Meredith College Apartments Awarded LEED Silver
Meredith College’s (NC) new student apartments, The Oaks, have earned LEED Silver certification. Opened in August 2009, The Oaks features air ventilation and water purification systems, and non-toxic paints and carpets. Other green features include dual flush toilets, water-efficient landscaping, and construction materials made from recycled products.
Samford U Begins Bike Loan Program
Samford University (AL) has begun a campus bike rental service through which students can borrow one of 30 bicycles for three days at a time just by showing their student ID. The program began as part of Samford' "100 Grand for Green" initiative, which seeks to save the University $100,000 in utilities costs and improve the environment on campus. Campus officials believe that the program has become an instantaneous success.
Stetson U Student Wins Grant for Campus Garden Activities
Stetson University student Heather Grove has won a Carter Academic Service Entrepreneur grant for $1,000 to help fund educational outreach activities for the Hatter Harvest organic garden. Hatter Harvest is a student organization dedicated to food, health, and environmental sustainability awareness and education. Outreach activities will include garden signage displaying concepts such as the nitrogen cycle in composting and the carbon cycle in plants, and workshops to be presented in the garden and off-campus to community organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club and local schools.
St Petersburg College to Install Rooftop Solar Array
St. Petersburg College (FL) has announced plans to install its first photovoltaic system on its Clearwater Campus. The 3.5 kW system, which will generate power for the electrical grid, will be installed on the roof of the LEED Gold Natural Science, Mathematics and College of Education building. This system to be installed was selected because of its tolerance to hurricane force winds, harsh environments, better performance in lower light conditions, and flexibility.
U California Santa Barbara Switches to Cage-Free Eggs
The University of California, Santa Barbara Dining Services has begun serving eggs from cage-free chickens instead of regularly industry eggs. The switch is being funded by the money saved from going tray-less last quarter.
U Texas Austin, Rice U Students Approve Green Fees
Students at the University of Texas at Austin and at Rice University (TX) have passed referendums to establish green funds on campus. UT Austin students approved a $5 a semester fee which could be added to tuition bills beginning in 2011. The money raised by the fees will be used for such projects as subsidizing internships for green jobs and paying for a community garden. Students at UT passed the measure with 71 percent in favor and 29 percent opposed, with 8,917 total votes cast. One out of five dollars in the UT proposal would go toward financial aid. The $9 a semester green fee at Rice will create the Rice Endowment for Sustainable Energy Technology (RESET), which will be used for campus sustainability projects.
Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine Ranks Southeastern Schools
Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine has released its Honor Roll of the southeastern region's greenest colleges and universities. The Magazine researched, interviewed, and examined all of the region’s colleges and universities to determine which schools are teaching about and creating initiatives for a better world. As part of its research, Blue Ridge Outdoors talked with students and administrators, conducted surveys, and investigated energy use on college campuses across the Southeast. The rankings are divided into schools with an enrollment larger than and smaller than 7,500.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Holds Energy & Water Competition
Interns with the Alliance To Save Energy’s Green Campus Program at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo partnered with University Housing to host the Poly Canyon Energy Competition, an energy and water-saving competition held between nine apartment buildings in Poly Canyon Village. The competition, which spanned five weeks and involved 2,700 students, led to an overall savings of 16 percent, resulting in a total savings of 76,874 kWh, 14,619 gallons of water, 117,325 MBTU’s, and $9,778. The winning building received stainless steel water bottles and the student community advisors from the winning building received sweatshirts.
Claremont McKenna College Ranks Liberal Arts Colleges
The Roberts Environmental Center of Claremont McKenna College has adapted its Pacific Sustainability Index—which grades the ways that organizations report and publicize their sustainability efforts on their Web sites—to the college market. The center's report examined the top 50 liberal-arts colleges, as ranked by the U.S. News & Word Report. The report lists the top five colleges in sustainability reporting as: Williams College (MA), Bucknell University (PA), Amherst College (MA), Colorado College, and Gettysburg College (PA). The Roberts Environmental Center is also working on a sustainability-reporting index for top research universities.
Dickinson College Launches Online Rideshare
Dickinson College (PA) has released a Virtual Rideboard, an online site where students can search for and post rides. The site is only accessible to the Dickinson community.
Harvard U Starts Key Recycling Program
Harvard University's (MA) Office of Sustainability has begun collecting old or duplicate keys to recycle. The keys are melted down and sold to scrap metal companies. Since the program began in January, Harvard has generated $75. The money will be donated to local charities.
Humboldt State U Awarded Energy Independence Grant
A Humboldt State University graduate student and three HSU alumni are part of a grant team that has won $4.4 million in federal stimulus funding to support the development of the North Coast Energy Independence Program. The seven-county municipal financing initiative is aimed at fostering green economic development through government loans for energy efficiency projects, like solar panels, repaid through property tax.
Humboldt State U Students Relight Campus Stadium
Students at Humboldt State University (CA) have completed the Relight Redwood Bowl project. The initiative reduced the number of light poles on the track and football field from eight to four and reduced the number of light bulbs used from 96 to 60. The project has an estimated savings of 61,000-kilowatt hours and up to $8,000 per year.
Jamestown CC Named Tree Campus USA
Jamestown Community College (NY) has been named a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. The recognition is given to campuses such as JCC that exude a dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship.
Lawrence Tech U Announces Green Architectural Engineering Program
Lawrence Technological University (MI) has announced a five-year program that combines a bachelor's and master's degree in architectural engineering. The curriculum of the MS in Architectural Engineering will allow graduates of the program, who will be qualified to become licensed engineers, to be prepared to take leadership roles in the rapidly expanding field of sustainable building design.
Louisiana State U Students Use Community Garden
Louisiana State University students can now have their very own nine-by-five foot plot to grow vegetables for $10 a semester at the campus farm. The four-acre Hill Farm will allow students to use eco-friendly gardening practices to grow food.
Loyola U Chicago to Pilot Shuttle Service for Faculty and Staff
Loyola University, Chicago (IL) has announced plans to pilot a new shuttle service for faculty and staff members who commute to and from the Rogers Park Metra Station and the Lake Shore Campus. The pilot program will gauge faculty and staff need for low-carbon transportation options between the station and campus using a biodiesel van.
Metropolitan CC Campus Building Receives LEED Silver
Metropolitan Community College (NE) has received LEED Silver certification for its new South Omaha Campus Connector Building. The $17 million Connector Building, completed in 2007, reused an industrial brownfield site and features white roofing materials, recycled and local construction materials, an indoor environmental air quality monitoring system, and ozone-friendly refrigerants.
Middlebury College Announces Building Dashboard
Middlebury College (VT) has installed a Building Dashboard touch screen system in its Franklin Environmental Center. The system allows people to monitor, visualize, and contextualize resource use in real time. The dashboard, which is also available online, features animated graphs and the ability to convert data to miles driven in a car or number of hours a laptop is left running.
North Carolina State U Student Wins Green Car Design Contest
A North Carolina State University graduate student has won the 2010 Shell Eco-Marathon Americas (SEMA) Urban Concept Car Competition with an eco-friendly concept car designed for a class project. The industrial design student’s car will be constructed and displayed at the SEMA event which showcases fuel-efficient futuristic vehicles designed by high school and college students from across the country.
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Posted Mar 15, 2010
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Other News
Rochester Inst of Tech Awarded Library Energy Reduction Grant
The Image Permanence Institute at Rochester Institute of Technology (NY) has received a $580,174 grant for a major research project dealing with sustainable preservation practices in libraries. Many libraries maintain tightly controlled, energy-intensive environments for their stacks, special collections and exhibition spaces. For budgetary reasons and concerns about global climate change, libraries are searching for ways to responsibly and safely lower energy consumption. This project will investigate a promising method for libraries to achieve significant reductions in energy use without compromising the preservation quality of collection environments through a carefully monitored and risk-managed shutdown of air handling units during unoccupied hours. RIT will partner with libraries at Yale University (CT); University of California, Los Angeles; and Cornell University (NY); as well as the Birmingham Public Library and the New York Public Library.
Texas A&M U Students Vote for Green Fee
Texas A&M University students have voted to impose a $3 per semester student fee in order to support environmental services on campus. The fee will create the "Aggie Green Fund" and will generate $300,000 annually to carry out sustainability initiatives. This comes a year after the Texas state legislature approved a measure allowing students to implement student-driven fees.
U Albany to Install 49 kW Solar Panel System, Purchases RECs
The University at Albany has received more than $287,000 in federal stimulus money to fund the installation of a 49-kilowatt solar panel system on a campus building. The project is expected to save approximately $63,000 a year. The University also purchased Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and carbon offsets. The institution purchased 800,000 kilowatt hours of wind energy with the RECs, which will help support wind farms in New York State.
U California Berkeley Commuters Connect Online
University of California, Berkeley has partnered with Zimride, a web-based ride-sharing service, where students can join and link with other commuters in their area to come to campus. Students can post mini-profiles of themselves, including a photo, and also connect to Facebook.
U California Riverside Brings Car-Share Program to Campus
University of California, Riverside has partnered with Zipcar, Inc. to bring four Zipcars to campus. The car-sharing initiative will allow students, faculty, and staff to join the program to be able to use the cars for their needs. The University hopes to reduce air pollution and traffic on campus through the new program.
U California Santa Barbara Receives Bike-Friendly Business Award
The University of California, Santa Barbara has been named a Bicycle Friendly Business Gold Award winner by the League of American Bicyclists. UCSB is among 51 new Bicycle Friendly Businesses announced at the 10th National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C. in early March. According to a statement by the League of American Bicyclists, UCSB serves as an example for best practices and innovations in bicycle friendliness at the workplace. UCSB estimates that 49 percent of students and 9 percent of faculty and staff commute by bicycle. UCSB also features seven miles of Class I bicycle paths, more than 10,000 secure bicycle parking spaces in bicycle racks, 40 secure bicycle lockers, six bicycle roundabouts, and free showers for bicycle commuters.
U Illinois Urbana-Champaign Passes Student Green Fee
Students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have passed a referendum that proposed increasing the current student green fee from $5 to $14. The first fee was implemented in the spring of 2007. One of the current programs that will continue to benefit from the newly-increased fee is the student sustainable farm, which sells produce to the university’s dining halls. The farm is relatively new, celebrating its first full harvest year. The increased fee will help plant new seeds for future farm projects.
U Michigan Launches Sustainability Scholars Program
The University of Michigan Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute has launched the Undergraduate Sustainability Scholars Program. Each year, the program will accept 25 high-performing undergraduate students, who will pursue a 10-credit series of interdisciplinary courses focused on sustainability. After successful completion of the program, students will receive a “Sustainability Scholars” certificate from the Graham Institute to acknowledge their achievement. Upon graduation, they also will receive a special notation on their U-M transcripts designating this scholastic accomplishment. U-M students apply to the program during their sophomore year for participation beginning in their junior year.
U Minnesota Morris Receives Grant for Green Curriculum
The Minnesota Renewable Energy Marketplace–Alliance for Talent Development (MNREM) initiative has awarded the University of Minnesota, Morris an $85,000 grant to deliver and expand curriculum in biomass gasification technology. As a result, the institution will offer an intensive three-week course to undergraduates and working adults.
Unity College to Hold Green Commencement
Unity College (ME) has announced plans to hold a green commencement again this year. New environmentally-friendly features of the presentation will include e-invitations, composting, 100 percent post-consumer recycled diplomas, a limited number of printed programs, eco-friendly plaques, and caps and gowns made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.
U Rochester Biodiesel Project Wins National Award
The University of Rochester (NY) has been awarded the "Excellence in Innovations for Sustainability Award" by the Association of College Unions International (ACUI). The national award recognized the University's UR Biodiesel program that converts old fryer oil from dining services into biodiesel. The program produces about 30 gallons of biodiesel a week and uses it in a number of campus vehicles, including a shuttle.
Washington & Jefferson College to Educate Needy Students
Washington & Jefferson College (PA) has signed on to the Youth Engaged Service (YES) Prep School IMPACT Partnership program, which aims to guide economically disadvantaged children to college and beyond. The student population at Yes Prep schools which are based in Houston, Texas, is approximately 90 percent first-generation college bound, 80 percent economically disadvantaged, and 95 percent Hispanic or African American. Campuses in the IMPACT Partnership program commit to helping with college expenses through scholarships, work study programs, and small student loans. W&J will host six students from YES Prep schools this fall.
3 Institutions Receive Tree Campus USA Recognition
Moraine Valley Community College (IL); the University of Arkansas, Fort Smith; and Auburn University (AL) have each been recognized as a 2009 Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for the second year in a row for their dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship. Each campus met five required core standards of tree care and community engagement in 2009. Those requirements included the establishment of a campus tree advisory committee; evidence of a campus tree-care plan; verification of dedicated annual expenditures on the campus tree-care plan; involvement in an Arbor Day observance; and the institution of a service-learning project aimed at engaging the student body.
6 Campuses Receive Presidential Recognition for Community Service
Six colleges and universities have been named as Presidential Awardees in the 2009 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement. The Corporation for National and Community Service, which administers the annual Honor Roll award, recognized more than 700 colleges and universities for their impact on issues from poverty and homelessness to environmental justice. In 2009, 3.16 million students performed more than 300 million hours of service. The awardees include: Lee University (TN); Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Emory & Henry College (VA); Raritan Valley Community College (NJ); and Willamette University (OR).
Bowdoin College Student Visualizes Carbon Emissions with Art
A senior at Bowdoin College (ME) has illustrated what one ton of carbon emissions looks like in a new installation in a student lounge. Madelyn Sullivan roped off a cube with 27 foot sides that goes from the ceiling to the floor and across the lounge to show students the size of one ton of carbon emissions. The installation also provides educational information on the amount of CO2 emissions that an average U.S. citizen emits every two weeks and that Bowdoin College emits each year.
Campus Presidents Sign Global Sustainability Commitment
25 global university presidents have signed the International Campus Sustainability Network's Sustainable Campus Charter, which commits signatories 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. U.S. signatories include: Columbia University (NY); The Johns Hopkins University (MD); Georgetown University (DC); University of Pennsylvania; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; University of Chicago (IL); Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University (MA); Harvard University (MA); Stanford University (CA); Yale University (CT); and Brown University (RI).
Central College Receives Kresge Grant for Green Building
Central College (UA) has met a Kresge Foundation’s challenge to raise $3.59 million for its education and psychology building, which opened in August and has received LEED Platinum certification. By reaching its fundraising goal, the foundation provided an additional $850,000 in grant money. The structure is home to Central's new Center for Global Sustainability Education.
Central Florida U Debuts Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle
Central Florida University has partnered with Ford Motor Company and Progressive Energy to host the state's first Ford Escape plug-in hybrid electric vehicle on its campus. The University's Smart Solar Plug-in Research Facility includes parking spaces for four electric-powered vehicles where solar panels above the spaces can recharge vehicles. The vehicle can achieve up to 120 miles per gallon and will be tested in Florida.
College of William & Mary Begins Sustainability Campaign
The College of William and Mary (VA) has launched the "Do One Thing for Sustainability" (DOT) initiative in which students can claim one thing they will do for the environment. This claim can be made on Facebook, on paper, or through a video. The campus art department plans to assemble an installation from all of the paper commitments that will be displayed in the campus library, and videos will be placed on YouTube.
Colorado & Dickinson Colleges Launch Sustainability Virtual Tours
Colorado College and Dickinson College (PA) have each launched sustainability virtual tours. Colorado College created a single location to view its on-campus sustainability initiatives. The Campus Sustainability Virtual Tour guides visitors through numerous locations showcasing what the College has accomplished as stewards of the environment. Examples include the College's composting efforts and the pervious paving project. The online sustainability tour, which took about three months to create, develop, and post, is aimed at multiple audiences: the campus community, alumni, prospective students, and community members. Dickinson College posted four thematic tours, one of which focuses on its sustainability initiatives. The tour covers green buildings, natural landscaping, student leadership, energy and waste, research and education, college farm, and green living. The tour aims to increase involvement and awareness on incorporating sustainability into college life.
Colorado State U Named Lead Institution of Sustainability Network
Colorado State University has been named the lead institution in the newly formed Rocky Mountain Sustainability and Science Network. The Network, which was funded by a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, aims to provide undergraduates with experience-based learning opportunities in the sciences and sustainability. Other universities in the Network include University of Wyoming, University of Montana, Utah State University, University of Arizona, Texas A&M University, University of Colorado-Boulder, University of Colorado-Denver, and Metropolitan State University (MN). AASHE is also a part of the Network.
Council of Ontario Universities Announces Research Chairs
The Council of Ontario Universities has announced three research chairs in environmental science. The Ontario Research Chair in Renewable Energy Technologies and Health has been awarded to the University of Waterloo and its candidate, Dr. Siva Sivoththaman. The two Ontario Research Chairs in Green Chemistry and Engineering have been awarded to Queen's University and its candidate, Dr. Michael Cunningham, and to Trent University and its candidate, Dr. Suresh Narine. Dr. Sivoththaman will bring focus to multi-disciplinary activities in renewable energy technologies and health, ensuring that health and safety are top priorities in the induction of new technologies. His research program will develop new technical approaches and will provide guidelines in setting standards to ensure health and safety in the manufacturing, use, and end-of-life phases of renewable energy technologies. Dr. Cunningham's research interests are in polymer science, with a focus on replacing environmentally harmful processes that employ organic solvents with more environmentally benign water-based processes that do not use solvents. His research will exploit newly discovered materials that can "switch" their properties and the latest chemistry techniques to control polymer product properties, using manufacturing methods that minimize environmental impact. Dr. Narine will focus on the use of natural oils to develop new high-value, high-performance, and toxic free/neutral chemicals, materials, and polymers.
Davis & Elkins College Starts Recycling Program
Davis & Elkins College (WV) has started a recycling program in campus dorms. The program was formed by the student group “GreenWorks!” and the Center for Sustainability Studies. The two groups helped to assemble recycling bins to be placed in the campus' four dorms.
Emory U Adopts Idling Reducing Policy
Emory University (GA) has partnered with the Clean Air Campaign to adopt its first Idling Reduction Policy. The policy will restrict idling in situations such as deliveries and will ensure that cars are turned off when parked. The University hopes the new initiative will help to reduce air pollution on campus and in the surrounding community.
Hamilton College Students Help Build Green Homes
Hamilton College's (NY) Habitat for Humanity Chapter has announced plans to build more energy efficient homes and to reduce waste during construction. Plans include increasing the insulation of windows and doors, using recycled building materials whenever possible, installing Energy Star appliances, and making an effort to recycle as much construction waste as possible. The Chapter also plans to seek LEED certification whenever possible.
Loyola Marymount U Hires First Sustainability Coordinator
Loyola Marymount University (CA) has hired its first sustainability coordinator to create a more sustainable campus and to promote environmental stewardship. Joseph Rasmussen, who started February 1, 2010, has already begun planning sustainability initiatives across campus. Rasmussen comes to LMU from California State University, Long Beach, where he served as a state scientist for the California Environmental Protection Agency Integrated Waste Management Board Sustainability Program.
North Shore CC Receives Funding to Make Campus Greener
North Shore Community College (MA) has received $3.6 million from Governor Patrick's Commonwealth Clean Energy Investment Program to make its Danvers and Lynn campuses more environmentally friendly. The Program, which was launched at NSCC, will install solar panels on the Danvers campus and new lighting and energy management systems, along with new chillers, boilers, and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning units, at the Lynn campus.
San Diego Campuses Included in PBS Green Feature
Three San Diego, California campuses, San Diego Community College District's West City Point Loma campus; San Diego State University; the University of California, San Diego, have been featured in a PBS special on colleges undergoing green renovations. The station producing the piece, KPBS, also posted the story as an audio file.
Slippery Rock U Awards Funding for Sustainability Projects
Slippery Rock University (PA) Green Fund committee has approved several sustainability projects for the upcoming year. One initiative will purchase a $9,600 biofuels processor. The equipment will be used to convert used vegetable oil from campus dining facilities into biofuel that will be used to power university diesel tractors and lawnmowers. The processor is expected to generate up to $1,200 in savings each year. Other grants awarded by the Green Fund committee include $11,600 to purchase occupancy sensors for classrooms and high-tech electric meters, $4,150 for a sustainability across the curriculum program; and $3,085 for sustainability educational programming for students.
