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.
Georgian Court U Wellness Center Awarded LEED Gold
Georgian Court University (NJ) has been awarded LEED Gold certification for its newly constructed athletics and academic building, the Wellness Center. The 66,000-square-foot, $26-million facility uses wood from forests grown specifically for harvest; incorporates a heating, venting, and air conditioning system that lowers the structure's energy use; includes radiant floor systems, natural daylighting, and a storm water management system that features a retention pond, more than 4,500 feet of underground drainage pipes to channel runoff, and a lightweight, vegetated roof system that also mitigates storm water runoff. The center was completed in 2008.
India Institute of Technology Builds Solar Plant
The India Institute of Technology, Kanpur is building a 500 kW solar plant to research how to reduce the cost of solar power. The scientists at IIT aim to make the cost of solar competitive with conventional resources. The plant is expected to be operational in four years. The plant will provide free power to six neighboring villages.
Karnataka State Women’s U Grows Biofuel
Karnataka State Women’s University (India) has begun sharing some of its unused land with local farmers to create a bio-diesel park. The land will be used to grow trees specifically for creating biofuel. The project will create both biofuel and jobs for the local communities.
King Abdullah U Receives LEED Platinum
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Saudi Arabia) has been awarded LEED Platinum certification. Green features include 100 shared electric vehicles spread across campus; four megawatts of solar power; and a long-term habitat preservation, restoration, and protection plan.
Luther College Begins Vermicomposting Program
Luther College (IA) students have started disposing of food waste in worm composting bins installed in seven residence halls by students from the Luther Sustainability program. The process, known as vermicomposting, allows students to place their fruit and vegetable food waste, as well as shredded newspapers, paper receipts, and old class notes in the compost bins where red worms will convert it to organic matter. Once the waste is converted to vermicompost, it will be used to fertilize the Luther Gardens.
Macquarie U Plans to Engage Staff in Sustainability Projects
Macquarie University (Australia) has announced a four-point plan for staff sustainability engagement in 2010. The goals of the staff engagement plan are to increase understanding and awareness of sustainability throughout the University, embed sustainability into governance, and to create a culture in which staff are proud of their environment. The plan includes interaction will all new staff about the sustainability vision, goals, and objectives; the establishment of a Sustainability Representative Network comprised of sustainability champions for all departments and faculties across campus; the creation of sustainability competitions between campus departments; and the creation of sustainability committees.
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.
Norwalk CC to Offer Green Building & Technology Certificate
Norwalk Community College (CT) has announced plans to offer a new Building Efficiency and Sustainable Technology (BEST) Certificate program beginning with the Spring 2010 semester. The BEST Certificate Course curriculum is designed for displaced workers and job-changers, as well as those looking to expand their knowledge and skills to become employable in the green energy field. Certificate program courses will include: Building Technology, Blueprint Reading, Alternative and Renewable Energy, Composition, Introduction to Environmental Science, Building Efficiency Auditing, and Sustainable Energy for Residences, Businesses and Environmental Systems. The program is being funded by a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor that was given to Connecticut community colleges to prepare a green collar workforce. Eight sustainable operation certificates will be created as a result of the grant.
Princess Noura bint Abdulraham U Purchases Green Chillers
Princess Noura bint Abdulraham University (Saudi Arabia) has contracted with Johnson Controls and its joint-venture partner the Al Salem Group to assist in building an environmentally-friendly campus. The University is currently under construction and will be a women’s only university. The $87 million contract will provide 26 dual-compressor centrifugal chillers with a closed loop condenser cooling water circuit. Being radiator cooled, the chillers will not only save more than 2100 gallons of water per minute of chiller operation, they will also save the considerable amount of energy that would be required to treat that water. The chillers do not contribute to ozone depletion.
Princeton U Bogle Hall Features Green Roof
Princeton University (NJ) has completed a new dormitory in its Butler College. The new building, Bogle Hall, houses 20 undergraduate and four graduate students and features a green roof planted with succulent sedum to reduce stormwater runoff and improve heating and cooling efficiency.
Scotch College Taps into Solar Power
Scotch College’s (Australia) remote Kyre Campus on Kangaroo Island has been without electricity until now. The College has installed a ZEN Freedom solar power system that will provide much needed power to the campus where students go to study sustainability and marine biology. The system has been designed to match solar energy generation with energy demand at the campsite and demonstrates to students via both the internet and local network all the environmental data that impacts the amount of energy generated by the system.
St. Aloysius College Initiates Green Campaign
St. Aloysius College (India) has launched a new campus-wide campaign called "Green, Clean, and Plastic Free." The College’s goal is to spread awareness among students about the importance of cleanliness and the harmful effects of non bio-degradable plastics so that its use is minimized. As part of the campaign, paper bags were distributed to students.
Suffolk U Buys Biodegradable Cutlery, Begins Composting Program
The Suffolk University (MA) Sustainability Committee has worked with its dining company to purchase biodegradable cutlery and straws and has launched a composting program in its dining hall. Student volunteers will be available to raise awareness about how to participate. The organics will be stored in air-tight containers and regularly delivered to an area farm to be turned into compost and sold.
Team Germany Wins 2009 Solar Decathlon
For the second consecutive year, Team Germany from Darmstadt won the 2009 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Competition in Washington D.C. The team of university students was awarded for designing, building, and operating the most efficient and attractive solar–powered house, which had a surplus of energy during three days of rain. The "Cube House" earned the team 908.29 points out of a possible 1,000 to win the competition.
Tokai U Builds Solar-Powered Car
Tokai University (Australia) students built a solar powered car for the solar car race Global Green Challenge, which took place in Australia in October 2009. The students adapted 2,176 solar cells to use on their car, named the Tokai Challenger.
U Alaska Fairbanks Police ATVs Converted to Electric
At University of Alaska, Fairbanks, two ATVs used by campus police for patrolling have been converted from running on gasoline to electricity. A mechanical engineering class that teaches students how to convert cars to electric power carried out the project of transforming the two ATVs. While they may be slightly less powerful than the gasoline-powered ATVs, the new electric engine will provide campus police with what they need. They will be able to travel up to 30 miles at 20 mph.
U Arizona Tops Parking Garage with Solar Panels
The University of Arizona has topped one of its main parking structures with 1,150 solar panels. The installation of the panels, which were attached at a 10-degree slant on a recycled steel framework, will provide the University with 200 kilowatts of electricity and will also provide shade to vehicles parked under the panels. The panels cost the University nothing to install and are owned and maintained by the local utility company under the condition that the University will purchase all the electricity produced.
U Brunei Darussalam Starts Green Project to Reduce Emissions
Universiti Brunei Darussalam has begun the UBD Green Project to address the issues of climate change. The initiative maps out a plan to become more sustainable and includes planting over 100 trees, banning plastic bags from campus, and encouraging carpooling and bicycling.
U Georgia Approves Student Green Fee
University of Georgia President Michael Adams has announced the approval of a student green fee to begin next fall. The $3 fee will help to fund a campus sustainability office, support efforts to coordinate environmental programming, address energy efficiency, and interlace sustainability efforts on campus with university academics.
U Idaho Establishes Electronic Waste Guidelines
The University of Idaho has developed a process for eco-friendly electronics disposal. E-waste must now be sent to recycling centers or put back into the market for reuse. All e-waste from the university’s main campus will be sent to a vendor, who will recycle the materials and certify that they are handled in the most environmentally-friendly manner possible.
U Idaho Partners to Teach Local Students About Climate Change
The University of Idaho has announced a new program that aims to educate Idaho seventh through twelfth graders about the impacts of climate change and how it affects their everyday lives. McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS) programs consist of five- to 10-day expeditionary science learning experiences that will occur in students' classrooms, in natural areas in close vicinity to their schools, and in the mountains and forests of central Idaho near the MOSS campus. Each outreach program module is divided into four sessions. Topics include watersheds, exploring local rivers, mapping and GIS, invasive species, fire ecology, and landforms. The program received a seed grant from the University of Idaho's National Science Foundation Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program a $25,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation.
U Illinois Receives Energy Efficiency Funding
The University of Illinois has received more than $848,000 from Governor Pat Quinn to increase energy efficiency on campus. The funding will be used to install energy wheels to stop warm air from leaving many new and renovated buildings; insulation on steam pipes; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning controls; exhaust controls; and geothermal systems. The University expects to save $1 million annually as a result of the energy investments. The $848,000 is a portion of the $100 million federal stimulus dollars allocated to the state of Illinois by the Department of Energy.
U King's College Student Named Rhodes Scholar
A University of King's College (NS) student, Rosanna Nicol, has been named a Rhodes Scholar. As a scholar she will spend at least two years at Oxford University in England conducting post-graduate study. Nicol has always been interested in refugee and sustainability issues and plans to focus her thesis on how socially responsible investing can create capital flow to areas in need.
-
Posted Feb 1, 2010
-
Other News
U Melbourne Creates Sustainability Website
The University of Melbourne's (Australia) Sustainable Society Institute (MSSI) has created a website that acts as a virtual hub to showcase the breadth and depth of research on climate change in the University. The website aims to communicate university research to the outside audience of policy makers and the concerned general public. The University hopes that the website will also contribute to creating more interdisciplinary research projects and cross-faculty collaboration in sustainability, with staff from different research backgrounds and with different skill sets, who are spread across the Parkville campus, finding each other via the web.
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 Negros Occidental-Recoletos Creates Recycling Trees
The University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (Philippines) campus has created "recycling trees" to encourage students to recycle. Nets have been places around campus for students to shoot empty bottles and cans into, much like shooting a basketball into a hoop, to make recycling fun. Once the nets are full, they resemble holiday trees. The recyclables are exchanged for money to be used to fund on-campus recycling and organic farming projects.
United Kingdom Universities Urged to Significantly Cut Emissions
Universities in the United Kingdom have been urged to cut emissions 50 percent by 2020 against 1990 levels, and 100 percent by 2050. This set of targets comes from the Higher Education Funding Council for England. The council says much of the goal can be met by increasing energy efficiency on campuses.
U North Carolina Chapel Hill Opens Local Foods Dining Option
The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill has opened a new eatery in one of its dining halls that serves local food. The new dining option, 1.5.0, gets its name from its commitment to only serve food from within 150 miles. Dining services hoped the new eatery would break even in sales, but so far it has exceeded those expectations. Students have been excited to try the new option with items such as sweet potato fries with local honey. The restaurant features a chalkboard menu that will change weekly according to produce and meat availability.
U North Florida Building Receives LEED Gold Certification
The University of North Florida's newest building on campus has received LEED Gold certification. The 107,000-square-foot College of Education and Human Resources building utilizes natural light, energy efficiency, and recycled materials to make it more sustainable than traditional buildings. The $18 million project includes teaching labs, faculty offices, meeting rooms and support spaces.
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.
U Tasmania Opens Renewable Energy Research Facility
The University of Tasmania (Australia) has opened a new renewable energy laboratory and solar energy research facility. The research will focus on developing new and better ways to store the energy produced by renewable sources.
U Wisconsin Superior Opens Student Center
The University of Wisconsin, Superior has opened its new student center, the Yellowjacket Union. The 90,000-square-foot $22 million building incorporates a green roof, large south-facing windows, and a rain garden. The University is seeking LEED Silver certification on the building.
Warren Wilson College Trains City Employees in Energy Efficiency
Warren Wilson College (NC) has partnered with the City of Ashville to help train its employees to evaluate and improve building energy efficiency. WWC held a week-long Home Energy Rating Systems training program, during which 20 employees learned how to utilize diagnostic equipment and software to conduct energy analyses. Participants also learned practices for increasing energy efficiency. The 16 building inspectors who participated in the training can now serve as energy efficiency ambassadors and the four building maintenance employees who participated will be able to help reduce municipal energy expenditures.
Washington U in St. Louis Announces Carpool Incentive Program
Employees on the Danforth, North, and West Washington in St. Louis (MO) campuses now have access to a carpool incentive program. Through the "Bearly Drivers" program, full-time employees can save money, get access to priority parking, and win prizes. Carpool participants will receive two free daily yellow parking permits each month via campus mail to use when their schedules might make carpooling difficult. In addition, all carpoolers will be automatically enrolled in the Guaranteed Ride Home Program, a service that reimburses members the price of a taxi home in case of an emergency or for unscheduled overtime.
Washington U in St. Louis Moves to Single-Stream Recycling
Washington University in St. Louis (MO) has implemented single-stream recycling throughout the Danforth, West, North and South campuses. Waste bins are now labeled either "Recycling" or "Landfill." Comingled recyclable items will be sorted off-campus by a vendor. The University hopes this new, simpler way to recycle waste will improve recycling in general.
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.
Western Washington U Commits to Local Food
Western Washington University has joined the Real Food Challenge, a group that encourages universities to increase the amount of ethically produced food on campus, and has made a commitment to increase the amount of Northwest-grown, fair-trade, organic, and humanely produced food on campus by 20 percent. To help meet this goal, Dining Services is working with Growing Washington to dedicate land to specifically grow food for the University. Dining Services also plans to freeze or preserve summer produce to be used during the winter months.
Zayed U and Masdar Institute Partner on Renewable Energy
Zayed University and Masdar Institute (United Arab Emirates) have partnered to advance research and education on renewable energy. Research will study the scientific and socio-economic implications of large scale renewable energy. The agreement also outlines arrangements for Zayed University to support the Masdar Institute’s "pre-Master’s" program by offering preparatory coursework to help students meet the Institute’s rigorous graduate admissions requirements.
Central Carolina CC Receives Grant for Green Laboratories
Central Carolina Community College (NC) has received a $30,000 grant from Progress Energy Foundation for its energy efficiency/green building and renewable energy programs. The grant will help pay for two new laboratories and allow students to have more hands on training. The energy efficiency/green building lab will include workstations in solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies, as well as weatherization stations and green building materials demonstrations. The renewable energy lab will allow students to work on photovoltaic and solar thermal systems, creating connections, testing equipment, and monitoring system efficiencies.
Chandler-Gilbert CC Opens Green Building
Chandler-Gilbert Community College (AZ) has opened Ironwood Hall, its first new construction in 11 years. The building houses 22 classrooms, 9 science labs, and a number of offices and lounges. The building incorporates green features such as insulated concrete and water reclamation, and hopes to achieve LEED Silver certification.
Colorado State U Receives $44M for Algae Research
Colorado State University, in partnership with Solix Biofuels Inc., has been awarded a $44 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for algae-to-oil research. The grant is part the National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts, and the researchers will focus on such issues as reuse of biproducts and feasibility of algae replacing gasoline.
Duke U Introduces Reusable To-Go Containers
Duke University (NC) has introduced the "Eco-Clamshell," a reusable to-go container which is now available to students, faculty, and staff. The clamshells are like current to-go containers used on campus, except they are made of environmentally-friendly polypropylene, a type of hard plastic. Students and employees who want to participate pay $5 for each reusable container. After the initial $5, no other fees are paid. After using a clamshell, employees and students are asked to rinse it out and return it to a drop station by the cash register at a campus dining facility, where it will be cleaned and sanitized. When an owner turns the to-go container in, he or she receives a keychain token that can be turned in for a replacement clamshell. Campus Dining gave away the first 200 to-go containers as part of the program's launch.
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.
Georgia Institute of Technology Buses Use Biodiesel
Georgia Institute of Technology has signed a 10-year contract with a transportation provider that will bring new buses and trolleys to campus. The new vehicles will be using a B20 mixture of biodiesel fuel, which will be made out of cooking oil from the school's dining services.
