Second Natures Announces Green Building Grants for Campuses
Second Nature has announced its "Green Building 101Technical Assistance Grants." 15 colleges and universities received up to $2,000 each to provide building professionals working on campus facilities projects with training in ‘green building.’ Located throughout the US, the recipients are under-resourced colleges and universities, including community colleges and minority-serving institutions. The recipients are from the following institutions: Blackfeet Community College (MT); Bunker Hill Community College (MA); Campbellsville University (KY); Cape Cod Community College (MA); College of Menominee Nation (WI); Edmonds Community College (WA); Flathead Valley Community College (MT); Gaston College (NC); Hilbert College (NY); Leech Lake Tribal College (MN); Luzerne county Community College (PA); Northwest Arkansas Community College; Northwest Bossier Parish Community College (LA); Northwest-Shoals Community College (AL); and California State University, Monterey Bay.
SUNY ESF Starts Aerated Composting Program
At the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, the student environmental group Green Campus Initiative (GCI) has begun an aerated composting program on campus. By working with O2Compost, a national composting company, GCI was able to obtain the necessary equipment and has placed a number of collection bins in campus snacking areas. ESF's aerated composting system will take one month to produce Grade A compost, which is safe and usable, compared to the 90 days required for traditional composting. The organization hopes to expand collection so that students who live off campus will be able to compost as well.
Two Michigan Institutions Awarded Offshore Wind Research Grants
Grand Valley State University's Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center and University of Michigan's Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute have partnered to study the potential for offshore wind energy in Lake Michigan. The two institutions recently received $1.34 million in state grants to help pay for the construction of a floating data-collection platform in Lake Michigan.
U British Columbia Announces Plans for Biomass Plant
The University of British Columbia has announced plans to install an on-site biomass-fueled combined heat and power generation system. The $26 million project will operate in co-generation mode for electric power production and thermal mode to produce steam. It will produce two megawatts of cost-effective clean electricity – up to six percent of the campus’s average electrical demand in co-generation mode – and up to 25 percent of the campus’s base requirement for steam in thermal mode. It will also provide research and learning opportunities for faculty and students.
U California Berkeley Launches New Sustainability Website
The University of California, Berkeley Office of Sustainability has launched a redesign of its website. The new site focuses on easy navigation and provides information on current green energy projects, sustainability progress reports, and green certifications.
U California Berkeley Res Hall Renovation Receives LEED-CI Gold
The University of California, Berkeley's Clark Kerr Campus renovation has received LEED Gold certification under LEED Commercial Interiors version 2.0. Building interiors of the residential facility were completely renovated while efficient new water, power, heating, and communications systems were put in place. The facility includes low VOC-emitting materials, Energy Star appliances, bike storage rooms, and new recycling rooms. Construction began in May 2008 and was completed for the start of the Fall 2009 semester.
U Dayton Transforms Brownfields
The University of Dayton (OH) has announced plans to revive hazardous brownfields left by the local NCR Corporation so that is can be used as new space for its campus expansion. The property was previously used for manufacturing and contamination, which was not at a level high enough to harm the community, was found in the ground waters.
U Illinois Chicago Receives Funding Toward Food Issues Education
The University of Illinois at Chicago has received a $149,000 grant from the Washington-based Institute of Museum and Library Sciences for its soup kitchen at the Jane Adams Hull-House Museum and the half-acre Hull-House Urban Farm that supplies some of its ingredients. The two-year grant will help fund the Hull-House Museum's Re-Thinking Soup program, a weekly luncheon that features recipes from local chefs and speakers on food issues like food sovreignty, ethical eating and animal rights.
U Maine Partners with 4Tell to Develop Sustainability Plan
The University of Maine has partnered with 4Tell Solutions to develop a long-term sustainability plan. The main goal of the Sustainable Performance Governance Solution – iPlan will be to foster stewardship and to promote governance of sustainability on campus.
U Oregon Class Develops Green Urban Renewal Proposals
A University of Oregon class has unveiled six development plans for the City of Gresham, Oregon's urban renewal district's Catalyst Project, also called the Cultural Marketplace. The students' work was presented as part of the Sustainable Cities Initiative, which teams UO graduate students with the City of Gresham to help shape a more sustainable future for the city. A total of 250 students from the university’s School of Architecture and Allied Arts are taking part in the yearlong collaboration.
U Oregon Sustainability Prgm Offers Continuing Ed for Lawyers
The University of Oregon Sustainability Leadership Program has partnered with the UO School of Law Green Business Initiative to create a new professional development opportunity for attorneys and legal staff. Legal practitioners can now access OSB continuing legal education credit in the areas of financial reporting, green building design and operations, ecosystem services, public-private partnerships, and risk analysis. Other areas of professional development may also provide assistance to attorneys and staff in the areas of sustainability planning, team building, procurement, energy efficiency, climate action planning, and transportation strategies.The program stems from the Oregon State Bar Board of Governors' recent approval of the formation of a new Sustainable Futures Section.
U South Florida Launches School of & MA in Global Sustainability
The University of South Florida has launched its School of Global Sustainability and its Masters of Arts in Global Sustainability. The School unites USF’s researchers in water, clean and renewable energy, climate change, coastal environments, human health, and sustainable cities in programs which recognize the worldwide challenges to creating sustainable systems. Its first degree program, a master’s in global sustainability, will initially focus on water with other concentrations being developed in such themes as food security and health, natural environments, gender, ethnicity and class, global citizenry, climate change, coastal wetlands, the history of sustainable communities and megacities. The degree will prepare students to address complex regional, national, and global challenges related to sustainability and the ability to innovate in diverse cultural, geographic, and demographic contexts. The program will allow for the integration of various disciplines such as basic, natural, and social sciences, engineering, health, economics, governance and policy, and issues of diversity.
4 Institutions Receive Research Grant for IT Energy Efficiency
A team of computer scientists from Rutgers University (NJ), the University of California at Santa Barbara, the University of Michigan, and the University of Virginia have received a two-year, $1 million research grant from Google to help reduce energy usage in large Internet data centers. The team will explore ways to create low power modes in servers, allowing parts of the computer to be turned off while other parts remain accessible. The goal is to allow less active servers to move their processing loads to other servers and essentially go to sleep. The goal of such redesigns would be to conserve 40 to 50 percent of the power that servers now consume. The team members are all affiliated with UCSB’s Greenscale Center for Energy-Efficient Computing.
98 New Campuses Complete Climate Action Plans
98 new campuses have submitted Climate Action Plans (CAP) as part of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) since the last update in the AASHE Bulletin on December 21, 2009. The plans illustrate the specific steps schools are taking to reach climate neutrality. The CAP is the second major reporting requirement of the Commitment and is due within two years of signing.
Atlantic Cape CC Signs Power Purchase Agreement
Atlantic Cape Community College (NJ) has signed a power purchase agreement with Pepco Energy Services, Inc. The agreement allows Pepco to build, maintain, and operate solar arrays on ACCC campuses, and establishes that ACCC will purchase the energy generated at a fixed rate. The 2.3 megawatt installation will generate 48 percent of the College's power needs and is expected to save the school $220,000 the first year and $6.8 million over 20 years.
Brown U Signs Intl Sustainable Campus Charter
Brown University (RI) President Ruth J. Simmons has signed the Sustainable Campus Charter, which commits signatory universities to campus-wide principles and measurable goals for sustainable development, construction, and operations. In addition, the universities involved have committed to incorporating the study of sustainability principles and practice into their educational offerings. The charter stems from the International Campus Sustainability Network (ICSN).
Cleantech Group Names Top 10 Universities to Promote Renewables
Cleantech Group has published a list of the top 10 U.S. academic institutions best suited to develop new technology and related business models that offer competitive returns for investors and customers while providing solutions to global challenges. The top 10, in order, are: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California at Berkeley, University of Texas at Austin, Stanford University (CA), University of Michigan, University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Cornell University (NY), Georgia Institute of Technology, and Washington State University.
Columbia College Builds Green Media Center
Columbia College (IL) has opened its new Media Production Center, which was designed and built to achieve LEED Gold certification. The building features a partial green roof to help with noise reduction and insulation for heating and cooling. Other green features include use of natural light and recycled materials.
Duke U Announces Greenhouse Gas Reduction Challenge
In an effort to encourage students, faculty, and staff to take specific actions to help reduce their greenhouse gas emissions on campus, Duke University (NC) has announced the Green Devil Challenge. Each month, a new challenge will be issued to encourage individuals to make small changes in their daily lives that will help reduce emissions at Duke. The first challenge, issued by an email from Bill Chameides, dean for the Nicholas School of the Environment and co-chair of Duke’s Campus Sustainability Committee, asks people to begin by making a commitment by signing the Sustainable Duke Pledge or asking a friend or colleague to do so.
Edinboro U Receives Grant for 210 kW Solar Array
Edinboro University (PA) has received a grant to install a 210-kilowatt solar array atop its McComb Fieldhouse. The Governor of Pennsylvania announced the $474,000 as part of the new "Green Energy Works!" program. Besides generating electricity for the University, the array will allow Edinboro to market and sell solar renewable energy credits and will create 10 skilled-labor jobs.
Furman U to Harness Energy from Elliptical Machines
The Furman University (SC) Senior Class has announced plans to purchase 15 elliptical machines that are capable of producing energy while in use. A 30-minute workout on an elliptical cross-trainer typically produces enough electricity to power a light bulb for between two and three hours or a desktop computer for around a half hour. Furman officials expect the initial setup of the system to cost between $15,000 and $20,000.
Green Mountain College Announces Sustainable Ag Major
Green Mountain College (VT) announced the creation of a new Sustainable Agriculture & Food Production major for the fall 2010 semester. The new major will be based at Cerridwen Farm, the College's 22-acre working farm, with office and classroom space at the adjacent Solar Harvest Center. Students will learn about agriculture and food systems presented through the lenses of history, anthropology, the natural sciences, philosophy, business, economics, and art.
Minnesota Schools Receive Grants to Cut Carbon Emissions
The Minnesota Schools Cutting Carbon Project has announced the award of over $200,000 in 19 grants to 23 public high schools, colleges, and universities across Minnesota. Projects range from making energy improvements such as energy efficient lighting and motion sensors; installing renewable energy projects including solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems; increasing recycling and composting; reducing paper use and food waste; supporting community greenhouse production of local foods; and increasing sustainable transportation options by encouraging walking, biking, carpooling and bus riding to school. Higher education grant recipients include: Bemidji State University; Dakota County Technical College; Hibbing, Itasca, Mesabi Range, Rainy River, and Vermilion Community Colleges; University of Minnesota, Deluth; University of Minnesota, Morris; and Winona State University.
Mount Union College Installs 54 kW Solar Array
Mount Union College (OH) has begun operating its new 54 kW solar panel installation on the roof above the Peterson Field House. The panel produces enough energy to power the fitness center in the building below.
New York U Specifies Worker Rights in Middle East Campus Contract
The Washington Post has published an article on New York University's recent mandate that all workers involved in its Middle East campus in Abu Dhabi have labor rights. The provisions specify how often workers are paid, how many hours they can work in a week, that overtime is voluntary and must be paid, and that workers are entitled to vacation and paid holidays.
San Diego City College Opens Green Exercise & Athletics Building
San Diego City College has opened its newly-renovated Health, Exercise Science, and Athletics Building, a two-story, 24,615-square-foot facility that includes a state-of-the-art sports training room, a weight room, locker rooms, and classrooms for martial arts, spinning, yoga, and kickboxing. The structure, which is registered for LEED certification, allows diffused light to enter the building, features Energy Star roofing materials, and contains low-flow and waterless plumbing fixtures. In addition, all exterior glazing has weather-seal and specialized coatings to reduce solar heat gain.
Santa Barbara City College Offers Fair Trade, Organic Coffee
Santa Barbara City College (CA) students now have a more sustainable option for their caffeine needs. Campus dining halls now offer Green Star Coffee, which is both fair trade and organic. The coffee beans are also roasted by a local coffee company.
Santa Monica College Produces Water Conservation PSA
A group of Santa Monica College (CA) students, alum, and faculty have unveiled the "SMC Global Citizens for Water Conservation," a one-minute public service announcement that communicates the message that water conservation is important locally and globally. This production was made possible by a $10,000 water conservation grant SMC won in 2008, to be used for student-created video public service announcements on water conservation around the world.
U Albany Reduces Energy Costs by $319K
The State University of New York at Albany has announced that it reduced energy costs by a total of $319,000 through energy-saving steps during the fall semester and winter intersession. The biggest savings, $241,000, came through the Intersession Energy Savings campaign with the remainder through the University’s Fall Energy Campaign. U Albany's Intersession Energy Savings initiative, which ran from December 18, 2009 through January 14, 2010, led to a 30 percent decrease in electricity use, 11 percent decrease in fuel use, and 10 percent decrease in water consumption over the same period, prior to initiating these energy initiatives in 2008.
U Alberta Starts Car-Share Program
The University of Alberta has begun a car-sharing program with Hertz. The "Connect with Hertz" program offers students, faculty, and staff an alternative to bringing their car to campus and will help reduce both traffic congestion and air pollution.
U California Berkeley Courses Approved by USGBC
The University of California, Berkeley Extension has been approved by the U.S. Green Building Council as an official Education Provider. Approved offerings include courses in solar, sustainable construction, renewable energy, transportation, clean technology, and sustainability leadership and management. Individuals that take these courses can earn credit towards LEED Professional Credentialing Maintenance.
U California Merced Prof Receives Grant to Study Solar Energy
Professor Alberto Cerpa of the University of California, Merced has received a $568,202 grant from the National Science Foundation to develop a system to track the amount of sunlight collected by solar panels on the ground. This information will make it easier for electricity providers to plan and manage solar generation systems within their electrical grids. The research project will use a network of sensors to collect solar irradiance data at ground levels. The sensors will measure and track cloud cover, aerosol content, and the presence of gases such as water vapor and carbon dioxide - all of which can reduce the amount of sunlight a solar cell can collect - in the Earth’s lower atmosphere and stratosphere.
U Colorado Boulder Starts Dual-Stream Recycling
The University of Colorado, Boulder has adopted a new dual-stream recycling system to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills. Now, all paper products can go into one bin and all co-mingled items can go into another. Student workers separate them at the recycling facility. The University believes this new dual-system will capture 800-1,000 tons of recyclables that would otherwise have gone to a landfill.
U Houston Switches to Reusable To-Go Containers
The University of Houston (TX) Dining Services will no longer offer Styrofoam containers. Instead, customers purchasing a to-go meal will receive a reusable to-go box. The microwavable, plastic containers can be returned, after use, for a voucher to receive a clean container for future visits.
U New Hampshire, State Partner to Create Green Jobs
The University of New Hampshire and the State of New Hampshire have partnered to create the Green Launching Pad, an initiative that will bring new green technologies to the marketplace, help innovative clean technology companies succeed, and support the creation of green economy jobs in New Hampshire. Through the Green Launching Pad, companies, both established and start-ups, will receive extensive financial, operational, technical, and managerial support to launch and commercialize green energy products and services. By accelerating these products and services to market, the program aims to help reduce energy use and carbon emissions while creating new jobs and economic opportunities in New Hampshire. The program, which starts immediately, will draw on the engineering, energy, environmental, and business research at UNH.
Unity College Appoints Sustainability Fellow
Unity College (ME) has appointed Anne Stephenson, PhD, as its Sustainability Fellow focused on campus buildings. Funded through participation in the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Accelerating Campus Climate-Change Initiatives, Stephenson will work part-time to help address campus barriers to emissions reductions. Through cost and energy analysis, she will develop a funding proposal to prioritize campus-wide facilities upgrades that help the institution reach its carbon reduction goals. Unity College students will work closely with Stephenson throughout the modeling and analysis phases of this foundation-funded project.
U North Carolina Chapel Hill Forms Energy Task Force
The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill has formed a new Energy Task Force composed of students, faculty, staff, and environmental activists. The group will work over the next six to 12 months to learn about the University’s efforts and to evaluate the approaches being used on other campuses to encourage sustainability. The purpose of the task force is to develop the most practicable plan possible for reducing UNC Chapel Hill’s carbon footprint.
U Pennsylvania Launches Composting Program with Waste Campaign
The University of Pennsylvania has completed a one-week waste-reduction campaign in campus dining halls to help diners understand how to reduce food waste and launch Penn’s new composting program. As part of the Scrape Bucket Challenge, students were asked to scrape whatever was left on their plates into large containers located in each dining facility on campus. The containers were measured each day to track the level of food waste over the course of the week. The campaign was combined with the University's participation in RecycleMania.
U Portland Bans Bottled Water Sales on Campus
The University of Portland (OR) has banned the sale of bottled water on its campus. The decision was viewed as an environmental and social justice issue. The University hopes this will reduce waste on campus and encourage students to drink tap water and use reusable containers.
Vanderbilt U Urinals Go Waterless
In an effort to conserve water, Vanderbilt University (TN) has begun replacing all of its non-residential urinals to waterless versions. 40 to 50 percent of the urinals have already been replaced, and the University says millions of gallons of water have been saved. Vanderbilt expects to replace all the urinals by 2013.
Yale U Kroon Hall Achieves LEED Platinum
Yale University's (CT) Kroon Hall has received LEED Platinum certification. The new home of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies was designed to use 81 percent less water and 58 percent less energy than a comparable building, and to generate 25 percent of its electricity on site from renewable sources. The east-west orientation of the building takes advantage of solar access and natural ventilation. The building is highly insulated and a green roof serves as a courtyard and covers a service lot and storage rooms below. Fresh air ventilation and free cooling cycles on air handling units reduce the need for air conditioning most of the year. Indicator lights alert occupants when conditions are suitable for opening windows. Concrete walls and exposed concrete ceilings retain heat in winter and help cool in the summer.
Airzona State U Starts Community Garden
Arizona State University's Polytechnic campus has begun developing a community garden for students, faculty, and staff to use this coming spring. There will be eight plots measuring 20-feet by 30-feet that will be rented for $70 each. The fee will help pay for fertilizer, a fence to keep rodents out, and general maintenance. The Garden Committee will host classes and workshops to help beginning gardeners best utilize their plots.
Boston U Launches Sustainability Website
Boston University (MA) has launched its first sustainability website, sustainability@BU, which acts as a portal to educate and engage the BU community. The site houses information such as research being done in renewable energy, classes being offered, energy saving building retrofit projects, a Green Campus Tour, and where to find bike rack and recycling locations.
Bowdoin College Launches Building Energy Dashboard
Bowdoin College (ME) has launched a building dashboard that provides real-time measurements of energy use of campus facilities. Visitors to the building dashboard site can select a building and view total consumption for the day, or usage on a per-person or square footage basis. They can also select a timescale — usage over a day, week, month, or year — and construct comparisons between buildings.
California Polytechnic State U Res Hall Earns LEED Gold
California Polytechnic State University's newly completed student housing project, Poly Canyon Village, has earned LEED Gold certification. The apartment development houses 2700 residents. Standards for the designation included low volatile organic compounds material, reduction of water use, water-efficient landscaping, use of recycled content, and 90 percent diversion from the landfill of construction waste.
Clemson U Establishes President's Sustainability Committee
Clemson University (SC) has established a President's Commission on Sustainability. The group is charged with creating and implementing a plan to make the University carbon neutral. The commission is comprised of undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff representatives from various colleges and departments, and representatives from Clemson’s Public Service Activities arm. The commission is chaired by Ben Sill, emeritus Alumni Professor of Civil Engineering.
Colorado State U Dorm Shows Energy Consumption in Real Time
Colorado State University students will soon be able to track their dorm's energy consumption in real time thanks to a $44,000 grant from the Rocky Mountain Institute. This new technology will kick off the "Green Warrior Campaign," which runs through mid-March and aims to create a culture of sustainability on campus. During the campaign, students will have the opportunity to register online and pledge to participate in environmentally friendly tasks. The campaign website will provide an area to track sustainability efforts such as conserving water, saving electricity, and recycling on campus.
John Hopkins U Receives LEED-CI Silver Certification
John Hopkins University (MD) School of Medicine has received a LEED for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) Silver certification for its renovated Department of Facilities Management offices and Clinical Information Systems Education Center. The two offices are located in the basement of a larger building and received LEED certification by including features such as day lighting, use of recycled furniture, and recycling construction material.
Luther College Receives Grant for Permeable Pavement Construction
Luther College (IA) has been awarded an $85,979 grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to replace the asphalt paving of an existing 24,600-square-foot parking on the Luther campus with a more environmentally beneficial permeable surface. The grant money will pay a major part of the cost of removing the current 120-foot by 205-foot asphalt parking surface, grading the base and constructing a two-section permeable concrete parking surface. The new permeable surface of the lot will allow surface water and snowmelt water to seep through the paving and into the underlying soil, which significantly reduces the rate at which the water enters the river. The permeable surface paving has a design life of 50 years and is expected to function for at least 20 years with minimal maintenance. Construction on the project will begin in summer 2010.
