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Table of Contents for 11/16/09:

NEWS
Buildings 1. Luther College Lab Building Receives LEED Gold
2. U New Mexico Receives First LEED Gold Certification
3. Arizona State U Polytechnic Complex Receives LEED Gold
4. Guilford College Restoration Project Receives LEED Silver
5. Ithaca College Dedicates New Green Building
6. Caltech Opens Green Ctr for Information Science and Technology
7. Lawrence U Opens Green Student Center
Climate 8. 11 Campuses Post Greenhouse Gas Inventories
9. 9 New Institutions Sign Presidents Climate Commitment
Co-Curricular Education 10. Brandeis U Eco-reps Start Green Certified Dorm Room Program
Coordination and Planning 11. Quinnipiac U Announces Sustainability Plan, Featured in NY Times
12. Furman U Adopts Sustainability Master Plan
13. Clarion U Establishes Sustainability Institute
14. U Wisconsin Oshkosh Hires Interim Sustainability Director
Curriculum 15. California Awards $27M for Green Collar Job Training
Dining Services 16. Emory U Designated First Green Certified Campus by GFA
17. Texas Christian U Dining Services Reduces Waste
Energy 18. Milwaukee Area Technical College to Install Solar Farm
19. Santa Barbara City College Installs Solar Panels
20. Richland CC Installs Wind Turbine
21. U Colorado Boulder Switches to LED Lighting
22. Smith College to Install Solar Panels on Campus Center
23. Butte College Receives Funding for New Solar Project
Funding 24. U Idaho Announces Internal Sustainability Grants
Research 25. U Minnesota Receives $2.2 Million Grant for Biofuel Research
26. West Virginia U Opens Transportation Hub
27. Princeton U Adds Environmentally Friendly Buses to Fleet
28. Massachusetts Inst of Technology Students Produce Biodiesel
29. San Francisco State U Opens Campus Bike Path
Waste 30. Fairfield U Students Earn Money for Recycling
Other News 31. Brevard CC Recognized for Sustainability Efforts
32. Dow Chemical Announces Student Sustainability Challenge Winners

NEW RESOURCES
33. Publication: Financing Sustainability on Campus

JOBS & INTERNSHIPS
34. Green Campus Program Associate, Alliance to Save Energy
35. Curriculum Coord, MassGREEN Institute/Clean Energy Ctr, Springfield Technical CC
36. Professor, Ph.D. in Leadership and Change Program, Antioch U

EVENTS
37. Webcast - Alternative and Renewable Energy: Prioritizing Practical Advice
38. Webcast – Techniques for Developing Green Jobs Programs
39. Carbon Neutral Campus Architecture Webcast
40. Webinar – Planning & Designing for Energy Conservation

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News

Buildings

1. Luther College Lab Building Receives LEED Gold
Luther College’s (IA) Sampson Hoffland Laboratories have received a LEED Gold certification. The facility houses 17 teaching labs, a number of offices, and research and study areas. Green features include a rain garden, reduction in water usage, and recycled building materials
See also: List of Green Science Buildings (AASHE Members Only)

2. U New Mexico Receives First LEED Gold Certification
University of New Mexico's Castetter Hall South Addition Phase I has received LEED Gold certification. The $4.3-million Castetter Hall adds 15,867-square-feet of space, research laboratories, and a greenhouse for the school’s biology department. The building is expected to consume 31.5 percent less energy overall than traditional buildings on campus and features low-flow laboratory fume hoods that automatically cut back the amount of exhaust air during inactive times and locally-sourced materials with recycled content wherever possible. In addition, UNM sorted and recycled waste during construction.

3. Arizona State U Polytechnic Complex Receives LEED Gold
The new academic complex at Arizona State University, Polytechnic Campus has been awarded LEED Gold certification. The complex consists of six buildings that feature recycled concrete, photovoltaic panels, and use of natural light.

4. Guilford College Restoration Project Receives LEED Silver
Guilford College (NC) has received LEED Silver certification for its restoration of Archdale Hall. The building was constructed in 1885 and has been used as a residence hall and faculty offices. The $800,000 renovation included the addition of a rainwater collection system, waterless urinals, and blown-in insulation.
See also: Local News Article

5. Ithaca College Dedicates New Green Building
Ithaca College (NY) has dedicated its new Peggy Ryan Williams Center. The building was designed to LEED platinum specifications and hopes to achieve certification in the future. Green features include a 6,500-square-foot green roof, a geothermal system, and a 12,000-gallon tank to collect rainwater.

6. Caltech Opens Green Ctr for Information Science and Technology
California Institute of Technology has opened its Walter and Leonore Annenberg Center for Information Science and Technology. The structure is now home to interdisciplinary research and instruction that address the growth and impact of information as it relates to all scientific and engineering practices. The new facility, which is registered for LEED Gold certification, has achieved a 30 percent reduction in water use, a 28 percent reduction in energy use, and a 2 percent use of recycled contents or local or regional materials. The Center also contains storm water control mechanisms, individual HVAC controls and operable windows, and a minimum of 75 percent of spaces with daylight access.

7. Lawrence U Opens Green Student Center
Lawrence University (WI) has completed its new 107,000-square-foot Richard and Margot Warch Campus Center. LU is seeking LEED Gold certification for the $35 million Center, which features local materials, a green roof, abundant day lighting, and native landscaping.
See also: List of Green Student Centers (AASHE Members Only)

Climate

8. 11 Campuses Post Greenhouse Gas Inventories
10 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 October 19, 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: University of Vermont; University of Maine at Machias; University of South Carolina, Upstate; University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh; University of Wisconsin, Whitewater; Goucher College (MD); Harvey Mudd College (CA); School for International Training (VT); Bellevue College (WA); and Houston Community College (TX). In related news, Washington University in St. Louis (MO) has also published a greenhouse gas inventory.
See also: Washington U St. Louis Press Release

9. 9 New Institutions Sign Presidents Climate Commitment
Nine new institutions have signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment since the last update in the September 14, 2009 issue of the AASHE Bulletin. In doing so, these campuses have committed to develop comprehensive plans for achieving climate neutrality. The new signatories are: Philip Dubois of University of North Carolina at Charlotte (NC); Robert Davies of Eastern Oregon University; Stanley Jensen of Colorado Mountain College; Penelope Kyle of Radford University (VA); Richard D. McCrary of Brookhaven College (TX); Michael Viollt of Robert Morris University (IL); Robert Martin of the Institute of American Indian Arts (NM); Debra A. Derr of North Iowa Area Community College; and Warrick Carter of Columbia College, Chicago (IL). 659 college and university presidents and chancellors have now signed the Commitment.

Co-Curricular Education

10. Brandeis U Eco-reps Start Green Certified Dorm Room Program
Brandeis University (MA) dorm residents will now have the opportunity to have their dorm room green certified by campus Eco-reps, also known as peer-to-peer sustainability outreach representatives. The Green Rooms program allows students to obtain a certificate if they promote green living through a number of room adaptations, including energy-saving electrical habits like pulling out chargers as well as using cold water and recycling. The initiative was piloted earlier this year by the Brandeis eco-reps, environmental advocates, and Students for Environmental Action. In an effort to increase awareness on campus about sustainability and about the new program, the organizations set up a model “green” room in a campus atrium.
See also: List of Student Sustainability Educator Programs

Coordination and Planning

11. Quinnipiac U Announces Sustainability Plan, Featured in NY Times
Quinnipiac University’s (CT) York Campus has established a new $4 million sustainability plan that includes both solar and wind installations. The plan includes a wind garden that will contain 25 vertical-axis wind turbines and 1,232 photovoltaic solar panels that will be on the roof of one of the residence halls. In related news, The New York Times has published an article on Quinnipiac's new wind garden that features wind turbines as art. The new park, called Windspires, is meant to provide serenity to visitors. Its 25 turbines are expected to produce a combined 32,000 kWh a year.
See also: NY Times Article
See also: List of Campus Sustainability/Environmental Plans (AASHE Members Only)

12. Furman U Adopts Sustainability Master Plan
The Furman University (SC) Board of Trustees has adopted a sustainability master plan, part of which includes a climate action plan to make the campus carbon neutral by 2026. The creation of the "Sustainable Furman" took eighteen months and had been a university-wide effort, involving over a hundred students, professors, staff members, trustees, alumni, and community leaders. The plan is organized around eight broad goals, each of which addresses key aspects of the University’s mission and operations. Those include expanding and enhancing curricular and co-curricular opportunities related to sustainability, encouraging campus and community participation in energy conservation and energy efficiency efforts, and broadening Furman’s national leadership role in the promotion of sustainability.
See also: Sustainable Furman Master Plan

13. Clarion U Establishes Sustainability Institute
Clarion University (PA) has announced the formation of its Sustainability Institute. The Institute will be self-sufficient, have faculty support, supply information to the University and local area interest groups; bring in resident scholars to focus their research on sustainability; promote faculty, graduate, and undergraduate research; provide opportunities for internships; offer CEU credits for attendance at conferences; and provide certification on sustainable development and sustainability.
See also: List of Academic Research Centers in Sustainability Development

14. U Wisconsin Oshkosh Hires Interim Sustainability Director
The University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh has hired an interim sustainability director after the previous director unexpectedly resigned. Professor of Biology Michael Lizotte, director of the Aquatic Research Laboratory, will serve in the one-year position. Lizotte helped to formalize the sustainability movement on campus and served as a co-captain of the 26-person campus sustainability team officially created in the fall of 2007.
See also: Directory of Sustainability/Environmental Officers (AASHE Members Only)

Curriculum

15. California Awards $27M for Green Collar Job Training
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced the 34 recipients of $27 million in grants to jump-start the California Clean Energy Workforce Training Program (CEWTP), a state-sponsored green jobs training program. Under the this first phase of the program, anticipated to train 5,600 participants, workers will be prepared for hands-on jobs, such as installing solar panels and maintaining electric vehicles to computer programming and researching fuel cell technologies, to help develop the state’s low-carbon, clean energy economy of tomorrow. The following higher education institutions received a portion of the funding: Contra Costa Community College District, Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, Kern County College District, Long Beach Community College District, North Orange County Community College District, College of the Desert, Hartnell College, Imperial Valley College, Los Angeles Trade Technical College, Peralta Community College District, San Bernardino Community College District, and Solano Community College.
See also: CEWTP Project Descriptions

Dining Services

16. Emory U Designated First Green Certified Campus by GFA
Emory University (GA) has been designated as the first certified college campus in the U.S. under the Green Certification Program by the Green Foodservice Alliance (GFA). Emory was noted for: recycling materials like aluminum and steel, glass, cardboard, glass, paper and plastics; repurposing used grease for the local production of biodiesel; and not using any polystyrene (Styrofoam) in its dining facilities (if Emory uses polystyrene, a recyclable or compostable alternative is made available to users). The Green Certification Program focuses on reducing waste on college campuses, in restaurants, and from other large venues like convention centers and business districts.

17. Texas Christian U Dining Services Reduces Waste
Texas Christian University’s Dining Services has announced plans to begin offering its used coffee grounds to students, faculty, and staff for use as a fertilizer. The program to reuse coffee grounds was replicated from a Starbucks initiative that has been in place since 1995. The University’s Dining Services hopes to reduce waste through the new program.
See also: List of Campus Composting Programs (AASHE Members Only)

Energy

18. Milwaukee Area Technical College to Install Solar Farm
Milwaukee Area Technical College (WI) has announced a $6.9 million solar education farm project. The College is partnering with Johnson Controls, an energy use optimization company, to build the 2,720 panel farm. The College estimates that the solar farm will save $70,300 in energy costs in its first year of operation.

19. Santa Barbara City College Installs Solar Panels
Santa Barbara City College (CA) has installed a 235 kW solar array on its new car port in one of the College’s parking lots. Not only will the solar panels produce 10-percent of the College’s electrical needs, they will also provide shaded parking, outlets for future electric vehicles, and reduce the amount of heat radiating off the parking lot.
See also: List of Campus Solar Electric Installations

20. Richland CC Installs Wind Turbine
Richland Community College (IL) has installed a 125 foot tall wind turbine on its campus. The turbine will be used to power the College’s Center for Sustainability and Innovation. Officials hope that the turbine, in conjunction with the building's geothermal heating, will make the Center achieve net-zero energy usage. The turbine also serves as real life training for students studying wind energy technology.
See also: List of Campus Wind Installations

21. U Colorado Boulder Switches to LED Lighting
University of Colorado, Boulder has worked with Albeo Technologies Inc. to replace 200 fluorescent bulbs with an LED conversion kit in Farrand Hall. The initiative is expected to reduce Farrand's energy consumption by 36 percent.

22. Smith College to Install Solar Panels on Campus Center
Smith College (MA) has announced plans to mount solar panels on the roof of its Campus Center. The electricity produced by the 130 solar panels will be approximately equivalent to the power needed to run the Campus Center Café. The system will be financed through a Power Purchase Agreement with renewable energy marketer and developer, Community Energy. The company will own and operate the $240,000 system, which enables the college to take advantage of the renewable power source without funding the system’s purchase up front. Community Energy will sell Smith electricity produced by the system at a locked-in rate for 20 years.

23. Butte College Receives Funding for New Solar Project
Butte College (CA) has acquired $16.9 million in federal stimulus money to complete the third phase of its solar project. The new installation will increase the College’s solar generation capacity by 145 percent, generating 95 percent of the College’s electrical needs. The stimulus money will pay for 70 percent of the total cost and the College will cover the rest.

Funding

24. U Idaho Announces Internal Sustainability Grants
The University of Idaho has awarded $25,000 to projects within the institution that seek to advance sustainability efforts on campus and in surrounding communities. The funding has been distributed between nine projects that are led by students, faculty, and staff and involve work in broad areas such as transportation, food systems, waste minimization, energy and education.

Research

25. U Minnesota Receives $2.2 Million Grant for Biofuel Research
The University of Minnesota and BioCee, a university start-up company, have received a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a bioreactor using bacteria embedded in a thin latex coating to produce hydrocarbon fuel. The funding is part of a larger $151 million pool of money being issued to institutions for renewable energy research.

Transportation

26. West Virginia U Opens Transportation Hub
West Virginia University has opened Mountaineer Station, a new 7,000-square-foot transportation hub. The $16 million facility, which features facilities for bike storage, bus routes, and walkways, offers commuters a multi-modal way of getting to and around campus.

27. Princeton U Adds Environmentally Friendly Buses to Fleet
Princeton University (NJ) has added 10 new buses to its shuttle system fleet. The buses all run on B20 biodiesel fuel. The buses are larger than older ones in the fleet and hold 30 passengers instead of 14. The new additions will allow all of the TigerTransit buses to run on biodiesel on a regular basis.
See also: LINK2

28. Massachusetts Inst of Technology Students Produce Biodiesel
A Massachusetts Institute of Technology student group has begun turning leftover kitchen oil into biodiesel for use in campus shuttles. Biodiesel@MIT, formed three years ago, believes that once production is in full swing, they will be able to produce 55 gallons of biodiesel per week.
See also: List of Institutions with Biodiesel in their Campus Fleets (AASHE Members Only)

29. San Francisco State U Opens Campus Bike Path
San Francisco State University (CA) has opened a new bike path on campus that provides cyclists and pedestrians with a direct, off-road route between the campus and a local shopping center. The University created the path to encourage bicycle and pedestrian commuting and to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with commuting to campus by car.

Waste

30. Fairfield U Students Earn Money for Recycling
Fairfield University (CT) has installed four new recycling machines on campus. The recycling machines are a “reverse vending” machine, so that when students deposit a glass, plastic, or aluminum beverage container, the machine adds five cents to the student’s campus account, which can be used for food, books, laundry, and other campus expenses.

Other News

31. Brevard CC Recognized for Sustainability Efforts
Brevard Community College (FL) has been named a Certified Green Business by the Green Business League, an organization out of Illinois, for its work towards sustainability. The group recognizes businesses that have adapted processes and practices needed to enhance their company’s environment. The College was noted for: transitioning to a four-day work week, more efficient boilers, and tighter regulations of air-conditioning systems.
See also: LINK2

32. Dow Chemical Announces Student Sustainability Challenge Winners
The Dow Chemical Company has recognized the inaugural winners of its Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge, an awards competition established to encourage and promote solutions to the world’s most pressing social, economic and environmental problems. Graduate student teams from the following U.S. institutions were recognized: Northwestern University (IL), Tufts University (MA), and University of Michigan. Some of the project highlights included: building a community-based sustainable food system; energy efficient low-income homes in South Africa – an evaluation of international support mechanisms; new generation transportation fuels based on coal, natural gas and biomass; and biotechnological production of xylitol using sugarcane bagasse – an evaluation of operational parameters and economical feasibility. Graduate student teams selected for their research and innovations received $10,000 for use at the students’ discretion. In addition, The Dow Chemical Company Foundation donated $20,000 in financial support directly to each university to offset costs of managing the selection process and travel for students to the recognition event.

New Resources

33. Publication: Financing Sustainability on Campus
The National Association of College and University Business Officers, in partnership with Second Nature, has published Financing Sustainability on Campus. In the new publication, the authors provide a guide to financing sustainability with real world examples, creative strategies, and clear explanations of a variety of financial tools and programs. The resource is available printed or as an e-book.

Jobs & Internships

34. Green Campus Program Associate, Alliance to Save Energy
The Alliance to Save Energy is seeking a full-time program associate in its Oakland, CA, office to assist with implementation of the Green Campus Program. Candidates should have exceptionally strong written and oral communication skills, along with experience in project planning and implementation, public speaking, event planning, and meeting facilitation. In addition, the program associate should be a self-starter who can juggle multiple tasks with minimum supervision and guidance and should also have a good eye for detail and, at the same time, be capable of seeing the bigger picture. Experience working with campus sustainability initiatives is desirable, and a familiarity with energy efficiency technologies is a definite plus. The first review of applications will begin November 20, 2009, and the position will remain open until filled.

35. Curriculum Coord, MassGREEN Institute/Clean Energy Ctr, Springfield Technical CC
Springfield Technical Community College (MA) invites applications for the position of curriculum coordinator of the MassGREEN Institute and Clean Energy Center. Candidates should have a successful 3-5 year track record in the green energy sector with an emphasis on post-secondary workforce development and related business and industry training. Candidates should also have proven experience in partnership development and curriculum development and implementation. A minimum of a four-year degree is required; a Master's degree in education or environmental sustainability science is preferred. The position is open until filled.

36. Professor, Ph.D. in Leadership and Change Program, Antioch U
Antioch University (CA) seeks candidates for a professor in the Ph.D. in Leadership and Change Program. The University is looking for an experienced scholar-practitioner with both scholarly and applied expertise. The following areas are preferred: community leadership, environmental leadership, the arts and social change, or leadership in the professions. Responsibilities include teaching in multi-year curriculum in the theory, practice, research, and reflection on leading change; evaluating student research and experiential study; facilitating learning within virtual community; advising; chairing and serving on dissertations; and collaborating with team-oriented faculty in program governance. This is a rigorous, low-residency, competency-based, and cohort-based program. The geographically dispersed doctoral community meets at quarterly residencies held at Antioch campuses nationwide. Between residencies, students and faculty engage in a dynamic virtual community that supports individualized & collaborative learning. The deadline to apply is January 1, 2010, or until the position is filled.

Events

37. Webcast - Alternative and Renewable Energy: Prioritizing Practical Advice
November 17, 2009; 1:00 – 2:30pm Central; Online
The American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment and Siemens Building Technologies will host "Alternative and Renewable Energy: Prioritization and Practical Advice," a webcast that will focus on the various types of alternative and renewable energy and how to select and prioritize based on geography and financial realities. The presentation will include examples from St. Clair County Community College in Port Huron, Michigan, and participants will learn what criteria to use to select projects, what the benefits of such projects are (including using them as an education tool), and how to forecast in regard to what projects to pursue next.

38. Webcast – Techniques for Developing Green Jobs Programs
November 17 & 18, 2009; 1 – 2:30pm Eastern; Online
Academic Impressions will host "Techniques for Developing Green Jobs Programs." Participants in the two-part webcast will learn about the techniques other schools have used to develop successful green jobs programming. The first session will focus on strategies to research local and regional industry trends, employer needs, and market conditions and size. The second session will discuss identifying and leveraging internal resources and collaborating with stakeholders across campus.

39. Carbon Neutral Campus Architecture Webcast
November 19, 2009; 12:00 – 2:00pm Central; Online
The American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment and the Society for College and University Planning invite participants to "Carbon Neutral Campus Architecture: Climate Specific Design and Innovation." The webcast will focus on three projects that push the limits of design to create high-performance environments that are also exemplars of pedagogical and aesthetic excellence. Examples of carbon neutral buildings from three different climate zones will be highlighted. The program moderator will be Nicolai Ouroussoff, architecture critic for The New York Times, and panelists include an architect and client from each project.

40. Webinar – Planning & Designing for Energy Conservation
November 19, 2009; 1pm Eastern; Online
APPA will host "Planning & Designing for Energy Conservation." The webinar will discuss how to use fact based information to set realistic goals and comprehensive strategies to lower energy consumption on campus and to engage the campus community in the process. The speaker, Farmarz Vakili, the associate director of the University of Wisconsin, Madison physical plant, will also explore options and opportunities to fund energy projects while lowering deferred maintenance and increasing operational efficiency of campus facilities and will review the process for conducting energy audits and identifying energy conserving investments.

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