U New Mexico Launches Eco-Reps Program
The University of New Mexico has launched an Eco-Reps program on campus. Participants in the peer-to-peer sustainability outreach program will be elected student leaders who encourage sustainable living and recycling in the dormitories on campus. The program is a collaborative effort between UNM Recycling, Residence Life and Student Housing, and a service learning class.
U New Mexico Student Stand Sells Local, Organic Fruit
Students at the University of New Mexico have set up a stand on campus to offer students an alternative snack to junk food. The stand sells local, organic fruit and hands out information on the benefits of eating local and organic. The stand is run by the UNM chapter of New Mexico Youth Organized.
U South Carolina Receives Grant to Research Carbon Storage
The University of South Carolina has received a $4.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to conduct research on the feasibility of storing carbon dioxide underground. The Earth Sciences and Resources Institute at the University will be conducting the research and will focus on the South Georgia Rift as a possible site to store carbon dioxide in deep saline aquifers.
U Toronto Health Sciences Centre Installs Solar Panels
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, affiliated with the University of Toronto (ON), has installed 140 solar panels that span two stories of a parking garage. The University also plans to mount a display at the entrance to the parking garage to educate people about the solar panels. The installation is part of an overall initiative to make the hospital more efficient that includes upgrading lighting, optimizing HVAC equipment, improving energy management, and replacing chillers and cooling towers. Honeywell, the company that installed the array, has announced plans to install a second one in the near future. The estimated total savings from the energy efficiency projects is $2.7 million over the next 15 years.
U Wisconsin La Crosse Implements Pay-to-Print Policy
University of Wisconsin, La Crosse has implemented a new pay-to-print policy to help reduce paper use and to cut rising printer-maintenance costs which usually reach $75,000 annually. Printing will cost students $0.06 per black and white page and $0.90 per color page. Printing charges will be tracked in a student account that can be managed online.
U Wyoming Receives Grant for Carbon Center
The University of Wyoming has received a $1 million federal grant to build a regional carbon sequestration technology training center in Laramie. The University has conducted significant research on carbon sequestration and the center is intended to develop a workforce to carry out industry level sequestration. The grant is part of $8.4 million in funding distributed by the U.S Department of Energy for similar projects across the country.
Western Kentucky U Expands Biofuel Research
Western Kentucky University has announced plans to use a $500,000 federal budget line item to establish research that uses chemical reactions to create biofuels. The goal of the research is to find cheaper methods of converting agricultural products into biofuel. The research is being conducted in WKU’s Institute for Combustion Science and Environmental Technology.
Yale U Powers MP3s, Phones with Elliptical Machines
Yale University (CT) has installed mp3 player and phone chargers into elliptical machines on campus. The power expended on the elliptical machines is transformed into electricity by an alternator housed in the machine. The idea was developed by a Yale undergrad with guidance from an associate professor of electrical engineering. The new initiative also aims to create awareness about renewable energies.
Alfred U Joins LED University Program, Installs LEDs
Alfred University (NY) has joined Cree, Inc.’s University program, an international community of universities working to accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient LED lighting across their campuses, and has installed LED lighting throughout its newest dorm on campus. The new dorm has 175 LED lights and 18 LED fluorescent tubes.
Antioch New England Reduces Energy by 19% Since 2007
Antioch University New England (NH) has announced that, since setting its 2020 carbon neutrality target in 2007, the University has reduced campus electricity use by a cumulative 19 percent. ANE estimates it has saved $19,995 on its electricity bills during this period. Some of the measures that ANE employed included a turn-off-the-light campaign, energy-saving e-alerts to all campus community members, and a program of transitioning out CRT computers to energy-efficient LCDs. Other energy conservation measures implemented at ANE in the past several years include installing restroom light occupancy sensors; removing unnecessary, high-energy consumption machinery from the campus; and establishing the Green Guru Office Energy-Efficiency Audit program in which a work-study student, based with ANE's Sustainability and Social Justice Committee, helps ANE employees reduce emissions through computer-setting adjustments, installation and use of power strips, and other low-tech solutions.
Appalachian State U to Implement Energy Conservation Measures
Appalachian State University’s (NC) Board of Trustees has approved a plan to borrow $5.34 million to implement a variety of energy-saving measures across campus. The measures are expected to save at least $600,000 a year in energy costs. Projects will include installing new LED lighting in both parking decks on campus, putting in a 2,000-square-foot green roof, replacing or improving some heating and air conditioning units on campus, installing efficient lighting in various campus buildings, and installing a solar thermal water heating system for Varsity Gym. Lighting occupancy sensors and water conservation measures such as low flow aerators and low flow toilets will be installed in some buildings, and an automated system will be installed in eight office and academic buildings on campus to adjust heat or air conditioning when they are unoccupied at night. ASU expects to repay the loan within 12 years from the energy and water savings.
Arizona State U Football Goes Green
Arizona State University has announced plans to partner with Arizona Public Services Company to make the rest of its football season green. ASU will purchase enough renewable energy to power the rest of the season’s games and will also work with APS to promote sustainability at its home games by showing the fans the importance of sustainability and sharing tips to go green.
Aspen Institute Releases Beyond Grey Pinstripes Green MBA Ranking
The Aspen Institute Center for Business Education has released the 2009-2010 edition of Beyond Grey Pinstripes, a biennial survey and alternative ranking of how well full-time MBA programs are preparing students for the environmental, social, and ethical complexities of modern-day business. This year, 149 business schools from 24 countries participated in the effort to map the landscape of teaching and research on issues pertaining to business and society. The Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto, Canada, ranked first in the survey, getting high marks for the extraordinary number of courses available to students that contain environmental, social, and ethical content as well as for the number of relevant scholarly articles being published by the School’s faculty members. The University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, the Yale University (CT) School of Management, the Stanford University (CA) Graduate School of Business, and the University of Notre Dame (IN) Mendoza School of Business received second, third, fourth, and fifth in the ranking respectively.
Austin Peay State U Installs Solar Panels
Austin Peay State University (TN) has used $25,445 generated from its Student Sustainability Fee to install a solar array on the Environmental Education Center. Excess energy generated by the two-kilowatt array, which powers a nearby classroom, will be purchased by the local utility company.
Calvin College Reduces Light Pollution and Saves Energy
Calvin College (MI) has replaced several path lights with more efficient lamps that emit less light pollution. The student-initiated effort, which was originally part of a class project, aims to reduce light pollution around the campus observatory.
College of the Desert to Train Students for Solar Farms
The College of the Desert (CA) has received an $815,843 California Clean Energy Workforce Training Program grant. The money will be used to train students to work in large-scale, commercial solar farms. The grant will help cover materials, curriculum development, employee placement programs, and instructors.
Drake U Switches to Single-Stream Recycling
Collaboration at Drake University (IA) between Drake Environmental Action League (DEAL), the Drake administration, and facilities management has developed a new method of recycling. With the help of a grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and matching funds from the University, a single stream recycling system is now in place. The new system allows students to recycle a wider variety of items, which are then picked up by a private company and sorted and sold to be reprocessed into new materials.
George Washington U to Convert Waste to Electricity
George Washington University (DC) has announced plans to begin sending its 3,500 tons of annual waste to the Covanta Waste-to-Energy facility in Alexandria, Virginia, instead of sending its garbage to the landfill. The waste will be burned at high temperatures to generate steam to power turbines that create electricity. As a result of the new initiative, the University will be sending 90 percent less material to landfills.
Georgia State U Launches Bicycling Campaign
Georgia State University has begun a new project called GSU Bikes to encourage bike use, alleviate congestion, and reduce air pollution. The program will survey bicyclists to determine patterns of use and where more bike racks should be placed. The program was launched with a contest to design a secure and aesthetically pleasing bike rack. The program is funded by an EPA grant.
Humber College Embraces LED Lighting to Reduce Energy Use
Humber College (ON) has replaced 1,050 of its halogen light bulbs with new LED lights. The switch will reduce Humber’s electrical demand and electrical consumption for lighting by 88 percent, from 2,625,000 kWh to 315,000 kWh, over the life of the bulbs. Over the 9 year lifespan of the lights, the College expects to save $525,000.
Indiana U Office of Sustainability Recruits 18 Interns
Indiana University’s Office of Sustainability has hired 18 student interns. The graduate and undergraduate students work together to lay the groundwork for new sustainability initiatives on campus. Interns conduct research in areas ranging from energy and water conservation to making the athletic department more sustainable. This is the second year for the Office to offer academic-year internships.
Murray State U Releases Racer Bike Share
Murray State University (KY) has started Racer Bike Share. The program has put 10 bikes in special racks around campus to be used by anyone to travel to another building. Users are then asked to leave the bike at that building for another user. This trade-off system is design to promote sustainability and help with campus transportation.
Pennsylvania State U Receives $5.5 M for Clean Energy Centers
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has given Pennsylvania State University two grants, one for $2 million to create the Mid-Atlantic Clean Energy Applications Center and one for $3.5 million to create the Mid-Atlantic Solar Resource and Training Center. The Mid-Atlantic Clean Energy Applications Center will promote the adoption of clean energy technology through education and technical assistance, with an emphasis on net zero energy building technologies, combined heat and power, district energy management, and smart grid technology. The Mid-Atlantic Solar Resource and Training Center will increase the capacity of community colleges, universities, and training centers to prepare new and returning students for jobs in the solar industry.
Pomona College Receives $7.5 M for Green Residence Hall
Pomona College (CA) has received an individual gift of $7.5 million to help construct a new green residence hall. Sontag Hall, which will be registered for LEED Gold certification, will use solar power to heat water and to produce some of the energy needed to provide heat in winter. Sustainable aspects of the construction will include using more than 20 percent recycled content, more than 30 percent regionally produced materials and low-emitting materials, and a diversion rate of 75 percent of construction waste. Sustainable features of the completed building will include occupancy sensors, efficient heating and air conditioning systems, operable windows and ceiling fans, use of non-HFC-refrigerants, efficient plumbing fixtures, “cool roof” and paving surfaces to reduce heat island effects, efficient irrigation technology, drought-resistant landscaping, storm water collection, and real-time monitoring of energy and water use and renewables generation.
Skidmore College Concludes First Garden Growing Season
Skidmore College (NY) has concluded the growing season of its first-ever student garden. The garden, which was initiated by a student, was created to offer an experiential learning opportunity surrounding the ecology of food. A total of 1,138 pounds of vegetables–including an array of summer and winter squash, lettuce, peas, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, leeks, carrots, beets, and radishes–were picked and prepared over the summer and early fall. To foster production, the student gardeners employed organic practices such as composting, weeding by hand, and not using pesticides.
Smith College Dedicates Green Engineering and Sciences Center
Smith College (MA) has dedicated Ford Hall, a facility for engineering and molecular sciences. The $73 million, 140,000-square-foot structure includes LED lighting fixtures and computer monitored sensors for light, air, and moisture control; passive energy options such as maximum daylight exposure through optimum window and glass placement, heat recovery, and innovative insulation and construction materials; and the use of recycled and recyclable materials whenever possible for laboratory instruction and interior enhancement in the building.
Smith College Installs Water-Saving Showerheads, Replaces Old Power Strips
Smith College (MA) has replaced nearly every showerhead in every house on campus with a new low-flow model, and has replaced old power strips with new, more efficient ones. The 500 new showerhead installations will save the College three million gallons of water per year, and because shower users will use less hot water, the College will also save on heating bills and energy. In only one year, Smith will have redeemed the initial cost of the project through savings. As a result of the power strip replacement project, Smith will conserve approximately 125,000 kWh per year. Payback will take six months to one year.
Southern Illinois U, Edwardsville Opens Green Student Center
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville has opened a new green building. The Student Success Center features a 24-hour study lounge, computer lab, and coffee bar. Its green features include select walls made of sunflower seeds or recycled milk jugs, a green roof, and energy saving devices. The structure was paid for through a student fee enacted by students.
St. John’s U Opens New Green Academic Center
St. John’s University (NY) has opened the D’Angelo Center, a five-story 127,000-square-foot building that will serve a variety of needs. The structure, which has been constructed in accordance with LEED certification, houses 14 classrooms, six seminar rooms, a full cafeteria, banquet space, and student recreation and entertainment space among other amenities. This new center features energy-saving mechanical/electrical systems.
SUNY College of Env'l Science and Forestry Opens Biofuel Station
The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry has installed a new biofuel station with two 3,000 gallon storage tanks, each with its own dispensing system, to supply the College’s growing fleet of alternative fuel vehicles. ESF students make much of the E-85 biofuel for biodiesel from used cooking oil from nearby college dining halls. SUNY ESF has also purchased two biodiesel-powered 25-passenger buses.
Swarthmore College Students Create Fund for Sustainability Ctte
Swarthmore College’s (PA) Sustainability Committee will receive $43,500 from the student council to invest in environmental sustainability and awareness on campus. The fund will be used to implement sustainability projects such as changing all the lights in a building to LEDs. The Committee plans to focus on low-cost projects that generate large savings. These savings will be reinvested into a revolving green fund.
U California, Irvine Rec Center Expansion Receives LEED-NC Gold
The University of California, Irvine's Anteater Recreation Center expansion has earned LEED-NC Gold certification. Expansion of the sports and fitness complex was completed in September 2008, increasing the facility’s size from 89,000 square-feet to 115,000 square-feet. More than 70 percent of the Center's electricity is obtained from renewable sources, the structure uses 43 percent less water than a conventional facility, and 75 percent of the construction waste was diverted from landfills.
U Central Florida Offers Alternative to Buying Bottled Water
The University of Central Florida has equipped its water fountains with water bottle refilling stations in the Student Union. The Student Government Association provided the funding for the initiative which aims to reduce waste and help students save money by not having to purchase water. The water refill stations have built in filters to guarantee purified water.
U Illinois to Offer Grad Option in Energy & Sustainability Engineering
The University of Illinois, Urbana Champagne College of Engineering has announced plans to begin offering a Graduate Option Program in Energy and Sustainability Engineering (EASE) starting in spring 2010. The new program seeks to promote interdisciplinary research that joins the fields of science, engineering, environment, and policy; provide education and training for the global workforce; engage industrial partners in the research and educational missions of the University; and link efforts within the College to complementary programs on campus.
U Maryland, Rio Salado College Win Greenest Campus Contest
The University of Maryland and Rio Salado College (AZ) have won the America’s Greenest Campus Contest, sponsored by SmartPower and Climate Culture. The Contest challenges colleges across the country to spread awareness about energy use and reduce their carbon footprint. Anyone with a .edu email address can sign up and respond to a sustainable lifestyle survey. The contest ranks institutions on how participants respond. Maryland had the highest number of participants with 2,257 and Rio Salado College (AZ) had the highest carbon reduction of 4.4 percent. Both schools won $5,000. Nearly 500 campuses competed.
U Missouri, Columbia Begins Peer-to-Peer Sustainability Outreach
The University of Missouri, Columbia’s Sustainability Office has announced plans to begin sustainaReps, a new peer-to-peer sustainability outreach program on campus. The sustainaReps will work directly with students to improve communication and environmental efforts toward sustainability within various campus groups. A sustainability fee generates $52,000 annually and is used to fund sustainability projects and initiatives, as well as the sustainaReps program.
U North Carolina, Chapel Hill Partners to Develop Off-Shore Wind Power
The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and Duke Energy have signed a contract to work together to harness wind energy off the coast of North Carolina. Duke Energy will pay for the turbines and their installation off the coast of the Pamlico Sound. UNC will conduct ongoing research in areas such as ecological impact, optimization of measuring and predicting the wind resource, and demonstrating turbine performance in tropical storm conditions. The project will help to examine the potential for off-shore wind energy in North Carolina.
U Saskatchewan Hires Director of Env't & Sustainability School
The University of Saskatchewan Board of Governors has approved the appointment of Karsten Liber as executive director of the School of Environment and Sustainability (SENS). In 2007-08, Liber was involved in developing the initial proposal for the creation of the SENS and served on the school’s advisory committee. Since July 1, 2008 he has served as the school’s acting director.
US Dept of Energy Announces 2009 Solar Decathlon Winners
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced the winners of its 2009 Solar Competition which takes place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Team Germany, the student team from Darmstadt, Germany, won top honors by designing, building, and operating the most attractive and efficient solar-powered home. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign took second place followed by Team California, a group of students from Santa Clara University and the California College of the Arts, in third place. The 2009 Solar Decathlon challenged 20 university-led teams from the United States and as far away as Spain, Germany, and Canada to compete in 10 contests, ranging from subjective elements such as architecture, market viability, communications, lighting design, and engineering, to technical measurements of how well the homes provided energy for space heating and cooling, hot water, home entertainment, appliances, and net metering.
US Dept of Energy Invests in University-Led Wind Research Facilities
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu has announced new investments in three university-led wind energy research facilities. The Illinois Institute of Technology, the University of Maine, and the University of Minnesota will each receive up to $8 million. The three universities will use the funding to install a 1.5 MW turbine, two 10 kW and one 100 kW floating offshore turbine prototypes, and a 2.3 MW turbine research facility respectively. The three university-led consortia have been selected to improve land-based and offshore wind turbine performance and reliability, as well as provide career educational opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in wind energy technologies. The three competitively selected, university-led projects will include partners from private industry, state and local governments, and other universities.
U Texas System Publishes Sustainability Practices Policy
The University of Texas System has published a formal policy on Sustainability Practices. The policy, which has been approved by the System’s Board of Regents, mentions its commitment to energy saving, reduction in carbon emissions, and sustainable design principles. The policy directs each institution within the System to develop a policy on sustainability in its master plan and includes a definition of sustainability and sections on curricular integration, endowment transparency, community outreach, environmentally preferable purchasing practices, and sustainable transportation practices.
U Western Ontario Changes Recycling Prgm to Increase Participation
The University of Western Ontario has signed a new contract with BFI Canada Ltd. that allows recycling bins to receive a wider range of materials. University officials hope the initiative will encourage students, faculty, and staff to recycle more since there will be less confusion around what can and cannot be recycled. There will also be new signage on bins to encourage recycling.
Virginia Tech Hires Sustainability Coord for Housing & Dining Services
Virginia Tech has hired Rachael Budowle to be the new Housing and Dining Services sustainability coordinator. Her main focus will be to make the dining services program more sustainable. Budowle has experience in waste reduction as well as local and organic food production. She hopes to bring these two areas of experience together in her efforts to make dining services more sustainable.
Western Ontario U Opens New Green Building
The University of Western Ontario has opened its Claudette MacKay-Lassonde Pavilion, the University's first green building on campus. The 45,000-square-foot structure, which is registered for LEED certification, will house research on green technologies, processes, and materials. The building’s green roof has seven species of drought-resistant sedum; solar panels and a wind turbine are located on the roof to generate electricity; and rainwater will be collected in a 10,000-litre cistern to be used for toilets and a 150-gallon fish tank.
Winona State U Opens Bike Station
Winona State University (MN) has opened a new bike station on campus supported by the WSU Environmental Sustainability Committee, the Environmental Club, the WSU Foundation, Parking Services, and Student Life and Development. The bicycle station provides a place for students to come and perform maintenance on their bikes and offers a home for Purple Bikes, a program that lets students borrow free bicycles for a day.
21 New Campuses Complete Greenhouse Gas Inventories
21 signatory campuses of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) have submitted public greenhouse gas inventories since the last update in the AASHE Bulletin on September 21, 2009. The GHG inventory is the first major reporting requirement of the Commitment and is due within a year of signing. New inventories were submitted by: Tulane University (LA); North Carolina State University; Illinois State University; University of Mississippi; University of Nevada, Las Vegas; University of South Carolina, Salkehatchie; University of South Carolina, Beaufort; University of South Carolina, Aiken; New Mexico State University, Grants Branch; Seattle Pacific University (WA); Northland College (WI); Agnes Scott College (GA); Gainesville State College (GA); Framingham State College (MA); Kent State University, Stark Campus (OH); Norfolk State University (VA); Confederation College (ON); Naropa University (CO); Inver Hills Community College (MN); Rochester Community and Technical College (MN); and The National Graduate School of Quality Management (MA).
ACUPCC Partners to Promote University Climate Neutrality Worldwide
The American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) has joined the Climate Neutral Network (CN Net), an outreach initiative led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to promote a global transition to low carbon economies and societies. In joining CN Net, the ACUPCC has pledged to promote efforts by colleges and universities around the world to move towards climate neutrality and contribute to international knowledge-sharing of academic expertise, including "twinning" projects between universities in developed and developing countries. Other UNEP CN Net partner institutions include Allegheny College (PA); College of the Atlantic (ME); Evergreen State College (WA); Middlebury College (VT); the University of California, Berkeley; and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Appalachian State U Opens New Office of Sustainability
Appalachian State University (NC) has formed an Office of Sustainability. The Office hopes to engage and educate the community, increase efficiency and effectiveness of resource use, and promote a healthy, balanced community. Other plans include developing an annual sustainability report for the University, updating the campus greenhouse gas inventory, and making sustainable transportation a top priority.
Arkansas State U Goes Trayless
Arkansas State University’s dining services has decided to stop using trays in an effort to reduce food waste and the use of water, electricity, and chemicals. The University reduced food waste by approximately 400 pounds in one of three trial runs last semester.
Dalhousie U Launches Bike Center
Dalhousie University (NS) has celebrated the grand opening of its new Campus Bike Center. The Center will offer drop-in bike sessions and classes in bicycle repair/maintenance and cycling safety education for the Dalhousie community.
