Wilfrid Laurier U Announces New Sustainable Food Systems Center
Led by Alison Blay-Palmer, associate professor of geography and environmental studies at Laurier and leader of the Nourishing Ontario research and community outreach project, the center will open opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration in local and sustainable community food initiatives with the goal of creating positive change through food.
Wilfrid Laurier U Celebrates Aboriginal Day with Teaching Garden
The Mino-kummik Aboriginal Community Garden, named after the Ojibwa word for "good, bountiful earth," features a vegetable and fruit garden, aboriginal medicinal garden, ceremony space and rain-harvesting cistern for irrigation. A local nonprofit will hold workshops with local residents to illustrate sustainable practices of saving rainwater for later use.
York U Students Divert Nearly 27K Pounds of Waste from Landfill
The FreeStuff tables set up in each undergraduate residence during April and early May, where students were able to swap unwanted items, helped saved nearly 27,000 pounds of waste from the landfill this year. At the end of the move-out period, leftover items were donated to a local charity.
12 Institutions Kick Off Green Chemistry Commitment
Organized by nonprofit Beyond Benign, the Green Chemistry Commitment is a new consortium of universities and industry partners designed to increase the number of green chemists and scientists in the U.S. and the opportunities available to them in the field. Green chemistry encourages chemists and scientists to develop safer, non-toxic, renewable chemistry and materials. A 2011 report from Pike Research forecasts that the worldwide green chemistry industry will soar to more than $100 billion by 2020 from less than $3 billion in 2011.
13 Student Teams Compete in Solar Grand Prix
The student University of Texas at Austin Solar Vehicles Team hosted the recent solar car race, held for the first time at an official Formula 1 track. The endurance race challenges competitors to finish as many laps as they can around the 3.4 mile track during the designated driving hours each day. Students from Iowa State University, Northwestern University, Illinois State University, Western Michigan University, University of Waterloo, Principia College, Missouri Science & Technology, Georgia Tech, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Oregon State University and University of New Mexico were also part of the race.
A Guide to the Supreme Court Decision on Affirmative Action
In Fisher v. University of Texas, the justices sent an affirmative action case concerning the university’s program to achieve racial diversity back to the lower courts for further consideration under a tougher standard of review. The New York Times breaks down the opinion of the court here.
Carleton College Move Out Sale Raises $30K for Local Nonprofits
Community volunteers helped keep unwanted student items out of the landfills, sorting and organizing clothing, kitchen items, mini fridges, printers, bedding, books, and mirrors for the recent "Lighten Up" sale. After raising $30,000 for local nonprofits, the remaining items were donated to the Salvation Army or sent to electronics recycling.
Cincinnati State Starts Sustainable Ag Mgmt Certificate
Starting in the fall, the certificate program will involve students in a new campus food cooperative. Students will train at a local farm, growing the produce for the cooperative that provides 26 weekly boxes of farm-fresh produce to the campus and surrounding community.
Cornell U Student Joins Solar Plane Crew
After designing a pilot drinking water system for solar aircraft makers Solar Impulse, senior Sam Daly has been invited to spend his summer as part of the ground crew for the company, which has a plane that is currently flying across America. The company is scheduled to send a plane around the world in 2015.
Hawai'i Institutions Join EPA Food Recovery Challenge
Hawai‘i Pacific University, the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and Kapiolani Community College have pledged to reduce food waste as new participants in the national program. Around 35 million tons of food waste was generated in 2010, according to the Food Recovery Challenge website, 97 percent of which was thrown away into landfills or incinerators.
Houghton College to Install 2.5 MW Solar System
The college has signed a power purchase agreement with Smart Energy Capital for the planned solar system, which is anticipated to reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions by 23 percent. The energy generated by the system is expected to meet more than one half of the college's electric demands with an estimated savings of $1.3 million over the contract period.
Indiana U-Purdue U Indianapolis Building Earns LEED Gold
The university's Glick Eye Institute features energy-efficient lighting and heat recovery systems, reduced-flow toilets and sinks, native landscaping, occupancy and air-monitoring systems, and a small rain garden feature and detention structure for irrigation through a drip distribution system.
Int'l Sustainable Campus Network Announces Excellence Awards
Recognizing institutions for exceptional sustainability efforts in campus planning, integration with academics, student leadership, and exemplary building projects, this year's program honored the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), Lappeenranta University of Technology (Finland), Anglia Ruskin University (U.K.), Zhejiang University (China) and Chatham University (U.S.).
Jacksonville U Receives $10K for Sustainability Education
Half of the Siemens Industry Inc. grant will go toward monitoring and comparing a sustainable versus non-sustainable dorm this fall. Sustainability degree majors will be selected to live in the sustainable side of the dorm, adhering to efficient lighting and HVAC usage, recycling and more. The other side will not have sustainability initiatives in place. In their second year, the students will write a white paper comparing each sides of the dorm. The rest will go toward a rooftop garden where students will train homeless veterans how to garden.
Jamestown CC Science Center Achieves LEED Gold
Sustainable features include a rainwater harvesting system, vegetated roof garden, sun tunnels, water-permeable pathways, demonstration photovoltaic solar array and a geothermal well system. About 40 percent of the project area is a wetland meadow/habitat restoration space.
SUNY Fredonia Names Chief Diversity Officer
Dr. William A. Boerner, Ed.D., former assistant director of Housing and Residence Education at Morehead State University, will collaborate with faculty, staff and students to build consensus on diversity-related efforts, and develop programs that promote recruitment, retention and equitable treatment of a diverse population of students, faculty, and staff.
U Louisville Transforms Area into Community Horticulture Zone
Initiated by a recent urban planning graduate, a formerly unused campus field is now home to raised garden beds, native plants, and two rain barrels that will connect to a nearby building’s downspouts. Food waste from the university's dining areas will be turned into compost to help grow produce including tomatoes, kale and sweet potatoes.
U Michigan Athletics Establishes Sustainability Strategy
In partnership with the university's Office of Campus Sustainability and Michigan Student-Athletes for Sustainability, the Athletic Department will focus on waste reduction and recycling; energy efficiency and sustainable building infrastructure; water conservation, chemical usage and sustainable cleaning practices; and education and awareness.
U Texas Austin Reduces Irrigation Usage by 66%
With its automated irrigation system, installed in 2011, the university has reduced irrigation usage by 66 percent and saved 90 to 100 million gallons of water. The university also saves water through xeriscaping and a campus chilling station that is connected to the City of Austin’s reclaimed water system.
U Toledo Hosts U.S. Dept of Energy Midwest Clean Energy Summit
The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative brought together more than 250 business, elected, regional economic development and university leaders to discuss ways to expand and promote clean energy manufacturing throughout the region and across the nation.
Arizona State U Starts Solar Shade Installation
(U.S.): When complete, the two PowerParasol systems are expected to produce enough electricity to power 128 homes annually. Besides shading pedestrian areas, the solar systems will provide nighttime lighting for better security.
Babson College Launches Pilot Food Waste Diversion Program
(U.S.): The joint initiative between Facilities Management, Sustainability Office and Sodexo Campus Services is expected to divert 1-2 tons per week of food waste produced by one campus dining hall from the landfill. Food waste will now be taken to local farms to be composted into soil. The college plans to expand the initiative to collect pre-consumer scraps from kitchen work stations and eventually collect post-consumer food waste.
Boston U 'Project Robinhood' Reduces Campus e-Waste
(U.S.): Since starting the initiative in March of 2013, IT staff Aaron Freed and Benny Soto have kept 20 computers from the landfill by refurbishing them for researchers in need. Freed and Soto haul the old computers back to their workstations with a "TRecycle," a three-wheeled vehicle built out of an old bicycle, scrap lumber and a wheel from a flea market.
Central U Jharkhand Receives National Green Rating
(India): Currently being constructed on 500 acres, the university has received a five-star Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA), the national rating for environmentally friendly buildings.
Exeter U Students Propose Local Renewable Energy Solutions
(U.K.): After working on cost-effective renewable energy systems for the coastal Sidmouth area in Devon for the past year, four students recently presented their ideas to the Sid Valley Energy Action Group. Ideas included an anaerobic digestion feasibility study using geographic information systems.
Hampshire College Embarks on Healthy Food Transition
(U.S.): In addition to working with its service provider to build menus around products harvested on its 15-acre campus farm, the college aims to use food to teach students, communicate values and experiment with new models of production and delivery that may help solve global resource challenges.
Lehigh U Move Out Drive Raises $16K for Community Engagement
(U.S.): Volunteers recently helped keep items left behind by students from the the landfill by sorting and pricing them for sale. The funds raised from the initiative will support after-school homework clubs that pair university students with local schoolchildren.
Madurai Kamaraj U Heads Toward Energy-Efficient Campus
(India): With the installation of solar panels on its administrative building, the university is starting the first phase of a campus-wide energy efficiency initiative. The university aims to produce all of its power through clean energy sources.
Masdar Institute Researchers Convert Algae into Biofuel
(United Arab Emirates): A group of researchers at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology are using native algae to convert organic matter in camel dung into a biogas that can be used in place of normal diesel and natural gas. Eventually, the plan is to build industrial-sized bioreactor tanks near the coast, where the algae are grown and harvested.
Sainik School Kazhakkoottam Debuts Solar Campus Streetlights
(India): The institution has completed the first phase of an energy efficiency project, converting 50 streetlights to solar power. In the next phase, the school plans to incorporate solar power in its hostels and the academic blocks, and possibly providing the surplus power generated to the local community.
U Albany Partners for Solar Energy Emergency Program
(U.S.): Following the devastation of Superstorm Sandy in New York this year, the university is teaming up with renewable energy consulting company Direct Gain Consulting to provide emergency backup renewable energy systems in the Hudson Valley. In addition to expanding on solar technology currently under development by university faculty, the goal of the "RE-START" program is to provide solar services at select gas stations, ATMs, food stores, health clinics and emergency service providers.
UC Berkeley to Oversee Public Utility Green Job Training
(U.S.): Under a $500,000 contract that runs through spring 2014, the university's Donald Vial Center for Employment in the Green Economy will coordinate green training for future workers at state utilities with a focus on installing energy-efficient materials and technology.
U Georgia Costa Rica Earns Sustainability Innovation Award
(Costa Rica): The university was recently honored by GoAbroad.com with the 2013 Innovation in Sustainability Award at the NAFSA: Association of International Educators annual conference. The award recognizes institutions, organizations and individuals who are creating initiatives to move the field of international education forward and to commend leaders in the community for their efforts to go beyond the conventional.
U.K. Union of Students Debuts Green Fund
(U.K.): Funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the National Union of Students has recruited submissions for its £5 million Student Green Fund, to be distributed for impactful sustainability projects across England. Twenty-five to 50 projects will receive between £150,000 and £300,000 for two years.
U West Indies Introduces At-risk Youth to Alternative Energy
(Jamaica): A team from the university and Youth Crime Watch Jamaica have partnered to introduce at-risk youth to alternative energy by showing them how to turn waste vegetable oil into biodiesel. Through a $50,000 Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme grant, the project will train 30 youth in the conversion process and introduce ways to transfer the knowledge into entrepreneurial ventures.
U West Indies to Open Renewable Energy Research Center
(Republic of Trinidad and Tobago): As part of a Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Department of Energy and Trinidad and Tobago, the center will be focused on critical technologies for renewable energy in the Caribbean.
Central Carolina CC Students Build Tiny House
Built by students in the sustainability technologies program to encourage sustainable and minimalist living and energy-efficient building products and methods, the 450-square-foot "Chatham Cottage" was recently auctioned off. The college is planning to construct another small house next semester with the money raised from the auction.
Florida State U Saves 29K Pounds of Unwanted Items from Landfill
The Chuck it for Charity partnership between the university's Sustainable Campus and Housing & Residence Life includes weighing, sorting and redistributing unwanted items left behind during student move-outs to local community agencies. In the five years since its inception, the program has diverted more than 50 tons from the landfill.
Hampshire College Students Organize Lawn-to-Meadow Transformation
As part of an invitation to assist in developing strategies for climate neutrality, students have successfully proposed that the college cease mowing about nine acres, and instead convert them into managed meadowlands. The accepted initiative, which includes appropriate soil types, plants and wildlife, is projected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 12,000 pounds and save about $2,300 in diesel fuel costs per year.
Michigan State U Declares June as 'Green Purchasing Month'
The campaign is designed to encourage the campus community to buy local products, eat local foods and make offices more environmentally friendly. Specific actions available include buying office supplies with recycled content, shopping at the campus surplus store and organic farm stand, and eating at campus food trucks that feature local food.
