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AASHE Bulletin

1. MTV Launches Break the Addiction Challenge
MTV has announced the launch of the “Break the Addiction Challenge,” a nationwide eco-competition to challenge millions of high school and college-age youth to demonstrate environmental changes or actions in their own lives and in their schools.  As part of the challenge, MTV is partnering with the Campus Climate Challenge to offer a series of awards for campus climate action.  In the fall, MTV will award $1000 grants to five student groups that have received media coverage of their activities to stop global warming.  In the spring, MTV will recognize two schools for achieving a 100% clean energy policy that was passed between September 6, 2006 and March 15, 2007. The winning groups will recieve with $5,000 to throw an MTV Break the Addiction eco-party.  Finally, MTV will honor the high school or college that went the furthest and fastest to reduce their school’s global warming pollution down to zero with an eco-renovation valued at up to $10,000 as well as the chance to be featured in an MTV on-air news segment.
http://climatechallenge.org/documents/PRBreaktheAddictionChallenge.pdf

2. Furman to Celebrate 'Year of the Environment'
Furman University has announced plans to celebrate a "Year of the Environment" this school year.  Throughout the year, the university will sponsor a series of programs, lectures and events to emphasize environmental citizenship and develop greater environmental consciousness, both on campus and off.  Among other things, the university will work with local farmers to provide the freshest food possible in the dining hall, undertake an experiment in residential living that will give students a more complete understanding of environmental issues, begin a restoration of the Furman Lake, and host a three-day conference on the environment.  "Furman has adopted a commitment to environmental sustainability as one of its foremost strategic goals, and the Year of the Environment will help us focus even more on that commitment," said President David E. Shi.  "The university wants to be the national leader among liberal arts colleges committed to sustainability, both educationally and operationally."
http://www.furman.edu/press/pressarchive.cfm?ID=3877

3. University of Florida Announces Organic Agriculture Degree Program
University of Florida has announced the launch of an organic agriculture undergraduate degree program.  The undergraduate degree program will focus on training students to manage an organic farming unit.  The program requires 120 credit hours, most of them in science courses, including chemistry, botany, genetics, entomology and soil science, capped off by several production-agriculture classes. University of Florida is one of the first U.S. institutions to offer this major. Colorado State University and Washington State University will debut similar programs this fall.  UF has also offered a minor in organic agriculture for the past year.
http://news.ufl.edu/2006/08/31/organic-ag/
http://organic.ifas.ufl.edu/index.htm

4. UC Berkeley Announces New Major in Society and Environment
College of Natural Resources at UC Berkeley is launching a new major with the goal of integrating social and environmental sciences.  The new major, which is called Society and Environment, was approved by the university in May and officially opened for enrollment in July.  Students in the major will study the application of social science theories to environmental problems.  The major includes three concentrations: U.S. Environmental Policy and Management, Global Environmental Politics, and Environmental Justice and Development. 
http://www.dailycal.org/sharticle.php?id=21193
http://espm.berkeley.edu/ugmajors/SE/index.html

5. Auraria Higher Education Center Purchases Renewable Energy
The Auraria Higher Education Center recently signed a contract with renewable energy retailer Sterling Planet for the purchase of 17 million kilowatt hours of wind renewable energy certificates.  The purchase represents 45 percent of the annual electrical usage the Auraria campus, which is shared by the Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State College of Denver and the University of Colorado at Denver.  The purchase is funded by a $1 per semester student fee approved by students in 2004.  The fee is to be assessed for three years, with a requirement that students vote again, in 2007, on whether to renew it. 
http://www.cusys.edu/sg/messages/5130.html

6. Penn State Building Receives LEED Gold Certification
The Stuckeman Family Building for the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at Pennsylvania State University has been awarded LEED Gold certification.  Sustainability features include: integration of the building and site design, use of natural light, fitness for the regional climate, use of low-maintenance planting materials, use of recycled materials and certified wood, and a ventilation system that reduces the need for mechanical heating and cooling.  During construction, the project followed a rigorous program to reduce waste and limit site disturbance. The energy-efficient design of the 111,000-square-foot building is projected to reduce its annual energy costs by 35 percent compared to a conventionally designed structure.
http://live.psu.edu/story/19213
http://energy.opp.psu.edu/green-buildings/stuckeman-family-center-sala-building

7. Tufts University Opens 'Green' Dorm
Tufts University has opened its first green building, Sophia Gordon Hall. The 126-bed dormitory is expected to use 30 percent less energy and 30 percent less water than would a conventionally designed building.  Sustainability features include: solar thermal and photovoltaic arrays; use of recycled material and renewable resources; bathroom motion sensors; dual-flush toilets; natural lighting; and energy efficient windows.  The building also includes a display showing information about energy consumption and avoided pollution. 
http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/090506TuftsUniversityOpensFirstGreenDorm.htm
Annotated listing of green residence halls (AASHE members only):  http://www.aashe.org/resources/residence_halls1.php

8. Southern Methodist University Opens Green Engineering Building
Southern Methodist University has opened the J. Lindsay Embrey Engineering Building, which it claims to be the first university building in Texas built for LEED Gold certification.  The 56,700-square-foot building is expected save the University an estimated 30 percent in energy, water, and maintenance costs annually in comparison with a non-LEED building.  Sustainability features include: waterless urinals; local building materials; a three story natural light column; HVAC water recycling; and construction waste recycling.
http://engr.smu.edu/about/embrey.html    
Dallas Morning News article

9. NC State Launches Residential Environmental Education Program
North Carolina State University has launched a new peer to peer sustainability outreach program called Generating Residential Environment Education Now (GREEN).  Under the program, a GREEN student coordinator will be assigned to each residence hall.  The coordinators will organize educational programs throughout their residence halls about environmental issues and will distribute information about environmentally-focused campus events to students. The program is managed by a steering committee made up of three representatives from University Housing, two from the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling and one from the Office of Energy Management. 
Campus newspaper article
http://www.ncsu.edu/housing/state/viewarticle.php?newsid=129

10. Yale Pilots Environmentally Preferable Laundry System
This fall, Yale will be piloting a "PrecisionWash" system in the laundry facilities in one part of campus.  Under the system, washing machines are programmed to automatically dispenses a highly-concentrated, low-sudsing detergent made with biodegradeable substances will be installed in laundry rooms.  The goal of the system is to prevent drainage problems and reduce soap, water and energy waste.  If the pilot program is successful, all of the laundry rooms on campus will be converted to the PrecisionWash system.  For students who need to use a specific detergent for allergy-related reasons, every laundry room will have one machine for which PrecisionWash is optional.
http://www.yaledailynews.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=33004

11. Berkeley City College Opens Green Building
Berkeley City College has opened a new green building.  The six-story, 165,000-square-foot structure is designed for LEED certification and includes use 45 percent less energy than the efficiency targets mandated for state buildings.  Sustainability features include bathroom tiles made of recycled glass, insulation made of recycled cotton, and an efficient ventilation system.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/05/DDGGOKU3411.DTL
http://dailycal.org/sharticle.php?id=21108

12. Smith College Begins Car-Sharing Program
Smith College started a new car-sharing program that offers an alternative to car ownership.  Under the program, Smith students 18 and older -- along with faculty, staff and local residents 21 and older – are able to reserve the use of a car by the hour or day. Smith will have two vehicles available for car-sharing on its campus.
http://www.smith.edu/news/2005-06/zipcar.html

13. UC Davis Joins California Climate Action Registry
The University of California, Davis has joined the California Climate Action Registry, a group of organizations that are voluntarily taking action on climate change. As a member, UC Davis will work with the Registry to annually track, report, and certify its campus-wide greenhouse gas emissions.  Preparation of the University's first greenhouse gas emissions inventory will be a joint effort between the Environmental Health & Safety Department and the UC Davis Air Quality Research Center.
http://www.climateregistry.org/docs/PRESS/UC_Davis_2_080906.pdf
http://dwb.sacbee.com/content/news/science/story/14317932p-15237813c.html

14. University of Florida Opens Ethanol Fueling Station
The University of Florida opened an ethanol fueling station on campus last week. Previously, the University's 45 flex-fuel vehicles had no place to fill up on ethanol.  The use of ethanol in campus vehicles is part of a larger effort to reduce the environmental impact of the transportation at University.  For instance, the University has a policy of purchasing only hybrid or flex-fuel vehicles.  In addition, the University charges departments a $3,000 fee per car to park vehicles on campus and is looking into car-sharing programs.
http://www.alligator.org/pt2/060901ethanol.php

15. Wilbur Wright College Starts New Building Energy Technology Certificate Program
Wilbur Wright College has developed a new 6-course, 21-credit hour Building Energy Technologies Certificate program to train construction professionals in green building techniques. 
http://wright.ccc.edu/department/etp/build.asp

16. University of Michigan Studying Campus Energy Use
The University of Michigan Institute for Social Research is conducting a joint pilot study of energy use attitudes and behaviors among staff, faculty and students.  The primary purpose of the pilot project is to gather information that will help to develop policies and programs that will succeed in reducing utility costs.  The main study objectives include identifying current utility usage among U-M faculty, staff and students, both on campus and at  home; determining key attitudes and behaviors leading to poor practices; and  helping to identify effective options for reducing energy consumption.  In related news, University of Michigan is holding its 11th Annual Energy Fest to showcase the University's efforts and commitment to energy conservation, energy efficiency and alternative energy technologies.
http://www.umich.edu/news/?Releases/2006/Sep06/r090406a
http://www.umich.edu/news/?Releases/2006/Sep06/r090406
http://www.energymanagement.umich.edu/utilities/energy_management/energy_fest/

17. Mother Jones Releases 13th Annual Campus Activism Roundup
Mother Jones magazine has published its 13th annual review of campus activism.  The Soulforce Equality Ride—a seven-week tour of 19 religious and military colleges that discriminate against gay and lesbian students—was named Student Protest of the Year while Billy Parish was named Student Activist of the Year for his founding of the Energy Action Coalition, which united clean energy campaigns on 270 campuses.  The article highlights several other examples of campus activism as well.
http://www.motherjones.com/news/outfront/2006/09/extra_credit.html

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