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.
Maharishi U Management Plans Community Garden
Maharishi University of Management (IA) has planted a community garden for faculty and staff. The goal of the garden is to grow local food and to offer a chance for exercise. University employees will be able to choose their own plot or be part of a large community plot.
Marshall U Hires Recycling Coordinator
Marshall University (WV) has hired Elizabeth Rutherford to be the campus' new recycling coordinator. Housed in the Sustainability Department, Rutherford will work with eight student recyclers to manage daily pickups from new recycling pods across campus. Rutherford will also work to promote recycling and sustainability on campus.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Housing Receives LEED Gold
Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Ashdown House has received LEED Gold certification. The graduate residence that houses more than 400 students and includes a full dining area earned its Gold rating for a variety of green features: the building’s landscaping and irrigation systems use water from a non-potable source; a storm-water management system significantly reduces storm-water runoff; maximized daylight is available in 95 percent of regularly occupied spaces; and low-flow fixtures reduce water use by more than 20 percent.
Portland State U Launches Social Innovation Incubator
Portland State University’s (OR) School of Business Administration has launched the Social Innovation Incubator (SII), a new program fostering entrepreneurial solutions to today’s environmental, social, and economic challenges. The Social Innovation Incubator assists individuals that are working to launch new initiatives within established organizations. Chosen through a selective application process, SII members receive strategic support for business planning, marketing, and fundraising. Services include one-on-one consulting, mentors and coaches, pro bono legal education, and networking.
Portland State U Receives $1M for Geothermal System
Portland State University (OR) has received a $1 million grant to drill geothermal wells near a campus science building and help purchase a 1,000-ton heat pump for additional heating and cooling in the 13-building campus energy loop. Design work has begun, and well construction will start this summer. The system should be operational in 2011.
Portland State U Receives Rebate for Building Energy Improvements
Portland State University has received a $313,114 incentive check from the Energy Trust of Oregon for recent energy-efficient improvements to a campus building. Improvements to the building's heating and cooling system will save an estimated 1.4 million kilowatt hours or $126,000 in annual energy costs. New features include a chiller for the data center, carbon monoxide controls for parking garage exhaust fans, and the ability to use outside air to help cool the building during moderate temperatures.
Queen's U Opens Organic Teaching Farm
Queen's University (ON) and Sodexo have partnered on a new project called MyFarm, a 76 acre piece of land that will be used as an educational tool and organic farm. The property, currently owned by Sodexo's corporate executive chef, has been made available for the students to learn where their food comes from and how it is grown. The University hopes to educate the students on the importance of food security and sustainable agriculture.
Salt Lake CC to Offer Associate's in Energy Management
The Utah Board of Regents has approved an Associate of Applied Science Degree in energy management at Salt Lake Community College's Green Academy. The degree will train students on how to install renewable energy technologies, as well as how to take advantage of tax incentives and rebates. The program requires 67 credits, 26 of which are in a specialty area.
Slippery Rock U Green Fee Funds Projects
The Slippery Rock University (PA) student green fee has distributed $19,500 in grant money to fund new projects. Professors and students recently submitted project proposals for how the funds should be spent and a committee chose five of the proposals including: a campus wide showing of Food Inc., lectures from green speakers, a biofuels project, occupancy sensors for class rooms, and electric metering equipment.
U California Davis Dorm Programs Switch to Reusable Dishware
The University of California, Davis has introduced Aggieware, an initiative that utilizes reusable dishes and compostable napkins for any residence hall event or program where food is served. The University expects the program to pay for itself within two years with decreased paper plate purchases. Every UC Davis resident advisor stores a set of Aggieware in his or her room for the floor's use.
U California Davis Receives $2.5M for Waste-to-Energy Plant
The University of California, Davis has received $2.5 million in federal stimulus funds to help build an $18 million waste-to-energy plant to power a campus housing, office, and retail project. The plant will convert food scraps from campus cafeterias, animal waste, and tree trimmings into methane, which will then provide energy for a fuel cell to make electricity for the new development. The plant is expected to begin operation in 2013 or 2014.
U Central Oklahoma Starts Car-Share Program
The University of Central Oklahoma has started a car-share program for students, faculty, and staff. The program aims to reduce campus traffic congestion, offer mobility to commuters, and reduce pollution. The program offers four 2010 vehicles: a Toyota Prius, Ford Escape, Mazda 3, and Toyota Camry. The program is in partnership with Hertz and is called "Connect by Hertz."
U Colorado Boulder Tops 3 Buildings with Solar Panels
Three buildings at the University of Colorado, Boulder have been mounted with solar panel arrays. The Coors Events/Conference Center and the Housing System Maintenance Center each received 210 solar panels while the Wolf Law Building received 52 solar panels. Through a partnership with Rockwell Financial Group, the University does not have to pay for the solar installations initially. This partnership allowed Rockwell to receive a number of tax rebates and incentives the University would not have been eligible to receive. The 140,000 kilowatt hours that the installations will produce will help power the buildings on which they are installed. In seven years, CU-Boulder will have the option of purchasing the solar panels at a fraction of their original cost and also will be able to sell solar power back to the local energy company.
U Dayton Announces New Minor in Sustainability
The University of Dayton (OH) has announced a new minor in sustainability, energy, and environment (SEE). The program began accepting students into an introductory course this semester. Although some courses are still under development, the SEE curriculum will emphasize learning across several disciplines to include societal, economic, engineering, science, political, artistic, historical, and ethical perspectives. The 18-credit hour minor will fulfill general education requirements and include a choice of core courses as well as flexibility in research that can be tailored to individual interests.
U Georgia President Discusses Sustainability in State of the Univ
University of Georgia President Michael Adams used his State of the University Address this year to discuss successful sustainability initiatives at UGA. He noted the "Every Drop Counts" campaign that resulted in a 22 percent drop in total water usage on campus, the reduction of energy consumption per square foot by 18 percent, and the switch to green cleaning products on campus. Adams also used the speech to accept the report and recommendations of the UGA Sustainability Working Group, promising that sustainability will be included in the University's next strategic plan, and to accept the recommendation passed by a student referendum to impose a $3 per term green fee to help fund an Office of Sustainability.
U Idaho Joins Forestry Research System
The University of Idaho has received a $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to help university forestry researchers solve industry-wide problems. The University will use the funding to establish a research site in the Center for Advanced Forest Systems (CAFS), a program that links university-based forestry research programs in the U.S. By joining CAFS, the university will increase information sharing and optimize research in the areas of silviculture, biometrics, bioenergy, site resource availability, forest genetics, and geospatial analysis of forest productivity.
U Kansas Class Makes Sustainability Campaign Recommendations
A University of Kansas journalism class has developed a university campaign aimed at unifying sustainability efforts on campus. Students conducted more than 30 interviews with KU community members and traveled to Kansas State University, the University of Colorado at Boulder, the Colorado School of Mines, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Duke University (NC) to conduct research as well. The class recommended a three-year implementation plan, more involvement in campus events, increased participation from Greek and other student organizations, and unifying the leaders of campus environmental groups.
U Maryland Installs Solar Trash Compactor on Campus
University of Maryland Dining Services has installed a trial solar-powered trash compactor outside a late night campus dining facility. The dining hall was notorious for having trash overflow that would not be collected until the early morning hours. The new trash compactor, which the University currently has as a free trial, can compact what eight trash cans would normally hold.
U Pennsylvania Organizes E-Waste Collection
The University of Pennsylvania has organized an electronics waste recycling collection. During the collection, Penn students, faculty, and staff will be able to drop off their old electronics and computer hardware from home for free disposal through the University's e-waste recycler, which ensures that the materials will be processed and recycled, destroyed, or displaced in an environmentally correct manner in accordance with all local, state, and federal regulations.
