Colgate U Achieves Carbon Neutrality + More

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April 23, 2019

In honor of Earth Day, AASHE extends a heartfelt thank you for working to create healthy communities and a thriving planet. To showcase the varied ways that campuses recognize Earth Day, we will be releasing a blog post soon. For a chance to be featured, share pictures from your institution’s Earth Day-related celebrations by April 30, and include “Earth Day” as a tag.

News of the week

Colgate U Achieves Carbon Neutrality

In addition to their recent investments in carbon offsets for heating, cooling, and employee travel, the university will now purchase 100 percent renewable energy, making it carbon neutral in the year of its bicentennial.

U San Francisco Reaches Carbon Neutrality

Reaching its goal of zero net carbon emissions 31 years ahead of its 2050 target date, the university achieved neutrality through on-campus renewable energy and energy-efficiency upgrades, purchasing carbon offsets in projects with a focus on environmental justice, reducing waste, and supporting a diversity of transportation options with lower carbon impact.

Academics

Penn State U Offers Faculty Workshop on Ethics of Climate Change Course

U.S. Solar Decathlon 2019 Announces Winners

Operations

Duke U Develops Green Building Standards

U Saskatchewan Invests in Energy Efficiency

Union College Installs EV Charging Stations

Johns Hopkins U Enters Solar Energy Procurement Agreement

Planning & Administration

Princeton U Releases Sustainability Plan

Submit sustainability news & information from your institution

Opportunities

Online Sustainability Across the Curriculum Workshop

This online workshop, happening from May 27 – June 30, is designed for higher education instructors wishing to infuse sustainability (ecological stability, social equity, and economic vitality) into their curriculum regardless of the discipline by identifying areas of sustainability intersection. Effective assessment of critical thinking skills, collaboration, creativity, and the ability to analyze, discuss and create solutions to real-world sustainability problems will be explored. Registration is open through May 1. Moraine Valley Community College is one of 13 regional AASHE Centers for Sustainability Across the Curriculum.

AASHE Sustainability Awards: Call for Submissions

Each year, AASHE bestows its awards on institutions and individuals who demonstrate a commitment to higher education sustainability. The award categories collectively recognize sustainability achievements and individuals conducting research on campus sustainability. Additionally, one award recognizes an individual for advancing sustainability in higher education over their lifetime. Submissions and nominations are due on May 10.

AASHE Member Discount: Discount on Climate Change & Health Certificate

Students, staff and faculty at AASHE member institutions are eligible for a 10 percent discount off an 18-week online certificate through Yale University’s School of Public Health that teaches about tools to address the health impacts of climate change.

PLAN’s Atlas Program

Post-Landfill Action Network’s (PLAN) Atlas program is an assessment framework to support universities and colleges in creating zero waste strategic plans. Using a two-step approach, PLAN will work with campuses to assess infrastructure, policy and communication gaps, and provide baseline data on current waste management operations. The outcome of participating in the program is a Zero Waste Plan with a focus on infrastructure, policy, education and outreach that includes short term, mid-term and long-term initiatives.

Call for Applications: Future Organic Farmer Education Grant

The California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) Foundation is now accepting applications for educational grant funding from students currently enrolled in the U.S. who are pursuing a career in organic agricultural production. Applications must be submitted by May 6.

The Green Scholars Program

The Green Scholars Program offers opportunities for students who represent disadvantaged, low-income and underrepresented backgrounds to receive partial and full scholarships to participate in The Green Program’s international opportunities.

New resources

New Campus Sustainability Hub Resources

The Campus Sustainability Hub is a simple, intuitive and centralized platform that houses best practices, course materials and comprehensive lists including research centers and institutes, publications, outreach materials and more. With advanced search filtering, this key member benefit is designed to facilitate information sharing between campuses and organizations. Recently added journal articles include: