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.
Vanderbilt U Reduces Take Out Container Waste
(U.S.): The university's Campus Dining unveiled the "If You Stay, Use a Tray" initiative using posters, social media, stickers, to-go box signs and buttons worn by Dining workers that intends to promote awareness of sustainability by encouraging people staying in the hall to eat off of plates instead of using disposable boxes.
Vassar College Earns Tree Campus USA Designation
(U.S.): The college earned the new credential by creating a tree committee, which includes faculty, staff, students and community members, creation of a campus tree care plan, observing Arbor Day, and a service-learning project.
AASHE Executive Director Attends MomentUs Leadership Summit
AASHE Executive Director Stephanie A. Herrera attended MomentUs last month to develop actionable solutions to climate change with over 140 other leaders from faith, business, health, higher education and communities. Herrera said, "At AASHE we take the issue of climate change very seriously. We believe the MomentUs initiative is in line with our goals, vision and mission. This is why we provide the inspiration and resources to help create a cleaner, greener and environmentally sustainable transformation, one college campus at a time."
CC System of New Hampshire Reduces Tuition
In an effort to address higher education affordability, the system's new board of trustees president recently announced a five percent tuition reduction for all state community colleges due to the restoration of money to the state's budget.
Elon U Initiates End of Year Waste Diversion Campaign
In an effort to keep usable items out of the landfill, the "Don't Trash It!" campaign encouraged students to donate unwanted items rather than throw them away during the move-out phase. In total, the collection effort donated over 10,500 pounds of bedding, clothing and housewares and nearly 1,500 pounds of canned food.
Governors State U Opens Organic Community Garden
The newly opened 52-plot garden gives area residents a chance to use organic methods to grow the vegetables of their choice while building a sense of community with fellow gardeners. A subset of the garden area will be designated for a student food pantry and the on campus childcare facility.
MacEwan U Launches Green Certification Program
The university's new pilot program, Green Impact, allows teams to choose from hundreds of actions that cause the team to fall into one of three categories, bronze, silver or gold. Students trained as Green Impact project assistants helped teams implement their actions and served as auditors.
Penn State U to Offer Clean Energy Certificates
To prepare for the future of low-carbon energy generation, the university is launching four online graduate certificate programs: bioenergy, solar energy, wind energy, and sustainability management and policy. The certificates are aligned with the green energy and sustainability management sector helping build skills in such areas as project development, sustainability assessment, systems engineering and strategic planning.
Portland State U Bolsters Community Sustainability Goals
The university's Institute for Sustainable Solutions recently announced the Sustainable Neighborhoods Initiative work with three Portland communities to match classes, researchers and interns with neighborhood partners to work on a range of sustainability-related issues, such as district-scale waste reduction, neighborhood livability, energy efficiency and transportation alternatives.
Second Nature Declares 2014 Climate Leadership Award Winners
The fifth annual Climate Leadership Awards presented top honors to Western Michigan University, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, California State University at Chico, University of Minnesota at Morris, Valencia College and Montgomery County Community College. The awards are presented annually to signatory institutions of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) that demonstrate innovative and advanced leadership in education for sustainability, and climate mitigation and adaptation.
U Missouri Hosts First Farm to Dinner Event
The recent locally-produced on-campus dinner aimed to showcase the university's involvement in the local food movement in Columbia and introduce students to the farming community.
U Washington Seattle Gains International Accolades
The university was selected for the winning prize in the International Sustainable Campus Network's Excellence Award Integration category, and was cited for projects or initiatives that have integrated sustainability into the culture, community and/or operations. While the University of Washington was the only U.S. school to win a top honor, the Excellence Award also recognized three other sustainable campuses that demonstrate leadership, creativity, effectiveness and outstanding performance in the areas of Building, Campus and Student Leadership. Find out more details in next week's Bulletin: Global Edition.
California Polytechnic State U Pomona Earmarks $100K to Programs
The university's Associated Students Inc. sustainability chair recently announced a new reserve of $100,000 for sustainable programs, events and implementations on campus that promote sustainability and help reduce the university's negative environmental impact.
College of Charleston Hosts Zero Waste Alumni Event
The university's Office of Alumni Relations and the Office of Sustainability partnered for the 5,000-person event making it a 94.7 percent waste diversion event, where only 413 pounds of material were sent to the landfill including gloves, plastic wrap and any non-recyclable packaging.
Dickinson College Students Fund Local Transit
The college's Student Senate is committing $47,000 over a three-year period in partnership with the local transit authority to enable college members to ride for free, develop additional routes to key locations, and offer student internships.
