Sierra College Reduce Water Usage
(U.S.): Campus landscapes remain green and healthy while saving water through on-going initiatives such as reducing turf areas, planting drought-resistant plants and installing a water efficient irrigation system that have reduced water usage by 20 percent. Additional water saving efforts include pool covers to reduce water evaporation and upcoming upgrades to indoor facilities of low-flow fixtures.
STARS 2014 Annual Review Released
(U.S.): AASHE's most recent publication uncovered some new and notable trends such as an increase in the reports submitted from associate and baccalaureate colleges, and an increase in average scores within subsequent STARS reports.
Syracuse U Purchases Green Power
(U.S.): The university has partnered with Renewable Choice Energy to provide green power, which will offset 35 percent of the campus’ total electricity consumption, an increase over previous years.
U Arkansas to Maximize Water Conservation Efforts
(U.S.): To reduce water usage and cost, the university will soon install a run-off pond that will supply air conditioning system. Additionally, the irrigation protocol will be redesigned and a $5,000 scholarship that rewards students for sustainability efforts will be created.
U Chichester to Pay Living Wage
(U.K.): The university recently agreed to pay the living wage to all staff based on its Chichester and Bognor campuses. This agreement includes firms that the university contracts for catering, cleaning and security.
U Copenhagen Met Climate Goals from 2008
(Denmark): The university reached their goal to reduce carbon emissions originally set in 2008 through energy efficiency investments. The university announced that carbon-dioxide emissions are down 28.8% and energy consumption per student/employee is down 20.4% on 2006 levels. The university plans to set new sustainability goals to be released later this year.
U Dayton Receives Sustainability Gift to Boost Program
(U.S.): The university recently received a gift of $12.5 million that will increase sustainability education at the Hanley Sustainability Institute. This gift will be used to develop an interdisciplinary graduate certificate in sustainability, create an urban agriculture project and achieve a STARS Gold rating.
U Glasgow Scientists Find Clean Energy Opportunity
(U.K.): University scientists recently reported a new production of removing hydrogen from water that could lead to an era of cheap, clean and renewable energy, according to the institution. This new production allows the hydrogen bond to be burned without a negative impact on the environment.
U Iowa to Use Grass for Biofuel
(U.S.): By 2020, the university wants to have 40 percent of its energy derived from renewable sources with efforts such as a reduction in the amount of coal burned through a new pilot program of burning a specific type of tall grass.
U Maiduguri Celebrates Diversity
(Nigeria): A diversity festival was recently held at the university with the theme Unity in Diversity. This was a large cultural event on campus that encouraged people to dress in various cultural attires and learn from one another.
U Western Ontario Increase Recycling Efforts
(Canada): Coffee cups, fountain drink cups and the accompanying lids are now recyclable to divert 100 tons of waste annually toward their goal of diverting 90 percent of waste from landfills.
Auburn U Goes Styrofoam Free
Starting this semester, the university replaced styrofoam with paper products to increase recycling and eliminate waste from landfills in an effort to achieve a zero waste campus.
Boston U Faculty Encourages Fossil Fuel Divestment
245 university faculty have teamed together to sign a petition that encourages divestment from fossil fuel companies to combat climate change. The petition is now under review with the university's Board of Trustees.
Cornell U Aims to Revise Climate Neutrality Target Date
In an effort to achieve carbon neutrality, the university's Climate Neutrality Acceleration Working Group recently proposed moving the target date from 2050 to 2035 by enhancing education and engagement of student learning, faculty research and staff participation in an updated plan.
Forbes: STARS Must Know Resource
AASHE's STARS program was recently named as one business metric that is vitally important to use in the sustainably focused economy.
Higher Education Leaders Address Climate Change
A new initiative called Solution Generation was recently launched by ecoAmerica and MomentUS to provide communications tools, research and resources for higher education leaders to design and implement strategies to inspire, educate and engage their faculty, staff, students, peers and communities on climate change solutions.
Johns Hopkins U Increases Green Efforts
Over the past five years the university has implemented clean energy initiatives such as furniture recycling, compressed natural gas vehicles and installing water bottle-filling stations resulting in the elimination of 456,000 tons of CO2e.
Macalester College Pledges Zero Waste
In an effort to divert waste from landfills and incinerators, the university recently implemented campus wide composting, a new program to repurpose food waste and reusable take-out containers.
MacEwan U Recycles Furniture
The university introduced a new program called Re-Love Market this September that takes unwanted and gently used items for people to swap or buy items instead of throwing them away.
Two Institutions Submit STARS Ratings
University of California Santa Barbara and Saint Mary's College of California submitted and received ratings in AASHE's Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) during August.
U California to Combat Climate Change
Through direct investments following United Nation guidelines and the establishment of a framework for sustainable investments and solar energy purchases, the university will continue to take steps toward carbon neutrality by 2025 for a cleaner environment through solar energy.
U Illinois Chicago Building Earns LEED Gold
The university's Mile Square Health Center earned certification due to aspects that include a green roof, high-efficiency flush fixtures and low-VOC carpet, paint and furniture to reduce chemicals and improve air quality.
U Maine Reduces Waste
The university recently reduced waste with a new unlimited meal plan for students where they no longer need to swipe for a lunch or dinner, which caused a significant decrease in food waste.
Appalachian State U Stadium Now Zero-Waste
To help the university meet its 90 percent waste diversion rate by 2022, a plan was recently developed for the 2014 season to include compost and recyclables waste collection areas each game day.
Carnegie Mellon U Starts New Sustainability Program
A new voluntary, self-guided initiative recently began to promote offices that are taking steps toward reducing their environmental footprint through conserving water, saving energy and minimizing waste.
College Idaho Provide Eco-House
A self-sustaining college sponsored residency provides opportunities for students to promote food consciousness and a more environmentally friendly lifestyle for a second year.
Emory U to Protect Bees
The university’s Office of Sustainability Initiatives recently released a new campus pollinator protection policy that will protect pollinators to further its sustainability vision to reduce the university's impact on the local environment.
Florida A&M U Introduces New Initiative
The university is focused on advancing the research, teaching and application of innovative solutions to global socio-economic, ecological and energy sustainability issues in which the new Sustainability Initiative will play a pivotal role toward helping the university to achieve this mission throughout the 2014/15 school season.
Gonzaga U Brings Local Food to Campus
Students can now expect more sustainable food options in the cafeteria thanks to a new partnership between the university and Local Inland Northwest Cooperative Growers. This partnership will contribute toward the Real Food Challenge pledge to source 25 percent of food from local providers by 2020.
Johnson C. Smith U Students Garden
In an effort to provide a sustainable garden and food source to the campus, the university had students plant fall crops for harvesting in November and December. This garden will also encourage healthy eating habits.
