Point Park U Dance Complex Achieves LEED Gold
Point Park University's (PA) new dance complex has earned LEED Gold certification. The 44,000 square-foot building features an Energy-Star rated roof, water-saving systems, sustainable wood floors, and low-emitting paints, carpeting and other materials. The building also features a heating and cooling system that draws in maximum amounts of fresh air, continuous air quality monitoring, and automated lighting and temperature controls.
Pomona Completes Sustainability Audit
Pomona College (CA) has completed its first Sustainability Audit, a 750 page report that will serve to guide the College's future sustainability efforts. The study, which was created by a team of six students aided by a consulting firm, summarizes, organizes, and analyzes data about the College's environmental impacts in the areas of climate change, energy, purchasing, transportation, waste and recycling, and water.
Portland State U Dining Hall to be Zero Waste
Portland State University (OR) Dining, in partnership with its food service provider, has announced that one of its dining halls, Victor's, has begun taking steps to become a zero waste facility. The dining hall plans to achieve this goal by recycling all cans, glass bottles, plastic containers, cardboard boxes, and paper; setting up a new system to recycle all plastic wrap and films; recycling used cooking oil; composting all food waste and napkins, and using bulk containers for condiments, avoiding individual packaging as much as possible.
San Diego Union-Tribune Covers Green Campus Transportation Prgms
The San Diego Union-Tribune has published an article on the increasing number of alternative transportation programs on campuses across the U.S. The article discusses initiatives such as designating front row parking to carpoolers and high-fuel efficiency vehicles, distributing free bicycles to students who promise not to drive, and providing free bus passes. The article also notes the increasing number of bike-sharing, car-sharing, and shortened work-week programs. The story mentions initiatives at San Diego Mesa College (CA), At San Diego City College (CA), Stanford University (CA), Ripon College (WI), University of California, San Diego, California State University San Marcos, Coastal Bend College (TX), and J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College (VA).
Sinclair CC Converts Tractor to Biodiesel
Sinclair Community College (OH) has converted one of its tractors to biodiesel. The College has plans to convert a second tractor as well, and both will be used for grounds work at Sinclair. Sinclair produces its own biodiesel for the tractors.
Southern Utah U Installs Solar Panels
Southern Utah University has installed 35 solar panels on a campus building. The panels were partially funded by a grant from Rocky Mountain Power.
U Georgia Reduces Water Consumption by 28%
The University of Georgia has announced that it lowered its water consumption by 28 percent over the past year. The University has saved more than $250,000 through conservation, cost-cutting measures, and the cooperation of faculty, staff, and students. Last fall, the University initiated the Every Drop Counts educational campaign and created a Water Resources Task force composed of faculty, staff, students and administrators in response to the severe drought. Water saving measures included replacing and reconfiguring cooling units; replacing 1,500 toilets, 500 urinals, and 2,000 faucet aerators; and installing 63 water meters on cooling towers that enabled the Physical Plan to better measure water usage and detect and immediately repair malfunctions.
U Maine Introduces Business & Sustainability MBA
The University of Maine Business School has introduced a Masters of Business Administration Business and Sustainability Program. Foundational courses required for the MBA Business and Sustainability degree include business sustainability and business ethics, plus core courses in: management; marketing and management information systems; finance; business law; quantitative methods; and strategy and policy.
U Minnesota Twin Cities' U-Pass Usage Increases by 40%
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities has announced that the number of times students used their U-Passes over the past year has increased by almost 40 percent. In the month of September alone, there were about 440,000 U-Pass rides taken, which amounts to an 80 percent increase from the number of rides taken last September. Additionally, the number of U Passes sold went up from 20,442 last fall semester to 21,572 this year.
Unity College Partners for Sustainability and Art
Unity College (ME) has partnered with the K2 Family Foundation on a The Art of Stewardship Project, an initiative that aims to explore the connections between sustainability and art. This project also promotes the integration of creative art, ecological awareness, and sustainability. Unity hopes that the vision, informed and inspired by The Art of Stewardship Project, will specifically allow the College to create art-based programs, forums, gatherings, installations, exhibits, and experiments all tied to sustainability.
Vanderbilt to Offer Recycling at Last 3 Football Games
Vanderbilt University (TN) has announced plans to offer recycling at the school's last three home football games. Recycling receptacles will be available in tailgating areas, around the Vandyville area, and in the stadium. Fans will be able to recycle plastic bottles and aluminum cans, and vendors will be able to recycle cardboard.
Western Illinois U, George Washing U Install Green Roofs
Western Illinois University has installed four vegetated roofs on the school's new Multicultural Center. All of the plants used on the roof are native to Illinois and are drought resistant. The plants, which are all species of sedum, will grow between 5 and 6 inches tall and will resemble a course shrub. George Washington University (DC) has also installed a green roof on the Elliott School of International Affairs. The 2,000 square-foot development was organized by campus environmental groups. Graduate students from GW's Sustainable Landscape Design program and members of Green GW and Net Impact installed the roof. More than 4,000 plant "sedums" were planted in a three-color layout.
AASHE Announces Sustainability Leadership Award Winners
AASHE has announced the winners of its annual Campus Sustainability Leadership Awards. The winners are: Tulane University (LA), Ithaca College (NY), Northland College (WI), and College of Menominee Nation (WI). The awards recognize institutions that have demonstrated an outstanding overall commitment to sustainability in their governance and administration, curriculum and research, operations, campus culture, and community outreach. AASHE has also announced the Student Sustainability Leadership Award, which went to Sarah E. Brylinsky, a senior at Ithaca College. The award honors an undergraduate from an AASHE member institution who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in promoting campus sustainability. Ryan Graunke, a recent graduate of the University of Florida, won the Student Research on Campus Sustainability Award for his paper: "Food and Fuel: Biogas Potential at Broward Dining Hall." The student research award recognizes outstanding student research that advances the field of campus sustainability.
Allegheny College Hires Sustainability Coordinator
Allegheny College (PA) has hired Kelly Boulton to fill its newly created full-time position of Sustainability Coordinator. Boulton will support Allegheny's efforts to coordinate and strengthen stewardship programs already in place, work to implement new sustainability projects, and use the College's baseline greenhouse gas inventory to develop a comprehensive action plan outlining in detail the steps necessary to achieve climate neutrality.
Arizona State U Partners to Establish Solar Testing Facility
Arizona State University has partnered with TUV Rheinland Group to create TUV Rheinland Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory. The collaboration, which will be based in Tempe, will allow the two entities to test and certify PV panels and electrical components for Europe, Asia, and North America. Additionally, Arizona Public Service, one of Arizona's electricity providers, will provide five acres of outdoor testing space at its Solar Test and Research (STAR) Center for use by the venture to conduct outdoor endurance testing. TUV Rheinland will be the principal investor in the new company and will develop a new facility near ASU’s Tempe campus.
Auburn U Replaces Servers with Green Virtualization Software
The Auburn University (AL) Office of Information Technology (OIT) has begun a project to replace campus servers with virtualization software. The virtualization software acts like hardware and when it is installed on a computer, it allows additional operating systems to run virtually on the physical host computer. OIT has begun installing virtualization on the university servers and run, in some cases, up to twenty virtual serves within one physical server. So far, the University has replaced 140 servers with 7 virtual clusters. As a result, Auburn has experienced a decrease in energy costs.
Babson College to Establish Institute for Social Entrepreneurship
Babson College (MA) has received a $10.8 million gift from the Lewis Charitable Foundation for the establishment of an institute to support teaching, research, and outreach in social entrepreneurship. The Institute will address opportunities to create societal value in the areas of education, healthcare, communications and infrastructure, poverty, economic development, security, sustainability, energy, the environment, and quality of life.
Bronx CC Breaks Ground for Green Building
Bronx Community College of the City University of New York has broken ground for a 98,000-square-foot green academic building and library. The new structure, expected to cost $102-million, is designed to achieve LEED Silver certification.
Campuses Celebrate Campus Sustainability Day
Several hundred campuses participated in this year's Campus Sustainability Day, October 22, 2008. The Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), in conjunction with the Higher Education Associations' Sustainability Consortium, organized a web cast with The New York Times Knowledge Network to discuss "Climate Realities, Challenges, and Progress in Higher Education." SCUP's Campus Sustainability Planning Network homepage lists several press releases and news stories about CSD events that too
Cornell U Announces Funding for Sustainability Research Projects & Workshops
Cornell University's (NY) Cornell Center for a Sustainable Future has announced its inaugural Academic Venture Fund awards. This year's awards granted funding to seven sustainability research projects and five sustainability workshops for Cornell faculty. The seven projects include improving the stability and productivity of algal bioreactors for biofuels production; integrated digital design environment for sustainable architecture; forecasting disease and economic consequences of climate change; environmental, energetic, and economic potential of biochar; understanding aflatoxin accumulation in maize; vibro-wind technology as alternative wind energy systems for buildings; and how plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and electrifying transportation affects energy use and emissions. The projects are funded by the Center's 2008 budget of almost $3 million. The five workshop topics include large-scale wind-generated power; managing sources of uncertainty for sustainable resource management; building social networks for biological inventories and information; urban trees for sustainable cities to develop an integrated social-ecological sciences research agenda in New York City; and environmental sustainability in an aging society.
CSU to Install 8MW of Solar, HSU to Install 300 kW of Solar
California State University, the state of California, and SunEdison have partnered to install 8 MW of solar power on 15 Cal State campuses and the CSU chancellor's office. The power-purchase agreement allows CSU to buy renewable power at or below current retail rates, while avoiding the cost of installing the system. Under the agreement, SunEdison will finance, build, operate, and maintain the solar panels for 20 years. The new solar panels will be installed on rooftops, atop parking canopies, and in ground-mounted arrays. In related news, Humboldt State University has established two solar energy initiatives as part of a joint program with California State University and the California Department of General Services to generate eight megawatts of solar photovoltaic power. HSU will install 300 kW of solar panels on the roof of the University Library and has issued a contract to install a demonstration 12.5 kilowatt photovoltaic panel system on the roof of the Old Music Building. HSU expects to derive $36,000 in cost savings each year from the energy conservation effort. Construction is scheduled to begin in a few months.
El Paso CC Completes Energy Upgrades, Receives Award
El Paso Community College (TX) has completed energy upgrades to 4 buildings on campus. The College expects to save $250,000 annually as a result of the upgrades. In addition, the College earned the Trane Energy Efficiency Leader in Education Award for its sustainable energy and operational efficiency building designs and practices.
EPA Awards 2 Institutions with Green Power Leadership Awards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Center for Resource Solutions have announced the winners of the 2008 Green Power Leadership Awards. Oregon State University and the University of Pennsylvania both received Green Power Purchaser Awards for Green Power Purchasing and Green Power Partner of the Year respectively. Additionally, the Energy Action Coalition won the Green Power Pilot Award for market development. The Awards recognize the actions of individuals, companies, and organizations that are significantly advancing the development of renewable electricity sources through green power markets. Awards were given in the areas of purchasing, supplying, and market development.
George Mason U, Smithsonian Partner for New Conservation Program
George Mason University (VA) and the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park have signed an agreement to develop a comprehensive academic program for undergraduates, graduates, and practicing conservationists. Multidisciplinary faculty members from Mason’s Center for Conservation Studies and the Zoo’s Center for Conservation Education and Sustainability have launched Smithsonian-Mason Global Conservation Education Studies, a program that will provide academic opportunities for up to 50 undergraduate students per semester and accommodate an additional 60 participants in the professional training and certificate programs that the partnership will offer. The program will offer students an opportunity to live and study at the Zoo’s 3,200-acre Conservation and Research Center, where it cares for and conducts research on more than 30 critically endangered species.
Green Mountain College to Install Biomass Co-Generation Plant
Green Mountain College (VT) has announced plans to construct a biomass co-generation facility. The College estimates that the biomass plant will save GMC over $250,000 per year in heating costs, and will meet about 20 percent of GMC's power needs. The wood chips will be harvested in an environmentally friendly way from local sources, with the intention of encouraging the growth of a local, sustainable wood chip market and the emerging bio-energy economy. GMC intends finance the $3.6 million project through loans and grants, and plans call for the new biomass facility to begin generating heat and electricity by January of 2010.
Highland CC Breaks Ground for Wind Turbine Technology Ctr
Highland Community College (IL) has broken ground for a 5,500 square foot Wind Turbine Technology Center. The Center will be fully available for students beginning in the fall 2009 semester and will provide space to house an Associate's of Applied Science in Wind Turbine Technology. Additionally, the new center will be fitted with specialized tools and supplies through a partnership with Greenlee Textron, Inc.
John Brown U Announces New B.S. in Renewable Energy
John Brown University (AR) has announced the addition of a Bachelor of Science degree in Renewable Energy to begin in the fall of 2009. The new program will include courses in wind, solar and biomass energy; practical experience in designing, construction, monitoring renewable energy generators; and possible related study abroad opportunities. Students will choose between one of three focuses within the renewable energy degree: design, management, and international development. The program will be an interdisciplinary program that builds on some of JBU’s established programs, including science, engineering, intercultural studies, and business.
Macomb CC to Establish Center for Green Auto Technology
Macomb Community College (MI) has begun work on an Advanced Technological Education Center that will focus on advanced automotive technology as part of the college’s effort to help steer the region toward the economy of the future. The center will focus on the growing fields of hybrid electric, alternative fuel, and fuel cell technology as they relate to all aspects of the automotive product life cycle: design, development, manufacturing, service, and recycling. The college, working with a consortium that includes Wayne State University, Henry Ford Community College, and Kalamazoo Valley Community College, was awarded a $150,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to develop an implementation plan for the new center, which would be based at Macomb’s South Campus in Warren.
Notre Dame Completes Dorm Energy Challenge
The University of Notre Dame (IN) has completed its first campus-wide Dorm Energy Competition. During the competition, UND conserved a total of 93,674 kWh, reducing the University’s carbon emissions by 56 metric tons and saving over $4,000 in electricity costs. The winner, Walsh Hall, reduced its electricity use by 31 percent by turning off the bathroom and basement lights during the day, unplugging the vending machines and exercise equipment when they were not in use, and sharing loads in the washing machines and driers. Walsh Hall will receive $500 and an Energy Champion banner.
Oregon State U, U Oregon Receive Grant for Green Materials Ctr
Oregon State University and the University of Oregon have received a three-year, $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to form a new Center for Green Materials Chemistry. The goal of the new center is to create more efficient production and fabrication methods, use green materials, and reduce environmental impacts, particularly in the area of electronics.
Over 200 Campuses Submit Public GHG Reports
Over 200 signatory campuses of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) have submitted public greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories through the ACUPCC's online reporting system. The GHG inventory is the first major reporting requirement of the Commitment, and is due within a year of signing. Signatories reported on emissions from on-site combustion, mobile combustion (fleet), purchased electricity, student, faculty and staff commuting, and institution-funded air travel, among other things. Over the next year, these signatories will work to create a plan for reducing their emissions.
Paradigm Group Launches Campus Sustainability Blog
Paradigm Group, a Commercial and Institutional supply chain service provider, has launched the "Green College Ambassador Program." The goal of the program is to create an information highway on the Paradigm website to facilitate that exchange of green ideas and current initiatives on college campuses throughout the United States and the world. The website will be in a blog format, whereby questions and responses can be posted about how to make colleges across the country more environmentally friendly. Pro
Penn State Solar Home Opens on Campus
Penn State University has opened MorningStar, an 800-square-foot solar house that was designed and constructed by Penn State students and faculty as Penn State's entry in the 2007 Solar Decathlon, an international competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. MorningStar will serve as a laboratory to develop a better understanding of the best technologies and systems for the Pennsylvania climate and as a center for green outreach, where students can receive training to give public tours and raise awareness about energy-efficient building and living.
Pomona Announces Sustainability Action Fellows Program
Pomona College (CA) has announced the creation of the Sustainability Action Fellows program. The new program will allow for a group of 29 students to participate in the creation of the College's Sustainability Action Plan. Each Fellow will be responsible for seeking out sustainability strategies in one of six areas: energy, water, purchasing, ducation/communication, waste and recycling, or environmental justice.
Pomona, San Francisco State U Launch Sustainability Websites
Pomona College (CA) has launched a Sustainability Website. The site was created by the Sustainability Coordinator's Office and it is intended to provide information about current sustainability efforts, opportunities to get involved, and how the campus community can reduce its environmental impact. The Pomona Sustainability website also features an "input page," where students, faculty, and staff can provide input or ask questions about the College's sustainability efforts. San Francisco State University
Rice U Breaks Ground on Green Residential College
Rice University (TX) has broken ground for its new residential college, Duncan Hall. The student residential-housing building is registered for LEED Gold certification. Duncan College’s green features will include smart lights, a green roof, a classroom with sustainable materials and furnishing, and air-conditioners that shut off automatically when windows are open.
Rowan U Moves to Single-Stream Recycling, Receives Award
Rowan University has switched to single-stream recycling. In addition, the University has received recognition from the state Department of Environmental Protection for being New Jersey's first higher education institution to switch to the single-stream recycling.
Suffolk U Law School Joins Climate Challenge
The Suffolk University (MA) Law School has joined the American Bar Association-Environmental Protection Agency Law Office Climate Challenge. The program, which has over 100 participants, is open to law offices and law-related entities that adopt best practices for office paper management or participate in one or more of three EPA voluntary partnership programs. The Climate Challenge is designed to encourage the conservation of energy and resources, as well as to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. Suffolk's Law School is the third in the country to participate in the program.
SUNY Albany Launches Change a Light Campaign
The State University of New York at Albany has launched its "Change a Light" campaign by distributing compact fluorescent light bulbs in residence halls. Old incandescent bulbs were collected as material for an art exhibit at the University Museum this spring.
Syracuse U Launches Energy Conservation Competition
Syracuse University's (NY) Office of Residence Life, Residence Hall Association, and Sustainability Division in the Office of Energy and Computing Management have launched the second annual Saving Juice in the 'Cuse contest. The competition between campus residence hall communities runs through the month of November and is designed to increase the sustainable behavior of the on-campus student population through energy reduction and by increasing recycling tonnage in the residences halls.
UC Berkeley Launches Bike Share Program
Students at the University of California, Berkeley have instituted a bike-share program on campus. Green Bike Share, a student-run non-profit organization, seeks to increase environmental, social, and economic sustainability by renting out bicycles to the UC Berkeley and city community. Through the program, students are able to rent bikes for two days for $2 and for three days for $3 dollars. The program has been running on the internet since this summer, and introduced its fleet of 20 bikes to its new rental stand this month.
U Guelph to Establish Centre for Ag Renewable Energy & Sustainability
The University of Guelph (ON) has announced plans to establish the Centre for Agricultural Renewable Energy and Sustainability (CARES). The centre will have an agricultural focus, with the objectives of strengthening the agriculture sector, improving sustainability and development, increasing alternative energy and energy conservation, and leveraging education, training, and research.
U Maryland Campus Sustainability Report 2008
The University of Maryland, College Park Office of Sustainability has released its Campus Sustainability Report 2008. The Report relates some of the progress the University has made over the past 18 months and includes a Campus Sustainability Metrics section, which chronicles the campus's progress in sustainability.
U Maryland, College Park Completes Green Roof
The University of Maryland, College Park has completed the installation of a green roof on Cumberland Hall. The $350,000 green roof features extra insulation and 15 species of plants. UMD also plans to install a green roof on the Stamp Student Union in the near future.
U New Hampshire Dining Halls Serve Local Squash
University of New Hampshire dining halls have begun serving butternut squash grown and developed by UNH researchers. A UNH farm manager and a UNH professor worked with UNH Dining to plant a large plot of butternut squash this summer. UNH sells the squash to a distributor that peels, chops and processes them into an easily-used format then sells them back to UNH Dining to steam, mash, and serve to its diners. The squash may go to other customers if quantity allows. The squash is labeled in the serving area so diners can learn about its local pedigree and scientific service.
Virginia Commonwealth U Unveils New Green Building
Virginia Commonwealth University has unveiled its new $2.6 million research and education building at the Rice Center, VCU’s 343-acre living laboratory on the James River. The building was constructed with a goal of achieving LEED Platinum. The 4,900-square-foot Walter L. Rice Education Building houses lecture and laboratory rooms for classes, a conference room and administrative offices as well as an outdoor classroom pavilion. The building incorporates features such as geothermal heating and cooling, solar electrical power generation, an advanced water recycling and wastewater treatment systems; high-efficiency interior and exterior lighting; high insulation levels that rely on soy-based products and recycled denim; and ventilation via operable windows.
Whitman College Debate Team Goes Paperless
The Whitman College (WA) Debate Team has stopped using paper to prepare for and attend debates. The team made the decision was motivated by the desire to reduce paper use, printing costs, and the airline industry’s implementation of higher fees for luggage.
