1. CSU Chico Students Approve Fee Increase to Create Sustainability Fund and Hire Coordinator
Students as California State University, Chico have approved a $5 increase in student fees to hire a sustainability coordinator and create a fund for sustainability projects on campus.  The sustainability coordinator will focus on sustainability issues within the Associated Students and will work in cooperation with the University's own sustainability coordinator.  Students also approved an advisory measure to make learning about sustainability an upper division graduation requirement. 
Campus newspaper article

2. Massachusetts Maritime Academy Installs 660kW Wind Turbine
Massachusetts Maritime Academy has installed a 660kW wind turbine in the center of its campus.  The 248-foot turbine, which cost $1.4 million, is expected to generate over a quarter of the school's electricity consumption, saving the school $300,000 annually over its 20-year lifespan.  In addition to saving the Academy money, the turbine will be studied by Engineering students.  The Academy is also investigating other renewable energy options like solar, geothermal and biodiesel.
http://www.capecodonline.com/special/windfarm/mmaxswind24.htm
Annotated listing of campus wind installations (AASHE members-only): http://www.aashe.org/resources/wind_campus.php

3. University of Toronto at Mississauga Installs Fuel Cells in Residence Hall
University of Toronto at Mississauga has opened Canada's first solid oxide fuel cell facility in a university residence as well as what is believed to be the world's first multi-unit installation.  The facility houses four 5-kilowatt solid oxide fuel cell systems which will serve as a primary source of combined heat and power for 12 townhouse units in the UTM student residence complex.  Initially, the fuel cells will be fueled with natural gas.  During a later stage of the project, one of the 5-kilowatt units will operate on hydrogen gas.
News article

4. RecycleMania 2006 Winners Announced
California State University—San Marcos has emerged as the grand champion in the 2006 RecycleMania competition.  RecycleMania is a friendly competition among campuses to increase recycling and reduce waste.  CSU San Marcos' won the Grand Champion award by achieving the highest recycling rate.  Point Loma Nazarene University won the Waste Minimization award for producing the least amount of waste per capita while Oregon State University won the Per Capita Classic award by producing the most recyclables per capita.  RecycleMania 2006 included nearly 100 participating schools from 33 states across the country.
http://www.recyclemaniacs.org/

5. UNC Chapel Hill to Develop Water Reuse System
The Orange Water and Sewer Authority and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have signed a contract for the funding, development and operation of a water reuse system.  The reuse system will enable highly treated wastewater from a wastewater treatment plant to be used for non-drinking purposes. Initially, reuse will lower the University’s drinking water demand by about 530,000 gallons, which equals about 6% of overall water demand by the community. In the long term, reuse on campus will reduce the community’s water demand by 13% or more.  Operation of the reuse system is projected to begin by the end of 2008, and will replace drinking water in cooling towers at the University's chiller plants.
http://www.owasa.org/Press_Releases/press_release_04_12_2006_sign_reuse_contract.htm

6. 17 University of Virginia Students Arrested in Living Wage Sit-In
17 University of Virginia students were arrested this weekend, ending a 4 day sit-in for living wages.  The students had occupied the University's central administration building and were calling for the University to raise wages for its lowest paid workers to $10.72, up from a current minimum of $9.37.  Student rallies in support of a living wage have continued in the days after the arrests.  The University administration has questioned the methodology used to derive the $10.72 figure.
Washington Post article 1
Washington Post article 2
Washington Post article 3
http://www.virginia.edu/wages/
http://www.uvalivingwage.net/

7. Hamilton College Residence Hall Receives LEED Silver Certification
The Skenandoa House, an 84-year-old residence hall renovated in 2004, has been awarded LEED Silver certification.  The renovations included a 16-well geothermal ground water heating and cooling system, individual thermostats in each room, energy efficient lighting, extensive building materials reuse and construction waste management.  As a result of the geothermal system, in Skenandoa House uses less than half as much energy per gross square foot than a comparable residence hall with a standard gas-fired heating system in (47.6 mbtu/gsf vs. 123.2 mbtu/gsf).  In addition, the electrical power used in Skenandoa House is produced from renewable sources.
http://www.hamilton.edu/news/more_news/display.cfm?ID=10688
Annotated listing of over 30 green residence halls (AASHE members-only): http://www.aashe.org/resources/residence_halls1.php

8. Oberlin College Dining Service Funds Construction of Greenhouse at Local Farm
Oberlin College's food service provider Bon Appétit has recently invested $6200 toward a greenhouse and waste oil furnace at a nearby farm.  The greenhouse will enable a longer growing season and thus ensure that the college can buy more local produce. Oberlin has increased the purchase of local food from five percent to 30 percent in the past five years and is attempting to increase local purchases to 50 percent by 2007.
http://www.oberlin.edu/stupub/ocreview/2006/04/14/news/article3.html

9. Yellow Bike Project Begins at University of Vermont
As part of his senior thesis, a student at the University of Vermont has started a pilot bicycle cooperative on campus known as the Yellow Bike Project.  Under the program, 20 bikes will be available for use by any member of the cooperative.  Each bike will have a lock to prevent stealing.  Upon joining the cooperative, members receive a key that works in all of the locks.
(webpage no longer available)

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