Long Island U C.W. Post Installs Hydration Stations
In an effort to reduce plastic bottle waste, Long Island University - C.W. Post Campus has installed three hydration stations on campus. The initiative was approved after students in the geography department presented a cost benefit analysis to the Provost. Students and faculty are campaigning to have hydration stations installed in every main building on campus and residence halls.
Mass College of Liberal Arts Awarded Co-Gen Feasibility Grant
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts has been awarded $120,000 to determine what it will take to renovate its power plant with a co-generation unit and update its boilers to provide additional steam to heat the campus. The feasibility study, which will determine the savings derived from the biomass project, is the result of a previous energy study by the state's Division of Capital Asset Management that looked at what renewable energy sources that college might use.
McMaster U Makes Canadian List of Top Bicycling Campuses
With 37 percent of students who walk or cycle to campus, Maclean's magazine has named McMaster University (ON) as one of Canada's top five bicycle-friendly schools. The university promotes sustainable travel by focusing on initiatives aimed at reducing single-occupancy vehicle use; promoting sustainable alternatives modes of transportation; and by responding to requests from the campus community for a better cycling environment.
Metro State College to Create Water Studies Minor
Metro State College (CO) has received an anonymous gift of $1 million to implement a minor in water studies. The program, which will begin in fall 2012, will enhance water stewardship on and beyond the campus by promoting the effective use of water resources. Classes will explore issues including urban waterway restoration, water law, hydro-philanthropy, conflict resolution, conservation and stream reclamation.
Stanford U Unveils New Campus Energy Improvements Plan
Stanford University’s (CA) Board of Trustees has given concept approval for the Campus Energy System Improvements project, designed to meet the university’s energy needs through 2050. Under the proposed $438 million plan, the university will purchase electricity via direct access to the energy market; build a new central energy facility that recovers waste heat from the campus chilled water system to meet the bulk of campus heating needs; build a new and expanded electrical substation; and decommission the current aging power plant and the existing electrical substation. The largest component of the university's Energy and Climate Plan, the initiative is expected to reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions to less than half of what they are today.
Texas Tech U Debuts Green Business Building
Texas Tech University has opened its newest green building, designed to meet LEED requirements. Sustainable features of the Rawls College of Business building include recycling stations and four detention ponds to capture stormwater. Seventy-five percent of construction waste was diverted from landfills.
U Calgary Lab to Seek LEED Platinum
The University of Calgary (AB) has debuted its Energy Environment Experiential Learning laboratory building, which will seek LEED Platinum certification. Sustainable features include the redistribution of sunlight using reflective surfaces, high-efficiency light fixtures controlled by a computerized system using occupancy sensors and smart time scheduling, fixed and moving sunshades, and cooling towers.
U Colorado Boulder Signs Fair Food Pledge
In response to student enthusiasm, the University of Colorado Boulder has signed a pledge to provide healthy food for students and buy food from sources that have safe and fair agricultural practices. The university has pledged to have 25 percent of its food offerings be organic, 25 percent be natural and 25 percent be locally grown by 2015. The statement also says that the university will buy from vendors that are curbing their use of pesticides.
U Maryland Launches Sustainability Studies Minor
The University of Maryland has launched a new sustainability studies minor for students looking to learn about green practices and how to address issues including decreasing energy consumption and water runoff. Students can begin taking classes to complete the 15-credit minor this spring. The first introductory course is designed to familiarize students with the concept of sustainability and encourage them to examine global issues in the field.
U North Dakota Researchers Convert Coffee Waste into Energy
The University of North Dakota’s Environmental Research Center has partnered with bioenergy firm Wynntryst LLC and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters to develop a gasification power system powered by coffee residue, plastic packaging, textiles and single-serve plastic cups. The research center has already developed small gasifier systems powered by a variety of feedstocks including forest residues, railroad tie chips, turkey litter and other biomass.
U South Dakota Offers New Sustainability Degrees
The University of South Dakota has announced a new Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts in sustainability starting in fall 2012. The programs are designed to train students in wind energy, hydroelectric power, geothermal energy technologies, biofuels and green construction practices.
U Southern California Students Host Community Skillshare
Student groups at the University of Southern California recently hosted a Community Skillshare for local neighborhoods. Community members and students showcased specific skills and activities including planting vegetable seedlings in recycled containers and screen-printing. Leftover sandwiches from the event were passed out to the homeless.
U Wisconsin-Waukesha Undergoes Energy Audit
The University of Wisconsin-Waukesha has begun an in-depth energy analysis of all campus facilities to identify opportunities for energy savings and infrastructure improvements. The viability of various renewable energy opportunities on campus will also be examined through the audit. All costs incurred for the implementation of any energy conservation measures will be funded by the state’s performance contracting program for energy efficiency.
Yale U Researches Advance Solar Power Efficiency, Affordability
A team of researchers at Yale University (CT) has developed improvements in basic solar power technology that could result in lower-cost, higher-efficiency photovoltaic systems. The research has yielded a new way of guiding and channeling electrons within hybrid organic-inorganic photovoltaic devices by better controlling the structure and alignment of the materials in the system. This improves efficiency by maximizing the amount of light that is successfully converted into electricity. Support for the research was provided by the National Science Foundation.
Allegheny College Installs Six Solar Panels
Allegheny College (PA) has installed a new array of six solar panels that was funded by savings generated by a campus energy conservation challenge. The panels are expected to produce more than 2,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.
Appalachian State U Works to Implement Duplex Printing
To save paper and cut costs, Appalachian State University’s (NC) Technology Support Services is working with the Student Government Association and Office of Sustainability to implement a new duplex printing initiative this spring. Double-sided (duplex) printer settings in campus printing stations would curb the university’s current $50,555 in annual printing costs.
Arizona State U Debuts Solar Panels on Downtown Campus
Arizona State University has installed 322 solar panels on the roof of its Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. The university will purchase the energy produced by the 77-kilowatt installation from independent solar power producer Solar Power Partners, which owns and operates the panels.
College of the Atlantic Students Install Campus Solar Panels
As part of a “Practicum on Solar Energy” course, students at the College of the Atlantic (ME) helped install a solar energy array on campus. The class developed a budget, chose the panels, learned how to assemble them and completed the installation within eight weeks. The students also worked with a local organization to educate the public about solar energy and increase private funding for the systems. The connection maximized the college’s original grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, allowing the campus to double the size of the array.
Council of Graduate Schools' Annual Meeting Examines Diversity
Appealing to a more diverse group of students was discussed as one strategy for helping institutions adapt to economic realities and rapidly changing demographics during the Council of Graduate Schools annual meeting, reports The Chronicle of Higher Education. A major concern among the hundreds of graduate school deans and administrators in attendance was the difficulty of achieving diversity and maintaining quality in graduate programs at the same time they are also cutting costs.
De Anza College Installs Solar Energy System
De Anza College (CA) has installed a solar panel array that doubles as shading for campus parking lots. The panels will have a capacity of 1.1 megawatt hours and are expected to save the college $250,000 per year in electricity costs. The power generated from the panels will be tracked and integrated into a campus-wide system showing all green energy production on campus. The $1.4 million project was funded through Measure E.
Delaware Technical & CC Energy House Earns LEED Platinum
Delaware Technical & Community College’s Energy House has been awarded LEED Platinum certification. The house was constructed on campus to serve as an educational lab for students to learn about innovative energy-efficient and renewable technology and materials. Included in the design of the building are solar systems, wind generation equipment, a living green roof, radiant floor heating, geothermal options and examples of efficiency in construction and appliance usage.
Elon U Housing Units Receive LEED Platinum
Six houses in Elon University's (NC) Loy Center have received LEED for Homes Platinum certification. The residences, occupied by fraternity and sorority students, were designed with water- and energy-efficient features and recycled materials. House managers in each residence have completed a training session on the operations and unique features of the center, and there is a Sustainable Living Guide for residents.
Grand Valley State U Approves Gender Neutral Housing
Grand Valley State University (MI) has announced plans to offer a gender neutral housing option on the 2012 student housing application. The new policy will provide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students with a supportive roommate situation. The Student Senate initially passed the resolution in March and a student-led Gender Neutral Housing Coalition has been actively seeking equality since early 2011.
Michigan State U, OnSite Energy Partner for Biodiesel Training
Michigan State University has announced a new partnership with OnSite Energy for its Freeway to Fuels project. The project will test the potential of growing oilseed crops for bioenergy production. A portable unit that contains the equipment to crush oil from seed and convert it to biodiesel has been developed. Equipment will be transported from farm to farm to teach farmers how to make their own biodiesel fuel.
Missouri State U Expands Recycling Efforts with Electric Truck
Missouri State University has purchased an electric utility truck through the university's Student Sustainability Fund to be used in the campus recycling program. The truck is expected to make the program more efficient and allow the university to expand recycling efforts to its off-campus buildings.
Northwestern U Names First Director of Sustainability
Northwestern University (IL) has appointed Robert W. Whittier as its first director of sustainability. Whittier, who most recently was the manager of sustainability and climate change at Deloitte Consulting, will lead the effort to integrate sustainability into both operational and academic functions of the university. He will work closely with the Initiative for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern and develop partnerships with the cities of Evanston and Chicago.
Portland State U Science Building Awarded LEED Gold
Portland State University’s (OR) renovated Science Research and Teaching Center has received LEED Gold certification. Sustainable features of the eighth LEED-certified building on campus include new low-flow laboratory hoods, high performance windows, energy-efficient lighting, occupancy sensors and new mechanical and heating systems. The $46.5 million makeover will reduce energy use by 20 to 30 percent with a potential cost savings of $300,000 per year.
San Francisco State U Demos Fuel Cell Project
San Francisco State University (CA) has partnered with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to connect a new fuel cell plant with its heating infrastructure. The demonstration project is part of a California Public Utilities Commission-approved initiative to construct fuel cell facilities on several California State University and University of California campuses. The plant, funded by PG&E, will generate a total of 1.6 megawatts of electrical power connected directly to PG&E’s local distribution grid. The university will earn back its $550,000 investment through an estimated $250,000 in annual energy savings.
Southern Methodist U Offers Graduate Sustainability Degree
Southern Methodist University (TX) has announced a new graduate degree in sustainability and development. Debuting in January, the interdisciplinary program’s coursework will focus on sustainability-related topics from policy to design in both developed and developing worlds. The program will advance wise use of sustainable resources in urban development with the goal of creating and rebuilding economically and environmentally healthy cities.
St. Edward’s U Announces Paperless Office Initiative
St. Edwards’s University (TX) has launched an initiative to go paperless in its campus offices. Paychecks have been replaced by email notifications and electronic paystubs. The Business and Human Resources offices have replaced paper paystubs with email notifications and introduced an online time-keeping system. The university expects to save 96,000 sheets of paper and $7,900 of supply expense annually.
Towson U Earns First LEED Gold Certification
Towson University's (MD) West Village Commons has received LEED Gold certification, the first building on campus to receive the designation. Sustainable features of the dining and student life building include a roof garden, organics composting system, single stream recycling containers and convenient bike parking. At peak performance, the building is designed to reduce energy consumption by 50 percent, water use by 40 percent and solid waste by 70 percent.
UC Berkeley to Step Up Financial Aid to Middle-Income Students
Described as the "most significant such move by a public institution," the University of California, Berkeley has announced plans for more financial aid offerings to middle-class students starting next fall, reports a recent New York Times article. In an effort to grow the number of students from middle-class families, which has remained stagnant over the last several years, families earning up to $140,000 a year will be expected to contribute no more than 15 percent of their annual income. The program is expected to cost $12 million a year and will be paid for from out-of-state and international student tuition, as well as private donations.
U Chicago Recycles 8 Tons During Week-long E-Waste Event
The University of Chicago (IL) recycled more than eight tons (16,000 pounds) of electronic waste during a recent week-long collection. Staff, faculty and students were able to dispose of printers, fax machines, computer monitors and more. The e-waste was brought to a local recycling center for disassembly and erasure in accordance with U.S. Department of Defense standards.
U Guam Incorporates Alternative Energy Systems on Campus
The University of Guam's Center for Island Sustainability has installed 30 stand-alone solar streetlights and 40 stand-alone solar walkway lights around the campus. The university has also commissioned two 6-kilowatt solar photovoltaic systems and ordered two wind turbines to offset the energy consumption of campus buildings. One of the turbines will be used as a demonstration model for teaching and data collection. Funding was provided from a state energy program as part of federal economic stimulus grants.
U Idaho Game Day Recycling Season Diverts 1 Ton+ of Waste
The University of Idaho has announced that its season-long Game Day Recycling program diverted more than a ton (about 2,500 pounds) of the recycled or composted materials generated at home football games from the landfill. An expansion of the tailgate zone and outreach efforts resulted in a 5 percent increase from the 2010 season. The materials collected were transported to a local recycling center and university dairy farm.
U Michigan Students Turn Recycled Car Parts into Sandals
University of Michigan students have begun creating sandals out of junkyard car seat belts and abandoned tires. The launch of the students' Treads Motor City Sandals is part of a class that requires aspiring designers, engineers and business students to collaborate to create a marketable product out of recycled materials that could be manufactured by someone with entry-level skills. A local nonprofit is working to turn Treads Motor City Sandals into a small business.
Unity College Students Help Build Campus Root Cellar
With the help of student volunteer labor, Unity College (ME) has constructed a root cellar on campus to store vegetables for campus dining services. The traditional underground structure regulates temperature and humidity without the inputs needed for refrigeration. The cellar will also be used by local hunger relief organizations.
USGBC Releases Inaugural 'Best of Green Schools' List
The U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Center for Green Schools has released its first annual Best of Green Schools list, recognizing school administrators and government leaders in 10 categories for their efforts to create sustainable learning environments. The University of Texas at Dallas was named "Higher Ed Innovator" of 2011 for its new LEED Platinum Student Services Building, designed to improve departmental efficiency and interaction, and completed $1.1 million under budget. From K-12 to higher education, recipient schools and regions in the U.S. were recognized for a variety of sustainable, cost-cutting measures including energy conservation, record numbers of LEED-certified buildings and collaborative platforms and policies to green the country's school infrastructure.
U Southern Calif. Game Day Event Diverts 1 Ton+ of Tailgate Waste
The University of Southern California recently diverted more than a ton of waste (415 pounds of compostable material and 2,210 pounds of recyclables) from the landfill during a pre-game tailgate waste diversion event. The university was the first recipient of a new Glad Products Company grant series for AASHE college and university members, designed to help reduce game day waste during football season. With the help of more than 60 volunteers, the university set up 25 recycling and compost stations around campus and stadium for the initiative.
U Texas Arlington to Save $1.1 M Annually with Energy Upgrades
The University of Texas at Arlington has completed a $9.9 million package of efficiency-boosting facility upgrades that will save the university about $1.1 million each year in energy and maintenance costs. Funded through a low-interest loan from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 55 campus buildings received upgrades including heating and air-conditioning system retrofits, roofing repairs and the replacement of two thermal energy plant chillers.
U Utah Trustees Approve Peace Studies Major
The University of Utah’s Board of Trustees has approved a proposal for a new peace and conflicts studies major, which builds on an existing minor. If approved by the state Board of Regents, the major will offer 33 hours of class, ethnicity, race, gender, environment and religion curriculum.
U Vermont Partners with National Lab on Smart Grid Project
The University of Vermont has partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratories to create the Center for Energy Transformation and Innovation. The center will focus on integrating renewable energy into the power grid; ensuring reliability and security of smart grids and meters; and providing capacity for electric vehicles. The $15 million effort will be funded by the university, U.S. Department of Energy and Vermont state government over three years.
U Washington Installs Rain Garden
The University of Washington has transformed a campus courtyard into a rain garden to manage stormwater runoff. The university has plans for at least three more rain gardens, two of which will be finished by summer 2012.
U Wisconsin Madison Recycles 350 Tons of E-Waste
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has collected and recycled more than 350 tons of electronic waste between July 2010 and June 2011. Sources of the material include university departments, state agencies, Wisconsin municipalities and other campuses. To manage the service, the university's Materials Distribution Services and Division of Information Technology partnered with Universal Recycling Technologies.
Valencia College Wins First $600K Aspen Prize for CC Excellence
In recognition of the strength of its graduation and transfer rates, especially among minority students, Valencia College (FL) has earned $600,000 as the first recipient of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, reports The Chronicle of Higher Education. Announced at the White House Summit on Community Colleges in 2010, the competition recognizes outstanding academic and workforce outcomes on the basis of graduation, retention and equity measures. Runners-up institutions include Lake Area Technical Institute (SD), Miami Dade College (FL), Walla Walla Community College (WA) and West Kentucky Community and Technical College.
Vincennes U Offers Reduced Tuition for Middle-Income Students
Vincennes University (IN) has introduced a new scholarship that will offer a 15 percent reduction in tuition fees for students from middle-income families who do not traditionally qualify for financial aid. The introduction of the Middle-Income Hoosier Scholarship is part of a larger university strategy to help Indiana increase the number of college graduates. To qualify, students cannot be eligible for any state or federal funds, must have an adjusted gross income of less than $75,000, be a full-time student and maintain a grade point average of 2.5.
Antioch U New England Students Spearhead Bottled Water Ban
As part of the national Think Outside the Bottle campaign coordinated by Corporate Accountability International, students at Antioch University New England have spearheaded a pledge to ban the sale of bottled water on campus. Close to 400 faculty, staff and students at the university have signed the pledge. Some departments have agreed not to purchase bottled water for their events and a campus cafe has agreed not to sell bottled water.
Appalachian State U Students Promote Water Conservation with Art
Discovering a lack of public awareness or concern of water conservation issues in their university's town, graphic design students at Appalachian State University (NC) responded with a water conservation poster campaign. Banners that appear on local buses urge town residents to save five gallons of water by cutting their shower time by two minutes. The campaign was funded by a Sustainability Arts Grant from the university's Sustainability Council.
Arizona State U Saves 725 Trees with Duplex Printing
An assessment of Arizona State University's printers during fiscal year 2011 revealed that the university's switch to duplex printing mode across campus saved more than 725 trees, 2.34 million liters of water and reduced carbon emissions by more than 74 metric tons. In the last year, the university took 584 printers offline and increased the number of devices supporting duplex printing to 36 percent; up from 19 percent in 2010.
Ball State U Announces Cost-saving Tuition Incentives
Ball State University (IN) has announced four new cost-saving options designed to encourage students to earn a diploma in four years. New incentives include a $500 "completion scholarship" for in-state seniors on track to graduate within four years; the reduction of summer tuition by an average of 18 percent; the reduction of minimum credit hours to 120 from 126; and new "hybrid schedules" that allow students enrolled in 12 credit hours per semester to take up to six more credit hours, on campus or online, at no cost. The university's president says that the package of incentives will save a typical student $6,000 over four years.
