Environment America Releases HEI Renewable Energy Report + More

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April 30, 2019

News | Opportunities | Resources | Events | Jobs

The deadline to apply for the Sustainability Impact Accelerator and Professionals Retreat has been extended to May 10. Happening in the picturesque town of Boulder, Colorado, from June 19 – 22, this retreat is designed to support and bolster attendees’ vision, energy, capabilities and support system as a sustainability change agent on campus. Apply soon to secure your spot in this valuable retreat!

News of the week

Environment America Releases HEI Renewable Energy Report

The recently released report from Environment America Research and Policy Center indicates that more than 40 colleges and universities obtain 100 percent or more of their electricity from renewable energy sources. Based on STARS reports submitted between 2016 and 2018, the report also found that 88 percent of the 261 campuses that reported campus fleet details have at least one electric vehicle. The publication provides recommendations for transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy and tactics for reducing carbon pollution.

EPA Releases 2019 Top 30 List of Green Power Users

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Top 30 College & University list highlights the largest green power users among higher education institutions within the Green Power Partnership. The combined green power use of these organizations amounts to more than 3 billion kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Eight of the top 30 institutions are meeting 100 percent (or more) of their electricity demand with green power.

Academics

Scholars Form Sport & Climate Change Research Collaborative

Engagement

Washington U St. Louis Launches Student RE Program

Pennsylvania State U Launches Student Sustainability Awards

Operations

27 Colleges & Universities Receive PepsiCo Recycling Grant

U Illinois Urbana-Champaign Adds Rooftop Solar Array

North Carolina State U Housekeeping Becomes Green Seal Certified

Kapi‘olani CC Reduces Graduation Attire Waste

U Massachusetts Lowell Installs Rooftop Vegetable Garden

Planning & Administration

U British Columbia Doubles Endowment Portion Divested From Fossil Fuels

Vanderbilt U Releases Strategic Sustainability Plan

Submit sustainability news & information from your institution

Opportunities

AASHE Awards Judge Recruitment

AASHE is recruiting a jury of higher education sustainability leaders for the 2019 AASHE Sustainability Awards. Judges will review case studies and research related to higher education sustainability. Judging will occur over an eight-week period between June and July.

Build Sustainability and the 17 SDGs Into Your Course

To be held at Fleming College on June 14, this workshop will guide participants through building a Sustainable Development Goal module, seminar activity, assignment, case, etc. into their courses. Facilitators will review the UNESCO model for sustainability and the 17 SDGs and will share examples of how sustainability has been incorporated into courses at Fleming. The deadline to register is June 5. Fleming College is a regional AASHE Center for Sustainability Across the Curriculum.

AASHE Member Discount: 10% Off 2019 Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council Summit

AASHE members can receive a 10 percent discount off registration to the 2019 Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (SPLC) Summit, happening May 20-22, in Portland, Oregon.

Call for Earth Day Photographs

To celebrate Earth Day, AASHE invites campuses to submit photographs from Earth Day festivities and activities to the Campus Sustainability Hub for a chance to be featured in an Earth Day blog post. Photo submissions are accepted year-round, however photos submitted before April 30 and containing an “Earth Day” tag will be considered.

New Resources

New Issue of Sustainability: Journal of Record

This issue is themed The Learning Foundations and Practice of The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and currently offers free access to all articles. The issue includes commentaries from Akpezi Ogbuigwe writing from the year 2030, the conclusion of the current SDGs; David Orr about the politics of environmental education; Julian Keniry on biodiversity; Mitchell Thomashow regarding migration and displacement; and more. Case reports in the issue cover integrating the SDGs in higher education and the impact on teaching, research and engagement.