As part of the university’s strategic plan to promote sustainability in all aspects of university life, a new office of sustainability has been established. Assistant professor of biology, Jim Armacost, has been named the first director of sustainability.
(U.S.): The college has hired a sustainability assistant as an outgrowth of its new Strategic Plan. The new position will help incorporate sustainability more fully into the culture, engage students in sustainability projects, and enhance sustainable practices for campus operations and infrastructure, with a goal of achieving carbon neutrality.
The First Annual Sustainability Report highlights metrics and stories of success from the campus’ sustainability efforts over the past year, including information about campus organizations, events, and student fee measures.
Designed by university researchers, the AguaClara water filtration system has won the Katerva Award in the Urban Design category. The system uses gravity to purify water without the use of electricity, and is currently providing clean drinking water to over 30,000 people in Honduras. AguaClara prides itself on being an open source technology, meaning all of its designs are scaleable and available online.
The Board of Trustees has approved a Sustainability Master Plan created by a task force consisting of students, faculty and staff. In addition to sustainability efforts directly affecting the campus, there are also plans to reach out to the community that will include workshops for elementary and middle school students to learn about biodiversity and composting, as well as offering seasonal cooking workshops to encourage healthy eating and use of locally-grown foods.
The Green Labs @ Penn program is designed to reduce the environmental impact of everyday lab operations. The program provides a “how-to” guide that includes an action checklist, a commitment form, tips and resources.
(U.S.): University Development has achieved the Duke Green Workplace Certification, bringing the total to 37 certified workplaces and over 800 staff working in certified workplaces. University Development has taken numerous steps to green their events and meetings. They have also implemented energy saving practices in the workplace and encourage alternative transportation options for staff.
The university has committed to become part of the Dayton Regional Green 3’s Green Business Certification program The program emphasizes solid waste reduction and recycling, environmentally conscious purchasing, energy conservation, water conservation and pollution prevention. Organizations receive points for each benchmark they reach.
The university has unveiled the Campus Sustainability Explorer, an online mapping tool that geographically represents all areas of sustainability on the campus. The Green Building Committee in collaboration with Campus Planning and the Sustainability Initiative developed the tool. The Explorer also acts as a decision support tool for various groups and stakeholder around campus, providing information on existing conditions for a number of academic, facility, and operational aspects.
The Sustainability Office has launched the Green Room Certification and the Green Events Certification programs. In partnership with Residence Life, the Green Room Certification program awards a certificate to students who minimize their environmental impact through green living practices. The Green Event Certification program awards a certificate to campus groups and departments that implement zero waste measures at events.
The Sustainability Office has published a 2011-2012-progress report summarizing current sustainability initiatives on campus and gains made since the Presidential Task Force on Sustainability released its recommendations in 2010.
The university has released its first sustainability impact report that provides a campus-wide snapshot of the progress that has been made to reduce the campus’ environmental footprint and increase its operational efficiency. Available online, the report includes data on greenhouse gas emissions, waste, and transportation, as well as infographics, multi-media stories, and progress timelines.
The university has launched a new Green Spaces Certification program. The program is a three-level, voluntary certification process that encourages people in work, school, and living spaces on campus to adopt sustainable practices and green their work unit and events. Upon submission of a completed checklist, the work unit is recognized as a Green Space with Bronze, Silver, or Green & Gold certification.
(Ireland): The institute has received the Green Flag from the Green Campus Program, an international environmental education and award program that promotes long-term, whole college action for the environment. The institute’s sustainability efforts focus on themes of waste, travel, energy, biodiversity and water.
(U.S.): The presidents of South Carolina State University, Claflin University, Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College and Aiken Technical College have signed a memorandum of understanding to form an environmental sustainability working group in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency. The schools will collaborate in research, teaching and various sustainability projects.
(U.S.): Mother Nature Network has published an article on its top 10 U.S. environmental programs. The programs and institutions highlighted include: Northland College, SUNY-ESF, Middlebury College’s Program in Environmental Studies, Cornell University’s Department of Natural Resources, Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, College of the Atlantic, Arizona State University’s School of Sustainability, Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Green Mountain College, and Montana State University’s Sustainable Food and Bioenergy Systems program.
INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine has announced the 48 recipients of its first annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award. The national award honors U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. Winning institutions were selected based on exemplary initiatives in various areas of diversity including gender, race, ethnicity, veterans, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBT community.
Engineering and construction services company Odebrecht USA and thermoplastic resin manufacturer Braskem have announced Odebrecht Organization's inaugural U.S. sustainable development award winners. A team from Rice University won first place for a project that addressed the logistics of offshore oil extraction. A Johns Hopkins University team took second place for a small-scale papermaking machine concept for students in third-world countries. Third place went to North Carolina State University for a project on the recyclability of oil contaminated cardboard.
The Urbana-Champaign Senate has unanimously approved a proposal to create a Center for a Sustainable Environment, an umbrella organization that will lead campus environmental groups, academic units and the Office of Sustainability. The university will cover $450,000 annually for the center, with additional funding coming from the Alvin H. Baum Family Fund.
The university has released Vision 2020, a draft sustainability vision and goals report. The report is available for comment online and across campus for “crowd-sourced track-changes” from students, faculty and staff. The university plans to finalize the sustainability vision and goals report in December and transition to action planning in January.
The university has committed to supplement the Sustainability Center’s student fee with an additional $30,000 for the next two years to transition the center to a new Office of Sustainability. A committee is in the process of selecting a new director for the Office of Sustainability.
The university has implemented a new initiative asking campus community members to contribute feedback and ideas on a campus-wide Engagement and Social Marketing Strategy. Information will be collected via surveys, focus group sessions, and a pilot program. The results of this campaign will assist the university in further achieving its reduction targets for energy, greenhouse gases, water and waste.
(U.K.): Winners and commendations were bestowed across 13 categories at the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges’ 2012 Green Gown Awards. Now in its eighth year, the awards program recognizes exceptional initiatives being undertaken by universities and colleges across the U.K. to become more sustainable.
The university has released its Ecosystems Enhancement Strategy, which describes how it will enhance the ecosystems on its campus, in the region, and around the globe. Some of the strategy’s areas of focus include: strengthening habitats, promoting healthy air and climate, fostering clean and abundant fresh water, and supporting sustainable food production systems. The Office of Sustainability is forming working groups to develop action plans to meet these goals.
The university has released its 2012 Strategic Energy and Water Plan. Highlights in the report include the decline of energy consumption by 31 percent since 2003, and the decline of potable water consumption per square foot by 43 percent. Upgrades to central energy and lighting infrastructure and retro-commissioning efforts account for much of the energy savings, while an integrated non-potable water system helped reduce water consumption.
The Western Sustainability Office Certification, a program that recognizes campus offices' environmentally friendly choices, was made available to all administration offices on campus. Five administration offices participated in the pilot program over the summer and seven more are currently participating in the certification process.
The institution will participate in the Campus Climate Assessment to evaluate the extent to which aspects of the university are equitable and socially just. The assessment will be facilitated by EdChange, an organization dedicated to developing more equitable educational communities.
A new committee will consider future opportunities for synergies and collaboration between the university environment and its sustainability research and academic programs. The committee will conduct an inventory of environmental and sustainability research and teaching programs identify emerging issues and provide an assessment of new opportunities that might be realized through collaborations or investment in new programs.
The university has launched Sustainable Workplace, a certificate program that assists campus offices in creating greener workplaces through adjustments in employee behaviors and equipment settings. The program focuses on behavioral changes to support waste prevention, energy reduction and increased awareness of sustainability, all of which support the university’s 2025 sustainability goals.
The university has released a sustainability impact report that provides a campus-wide snapshot of the progress that has been made to reduce the campus’ environmental footprint and increase its operational efficiency. Available online, the report includes data on greenhouse gas emissions, waste, and transportation, as well as infographics, multi-media stories, and progress timelines.
The new Office of Energy and Sustainability will help to make the campus more sustainable through improved communication of sustainability resources to the community, increased student involvement, and innovative sustainability projects. Graduate students with one-year appointments will staff the new sustainability coordinator position.
The university has appointed its first sustainability energy and environmental coordinator. Since the appointment, progress has already been made in developing a university climate action plan, creating awareness through social media channels, and building community partnerships.
The university has released its first Sustainable Carolina Annual Report. The 2011-2012 report highlights the work of students, faculty, and staff from across the university on subjects as broad as curriculum development, “greening the mind”, and recycling.
A group of 15 engineering students won first place in the national Green Energy Challenge competition with an energy-saving plan designed for the Historical Center of Industry and Labor on the university’s campus. The University of Washington, Iowa State, and Georgia Tech placed second, third and fourth, respectively.
(Australia): Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS) has announced the winners of the 2012 Green Gown Awards Australasia. This year there were 6 categories of recognition in addition to the ACTS Award of Excellence which was won by the University of Tasmania. In each category, one winning institution and several “highly commended” institutions were recognized.
The university’s administrators and Associated Student Government have designated new positions to address diversity and sustainability issues on campus. The student senate also created the Sustainability Committee and the Diversity Committee that will meet with university officials throughout the year to discuss common objectives and goals. The Sustainability Committee will also serve as a source of funds and support for the environmental organizations on campus.
The annual staff appreciation barbeque has achieved gold certification by the university’s Green Events program. Staff Council organizers implemented sustainable measures including the distribution of electronic agendas, encouraging the use of alternative transportation, avoiding Styrofoam with eco-friendly service ware, and enlisting the Green Team to inform attendees about sustainability and proper recycling practices.
The college’s new sustainability coordinator has announced plans for a yearlong comprehensive sustainability assessment of the campus. Following the completion of the assessment, open forums will be held to facilitate the creation of a sustainability plan.
The American Association of Community Colleges' Sustainability Education and Economic Development (SEED) Center has presented five inaugural Green Genome Awards to exemplary community colleges nationwide that have taken a strategic leadership role in green economic and workforce development and sustainability. The winning colleges include Butte College (California), Central Carolina Community College (North Carolina), Delta College (Michigan), Hillsborough Community College (Florida) and West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced the winners of the 2012 Green Power Leadership Awards. American University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges and Quinnipiac University received Green Power Purchasing Awards. The University of Oklahoma won the Green Power Partner of the Year Award.
The Executive Order No. 13, Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability, was approved by President Michael Young and has been reviewed by the Faculty Senate, Board of Deans, the Environmental Stewardship Committee and the policy sub-teams. The order, an umbrella statement confirming the university’s commitment to sustainability, will serve as a guiding principle for future sustainability policy development and pursuit of the university’s Climate Action Plan goals and objectives.
(U.K.): In recognition for the university’s commitment to reducing its impact on the environment and in integrating sustainability into its daily services and activities, the university’s Environmental Management System has been awarded an EcoCampus Platinum Award and ISO 14001 certification.
(Italy): The university and institute have partnered to convert their sites into a single sustainable campus. The “Smart Campus” project will focus on four themes including residents, energy, environment and accessibility. The project intends to develop services aimed at transforming the behavior of campus users. As part of the project, dumpsters that measure the weight and volume of the material that is discarded have been installed to manage waste collection.
The university has recently become a signatory of the Illinois Campus Sustainability Compact, the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change’s St. Francis Pledge, American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) and the Talloires Declaration. These agreements outline the university’s pledge to work toward expanding its sustainability program, engaging the campus community, greening its operations and monitoring its performance.
As the university’s first chief sustainability officer, Joanne Perdue will work with the senior leadership team and academic coordinator for sustainability to integrate the values and aims of the university’s Academic Plan and Institutional Sustainability Plan into teaching, co-curricular student activities, research, service learning and operations across campus.
President Stephen Mulkey recently announced that the college's faculty and Board of Trustees have endorsed sustainability science as the overarching framework for all academic programming with an emphasis on upper division courses. With this endorsement, the college has dedicated significant financial and human resources to strengthen academic offerings through this lens, and to further develop campus infrastructure to support sustainability science on the ground.
The economic impact of the university’s sustainability efforts in the region is more than $900 million according to the university’s first collective sustainability impact report. The report, compiled by the university’s Sustainable Community Development Initiative, uses 2010-2011 data. It includes 11 sections that outline practices used by students, faculty and staff members to decrease the university’s footprint and increase the impact of sustainable activity on campus and in the community.
(U.S.): Sierra Club's sixth annual ranking of America's greenest colleges emphasizes the Sierra Club's environmental priorities and rewards schools that do a good job of measuring and mitigating their impact.
(South Africa): The university was recently awarded the national 2012 Green Campus of the Year award at the inaugural African Green Campus Initiative conference. Students are actively involved in managing the university’s 74-acre private nature reserve, an international biodiversity hotspot, through eradicating alien vegetation and maintaining firebreaks. The university also received five additional awards including most innovative programs, best-designed outfit made from recycled materials, recognition of student achievement, and the award for the most environmentally proactive South African campus.
The university has received APPA’s inaugural Sustainability Award in Facilities Management for its integration of green ideas and practices throughout campus.