Sustainable Industries Magazine Covers Campus Sustainability
Sustainable Industries Magazine has published an article titled "Campus Sustainability: progress and prognosis" by Paul Rowland, AASHE's Executive Director. In the article, Rowland discusses the trends of campus sustainability and the ways the movement has progressed over the past few years.
Appalachian State U Approves Green Campus Master Plan
The Appalachian State University (NC) Board of Trustees has approved the Campus Master Plan 2020 which focuses on appropriate use of campus property, ecological responsibility and sustainability, and a transportation network that encourages walking, biking, and use of AppalCart transit system. The plan recommends encouragement of ride sharing, the purchase of electric cars for use by the Physical Plant, on-street and off-street bike routes, hybrid plug-in stations in new and existing parking decks, and use of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for new campus construction.
Utah State U Hires Sustainability Intern
Utah State University and the Utah Conservation Corps have co-sponsored a new, 11-month sustainability internship position to assist USU’s Sustainability Council with leading the University toward climate neutrality. The position has been filled by Jack Greene, who comes to USU with 40 years of experience as a science educator at both the high school and college levels. Greene’s primary responsibilities include serving as a liaison with state and regional campus sustainability programs and assisting the Sustainability Council’s Outreach Committee to increase awareness of the intersection of social justice, economic sustainability, and environmental sustainability efforts on campus. He will also aid the council in finalizing its Climate Action Plan, which outlines steps the University will take to become climate neutral, and he will work to increase USU course offerings dealing with sustainability.
York U Completes First Sustainability Report
York University (ON) has completed its first "President's Sustainability Council Annual Report" for the 2008-2009 school year. The 30-page report lists sustainability achievements and awards, sustainability policy recommendations, recommendations regarding university programs and practices, the Council's planning process and vision, an inventory of internal and external sustainability-related groups at York, an inventory of student sustainability groups, a listing of campus services and business operations sustainability initiatives, and an inventory of community engagement from the Office of University Events and Community Relations.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
U British Columbia Wins Green Award at 2010 Olympic Games
The University of British Columbia has received the "Live Positively Award" from the Coca-Cola Company. The Live Positively Awards recognize organizations and individuals who turn their passion for improving the well-being of Canadians into actions that have a positive impact in their local communities. UBC received the award for its commitment to sustainability leadership and innovation. The award noted UBC's sustainability policy, Sustainability Office, and programs that aim to reduce energy consumption. The award was presented at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
U California Riverside Chooses Director for Solar Research Center
The University of California, Riverside has chosen a managing director for the Southern California Research Institute for Solar Energy. Alfredo A. Martinez-Morales will guide the center to advance solar energy techniques, train professionals for the industry, mentor new businesses, and assist commercial and residential energy users in responsible applications for solar energy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Brookes U Wins Sustainability Award
The Wheatley campus of Brookes University (United Kingdom) has received the Gold EcoCampus Award. The accolade looks to award those universities who dedicate their campus and curriculum to innovation in the field of sustainability and eco-management. Brookes University has installed an environmental management system and has introduced several initiatives to increase the rate of recycling and decrease the amount of waste sent to landfills.
Delhi Technological U Integrates Sustainability into Master Plan
Delhi Technological University (India) has integrated several green initiatives into its Master Plan. To reduce its environmental impact, the 164-acre campus will be car free, will generate one-third of its electricity from renewable resources on campus, and will utilize green architecture in its new buildings. Bicycles and battery-run vehicles will be permitted on campus. The University currently uses solar geysers in its hostels and 120 solar lights on the campus.
Franklin College Switzerland Establishes Sustainability Office
Franklin College Switzerland has opened a sustainability office on campus, named the Center for Sustainable Initiatives at Franklin. The office will be in charge of making the campus more sustainable. The Center's first initiative was distributing locally-made reusable SIGG water bottles.
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology Castlebar Named Green Campus
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology Castlebar (Ireland) has been declared a green campus by the environmental body of An Taisce, the national trust for Ireland, in recognition of major improvements in energy conservation and recycling in the past year. GMIT switched to green cleaning supplies, increased on-campus recycling, reduced its electricity bill, prevented significant heat loss, and launched water conservation measures. GMIT also created a Green Campus notice board that contains news and information about campus sustainability initiatives to help keep students and staff up to date with recent developments.
National U Singapore Campus Receives Green Award
The National University of Singapore’s University Town, an extended campus connected to the current one by pedestrian and vehicular bridges, has received the Green Mark Award for Districts from the government for a number of sustainable infrastructural features. The campus boasts green roofs, buses that run on compressed natural gas, a storm water capture system, and indigenous landscaping.
U Melbourne Forms Sustainability Projects Reference Group
The University of Melbourne (Australia) has established the Sustainability Projects Reference Group. The Group meets regularly to discuss the implementation of university-wide sustainability projects. The Group will also discuss cost-saving initiatives that will help the University reach its commitment to reduce its carbon footprint.
U Notre Dame Publishes First Annual Sustainability Report
The University of Notre Dame (IN) has released "Sustainability at Notre Dame 2008-2009," its first annual sustainability report. The report describes initiatives undertaken in each of the seven focus areas of the Office of Sustainability: power generation, design and construction, waste reduction, transportation, procurement, food services, and water. Highlights include a 7.5 percent reduction in total carbon emissions from energy usage and a 2.5 percent reduction in total electricity usage, the $4 million Energy Conservation Measures program, construction of the first campus buildings expecting LEED certification, a campus-wide shift to recycled-content paper, and the initiation of a comprehensive Game Day Recycling program.
U Queensland Signs the Talloires Declaration
The University of Queensland (Australia) has signed the Talloires Declaration to show their formal commitment to sustainability. By signing this international declaration, UQ commits to implement a 10-point action plan to incorporate sustainability and environmental literacy into its teaching, research, operations, and outreach. The University joins over 400 other universities by signing the declaration.
U Sydney Receives Sustainability Award
The University of Sydney (Australia) has been recognized by the New South Wales Government with the Green Globe Public Sector Sustainability Award. The Integrated Sustainability Analysis team at the University has made the measurement of the carbon footprint of a business or organization much easier. Their method involves inputting data into a computer program to devise truly sustainable strategies and outcomes that benefit the environment, economy, and society. While undertaking general research, the team developed an ecological footprint assessment framework. It takes into account everything from money spent, industrial interdependency, energy and water consumption, and carbon emissions to reveal just what environmental impact a business is having, from the very start of its supply chain through to the end product.
Western Illinois U Hires Sustainability Coordinator
Western Illinois University has named Mandi Green as its first ever sustainability coordinator. In her role as sustainability coordinator, which began December 7, 2009, Green develops and implements initiatives involving energy, transportation, waste management, recycling, green purchasing, and more, as well as prepares the required sustainability reports for the state of Illinois. Green will also work with student and other university groups to promote and raise awareness of Western's sustainability initiatives.
Elon U Conducts Sustainability Assessment with EPA System
Elon University (NC) has begun a sustainability assessment with the Environmental Management System, a tool promoted by the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Colleges and Universities Sector Group. The EMS program allows colleges to identify and rank environmental aspects in order to develop new goals and procedures. Students and staff are analyzing environmental factors in each department to determine where they can cut down on waste and conserve more.
U Michigan Launches Integrated Sustainability Assessment
The University of Michigan has launched a year-long initiative to study campus operations with a plan to set ambitious goals to become more sustainable. UM's recently formed Sustainability Executive Council approved the study—called an integrated assessment—as one of its first major initiatives. The result will be a thorough and multi-layered analysis that will give the University the detailed knowledge and insight needed to make decisions. The assessment also sets the stage for the long-term behavioral changes that will enable UM to reach its goals. The Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute and the Office of Campus Sustainability will engage teams of faculty, staff and students in the integrated assessment in a coordinated process to gather data, capture a multitude of perspectives, promote buy-in and draw on deep technical expertise. The assessment has two phases: one to establish initial recommendations and a second to dive more deeply into priority areas identified through the first phase. Student involvement is a key feature of the integrated assessment.
U Texas Arlington Hires Sustainability Director
The University of Texas at Austin has named Meghna Tare as its first director of sustainability. Tare holds a master's degree in environmental studies from San Jose State University (CA) and a master's degree in chemistry from the University of San Francisco (CA). She was an environmental manager with the city of Dallas' Office of Environmental Quality for the past three years and has taught environmental studies at California State University at Hayward and worked at Stanford University (CA) with the Institute of Environmental Science and Policy. Her duties include initiating and coordinating programs in utility efficiency and management, carbon foot print reduction, recycling and waste reduction, transportation, environmentally preferable purchasing, and much more.
Wilfrid Laurier U Opens Sustainability Office, Hires Coordinator
Wilfrid Laurier University (ON) has opened an office on campus devoted to environmental sustainability initiatives and has hired a sustainability coordinator. The office, which was created with funding from the student green fee, will work with students, faculty, staff, and alumni to improve Laurier's environmental impact. The University has hired Sarah English to head the new office. As the campus' first sustainability coordinator, English will seek to enable communication and foster collaboration between student, staff, and faculty environmental initiatives on campus. English is a recent graduate from the University of Waterloo where she received a BES in Environmental Planning, led a student alternative transportation group, and sat on the board of the UW Sustainability Project.
U Notre Dame Publishes First Annual Sustainability Report
The University of Notre Dame (IN) has released "Sustainability at Notre Dame 2008-2009," its first annual sustainability report. The report describes initiatives undertaken in each of the seven focus areas of the Office of Sustainability: power generation, design and construction, waste reduction, transportation, procurement, food services, and water. Highlights include a 7.5 percent reduction in total carbon emissions from energy usage and a 2.5 percent reduction in total electricity usage, the $4 million Energy Conservation Measures program, construction of the first campus buildings expecting LEED certification, a campus-wide shift to recycled-content paper, and the initiation of a comprehensive Game Day Recycling program.
Western Illinois U Hires Sustainability Coordinator
Western Illinois University has named Mandi Green as its first ever sustainability coordinator. In her role as sustainability coordinator, which began December 7, 2009, Green develops and implements initiatives involving energy, transportation, waste management, recycling, green purchasing, and more, as well as prepares the required sustainability reports for the state of Illinois. Green will also work with student and other university groups to promote and raise awareness of Western's sustainability initiatives.
31 New Campuses Complete Climate Action Plans
30 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 September 28, 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. New CAPs were submitted by: University of Colorado at Boulder; University of Maryland, College Park; University of California, Los Angeles; Duke University (NC); University of Nevada, Reno; University of Wisconsin-Stout; University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh; Maharishi University of Management (IA); University of New Mexico; University of Maryland, Baltimore; University of South Carolina, Salkehatchie; University of South Carolina, Beaufort; University of Massachusetts Medical School; Eastern Connecticut State University; University of Houston, Victoria (TX); Furman University (SC); Luther College (IA); Clark University (MA); McDaniel College (MD); Franklin & Marshall College (PA); Centre College (KY); Hamilton College (NY); Goddard College (VT); Bowdoin College (ME); Wilson Community College (NC); State University of New York at Binghamton; Towson University (MD); Weber State University (UT); Houston Community College (TX); Framingham State College (MA); and Santa Fe Community College (NM). The submitted plans can be viewed through the ACUPCC Reporting System. In related news, Stanford University (CA) has also completed its Climate Action Plan.
University System of Ohio Establishes Green Jobs Advisory Panel
The University System of Ohio has established the Ohio Green Pathways Advisory Council. The new committee is charged with developing a comprehensive understanding of green workforce demand, building and expanding relationships with green industry leaders, and identifying strategies to create and expand new green opportunities in Ohio. The 20-member panel is comprised of leaders from business and industry, higher education institutions, and state agencies, all representing green workforce and industry in Ohio. After the panel’s first meeting on January 13, 2010, it will recommend to the Chancellor ways to expand access to affordable educational pathways for green jobs and market Ohio's green job pathways as an economic development tool for the State.
Butler CC Holds First Sustainability Committee Meeting
Butler Community College (KS) has formed a sustainability committee that is comprised of students, faculty, staff, and local experts. Members of the committee will discuss the steps necessary to make Butler more sustainable. During the first meeting, attendees identified low hanging fruit, such as turning lights off, as well as larger projects such as developing a sustainability plan and conducting an energy audit.
U California San Diego Opens Sustainability Resource Center
The University of California, San Diego has opened a Sustainability Resource Center. The Center houses the campus sustainability coordinator, the student-funded Student Sustainability Collective, and other sustainability staff. Its central campus location will serve as a place for students to learn about green jobs, courses related to sustainability, and tips on living sustainably.
U Colorado Board of Regents Approves Sustainability Resolution
The University of Colorado Board of Regents has approved a campus sustainability resolution. The resolution directs the president and chancellors to incorporate LEED standards in university buildings wherever possible; to ensure that the campuses complete the development of their respective comprehensive plans to achieve climate neutrality as outlined in the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment by June 30, 2010; to incorporate into their comprehensive plans the Governor's Colorado Climate Action Plan and the Greening of the State Government Executive Orders; and to report to the Board of Regents the progress on a bi-annual basis.
U North Carolina Adopts Sustainability Policy
The University of North Carolina Board of Governors has adopted the UNC Sustainability Policy. The new Policy, which is in response to the UNC Tomorrow recommendation that the University assume a leadership role in addressing the state's environmental challenges, establishes sustainability as a core value guiding institutional operations, planning, capital construction, and purchasing practices.
Clarion U Establishes Sustainability Institute
Clarion University (PA) has announced the formation of its Sustainability Institute. The Institute will be self-sufficient, have faculty support, supply information to the University and local area interest groups; bring in resident scholars to focus their research on sustainability; promote faculty, graduate, and undergraduate research; provide opportunities for internships; offer CEU credits for attendance at conferences; and provide certification on sustainable development and sustainability.
Furman U Adopts Sustainability Master Plan
The Furman University (SC) Board of Trustees has adopted a sustainability master plan, part of which includes a climate action plan to make the campus carbon neutral by 2026. The creation of the "Sustainable Furman" took eighteen months and had been a university-wide effort, involving over a hundred students, professors, staff members, trustees, alumni, and community leaders. The plan is organized around eight broad goals, each of which addresses key aspects of the University’s mission and operations. Those include expanding and enhancing curricular and co-curricular opportunities related to sustainability, encouraging campus and community participation in energy conservation and energy efficiency efforts, and broadening Furman’s national leadership role in the promotion of sustainability
Quinnipiac U Announces Sustainability Plan, Featured in NY Times
Quinnipiac University’s (CT) York Campus has established a new $4 million sustainability plan that includes both solar and wind installations. The plan includes a wind garden that will contain 25 vertical-axis wind turbines and 1,232 photovoltaic solar panels that will be on the roof of one of the residence halls. In related news, The New York Times has published an article on Quinnipiac's new wind garden that features wind turbines as art. The new park, called Windspires, is meant to provide serenity to visitors. Its 25 turbines are expected to produce a combined 32,000 kWh a year.
Stanford U Announces $250 Million Energy Use Initiative
Stanford University (CA) has unveiled an Energy and Climate Plan that includes a $250 million initiative to reduce energy consumption. The Plan is expected to reduce university carbon emissions by as much as 20 percent below 1990 levels. A majority of the goal will be attained through energy conservation measures. A two-year engineering study identified many areas where significant savings could be made by changing and modifying the way energy is currently being used. The $250 million initiative is expected to save about $639 million between 2010 and 2050.
U North Carolina Publishes 2009 Campus Sustainability Report
The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill has published its "2009 Campus Sustainability Report." Highlights of the report include: UNC's award of federal stimulus funding to create an Energy Frontier Research Center focused on the next generation of photovoltaic cells and solar fuels; the university dedication of a new reclaimed water system, which helped it win a national award for water reuse; the new Education Center at the North Carolina Botanical Garden, which is expected to receive LEED Platinum certification; UNC's Climate Action Plan with a strategy for achieving climate neutrality by 2050; and UNC receiving an A- on the campus sustainability report card issued by the Sustainable Endowments Institute.
U California System Expands Sustainability Policy
The University of California has expanded its sustainability policy, raising the bar on green building requirements and establishing a more comprehensive sustainable food service policy. The Policy on Sustainable Practices, which applies to all 10 UC campuses, the five UC medical centers, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, has been revised to require that: by 2020, at least 20 percent of all food purchased by UC be designated as "sustainable," as defined by the food service work group, based on third-party certifications for organic, locally-grown and other measures; at least one dining facility per UC location must be certified as a green business, through a city or county certification program or through the Green Seal or Green Restaurant Association program; each campus must provide students with educational materials explaining the issues related to sustainable food products and food service business practices; and campus departments, organizations, groups and individuals must engage in activities with the surrounding community in support of common sustainability goals.
Skidmore College Concludes First Garden Growing Season
Skidmore College (NY) has concluded the growing season of its first-ever student garden. The garden, which was initiated by a student, was created to offer an experiential learning opportunity surrounding the ecology of food. A total of 1,138 pounds of vegetables–including an array of summer and winter squash, lettuce, peas, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, leeks, carrots, beets, and radishes–were picked and prepared over the summer and early fall. To foster production, the student gardeners employed organic practices such as composting, weeding by hand, and not using pesticides.
U Texas System Publishes Sustainability Practices Policy
The University of Texas System has published a formal policy on Sustainability Practices. The policy, which has been approved by the System’s Board of Regents, mentions its commitment to energy saving, reduction in carbon emissions, and sustainable design principles. The policy directs each institution within the System to develop a policy on sustainability in its master plan and includes a definition of sustainability and sections on curricular integration, endowment transparency, community outreach, environmentally preferable purchasing practices, and sustainable transportation practices.
