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sustainability at scu

Sustainability News and Events

News & Events at SCU related to Sustainability. For more events, visit the Sustainability Calendar.

  •  SCU increases renewable energy purchasing

    Monday, Aug. 10, 2009

    SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY INCREASES ITS GREEN POWER PURCHASING TO BECOME ONE OF THE TOP GREEN POWER UNIVERSITIES IN THE NATION

    This month Santa Clara University doubled its commitment to renewable energy by supporting the generation of 22,512 megawatt hours of Renewable Energy Certificates through Santa Clara Green Power. This amount is equal to the annual output of seven utility-scale wind turbines. This decision prevents the emission of over 17,821 tons of carbon dioxide each year—the carbon emissions equivalent of taking 2,961 cars off the road for one year. Based on the current rankings by the U.S. Department of Energy, SCU’s purchase will put them in the Top 20 nationally for college and university purchasers of renewable energy.

    The purchase makes Santa Clara University a national leader in green power purchasing, and secures SCU’s position as the largest purchaser of Santa Clara Green Power. This purchase is above and beyond Silicon Valley Power’s contracts for renewable energy, which constitute over 30% of SVP’s electricity mix. The purchase will be supplied from Green-e Energy certified renewable energy certificates sourced from wind farms around the country.

    Santa Clara University’s sustainability plan includes the objective of increasing our support of renewable energy over time, while keeping our utility costs stable. Silicon Valley Power has been a great partner in understanding our needs and providing environmentally-friendly and affordable solutions.” said Lauren Granlund, Assistant Director, Facilities at Santa Clara University.

    Since the origin of our renewable energy program, Santa Clara University has been a leading participant. We appreciate their ongoing and active participation in supporting renewable energy,” said Larry Owens, Manager of Customer Services at Silicon Valley Power, the City of Santa Clara’s municipal electric utility.

  •  SCU coordinates Catholic sustainability workshop

    Tuesday, Jul. 28, 2009

    Santa Clara University is coordinating a half-day workshop for sustainability officers and champions at Catholic colleges and universities. Colleagues will present best practices in panel presentations. Most of the workshop will be devoted to small-group discussions and network-building.

    The half-day workshop will follow the Greening of the Campus Conference in Indiana this September.

    Note: Because this workshop is free, you cannot register for it until you arrive and check-in for the Greening of the Campus conference. (Participants should register for and attend the Greening of the Campus Conference).
    If you plan to attend, please notify lcromwell@scu.edu by September 1 so we can plan accordingly.
     
    Call for panelists and discussion prompts:
    We are currently looking for panelists to present brief case studies of best practices at their schools. We also welcome suggestions for discussion prompts. Please contact lcromwell@scu.edu with ideas.
     
    What does your campus do well? What are you proud of, and what do you think other Catholic colleges and universities would benefit from hearing?
     
    What do you need help with? What do you want to get out of this gathering?
     
    Would you like to participate in the coordination of this workshop?
     
    Also consider:
    If you are interested in participating in discussions regarding sustainability in Catholic higher education, please join our google group: http://groups.google.com/group/sustincatholichighered.
     
    Please also consider attending "Renewing the Campus: Sustainability and the Catholic University" at University of Notre Dame, October 9th to 11th. (http://green.nd.edu/education/renewing-the-campus)
  •  Students Invite Gov. Schwarzenegger to Their Solar House

    Thursday, Jul. 23, 2009
    Tuesday, Jul. 21, 2009
    Students from Santa Clara University and California College of the Arts create a video, inviting Gov. Schwarzenegger to the solar-powered house they're building.

    Watch the video.