offered fifth topic in the college’s Conversations program, the Environmental Conversations path gives first-year students an opportunity to engage in discussion-based learning with a focus on sustainability. The college recently designated Kittelsby-Hilleboe Hall as housing for those interested in sustainable living and learning.
SUNY ESF Showcases New Green Building
The university’s recently opened Gateway Building, which houses a biomass-fueled combined heat and power system, contains a high efficiency building envelope that controls thermal loss and solar gain. The building hosts the university’s new sustainable energy management major and renewable energy minor.
SUNY Oswego Opens Sustainable Building
The new Richard S. Shineman Center for Science, Engineering and Innovation houses a geothermal well, LED touchscreens that monitor the building’s energy usage, foam insulation, reused flyash in concrete, low emission windows and accompanying shades, bike storage and showers, and amenities designed to encourage students to stay in the building, such as Wi-Fi, lounge areas and storage lockers.
U Arkansas Little Rock Installs Bottle Fill Station
In an effort fulfill the university Sustainability Committee’s mission to conserve resources and protect the environment, the Donaghey Student Center’s new water bottle filling stations help reduce the school’s waste stream. In the first two weeks over 400 bottles were filled.
U Buffalo Students Initiate Permaculture Garden
After attending a permaculture workshop at University of Massachusetts Amherst, the students have drafted a proposal for a garden based on the principles of permaculture containing herbs and other perennial plants.
U Idaho Awarded $3.1M from National Science Foundation
Recently awarded from the NSF’s Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program, the five-year program allows the university to expand its interdisciplinary water resources degree program and provide financial support for its 24 doctoral students.
U Idaho Professor Recognized by National Conservation Award
Professor Dennis Scarnecchia will be awarded the Fisheries Management Sections Award of Excellence from the American Fisheries Societies this month for his research and commitment to the sustainable management of fish resources. Professor Scarnecchia has worked for the conservation of some of the world’s oldest fish for over 20 years and includes study of the Missouri, Yellowstone and Columbia river systems. Most recently, Scarnecchia has served on the Independent Scientific Advisory Board, an independent scientific panel recommended by the National Academy of Sciences, which provides input to fish conservation, management and research in the Pacific Northwest.
U Maine Partners for Offshore Wind-Wave System
A recent $983,997 grant from the National Science Foundation will allow university researchers to create a new wind and wave generating system simulating conditions in the Gulf of Maine. Data collected from the project will be used to develop test standards and understand the effects of ocean wind and waves on offshore wind turbines.
U Maryland, Ohio State U Wins Design Competition
Officials with the U.S. Department of Energy recently announced University of Maryland as the winner of the Max Tech and Beyond design competition for ultra-low-energy use appliances and equipment, and Ohio State University as runner up. UMD developed a heat pump clothes dryer that is almost 59 percent more efficient than a traditional electric dryer, while OSU designed a hybrid air/water conditioner with 73 percent energy cost savings over a conventional system.
U Utah Building Receives LEED Gold
The recently completed James L. Sorenson Molecular Biotechnology Building’s sustainable features include low volatile organic compound paints, over 20 percent regionally sourced materials, rooftop gardens and recycled concrete material, and over 90 percent of construction debris was recycled.
Vassar College Plants 1,100 Trees
To help buffer two adjoining streams and further climate change resiliency, students plan to reforest a 5-acre tract of the college’s Farm and Ecological Preserve in coordination with the Student Conservation Association (SCA). Liz Putnam, SCA founder and 1955 alumna of Vassar College, will be visiting and working with students.
Virginia Tech Offers Global Resilience Assistance
Birthed from the university’s most recent strategic plan calling for the expansion of interdisciplinary research and dissemination, the Global Forum on Urban and Regional Resilience will provide information to organizations around the globe looking at disaster response and recovery, critical infrastructure and urbanization.
Wheelock College Introduces Environmental Studies Major
In response to the growing popularity of environmental studies and sustainability, the college’s new undergraduate academic track explores interdisciplinary topics around social, cultural and scientific issues, and natural sciences.
Alfred State College Launches Student Engagement Competition
In a new year-long challenge, students in residence halls at the university will earn points by participating in activities and programs related to civic engagement, sustainability, and health and wellness. The highest earning residence hall will be awarded $1,500.
Auburn U Begins Move-In Recycling Program
With the help of staff volunteers, the newly introduced recycling program Move-in Mania enables students living on campus to recycle cardboard, #1 & #2 plastic and aluminum and steel cans. Of the 77 tons of material collected, 15 tons were cardboard.
Energy Department Awards $7.9M Toward Transportation Technology
Building on President Obama's Climate Action Plan, the U.S. Department of Energy recently announced nearly $8 million in funding to eight institutions of higher education for new projects that accelerate the research and development of vehicle technologies to improve fuel efficiency, lower transportation costs, and protect the environment in communities nationwide. Recipients include Regents of the University of Michigan, The Ohio State University, Arizona Board of Regents for Arizona State University, Mississippi State University, Johns Hopkins University, Michigan State University, The Pennsylvania State University and Northwestern University.
Energy Department Invests in Wave & Tidal Energy
As part of the Obama Administration’s strategy for American energy independence, the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $3.74 million in funding for projects that will increase the power production and reliability of wave, tidal and current power. Universities involved or awarded funding include Texas A&M University, University of Maine, University of Washington, Oregon State University and Florida Atlantic University.
Franklin & Marshall College Implements Waste Reduction Measures
As part of its sustainability plan, the college has installed 22 water bottle filling stations, discontinued the sale of single-use water bottles at campus dining facilities, distributed 2,500 reusable bottles to all students, implemented single stream recycling, and deployed two solar trash compactors.
Northern Arizona U Renovation Earns LEED Silver
Recently completed, the Hotel and Restaurant Management building’s features include use of sustainable and recycled materials, use of natural lighting, composting and Dark Sky-compliance.
U Florida Athletic Stadium to Offer Composting
In line with its zero waste commitment, the university’s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will offer composting and recycling, whereas previously only waste and recycling were offered. Labeling and increased staffing will help to eliminate contamination of either waste stream.
U Minnesota Morris Opens Green Residence Hall
Complementing its focus on environmental sustainability, the university’s new Green Prairie Community is a living and learning residence hall for students interested in pursuing sustainable lifestyles. The features of the new community and building include sustainability programming, community meals, on-site food gardens, wind and biomass energy systems for heating and cooling, and low-flow plumbing fixtures.
U Minnesota Sees Results with New Energy Reduction Email Campaign
In an effort to reduce energy consumption of on-campus residents, faculty and staff, the university experimented with mass emails this summer encouraging energy conservation when the weather was hot and demand for energy was high. In July, demand was reduced 6.6 percent from the year prior.
U Northern British Columbia Building Achieves LEED Platinum
Certified by the Canada Green Building Council, the recently certified Bioenergy Plant is the first platinum facility at the university. Features include a focus on sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
Washington Monthly Magazine Releases Affordability Ranking
Called the Best Bang for the Buck ranking, the magazine’s newest issue ranks schools that help non-wealthy students attain degrees at affordable prices. The rankings are based on percent of students receiving Pell Grants, graduation rate and student loan default rate.
Berea College Opens Green Residence Hall
The building’s features include photovoltaic panels, a geothermal heating system, high efficiency windows, low-flow plumbing and student-made furniture made with mule-harvested wood from the college’s forest. Design and construction was guided by USGBC LEED and Living Building Challenge by the International Living Future Institute.
Brock U Initiates Fair Trade Purchasing
Building its inventory of fair trade products, the university now only sells Fair Trade Certified coffee at all non-franchise businesses. Three teas and one type of chocolate are also offered.
Champlain College Initiates Green Revolving Fund
Encouraging environmentally sound technologies, the fund finances innovative activities that reduce the college’s environmental impact, contribute to education for sustainability, and generate financial returns, a portion of which support projects that lack monetary savings but are aligned with sustainability objectives.
Colby-Sawyer College Installs Wind Turbine
Helping to offset the college’s energy use, the 3.7 kilowatt wind turbine will also supply real-time data to students. Project funding was made possible from the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation.
Cuyamaca College Begins ‘The Diversity Dialogues’
Encouraging students to embrace diversity at a school with a large Iraqi refugee population, the semester long workshop series is designed to give students a deeper understanding and appreciation of other cultures, construct environments that foster cultural learning, and to apply principles of cultural competency to personal, professional or academic life.
DePaul U Adds 2 Wind Turbines
Continuing to reduce its carbon footprint, the university’s two rooftop, grid-tied wind turbines help offset some of the building’s electricity needs.
