U Alberta Creates Green Spaces Certification Program
The university has launched a new Green Spaces Certification program. The program is a three-level, voluntary certification process that encourages people in work, school, and living spaces on campus to adopt sustainable practices and green their work unit and events. Upon submission of a completed checklist, the work unit is recognized as a Green Space with Bronze, Silver, or Green & Gold certification.
Dundalk IT Earns Green Flag for Campuses Award
(Ireland): The institute has received the Green Flag from the Green Campus Program, an international environmental education and award program that promotes long-term, whole college action for the environment. The institute’s sustainability efforts focus on themes of waste, travel, energy, biodiversity and water.
Four Institutions Partner to Create Sustainability Working Group
(U.S.): The presidents of South Carolina State University, Claflin University, Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College and Aiken Technical College have signed a memorandum of understanding to form an environmental sustainability working group in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency. The schools will collaborate in research, teaching and various sustainability projects.
Mother Nature Network Highlights Best Environmental Programs
(U.S.): Mother Nature Network has published an article on its top 10 U.S. environmental programs. The programs and institutions highlighted include: Northland College, SUNY-ESF, Middlebury College’s Program in Environmental Studies, Cornell University’s Department of Natural Resources, Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, College of the Atlantic, Arizona State University’s School of Sustainability, Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Green Mountain College, and Montana State University’s Sustainable Food and Bioenergy Systems program.
INSIGHT into Diversity Magazine Announces Higher Ed Awards
INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine has announced the 48 recipients of its first annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award. The national award honors U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. Winning institutions were selected based on exemplary initiatives in various areas of diversity including gender, race, ethnicity, veterans, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBT community.
Odebrecht Announces 2012 Awards for Sustainable Development
Engineering and construction services company Odebrecht USA and thermoplastic resin manufacturer Braskem have announced Odebrecht Organization's inaugural U.S. sustainable development award winners. A team from Rice University won first place for a project that addressed the logistics of offshore oil extraction. A Johns Hopkins University team took second place for a small-scale papermaking machine concept for students in third-world countries. Third place went to North Carolina State University for a project on the recyclability of oil contaminated cardboard.
U Illinois Senate Approves Sustainable Center
The Urbana-Champaign Senate has unanimously approved a proposal to create a Center for a Sustainable Environment, an umbrella organization that will lead campus environmental groups, academic units and the Office of Sustainability. The university will cover $450,000 annually for the center, with additional funding coming from the Alvin H. Baum Family Fund.
McGill U Releases Draft Sustainability Vision
The university has released Vision 2020, a draft sustainability vision and goals report. The report is available for comment online and across campus for “crowd-sourced track-changes” from students, faculty and staff. The university plans to finalize the sustainability vision and goals report in December and transition to action planning in January.
Montana State U to Create Office of Sustainability
The university has committed to supplement the Sustainability Center’s student fee with an additional $30,000 for the next two years to transition the center to a new Office of Sustainability. A committee is in the process of selecting a new director for the Office of Sustainability.
U British Columbia Launches Sustainability Engagement Strategy
The university has implemented a new initiative asking campus community members to contribute feedback and ideas on a campus-wide Engagement and Social Marketing Strategy. Information will be collected via surveys, focus group sessions, and a pilot program. The results of this campaign will assist the university in further achieving its reduction targets for energy, greenhouse gases, water and waste.
EAUC Announces 2012 Green Gown Awards Winners
(U.K.): Winners and commendations were bestowed across 13 categories at the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges’ 2012 Green Gown Awards. Now in its eighth year, the awards program recognizes exceptional initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges across the U.K. to become more sustainable.
George Washington U Unveils Ecosystems Enhancement Strategy
The university has released its Ecosystems Enhancement Strategy, which describes how it will enhance the ecosystems on its campus, in the region, and around the globe. Some of the strategy’s areas of focus include: strengthening habitats, promoting healthy air and climate, fostering clean and abundant fresh water, and supporting sustainable food production systems. The Office of Sustainability is forming working groups to develop action plans to meet these goals.
U North Carolina Releases Strategic Energy and Water Plan
The university has released its 2012 Strategic Energy and Water Plan. Highlights in the report include the decline of energy consumption by 31 percent since 2003, and the decline of potable water consumption per square foot by 43 percent. Upgrades to central energy and lighting infrastructure and retro-commissioning efforts account for much of the energy savings, while an integrated non-potable water system helped reduce water consumption.
Western Washington U Embraces Office Energy Reduction Program
The Western Sustainability Office Certification, a program that recognizes campus offices' environmentally friendly choices, was made available to all administration offices on campus. Five administration offices participated in the pilot program over the summer and seven more are currently participating in the certification process.
The New School Launches Campus Climate Assessment
The institution will participate in the Campus Climate Assessment to evaluate the extent to which aspects of the university are equitable and socially just. The assessment will be facilitated by EdChange, an organization dedicated to developing more equitable educational communities.
U Colorado Boulder Creates Sustainability Visioning Committee
A new committee will consider future opportunities for synergies and collaboration between the university environment and its sustainability research and academic programs. The committee will conduct an inventory of environmental and sustainability research and teaching programs identify emerging issues and provide an assessment of new opportunities that might be realized through collaborations or investment in new programs.
U Michigan Launches Sustainable Workplace Certificate Program
The university has launched Sustainable Workplace, a certificate program that assists campus offices in creating greener workplaces through adjustments in employee behaviors and equipment settings. The program focuses on behavioral changes to support waste prevention, energy reduction and increased awareness of sustainability, all of which support the university’s 2025 sustainability goals.
Harvard U Releases Online Sustainability Impact Report
The university has released a sustainability impact report that provides a campus-wide snapshot of the progress that has been made to reduce the campus’ environmental footprint and increase its operational efficiency. Available online, the report includes data on greenhouse gas emissions, waste, and transportation, as well as infographics, multi-media stories, and progress timelines.
SUNY ESF Creates Office of Energy and Sustainability
The new Office of Energy and Sustainability will help to make the campus more sustainable through improved communication of sustainability resources to the community, increased student involvement, and innovative sustainability projects. Graduate students with one-year appointments will staff the new sustainability coordinator position.
U Missouri St. Louis Hires First Sustainability Coordinator
The university has appointed its first sustainability energy and environmental coordinator. Since the appointment, progress has already been made in developing a university climate action plan, creating awareness through social media channels, and building community partnerships.
U South Carolina Releases First Sustainability Report
The university has released its first Sustainable Carolina Annual Report. The 2011-2012 report highlights the work of students, faculty, and staff from across the university on subjects as broad as curriculum development, “greening the mind”, and recycling.
Youngstown State U Students Win Green Energy Challenge
A group of 15 engineering students won first place in the national Green Energy Challenge competition with an energy-saving plan designed for the Historical Center of Industry and Labor on the university’s campus. The University of Washington, Iowa State, and Georgia Tech placed second, third and fourth, respectively.
ACTS Announces 2012 Green Gown Awards Australasia Winners
(Australia): Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS) has announced the winners of the 2012 Green Gown Awards Australasia. This year there were 6 categories of recognition in addition to the ACTS Award of Excellence which was won by the University of Tasmania. In each category, one winning institution and several “highly commended” institutions were recognized.
Northwestern U Creates Diversity and Sustainability Positions
The university’s administrators and Associated Student Government have designated new positions to address diversity and sustainability issues on campus. The student senate also created the Sustainability Committee and the Diversity Committee that will meet with university officials throughout the year to discuss common objectives and goals. The Sustainability Committee will also serve as a source of funds and support for the environmental organizations on campus.
Arizona State U Faculty BBQ Goes Green
The annual staff appreciation barbeque has achieved gold certification by the university’s Green Events program. Staff Council organizers implemented sustainable measures including the distribution of electronic agendas, encouraging the use of alternative transportation, avoiding Styrofoam with eco-friendly service ware, and enlisting the Green Team to inform attendees about sustainability and proper recycling practices.
Knox College to Conduct Sustainability Audit
The college’s new sustainability coordinator has announced plans for a yearlong comprehensive sustainability assessment of the campus. Following the completion of the assessment, open forums will be held to facilitate the creation of a sustainability plan.
SEED Center Announces Inaugural Green Genome Awards
The American Association of Community Colleges' Sustainability Education and Economic Development (SEED) Center has presented five inaugural Green Genome Awards to exemplary community colleges nationwide that have taken a strategic leadership role in green economic and workforce development and sustainability. The winning colleges include Butte College (California), Central Carolina Community College (North Carolina), Delta College (Michigan), Hillsborough Community College (Florida) and West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
EPA Announces Winners of Green Power Leadership Awards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced the winners of the 2012 Green Power Leadership Awards. American University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges and Quinnipiac University received Green Power Purchasing Awards. The University of Oklahoma won the Green Power Partner of the Year Award.
U Washington Approves Environmental Stewardship Executive Order
The Executive Order No. 13, Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability, was approved by President Michael Young and has been reviewed by the Faculty Senate, Board of Deans, the Environmental Stewardship Committee and the policy sub-teams. The order, an umbrella statement confirming the university’s commitment to sustainability, will serve as a guiding principle for future sustainability policy development and pursuit of the university’s Climate Action Plan goals and objectives.
City U London Receives EcoCampus Award and Certification
(U.K.): In recognition for the university’s commitment to reducing its impact on the environment and in integrating sustainability into its daily services and activities, the university’s Environmental Management System has been awarded an EcoCampus Platinum Award and ISO 14001 certification.
U Milan, Politecnico of Milan to Create Sustainable Campus
(Italy): The university and institute have partnered to convert their sites into a single sustainable campus. The “Smart Campus” project will focus on four themes including residents, energy, environment and accessibility. The project intends to develop services aimed at transforming the behavior of campus users. As part of the project, dumpsters that measure the weight and volume of the material that is discarded have been installed to manage waste collection.
Loyola U Chicago Signs 4 Commitments to Sustainability
The university has recently become a signatory of the Illinois Campus Sustainability Compact, the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change’s St. Francis Pledge, American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) and the Talloires Declaration. These agreements outline the university’s pledge to work toward expanding its sustainability program, engaging the campus community, greening its operations and monitoring its performance.
U Calgary Names First Chief Sustainability Officer
As the university’s first chief sustainability officer, Joanne Perdue will work with the senior leadership team and academic coordinator for sustainability to integrate the values and aims of the university’s Academic Plan and Institutional Sustainability Plan into teaching, co-curricular student activities, research, service learning and operations across campus.
Unity Adopts Sustainability Science as Framework for Curriculum
President Stephen Mulkey recently announced that the college's faculty and Board of Trustees have endorsed sustainability science as the overarching framework for all academic programming with an emphasis on upper division courses. With this endorsement, the college has dedicated significant financial and human resources to strengthen academic offerings through this lens, and to further develop campus infrastructure to support sustainability science on the ground.
Grand Valley State U Releases Sustainability Impact Report
The economic impact of the university’s sustainability efforts in the region is more than $900 million according to the university’s first collective sustainability impact report. The report, compiled by the university’s Sustainable Community Development Initiative, uses 2010-2011 data. It includes 11 sections that outline practices used by students, faculty and staff members to decrease the university’s footprint and increase the impact of sustainable activity on campus and in the community.
Sierra Club Names 2012 'Coolest Schools'
(U.S.): Sierra Club's sixth annual ranking of America's greenest colleges emphasizes the Sierra Club's environmental priorities and rewards schools that do a good job of measuring and mitigating their impact.
U Western Cape Wins Africa’s Greenest Campus Award
(South Africa): The university was recently awarded the national 2012 Green Campus of the Year award at the inaugural African Green Campus Initiative conference. Students are actively involved in managing the university’s 74-acre private nature reserve, an international biodiversity hotspot, through eradicating alien vegetation and maintaining firebreaks. The university also received five additional awards including most innovative programs, best-designed outfit made from recycled materials, recognition of student achievement, and the award for the most environmentally proactive South African campus.
Second Nature Names New President
David Hales, former president of the College of the Atlantic, has been named as the new president of Second Nature. Hales succeeds founding president Dr. Anthony Cortese. Second Nature provides program support for the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). “Tony Cortese and I share a commitment to a constructive transition to sustainable and just societies,” said Hales.
U Southern California Plans Institute for State and Global Policy
Prioritizing education, energy and environment, fiscal and economic policy, health and human wellness, and political reform, the new Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy will focus on local and regional solutions to solving global problems. The institute is named after former California governor and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who will serve as a professor and chairman of the board of advisers at the institute.
U California Irvine Honored for Sustainable Facilities Management
The university has received APPA's inaugural Sustainability Award for Public Institutions, which is based on seven criteria: maintenance and operations, planning and construction, energy and utilities, educational curriculum and research, leadership and administration, sustainability indicators, and sustainability innovations. The university was recognized for its energy management and Smart Labs programs.
8 Institutions Pilot UN Global Compact Reporting Process
(Worldwide): In addition to signing the Rio + 20 sustainability declaration, the State University of New York (SUNY) at Geneseo is one of eight universities from seven countries piloting the use of the Practical Guide to the United Nations Global Compact for Higher Education Institutions. The Global Compact is a call for institutions and corporations to voluntarily align their operations and strategies with 10 universally- accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. Also using the guide and recommended reporting process are Bentley University (Massachusetts), Educatis University (Switzerland), Euromed Management (France), Istanbul Bilgi University (Turkey), La Trobe University (Australia), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Spain) and Université Laval (Canada).
Alfred State College Names Chief Sustainability Officer
Julian Dautremont-Smith has been named as the college's chief sustainability officer. Dautremont-Smith was most recently with Green Schools National Network, analyzing green school assessment and recognition tools, and developing recommendations for the creation of a new national green school rating system. Dautremont-Smith has also held an associate director position at AASHE and currently serves as a STARS Steering Committee member.
Yale U College Reunions Go Green
The university’s College Reunions department has achieved platinum-level certification by its Office of Sustainability for reducing the carbon footprint of its 2012 reunion weekends. The department worked with other groups on campus to promote green transportation methods, use renewable products, order locally produced food and dispose of waste carefully. The reunions are the largest on-campus events ever to receive the highest level of green event certification.
Columbia College Chicago Creates Sustainable Events Program
The college's Columbia Recycling Program has initiated a program to integrate sustainability in the events planning process for on-campus events. Using criteria defined by the Green Seal Event Checklist (points are allocated among promotion, catering and education), event planners are awarded a "green seal" designation.
Rice U Opens Energy, Sustainability Administrative Center
The university's new Administrative Center for Sustainability and Energy Management pulls together administration, staff, faculty and students from different parts of campus to tackle the future of energy and sustainability at Rice. Coming up, the center - also known as the "think-and-do-tank" - will create a holistic plan to guide future energy investments and decisions.
U Michigan Hosts Interactive Sustainability Fair
The university's Division of Student Affairs recently hosted an interactive sustainability fair showcasing its projects and programs in an effort to streamline sustainability efforts on campus and identify opportunities for collaboration. Activities included a "Swap & Shop," where participants swapped unwanted items for needed ones; Sustainability Jeopardy; and chef demonstrations with fresh, local food.
Campus Sustainability Planning: A Global Update
(Pakistan): The University of Agriculture, Faisalabad has created a campus master plan toward more sustainable operations. In the first phase, a 5-megawatt solid waste power generator will be constructed. The plan also highlights the advantages of generating electricity through the use of geothermal energy. (U.S.): Lehigh University has adopted its first campus sustainability plan. The creation of the plan was an interdisciplinary and interdepartmental effort to integrate the university’s Climate Commitment with the university's Campus Master Plan and Strategic Plan. (Australia): In related news , La Trobe University's 2010 sustainability report has received the "Best First Time" sustainability report award from the corporateregister.com global sustainability reporting awards.
Madurai Kamaraj U Creates Campus Greening Panel
(India): The university has formed a special committee to prepare proposals for “Go Green" campus initiatives including solar panels. The proposals will be submitted to funding agencies and the state government.
MIT Pilots Earth Day Challenge Focused on Individual Action
Nearly 100 students and staff performed 151 individual green actions for points and prizes as part of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's inaugural Earth Day Challenge. Sponsored by student organizations, departments, community groups and businesses, action projects ranged from taking public transportation, to joining a local clean-up, to performing an energy upgrade of a local community building. The grand prize winner earned $500 and the six highest point-earners received green-themed prizes provided by local businesses and organizations.
