Flint Hills Technical College to Add Solar
Adding to the college's geothermal system and wind turbine, the college recently began installation of solar electric panels in a move toward increased energy independence, monitoring from which will be incorporated into appropriate courses.
Old Dominion U Erects Solar Panel Array
In the face of declining fossil fuels, the university installed the new 600-panel photovoltaic system on the university's student recreation center, which will provide electricity back to the electrical grid. Energy information from the system will be available via two campus kiosks.
Portland State U Hosts Sustainability Accelerator Program
The university's Urban Sustainability Accelerator program is hosting a 2014 cohort of partners, including the University of Minnesota Duluth, New Mexico State University and Auburn University, in a five-day workshop to guide participants through implementation of sustainability projects. The 2014 theme is city-university sustainable redevelopment projects.
Two Universities to Lead U.S. Contribution in Global Initiative
The University of Colorado at Boulder and Colorado State University have been selected as the U.S. hub for Future Earth, an ambitious 10-year research initiative to address global environmental change solutions and actions by linking scientists, decision makers and private sector for change at local and regional levels. Other global hubs are located in Canada, France, Japan and Sweden.
U Utah Rewrites Fight Song Lyrics
After many changes throughout history, the university's fight song changed again to reflect a more gender-neutral tone, from "our coeds are the fairest” to “our students are the finest” and the line “no other gang of college men” will now be “no rival band of college fans."
William & Mary Selects First Sustainability Director
The college's newly appointed director, Calandra Waters Lake, comes on the heels of a temporary fellow position and will report jointly to the Committee on Sustainability and the Office of Strategic Initiatives. Lake will be responsible for promoting the sustainability goals of the college, exploring fundraising opportunities, monitoring distribution of green fees, and coordinating sustainability activities across campus between students, faculty, staff and the local community. Lake holds a Bachelor of Science in natural resources from Virginia Polytechnic Institute as well as a Master of Arts in education from William & Mary.
Auburn U Partners on Urban Sustainability
The university and the City of Auburn recently began working to implement a downtown master plan that includes pedestrian safety enhancements, rain gardens, transportation efforts and a feasibility study of daylighting local streams.
Illinois Community Colleges Promote Electric Vehicles
In a show to demonstrate how community colleges have helped strengthen the state's electric vehicle infrastructure, the Illinois Green Economy Network, a consortium of all 39 Illinois community college districts, is planning a three-day road trip to 11 community colleges that have EV charging stations.
NY Times: 'Change Makers Create Cultural Change on Campus'
"From racial and ethnic diversity to an influx of "first generation" students and the challenges of being a low-income student, most college and universities in this country have begun to recognize that the face of higher education is changing. The struggle, however, has been in how to accommodate or support these students." This New York Times article highlights Northwestern University's actions toward shifting its values to change its culture.
Portland State U Receives Grant for Energy Plant Upgrade
A new $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration will enable the university to replace old, inefficient boilers with more efficient ones, install energy metering software and meters, and offer seven visualization monitors with the ability for students, staff, and energy officials to model energy use scenarios for individual buildings and the district as a whole.
Santa Monica College Finishes Lighting Retrofit
Also reducing the school's carbon footprint and contributing to campus safety, the newly completed campus-wide lighting and energy upgrade will reduce lighting-related energy consumption by 40 percent and features the installation of controllable LED gym fixtures.
U Dayton's New Recycling Agreement Includes Outreach
A recent five-year agreement with a recycling company will offer, besides recycling services, sustainability curriculum with hands-on educational experiences, programming such as facility tours, guest lectures and special projects, assistance with the university's sustainability education efforts in local schools, assistance with participation in Recyclemania, and messages at athletic events to help promote recycling and sustainability initiatives in the community.
U Illinois Urbana-Champaign Announces Research Funding Recipients
The university's Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment awarded a combined $540,000 to three interdisciplinary research projects: a water disinfection system, an approach to agriculture that involves woody plants as an alternative to conventional crops, and the development of stoves that use stored solar energy.
U North Carolina Asheville to Add Solar Panels
Its first large-scale and visible renewable energy project, this summer the university is adding 112 photovoltaic panels, totaling a 26-kilowatt grid-tied system, because of a donation from a private solar developer in North Carolina.
U Utah Converts to Water Saving Landscape Design
Part of the university’s effort to earn Tree Campus USA recognition, 8,000-square feet of grass were converted to low-water-use trees and shrubs, the funding for which came through a student initiative.
U Wisconsin Stout Makes Way for Green Space
A building was demolished recently to make a green space and outdoor recreation area for the 925 students who live in four of the university's north campus residence halls. Plans for the lot will most likely include volleyball courts, outdoor seating, grilling areas and a pedestrian walkway.
Western Michigan U Building Awarded LEED Silver
The university's new climate-controlled Archives and Regional History Collections facility features ground-source heating and cooling, LED lighting, an underground stormwater retention system and water-efficient plumbing fixtures.
Wright State U to Become Fair Trade
Currently in process, the university intends to bolster its social justice commitment by acquisition of the designation, which guarantees consumers that a product was not made using slave labor or child labor and that it is safe for the environment.
Four Universities Test Electric Mini Vehicles
Colorado State University, University of Pittsburgh, University of Washington and University of Wisconsin will receive four electric micro-vehicles to research the reduction of campus carbon emissions and foster research using sensor data. At the conclusion of the projects, all aggregated data will become anonymous and publicly available for any researcher.
Green Mountain College Introduces New Graduate Program
Beginning in 2015 with a residency featuring Bill McKibben, the college's new online, two-year Master of Science degree in Resilient and Sustainable Communities incorporates land-use planning, economic development, energy production, food systems, and resource management, while developing skills in leadership, group organization and conflict resolution.
Lehigh U Students Begin Composting
Driven environmental concerns, the new Green Resource Recovery of Waste project aims to turn all of the university’s food waste into compost that can be used to fertilize greenery and other plant beds on campus, and then grow food to serve in campus dining halls.
North Carolina State U Dining Hall Grows Rooftop Garden
Furthering its commitment to source more local food, staff started the garden to research ways to minimize water use while maximizing yield. The garden, which is based on organic gardening principles, has improved staff engagement and appreciation of food, which helps reduces food waste.
Northern Arizona U Building Earns LEED Gold
The new designation was recently given to the university's 272,000-square-foot Health and Learning Center, which houses a recreation facility, health services and flexible classroom space.
Partnering for End of Year Waste Diversion Campaign
Oklahoma City University, Tennessee State University, University of California at Los Angeles, University of Central Oklahoma, University of La Verne and Vanderbilt University partnered with a national organization to divert clothing, shoes and dorm room textiles from the landfill resulting in a collection of 30,000 pounds of material.
Partnership Brings Solar Energy to Two D.C. Universities
In an effort to reduce their carbon footprint, George Washington University has teamed up with American University and the GW University Hospital in a 20-year contract to build a 52-megawatt solar farm supplied by Duke Energy Renewables.
U Alberta Initiates Green Certification Program
The new Green Spaces Certification Program helps students, faculty and staff integrate sustainable practices into campus offices, labs, events or living spaces through reducing waste, protecting natural resources, supporting social inclusion and its local community.
U Dayton Releases Holdings in Fossil Fuel
The university recently announced its decision, after unanimous board of trustees approval, citing Catholic social teachings and values and its comprehensive campus-wide sustainability initiatives and commitments. The university's divestment is planned to occur in phases and will restrict future investments in private equity or hedge funds whose investments support fossil fuel or significant carbon-producing holdings.
U Iowa Student Releases Mobile App for Recycling
After a recent educational trip to garbage-infested beaches of Mexico, the senior marine conservation student recently created an application to turn recycling into a competition with users challenging each other on a virtual platform.
U Saskatchewan Class Furthers STARS Progress
After mining the university's bronze STARS submission, a new undergraduate course through the School of Environment and Sustainability involved teams working on self-selected projects that could help the university move its official rating up.
U Windsor Installs Bike Repair Station
The new covered bicycle service station was installed to curtail pollution and improve health, and includes hanger arms to suspend the bicycle, a full set of tools and an air pump is provided to improve bicyclists commuter experience.
Greenfield CC Receives $225K for Sustainable Ag & Energy Programs
(U.S.): The newly acquired $225,000 in funding by the college's Sustainable Agriculture and Green Energy Education Center will be used to pay some staff costs, develop new courses, add new physical improvements to the school’s greenhouse, and to plan a one-acre botanical garden on campus.
HKUST Course Teaches Positive Social Impact
(Hong Kong): The newly offered course through The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology's Business School allows students to work with a dedicated philanthropy fund to identify and invest in sustainable social businesses that positively impact the community.
International Sustainable Campus Announces 2014 Award Winners
(Worldwide): The International Sustainable Campus Network's Excellence Awards recognize sustainable campus projects that demonstrate leadership, creativity, effectiveness and outstanding performance in the areas of Integration, Building, Campus and Student Leadership. The 2014 awards were presented to University of Washington (U.S.) in the Excellence in Integration category; Shandong Jiaotong University (China) in the Excellence in Building category; University of Gothenburg (Sweden) in the Excellence in Campus category; and University of Exeter (U.K.) in the Excellence in Student Leadership category.
Joliet Junior College Receives $296K Rebate for Sustainable Bldgs
(U.S.): The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity recently awarded the $296,243 rebate to the college for sustainable features of its buildings, which exceed the state's Energy Conservation Code. The rebate money will be reinvested into future energy saving modifications at the college.
Knox College Sustainability Office Initiates Grad Pledge
(U.S.): The university's Sustainability Office recently took over Graduation Pledge for Social and Environmental Responsibility and was able to secure signatures for 90 percent of the spring 2014 graduating class. The pledge reads, "I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work."
Northampton CC to Install Solar Panels
(U.S.): The college's new campus, which uses ground source heating and cooling, will use photovoltaics to supply approximately 80 percent of its power.
North Carolina A&T State U Enters into Energy Efficiency Contract
(U.S.): The recently signed contract will be funded by reductions in energy usage over a 17.25-year contract term, with no upfront cost to taxpayers for improvements to university buildings and systems. It includes lighting, steam system and weatherization improvements, installation of new heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) controls, and a preventive maintenance program.
Oxford U Faculty Urge Fossil Fuel Divestment
(U.K.): In an open letter presented during a university-wide consultation on divestiture, 59 academics requested the university divest its 3.8 billion pounds ($6.5 billion) from fossil fuel-based investments.
Pondicherry U Signs Talloires Declaration
(India): The recent signing of the commitment is a symbolic representation to develop sustainability-related skills among students and scholars and to disseminate knowledge to its community.
U Albany Building Achieves LEED Gold
(U.S.): The new building features a geothermal heating and air conditioning system, energy efficient windows and doors, recycled and locally-sourced materials, rain gardens and permeable pavement.
U Colorado Boulder Expands Energy/Water Professional Degree Prog
(U.S.): A new educational partnership at the university allows qualified students to earn both a Master of Engineering (ME) degree and a Professional Certificate in Renewable and Sustainable Energy or a Professional Certificate in Water Engineering and Management, which can be earned either via distance education or in campus classes and may be pursued either part- or full-time.
