U.S. EPA Awards $1M+ to Colleges for Environmental Innovation
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded more than $1 million in grants to 14 college teams across the country who participated in the 6th Annual National Sustainable Design Expo on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Winners of the EPA’s People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) awards developed sustainable projects and ideas that protect the environment, encourage economic growth, and use natural resources more efficiently. The national P3 award competition encourages college students to create sustainable solutions to worldwide environmental problems through technological innovation. Each P3 award winner receives up to $75,000 to further develop a design, implement it in the field, or move it to the marketplace. Winners of this year’s awards are Harvard University (MA), Clemson University (SC), Texas A&M University, Humboldt State University (CA), Appalachian State University (NC), Clarkson University (NY) (two teams), Cornell University (NY), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Roger Williams University (RI), Virginia Tech, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and Drexel University (PA). The EPA has posted Science Works Podcasts with its Sustainable Design Competition Winners.
Washington Post Covers Earth Day on College Campuses
The Washington Post has published an article on how college students celebrated Earth Day this year. The article mentions St Mary's College of Maryland; University of Georgia; American University (DC); Texas State University; University of Denver (CO); Gustavus Adolphus College (MN); Georgetown University (DC); Hamilton College (NY); University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Salisbury University (MD); Susquehanna University (PA); Dickinson College (PA); Harper College (IL); Sewanee: The University of the South (TN); and University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
Washington U in St. Louis Releases Sustainability Plan
The University of Washington in St. Louis has released its Strategic Plan for Environmentally Sustainable Operations. The Plan details the University’s sustainability achievements, aspirations, and challenges in terms of energy and water use, food sources, recycling, and transportation, among others. Goals included in the plan are: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 without purchasing carbon offsets; to build more sustainably by meeting at least LEED Silver qualifications and pursuing LEED Gold when appropriate; and to decrease solo-occupancy vehicles coming to campus by 10 percent by 2012. The plan was developed by the Sustainable Operations Leadership Council.
Western Michigan U Completes Res Hall Energy Competition
Western Michigan University has completed a competition to see which residence hall can save the most electricity. Eco-thon ran during the entire month of February and tracked which dorm could reduce electricity usage by the greatest percentage during the month. The competition used last fall's average electricity consumption as a baseline. The Grand Prize winner, Valley II, received $500 for reducing its consumption by 7.97 percent. Overall, campus residence halls reduced their energy use by 3.08 percent.
Western Michigan U Trustees Approve Student Green Fee
Responding to a student-led initiative and vote, Western Michigan University trustees have approved a new $8 per-semester fee that will begin in fall 2010 and fund campus efforts to sustain a campus culture focused on sustainability. The fee was approved by students who voted in a campus-wide general election this spring. The initiative will generate an estimated $440,000 annually and will be used to support a Sustainability Office, a green jobs program for students, and student research.
2010 Renewable Energy Challenge Winners Announced
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has announced that, at the college level, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (NM) and the College of Menominee Nation (WI) have tied for first place in the 2010 Indian Education Renewable Energy Challenge to build the most efficient portable wind turbine system. The focus of the contest was to promote renewable energy development for Indian Country among students and teachers at the high school and college level. The challenge was a two-part contest. In Phase I, student teams organized by the schools were asked to submit designs for a portable wind turbine installation that generated energy, stored it mechanically or electronically and then used the stored energy to power an array of light emitting diodes. The best 10 designs were selected in the fall and those teams each received $1,300 to construct a prototype for Phase II.
27 New Institutions Sign Presidents' Climate Commitment
27 new institutions have signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment since the last update in the December 21, 2009 issue of the AASHE Bulletin. In doing so, these campuses have committed to develop comprehensive plans for achieving climate neutrality. The new signatories are: James Anderson of Fayetteville State University (NC); David DeCenzo of Coastal Carolina University (SC); Dale Knobel of Denison University (OH); Rufus Glasper of the Maricopa Community College District (AZ); Ernie Lara of Estrella Mountain Community College (AZ); Velvie Green of Glendale Community College (AZ); Paul Dale of Paradise Valley Community College (AZ); Anna Solley of Phoenix College (AZ); Ken Atwater of South Mountain Community College (AZ); Charlotte Warren of Lincoln Land Community College (IL); Frank Toda of Columbia Gorge Community College (OR); Paul McCarthy of El Centro College (TX); Jeffrey Docking of Adrian College (MI); John Anderson of Alfred State College SUNY College of Technology (NY); Richard Rhodes of El Paso Community College (TX); Robert Franklin of Morehouse College (GA); Stephen Beal of California College of the Arts; Stan Altman of Baruch College – CUNY (NY); T. Eston Marchant of Central Carolina Community College (NC); John Schlegel of Creighton University (NE); Michael Burke of Milwaukee Area Technical College (WI); Thomas Isekenegbe of Cumberland County College (NJ); Ed Gould of Imperial Valley College (CA); Becky Paneitz of NorthWest Arkansas Community College; Peter Angstadt of Rogue Community College (OR); Pamela Davies of Queens University of Charlotte (NC); and Mark Tierno of Cazenovia College (NY). 682 college and university presidents and chancellors have now signed the Commitment.
Arizona State U to Expand Recycling Collection
Arizona State University has announced plans to place a recycling bin next to almost every trash bin on campus this semester in an effort to increase recycling rates by making receptacles more accessible. The University is pairing the initiative with an education campaign to help reduce bin contamination.
Campuses Celebrate 40th Anniversary of Earth Day
Campuses across the U.S. and Canada celebrated the 40th anniversary of Earth Day this year. Events ranged from tree plantings and panel discussions to presentations on composting and electronic waste collections. Many schools expanded their normal day or week long celebrations to last 40 days in recognition of the anniversary.
Clemson U Announces Sustainability Strategic Plan
Clemson University (SC) has released a three-part sustainability strategic plan. The white paper, titled “Clemson University’s Commitment to Green Economic Development,” draws from the proceedings of two energy-related summits Clemson hosted in late 2009. Clemson’s commitment comprises three key elements: educational programs, from certifications to graduate levels, to enhance the skills of the current work force in energy-related industries and prepare the next generation of talent; innovation and technology transfer through growth of research in targeted areas and continued development of the University’s innovation campuses; and an initiative to transform the main campus into a national model for sustainability: a net-zero carbon emissions university.
Columbia U Faculty House Awarded LEED Gold
Columbia University (NY) has announced that its recently renovated Faculty House has been awarded LEED Gold certification. Some of the features of the Faculty House restoration included integrated energy-efficient and water-conserving utilities, appliances, fixtures, and insulation; installation of new HVAC system, providing clean air quality; recycled, low-emission furnishings, materials, and finishes as well as locally made materials; and restored original details, repurposed old materials, donated used equipment, and recycled construction waste. With its renovation completed, Faculty House will now focus on providing the highest quality green meetings and events.
Dept of Energy Announces $100M for Smart Grid Workforce Training
U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu has announced that the Department of Energy is announcing award selections for nearly $100 million for 54 smart grid workforce training programs that will help prepare the next generation of workers in the utility and electrical manufacturing industries. These projects will leverage more than $95 million in funding from community colleges, universities, utilities, and manufacturers to develop and implement training programs. The award selections will support two types of workforce training initiatives - developing and enhancing workforce training programs for the electric power sector and smart grid workforce training.
EPA Announces Winners of Green Power Challenge
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced the results of its fourth annual Green Power Challenge. The University of Pennsylvania emerged as the top individual school in the competition, purchasing more than 192 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of green power or 46 percent of their power purchases. Collectively, the Ivy League is the overall college conference champion in the challenge, with an annual green power usage of more than 225 million kWh. After the Ivy League, the Big Ten Conference followed by the University Athletic Association are the second and third place winners, respectively. Spread across 26 athletic conferences nationwide, 54 universities competed in this year’s challenge. More than 1 billion kWh of purchased green power were recorded as part of this year's challenge.
Furman U Students Weatherize Area Homes
Furman University (SC) has begun the Community Conservation Corps, a new initiative to weatherize older, energy-inefficient homes in the surrounding area. Projects could include weather stripping doors and windows, adding insulation, installing vapor barriers in crawl spaces, and placing foam pads behind wall plates. The Community Conservation Corps is under the direction of the David E. Shi Center for Sustainability.
Georgetown U Building Earns LEED Silver
Georgetown University's (DC) new Rafik B. Hariri Building, which houses the McDonough School of Business, has been awarded LEED Silver certification. The structure's green features include an expected energy savings of 15 percent through efficient lighting design and controls that include dimmable high-efficiency fluorescent fixtures, optimized garage exhaust fan controls, and ultra-low-flow lavatory fixtures; water-efficient landscaping; operable exterior windows that contribute to indoor environmental quality; and building materials that contain recycled content and were manufactured locally. The 179,000-square-foot building opened in summer 2009.
Indiana U Launches Pilot Project to be Greenest in Big 10
The Indiana University Athletic Department has launched the pilot project Greening Cream & Crimson, an effort to become the greenest athletic department in the Big Ten Conference. As part of the initiative, IU will offset carbon produced by electricity use, transportation, and food consumption during the game by trading out 100 watt incandescent bulbs with the equivalent 23 watt Condensed Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) in the area. Other projects will include recycling during tailgating, recycling inside Memorial Stadium, reducing vendor waste, collecting cell phones for recycling, and offering valet parking for bicycles. In addition to these new green initiatives, campus environmental groups are invited to set up educational booths in Memorial Stadium during the game to highlight other on-campus sustainability efforts.
Lehigh U to Reduce Paper Use on Campus
Lehigh University (PA) has announced plans to reduce the number of pages students are allowed to print each semester. The institution also plans to remove printers from residence halls and greek houses. The money saved from the effort will be used to improve high-speed wireless capabilities.
Michigan State U Students Auction Green Evening Gowns
Students from the "Special Topics: Innovative Approaches in Apparel Design" course at Michigan State University have been invited by Avatar producer and director James Cameron and wife Suzy Amis Cameron in Nashville for "Southern Shores," a fundraising fashion show and auction. Students designed and sewed gowns made from repurposed and or eco-friendly materials. For example, one dress, with a value of $2,200, was made from a repurposed cotton-polyester blend, and two other gowns were made from recycled and repurposed plastic bags. In related news, Amis Cameron wore an eco-friendly dress designed by MSU senior Jillian Granz to the Academy Awards as part of the global "Red Carpet Green Dress" competition, which challenges designers age 18 and up to create a dress make from repurposed or recycled materials.
Michigan State U to Hold Green Commencement
Michigan State University has planned a green commencement ceremony. Student diplomas have been made from recycled paper, caps from one 20-ounce plastic bottle, and gowns from 12 20-ounce plastic bottles. In addition, the program booklets were printed with soy-based ink on recycled paper, and invitations were sent electronically rather than through the mail.
Oregon Institute of Technology Dedicates Geothermal Project
Oregon Institute of Technology has dedicated its new geothermal electric project. The power plant has a maximum capacity output of 280 kilowatts gross power utilizing existing wells on the campus. A second geothermal plant is also planned. The 1.2 megawatt project will utilize a 5,300-foot deep well drilled in 2009, and is expected to be complete in 2012.
Quinnipiac U Students to Graduate in Green Gowns
Quinnipiac University (CT) has announced that students graduating this spring will wear caps and gowns made of 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. The only features not made of recycled materials are the tassel, the button on the top of the cap, and the gown's zipper. The company making the gowns estimates that it takes 123 bottles to make each gown.
Rush U Medical Center Building Awarded LEED Gold
The Orthopedic Building at Rush University Medical Center (IL) has received LEED Gold certification. The 220,000-square-foot medical office building, which houses outpatient services for orthopedics and sports medicine, opened in November 2009 and features a green roof; permeable pavement; recycled product for concrete, steel, and ceilings; and 50 percent local construction materials. Rush is also seeking LEED certification for a new hospital building, a 14-story 841,000-square-foot in-patient building currently under construction.
State U New York Fredonia Donates 3,500 CFLs to Local Community
State University of New York at Fredonia students and members of EarthWorks, an environmental action group of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Northern Chautauqua, passed out 3,500 free compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. Expo attendees could learn energy saving tips and receive two free CFL bulbs per person—one 13-watt and one 23-watt bulb. The CFL Giveaway was a part of the Green Home Expo, a community event hosted at the local fairgrounds.
State U New York Fredonia Selects Local Food Supplier
The State University of New York at Fredonia has selected Maplevale Farms, a nearby family-owned corporation, as its primary food-service supplier. Whenever possible, Maplevale Farms purchases products from manufacturers within its 150-mile service area that encompasses Western New York, Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. Dining Services is working with the company to expand their list of local suppliers to provide food and products to the campus.
Syracuse U Unveils Rain Garden
Syracuse University (NY) has unveiled its first campus rain garden. The Waverly Rain Garden will capture and absorb some of a nearby parking lot's storm-water runoff. This will reduce the amount of rainwater entering storm drains and help lessen storm system overloads. The garden covers 400 square feet and is capable of capturing nearly 2,000 gallons of water. A total of 55 volunteers, mostly SU and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry students, helped to build the installation. The rain garden was designed by a SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry landscape architecture graduate student, and the idea was developed by an SU student.
U Michigan Sponsors Area E-Waste Recycling
The University of Michigan's Office of Sustainability recently partnered with the Ann Arbor Public Schools to sponsor a free e-waste recycling event to help residents, small businesses and non-profit organizations get rid of electronics in a more environmentally-friendly way. Accepted items included computer systems and accessories, audio/video equipment, hand-held devises such as cell phones and pagers, and other office equipment such as fax machines, printers, typewriters, scanners, and telephones.
U Oregon is Finalist for Intl Sustainable Research Award 2010
The University of Oregon's Sustainable Cities Initiative (SCI) was selected as a finalist for the 2010 Sustainable Research Globe Award. SCI represents a re-conceptualization of the research university as catalyst for sustainable community change. The multi-disciplinary, applied learning, and engaged community orientation allows SCI to serve as a model for universities around the world. This model combines scientifically rigorous research and exceptional student instruction and transforms them into a state of practice and knowledge catalyst for helping cities transition to more sustainable practice. While ultimately not accepted as the laureate, SCI was thrilled to be one of the finalists for the internationally recognized award, with competing entries from China, India, the UK, and Sweden.
U Pennsylvania Announces Green Fund Projects
The University of Pennsylvania has announced the second round of Green Fund awards, designed to seed environmental project ideas from faculty, students, and staff with one-time grants of as much as $50,000. Projects will include worm composting; a documentary on retrofit installations on campus; the addition of a recycling and a trash compactor; an educational lecture series; and the installation of an energy meter at the School of Veterinary Medicine, occupancy sensors in the Quad, an automatic capacitor bank and associated equipment at the Translational Research Lab to improve the building’s energy performance, a 1,000 - 2,000 gallon storm-water-collection tank that will supply the irrigation system, and a hydronic heater unit designed to heat the Arboretum's Horticulture Garage with wood from trees damaged on the site.
U Vermont Approves Clean Energy Fund Projects
The University of Vermont Clean Energy Fund Committee has approved its first round of projects. The Fund assesses UVM undergraduate and graduate students a $10 fee each semester to establish new clean energy projects on and around the UVM campus, generating about $225,000 per year. This year, $174,669 was allocated for nine approved student projects; $32,000 was set aside for an annual education and outreach fellowship to support student involvement in clean energy projects, coordinate with classroom instruction, secure grant funding, and disseminate information; and $25,000 will be used for professional project management for any construction the funded projects require. $25,000 was also set aside as a contingency fund. Selected projects include a campus dashboard system; the development of an energy auditing course and a virtual carport course; the installation of solar trackers, a solar array, and a solar hot water unit; solar power and smart grid research; and evaluation of biomass potential on the Trinity campus.
Washington State U Students to Install Green Energy on WSU Farm
The student chapter of Engineers Without Borders at Washington State University have begun a project to install a wind turbine and solar panels on the campus' organic farm. The wind installation will provide 500 - 1,000 watts and the solar panels will generate 200 - 500 watts of power. The system will include a bank of batteries, a 600-foot underground cable, data tracking computers, and a weather station. As an educational project, the system will accommodate student and community tours, with signs explaining the project. The installations should be complete this summer.
York College Adds Sustainability & Environmental Studies Minor
York College (PA) has announced a new minor in sustainability and environmental studies that will launch this fall. The program will focus on sustaining resources and will teach students to consider how humans can prevent or lessen the negative impact made on natural resources and the environment based on decisions made in their respective fields.
Austin College Launches Green Effort
Austin College (TX) has launched a new sustainability initiative - Thinking Green. The initiative has been designed by students, faculty, and staff to encourage “greener” practices on campus and in the community. As part of the project, students are distributing free energy-efficient light bulbs, picking up garbage off-campus, and doing cleanup and landscape work for several area social service organizations.
Bowdoin College Awarded NASA Grant for Climate Change Research
Bowdoin College (ME) has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to conduct multidisciplinary climate change research in the Gulf of Maine. The grant will fund a team of Bowdoin scientists and their colleagues at Michigan Tech, U.S. Geological Survey, Yale University (CT), and the University of New Brunswick using NASA satellite imagery to assess the flux and processing of dissolved organic carbon and nutrients from three major river systems draining into the Gulf of Maine. The project will incorporate historical data sets to develop a baseline of land use and climate change over the past century, and will include models for predicting how hydrology and carbon cycling is likely to be altered with projected changes in land use and climate change over time.
Bucks County CC Completes Green Campus Building
Bucks County Community College (PA) has unveiled its expanded Upper Bucks Campus. The $15 million, 28,000-square-foot project features solar-powered hot water, geothermal heating and air conditioning, and a vegetation-covered roof to reduce storm water runoff.
Champlain College Aims to Reduce E-Waste
Champlain College's (VT) Information Services and Sustain Champlain, a group of faculty, staff and students dedicated to monitoring and reducing the college's environmental impact, have launched the "E-waste not for Landfills" campaign. As part of the initiative, there are now five blue cylinder bins located around campus to provide a way for people to properly dispose of their smaller electronics. Physical Plant workers will collect the recycled items until a local-based company picks them up. Acceptable materials for the recycling program include: CDs, DVDs, diskettes, printer cartridges, any handheld electronic device (cell phones, pagers, PDAs, iPods), batteries, chargers, and related cords and cables. In related news, Champlain will also host an electronic swap in which students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to swap or donate unwanted usable or unusable electronics.
Chatham U Employees Now Eligible for Bicycle Benefits
As part of its effort to promote sustainable practices and healthy living, Chatham University (PA) will now offer full-time employees the opportunity to receive a bicycle commuter benefit. Included as part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, this benefit will reimburse full-time employees who commute to work by bicycle for reasonable expenses up to $20 a month. The reimbursements will be excludable from an employee’s gross income and not subject to federal income tax. According to IRS guidelines, employees who sign up for this benefit will not be permitted to have a campus parking permit as they are required to certify that cycling is their primary mode of transportation to and from work during the time frame in which they receive the reimbursement.
CNN Posts Video on Sustainability at U Colorado Boulder
CNN has posted a video on sustainability initiatives at the University of Colorado, Boulder. "The Greenest University in America" covers the UC Boulder's composting program, zero-waste football games, biodiesel buses, hybrid campus vehicle, solar farm, water-bottled refill stations, the Campus Environmental Center, recycling center, and the University's effort to teach students to live more sustainably.
College of William & Mary Hires 5 Summer Sustainability Interns
The College of William and Mary (VA) Committee on Sustainability has announced the funding of five awards for sustainability internships for the summer of 2010. Summer internships are awarded annually in a competitive process and are intended to provide students with independent research opportunities that contribute to W&M's progress in achieving a sustainable campus environment. Internships are supported with funds from the Student Green Fee, which generates more than $200,000 annually.
Dept of Energy Announces Teams to Compete in Solar Decathlon
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced the 20 collegiate teams selected to compete in the next U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, which will be held on the National Mall in Washington, DC in the Fall 2011. For two weeks, teams of college and university students from across the United States and the world will compete to design, build, and operate the most affordable, attractive, effective, and energy-efficient solar-powered house. Hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy, the competition will highlight affordable homes that combine energy-efficient construction and appliances with renewable energy systems that are available today. U.S. and Canadian teams include Appalachian State University (NC); the Research Foundation of CUNY (NY); Florida State University, The University of Central Florida, The University of Florida, and The University of South Florida; Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ) and the New School (NY); Massachusetts College of Art and Design and University of Massachusetts at Lowell; Rutgers the State University of New Jersey and New Jersey Institute of Technology; Middlebury College (VT); Florida International University; The Ohio State University; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Old Dominion University (VA) and Hampton University (VA); University of Maryland, College Park; Purdue University (IN); University of Calgary (AB); University of Tennessee; University of Hawaii; and The Southern California Institute of Architecture and California Institute of Technology.
Dept of Energy Releases Video Encouraging Students to Save Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy has released a new video encouraging college students to help America save energy, save money, and cut pollution. The video highlights the work of students at the University of Central Florida, who launched a dorm-based competition called "Kill-a-Watt" to reduce energy use and energy bills on campus with easy steps like unplugging your electronics, raising the air conditioning temperature when in class, and taking the stairs instead of an elevator. Students in different campus residence halls compete against each other to achieve energy savings with residents from the winning dorm earning up to $200 in scholarships.
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Posted Apr 19, 2010
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Other News
Dickinson College Receives Grant for Watershed Protection
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded Dickinson College’s (PA) Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM) a grant of $30,000 for its ongoing watershed protection efforts. Through the grant, ALLARM provides technical assistance in the form of training, resources, mentoring, and quality control laboratory analysis for watershed organizations.
Edgewood College Introduces Grad Certificate in Sustainability
Edgewood College (WI) is pleased to announce its new Sustainability Leadership Graduate Certificate Program. Participants in the program will join a cohort of working professionals in non-profit, government and corporate management, economic development, planning and design, education, facilities management, public health, and energy and utilities to explore systems thinking, ethical leadership, ecological design, natural capitalism, and sustainability indicators. Students will work with instructors and mentors to apply these concepts to real-world projects in their organizations and communities. The first cohort in the Program will begin coursework in August 2010.
George Washington U Res Hall Certified LEED Gold
The George Washington University's (DC) newest residence hall has received LEED Gold certification. South Hall opened in September 2009 and houses 474 fourth-year students in single-bedroom apartment-style living. Design and construction of the residence hall incorporated strategies for sustainable site development, water conservation, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. South Hall offers students bike storage, fuel efficient vehicle parking, and recycling facilities on each floor of the ten-story building. Prior to occupancy, rigorous air quality testing was completed. Low VOC paints were used throughout the building to reduce odor and irritation for indoor air contaminants. Highly insulated wall systems, energy efficient windows with double pane, low-e glass, and an Energy Star white roof improves energy performance of the building by 24.5 percent over the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards for residential buildings.
Grand Rapids CC to Offer Wind Farm Safety Certification
Grand Rapids Community College (MI) has signed a licensing agreement with Spain-based Ynfiniti Engineering Services (YES) and United Kingdom-based Safety Technology authorizing GRCC to become the first United States training center to offer the globally recognized YES/ Safety Technology (YST) safety certification program for the wind energy industry. GRCC will serve as the North American training hub for YST program instructors and the Great Lakes hub for individuals seeking certification. GRCC will begin offering the 80-hour certification program in May. Students will learn fall protection, OSHA rules regarding working in confined spaces, and what they need to do to rescue themselves and others if they get in trouble on the site.
Northern Arizona U Building Earns LEED Gold
The facility housing in Northern Arizona University’s Extended Campuses has been awarded LEED Gold certification. The 23,000-square-foot extension to the School of Communication houses classrooms, offices, and production studios to support NAU’s Extended Campuses programs. The building uses about 43 percent less energy than a typical building of the same size through passive ventilation, solar-preheating of outside heating air, an HVAC system called “active chilled beams,” and sophisticated lighting and environmental controls. Water use is reduced more than 60 percent through low-water use plumbing fixtures and irrigating with municipal reclaimed water. More than 30 percent of building materials have significant recycled content and were attained and manufactured locally.
Pomona College Installs Compost Bins
Pomona College (CA) has installed compost bins across campus to supplement ongoing efforts at the campus organic farm. The initiative was launched with funds from the President's Advisory Committee on Sustainability (PACS). Items that can be composted include produce, vegan food scraps, biodegradable paper, and thin paper products, such as tissues. If students begin to use the bins regularly, the committee plans to purchase four more. PACS has already purchased 20 smaller compost buckets that students can keep in their rooms or halls. The compost collected in the bins will ultimately be taken to the campus organic farm.
Portland State U Names Sustainability Center Director
Portland State University (OR) has announced that Robert Costanza will lead its Center for Sustainable Processes and Practices, the hub for interdisciplinary research, teaching, and engagement in sustainability at PSU. The Center administers the ten-year, $25 million challenge grant for sustainability made by the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation to PSU in September 2008. Costanza is currently the Gund Professor of Ecological Economics and director of the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics at the University of Vermont. He will join the University this fall.
Ramapo College Announces MA in Sustainability Studies
Ramapo College of New Jersey has announced a new Master of Arts in Sustainability Studies degree. Beginning in Fall 2010, the College will welcome its first class to the program, which will equip students to work in a diverse range of fields, including planning, policy, and design. Students will learn how to apply sustainability in a variety of institutional, organizational, cultural, commercial, professional, and geographical contexts. The two-year program is based exclusively on evening classes. Prospective students include those from the fields of social science, business, science, engineering, and liberal and fine arts.
RecycleMania Announces 2010 Final Results
Over 600 colleges and universities participated in RecyleMania this year, recycling or composting over 84 million pounds of material during the course of the 10-week competition. California State University, San Marcos won the Grand Champion spot, barely nudging out New Mexico State University. The US Coast Guard Academy (CT) claimed the Per Capita Classic award; North Lake College (TX) received its third Waste Minimization title; and Ursinus College (PA) and Johnson & Wales University-Denver (CO) each claimed their first awards with the Bottles and Cans and Food Waste Organics categories respectively. Rounding out the list, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering (MA) won the Paper category and Kalamazoo College (MI) won the Cardboard category.
