Purdue U Installs Wind Turbines for Research
Purdue University (IN) has announced the installation of multiple wind turbines for research. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, 10 turbines standing at 30 feet will be installed as a simulation of 800-watt turbines. Two additional turbines will be installed on top of the engineering building. The turbine placement will be mobile in order to study how they interact with one another.
Rochester Inst of Tech to Research Energy Use in Collections
The Rochester Institute of Technology's (NY) Image Permanence Institute has received two grants totaling $648,405 to fund sustainable heating, venting and air conditioning operations in campus library, archives and museum collections. The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) will fund a three-year project that will search for the best ways to reduce energy use without compromising the preservation quality of collection environments. The NEH will also fund a two-year education and training project that will help collections staff avoid risks to collections while supporting sustainability and energy-reduction efforts.
Southern Methodist U Uses Solar Array for Online Teaching Tool
Southern Methodist University (TX) has installed a 68-panel solar array for demonstration purposes. The university plans to share information learned from the online monitoring system with K-12 students. The online feature allows anyone to monitor the energy produced by the system in real time. Time lapse animation is used to demonstrate how the solar panels absorb the sun and transform it to energy. Graphics on the site allow the user to compare highs and lows in energy production across the days and months since the array was installed. The solar array has generated enough electricity to offset the university’s footprint by 10.7 metric tons.
Springfield Technical CC Installs Solar Array
Springfield Technical Community College (MA) has installed an 82.9-kilowatt solar array, funded by a $7,000 grant from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. The solar array feeds into an online databank that students can access to monitor the system's performance, including ambient temperatures and power input. The college expects the system to pay for itself within 18 years.
U New England Expands Bicycle Program
The University of New England (ME) has expanded its on-campus bicycle program. Prospective students and their families can now take a two-hour tour through campus by bike, ending with lunch and a presentation. Current students now have access to free bicycle rentals, enhancing the existing option for free bicycles or Zip cars to first-year students who do not bring cars to campus.
U Rochester Offers Solar Energy Doctoral Program
The University of Rochester (NY) has created a solar energy doctoral program that will start in the fall. With a $3.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation, the university aims to turn out students with advanced degrees in various disciplines but with similar groundings in science, business and solar energy public policy. The program will enroll six students a year.
U Tennessee Starts Compost Initiative
The University of Tennessee has created a pilot composting program from on-campus, pre-consumer waste and leftovers from the campus cafeteria. Coffee is also collected from both campus locations of Starbucks. The university expects to compost all food items by the spring and currently sends it to a student-run organic farm. The university is looking to purchase a $230,000 wood grinder to assist in the expansion of the program.
U Toledo Awarded Grant for Algae Biofuels Research Facility
The University of Toledo (OH) was recently awarded almost $3 million through the Ohio Third Frontier Wright Projects Program to build a research and development facility for algae biofuels. The facility will include open ponds, greenhouse ponds and enclosed photobioreactors to test the efficiency of a variety of growth systems. The facility will also include a pilot-scale “downstream processing” system where the algae materials can be converted to fuel. The university plans to focus on Lake Erie algae that are adapted to local environmental conditions.
U Washington Students Urge to End Nike Licensing Contract
Students at the University of Washington are urging the school’s president to end its apparel agreement with Nike. The university would join the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Cornell University (NY), both of which ended licensing agreements with the Ore.-based apparel company as a result of its failure to adequately address the problems caused by the closing of two Honduran factories. At issue is the non-payment of severance to workers at two apparel factories, both of which were under contract with Nike to produce collegiately licensed apparel. The University of Washington’s Student Action Labor Project argues that Nike breached the University’s Code of Conduct that safeguards workers’ rights who produce logo apparel for the university.
Virginia Polytechnic Launches Employee Van Pool
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University has launched an employee van pool as part of a series of programs designed to reduce driving and the need for parking spaces. The van pool is geared toward full-time employees who live more than 10 miles from campus. The university provides a minivan from its fleet and allows riders to fuel up on campus. In exchange, each rider pays up to $75 a month to cover expenses. Forty-five percent of full-time university employees are using alternative transportation.
Western New England College Awarded Clean Energy Grant
Western New England College (MA) is one of five grant recipients from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to purchase demonstration and training equipment to prepare students for clean energy jobs. The college will install a demonstration wood pellet burning system that will incorporate testing equipment for measuring system efficiency, emissions and the effects of pellet material selection on system performance. The equipment will also support new courses in bioenergy.
Western State College of Colorado Building Earns LEED Gold
Western State College of Colorado's Kelley Hall was recently awarded LEED Gold certification. The $5.5 million renovation of the building, which houses the environmental studies and behavioral and social sciences departments, included the student-spearheaded installation of solar panels on the roof. Other green features include native plant landscaping, recycled paper product insulation in the roof, motion lighting, recyclable carpet tiles, cork flooring and the use of reclaimed wood in desks and furniture.
Austin CC Receives Grant for Alternative Fuel Training
Austin Community College (TX) has received a $98,860 grant for alternative fuel training. Lessons on hybrids and other green cars that are fueled by propane, natural gas and biodiesel are currently being worked into a two-year certification program. The grant will help double the school’s hybrid training fleet. With the new equipment, the college plans to offer its first fully-devoted alternative fuel class this fall.
California State U Northridge Creates Community Garden
California State University, Northridge has constructed three raised-bed vegetable boxes for a community garden. The garden, which will eventually feature five raised beds, a spiral herb garden and a raised potato bin, is a working demonstration of sustainable practices with an educational focus on healthy eating. The harvest will be used for cooking classes and donations to local food banks.
Columbia U Faculty House Earns LEED Gold
Columbia University's (NY) recently renovated Faculty House has been awarded LEED Gold certification. Environmentally-friendly features include energy-efficient utilities, appliances, fixtures and insulation; recycled low-emission furnishings, materials and finishes; restored original details; and repurposed materials. Construction waste was recycled during the renovation.
Durham Tech CC Earns Grant for Sustainability Tech Certificate
Durham Technical Community College (NC) has received a $249,000 grant from Duke Energy to launch a sustainability technologies certificate program in the fall. The program will certify electricians to install solar energy structures. Students will study residential solar energy configuration with a recently-installed, 150-square-foot solar array. The college aims to offer a renewable energy diploma and sustainability technologies associate’s degree in the future.
Eastern New Mexico U Roswell Begins Renewable Tech Program
Eastern New Mexico University, Roswell will debut a new associate of applied science degree program in renewable energy technology this fall. The curriculum will educate entry-level technicians in clean energy systems including solar, wind, water and geothermal. Students will be introduced to industry energy concepts and trends, and learn the fundamentals of energy systems.
Pennsylvania State U Debuts Energy and Sustainable Policy Degree
Pennsylvania State University has launched an online undergraduate degree in energy and sustainable policy that will start this fall. This program is designed to prepare students for policy making and communications in the renewable energy field. Curriculum will focus on client-stakeholder relations, integrative design and decision making for energy solutions, and business strategies in the energy field.
Portland CC to Offer Green Technology Degree
Portland Community College’s (OR) Civil and Mechanical Engineering Technology program has announced a green technology and sustainability option. Starting this fall, the associate's degree program will provide students with the skills to practice sustainable engineering. Courses will include renewable energy, environmental sociology, environmental quality and an introduction to geographic information systems.
Portland State U Featured in NY Times as Planned EcoDistrict
The Portland State University (OR) campus will be the site of a pilot EcoDistrict, according to a recent article in The New York Times. To steer away from the reliance on large, centralized systems to generate electricity, dispose of waste, transport people and process stormwater, Portland residents will experiment with the management of such systems on a smaller, distributed scale in five pilot neighborhoods. The Oregon Sustainability Center, slated for construction at the edge of the university’s campus, will generate all of its electricity, consume only the rainfall that falls upon it, and process all of its wastewater.
Trinity College Gives Campus Buildings a Green Makeover
Trinity College (CT) is performing energy-saving upgrades on more than a dozen campus buildings. The renovations will cost the college $50 for each building under a state program financed by a small charge on utility customers' bills. The college will weatherize the buildings by sealing cracks and adding insulation.
U California Santa Barbara Buildings Earn LEED Certifications
Two University of California, Santa Barbara buildings have received LEED certification. An addition to the Engineering II building received LEED Gold certification in the new construction category and the Life Sciences Building received LEED Silver certification in the existing buildings category. The Life Sciences Building achievements include water savings of 29 percent, waste minimization strategies and passive solar design. The Engineering II building has achieved water savings of 40 percent and recycled 90 percent of construction waste, diverting 150 tons of materials from landfills.
U Florida Biomedical Sciences Building Achieves LEED Gold
The University of Florida's Biomedical Sciences building is the fifth building to achieve LEED Gold certification on its campus. More than three tons of construction materials were diverted from landfills and 79 percent of the wood used is Forest Stewardship Council certified. The building features low-flow plumbing fixtures, low-emission flooring adhesive and the use of 100 percent reclaimed water for outside irrigation.
U Illinois at Chicago Building Receives LEED Gold
A classroom building at the University of Illinois at Chicago has been awarded LEED Gold certification. The $13.7 million-renovation of Lincoln Hall includes a shared heating and cooling geothermal system and rooftop photovoltaic solar panels.
U Iowa Installs Wind Turbine
The University of Iowa has installed a 37-foot wind turbine. The turbine, funded through a $40,000 grant from the Iowa Alliance for Wind Innovation and Novel Department, will generate 2.4 kilowatts of power and be used as a learning tool. When the power is not being used or tested by College of Engineering students, the energy will feed into the university grid.
U Maryland Receives $500,000 Thermoelastic Cooling Research Grant
The University of Maryland has received a $500,000 research grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The university's research proposal, titled "Thermoelastic Cooling," aspires to show the commercial potential of space cooling systems that are less dependent on fluids believed to contribute to global warming. University scientists believe the approach can increase air conditioner efficiency by 175 percent, reducing utility bills and carbon emissions.
U Missouri Students Plan 'Sustainahouse'
The University of Missouri’s nonprofit, student-run sustainability program, Sustain Mizzou, aims to increase its on-campus visibility with a project dubbed "Sustainahouse." Four to eight students will live in a rented house near campus and work to become a model of a more sustainable living environment for students. Residents will take shorter showers and grow and cook with locally grown produce. Sustain Mizzou plans to create a service learning class and provide Sustainahouse tours to the public. The group will start looking for tenants in December for the 2011 - 2012 school year.
U Nebraska Lincoln Completes Keim Hall Green Renovation
The University of Nebraska, Lincoln has completed a $14 million green renovation of Keim Hall. The university will seek LEED certification for the building, which features carpet made from a corn-based fiber, panels made from wheat straw, water-conserving facilities, rainwater harvesting and low-VOC emitting materials. More than 80 percent of the construction waste was diverted from landfills, 20 percent of construction materials were recycled and 14 percent of the materials were extracted and manufactured within 500 miles of the project site.
U New Mexico Education Building Awarded LEED Platinum
The University of New Mexico's College of Education building has achieved LEED Platinum status. More than 75 percent of construction waste for the 26,000-square-foot addition was diverted from landfills and 20 percent of the construction materials were regionally manufactured. The building features individual thermal and lighting control and a 10-kilowatt photovoltaic system.
U Portland Building Achieves LEED Platinum
The University of Portland’s (OR) Donald P. Shiley Hall has been awarded LEED Platinum certification. Green features of the engineering building include water-efficient landscaping and plumbing fixtures, occupancy sensors and operable windows. Ninety-two percent of the existing building structure was used and 92 percent of the construction waste was recycled. The building also features the use of irrigation groundwater to cool the floor, saving an estimated 8.5 percent of the total cooling energy for the building.
U Rochester Announces Renewable Energy Program
The University of Rochester (NY) is looking to train the next generation of renewable energy experts and entrepreneurs with a new renewable energy program. Funded by a $3.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation, students will receive training in economics, public policy, communications and psychology. The program integrates multidisciplinary research involving several academic departments and students will be exposed to the multicultural and global aspects of renewable energy.
USA Today: Colleges Using Sustainability to Attract Students
Using sustainability to attract student enrollment is a growing trend among higher education institutions, says a recent article in USA Today. Twenty-seven percent of colleges and universities incorporated a sustainability message during admissions and student orientation processes in 2009. Today, the number has increased to 69 percent.
U Texas to Decrease Water Fountain Hours
The University of Texas has announced a plan to reduce campus water fountain operation hours to save money and conserve water. Operating hours will be reduced from 17 to 10 hours per day, saving an expected one million gallons of water per year.
West Texas A&M Awarded Renewable Energy Grant
West Texas A&M University’s Alternative Energy Institute has received a $497,350 grant from the State Energy Conservation Office for the installation of two renewable energy systems. The grant will help reduce energy consumption at the university with the $622,000 installation of a 48-kilowatt photovoltaic system and 50-kilowatt wind system for the feed mill. Monitoring of both systems will be available for the public through seminars and display areas.
Berkshire CC Kicks Off Energy Monitoring and Management Program
Berkshire Community College (MA) is part of a $55 million pilot project to monitor and better manage energy use in state buildings. Funded by federal stimulus money, the Department of Energy Resources and energy management company EnerNOC, will install energy meters, computer systems and web-based monitoring programs in 33 state-owned sites, including colleges. Berkshire will monitor electricity and natural gas use with the installation of 20 meters this fall. The monitors will reveal spot energy spikes and excessive use, providing building managers with specific data to reduce energy use. The information can also be accessed by college staff and students.
Cal Poly Pomona Introduces Recycling Dream Machine to Campus
Cal Poly Pomona (CA) has installed three recycling Dream Machines on campus. The kiosks feature a wireless Internet connection that allows users to learn more about recycling, accumulate rewards points and keep track of their recycling activities. Starting in the fall, points can be redeemed for discounts around campus, or for entertainment, dining and travel coupons at Greenopolis.com. The university hopes to recycle 20,000 bottles and cans by December.
Carnegie Mellon U Installs Energy Management Application
Carnegie Mellon University (PA) has installed a data-driven energy efficiency application in two of its LEED Silver certified-buildings. The SiteSMART application, from energy management company EnerNOC, identifies energy inefficiencies by analyzing building management system data from thousands of energy-consuming devices across facilities. SiteSMART analysts also deliver monthly score cards that rank energy efficient measures by financial, energy and carbon savings.
Century College Develops Introductory Solar Energy Design Classes
Century College (MN) and the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society have developed one-day introduction courses for students interested in learning the basics of designing solar photovoltaic and solar hot water heating systems. The college will also offer a half-day course for students interested in exploring renewable energy careers.
Delta College and Saginaw Valley State U to Start Campus Shuttle
Delta College (MI) and Saginaw Valley State University (MI) have partnered with Bay Metro to provide a campus park-n-ride route. Delta College hopes that the new bus route will alleviate the need for additional parking spots in the future and help reduce the campus' carbon footprint. To start, 30 parking spots will be available, with plans to put in bike racks. The cost per ride is 75 cents for students.
Emory U Diverts 68 Tons of Animal Bedding from Landfills
Emory University (GA) has announced the diversion of more than 68 tons of animal bedding from Georgia landfills since the start of its composting program in November 2009. The bedding, which consists of wood waste and is used primarily with campus lab rats and mice, used to be incinerated or buried in landfills. Now the university has partnered with Greenco Environmental, which handles the composting of non-infectious animal bedding materials and campus food waste. To date, 196 combined tons of animal bedding and food waste have been collected from the university and sent to Greenco. The campus plans to divert 95 percent of its bedding materials from landfills by 2015.
Emory U Uses Energy Savings for Haiti Relief Efforts
Student teams from Emory University (GA) are off to Haiti to work on earthquake relief efforts thanks to $33,000 in savings due to a reduction in campus energy consumption. Faculty, students and staff cut back their energy use by four percent as part of the Haiti Relief Energy Conservation Challenge. With the energy funds saved, students selected by the university's Global Health Institute are working through August in rural Haiti on the expansion of safe water access through a household water chlorination program and a project assessing mental health.
Fairfield U Plants Vegetable and Herb Garden
Fairfield University (CT) has started planting the campus’ first vegetable and herb garden. The garden’s harvest will be used for student dining this fall and stock the shelves of area food pantries this summer. Root vegetables, perennial herbs, hot and sweet peppers, cherry tomatoes and pumpkins are among the vegetables that will be planted in 18 raised beds. Faculty, students, staff and alumni will tend the garden.
Fanshawe College Debuts Green Roof
Fanshawe College (ON) has installed its first living green roof. Drought-resistant perennial plants cover 850 square feet of rooftop space. The plant modules, each filled with six different types of sedum, are designed to be waterproof and impenetrable while supporting drainage and root growth. The roof will reduce noise and storm water runoff, save energy, improve air quality, provide better insulation and aid in fire prevention. Students who worked on the roof received training and professional certification in green roof installation.
Furman U Receives Grant for Solar Panel Project
Furman University (SC) has received a $340,000 grant to install 304 photovoltaic solar panels this fall. The installation at the Physical Activities Center is expected to quadruple the solar energy output on campus. The solar panels will have a peak production output of 92 kilowatts and are expected to save the university $9,300 per year based on current electric rates.
Lakeshore Tech College Installs Wind Turbine for Training Opps
Lakeshore Technical College (WI) has installed the campus' second wind turbine. At 120 feet, the 50-kilowatt turbine will provide opportunities for student training and field testing. Regular maintenance of the turbine will be performed by second-year students in the wind energy technology associate's degree program. A third wind turbine is scheduled for installation later this summer.
Mountain State U Introduces Environmental Sustainability Degree
Mountain State University (WV) is offering a new Bachelor of Science in environmental sustainability. The biology-based program integrates a traditional science curriculum with environmental awareness. The program will prepare students for job opportunities in the fields of academics, research, development and implementation of sustainable and green technologies.
North Carolina State U Installs Green Roof
North Carolina State University has completed the installation of a 3,780-foot green roof at the campus' new engineering building. The roof features 10 drought-resistant plants and will save the university an estimated 25-50 percent in heating and cooling costs.
Pennsylvania State U Receives Grant to Install Wind Turbine
Pennsylvania State University has received a $96,425 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to install a 10-kilowatt wind turbine. A portion of the grant money will go toward the development of a two-year renewable energy major, to debut this fall. The program will introduce students to the installation, troubleshooting and maintenance of photovoltaic, wind turbine and solar thermal systems.
Syracuse U Connects Neighborhood Food Desert with Local Farmers
Syracuse University's (NY) Environmental Finance Center has partnered with Central New York (CNY) Bounty to provide fresh, local and organic foods to neighborhoods in need of alternative food options. In these areas, known as "food deserts," residents must travel long distances to supermarkets that don't provide fresh or local food options. Through the CNY Bounty online farmers' market, residents can order food for pick-up at the university's South Side Innovation Center. The collaboration will also support the local economy by connecting Syracuse residents with small-scale local farmers and producers.
