Sustainability News and Events
News & Events at SCU related to Sustainability. For more events, visit the Sustainability Calendar.
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 Environmental Ethics and the Culture of Sustainability at SCU
Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008
Meghan Mooney, a rising senior, recently completed an anthropological study on the culture of sustainability at Santa Clara University.
As a result of her research as the Undergraduate Fellow in Environmental Ethics with the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Meghan presents a benchmark of cultural beliefs and discourses as related to sustainability at SCU. Her main research questions were:
1. Is sustainability an issue of personal and ethical importance to the community?
2. How does the SCU community define and understand sustainability?
3. What do people think it means to be an environmentalist, do they consider themselves environmentalists?
4. Is there a strong or direct link between institutional programs and the values of the individual?
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Research: Hassles, negative feedback affect green actions
Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008
The San Jose Mercury News
Santa Clara University assistant professor of psychology Amara Brook was quoted in an article discussing what motivates people to engage in environmentally sustainable behavior.
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Doing well by doing good? It's not easy.
Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008
The Christian Science Monitor
A two-week program at Santa Clara University called the Global Social Benefit Incubator (GSBI) teams up social entrepreneurs with Silicon Valley leaders experienced in taking a new idea to mass production.
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Greening the college application process
Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008
Medill Reports
Santa Clara University's Environmental Studies Institute and sustainability initiatives were featured in an article about students' rising interests in environmental studies. SCU senior Tracey Mangin reflected on her decision to major in environmental studies as well as her younger sister's college decision process.
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Calling all students: volunteer and earn a free entry to West Coast Green
Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008
The West Coast Green conference (San Jose Convention Center, 9/25-9/27) is looking to recruit student volunteers for the event.
In return for volunteering a 6-hour shift, volunteers get a free pass to the full conference (worth $575). It is a great opportunity to see green innovations from about 350 exhibitors and to hear lectures from 100 of the leaders in the green movement (including Al Gore, David Suzuki, and Sarah Susanka).
Register to volunteer. Deadline to register is September 1.
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Sustainability Update, August 2008
Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008
Read this month's Sustainability Update
In this issue:
Green Highlight
Reduce waste and stay up-to-date! Choose not to receive a printed Campus Phone Directory
News
IT and Dell reduce packaging waste
SCU recognized as energy innovator
Catholic colleges, universities take steps to go green
SCU Among Top 25 cutting-edge green colleges
Princeton Review gives SCU 96 points in new "Green Ratings"
New York Times special feature on campus sustainability
Events
SCU Staff Faire
West Coast Green
Visioning the Bay Area in 2030
What Can I Do?
What Do you do? (submit your tips)
Read this month's Sustainability Update
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SCU Among Top 25 Cutting-Edge Green Colleges
Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2008
The Kaplan College Guide 2009 named Santa Clara University one of the nation's 25 most environmentally responsible schools.
Kaplan considered schools' efforts in the areas of environmentally responsible campus projects, courses, student groups, and achievements noted in the Sustainable Endowments Institute's College Sustainability Report Card 2008.
Learn more
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Catholic colleges, universities take steps to go green
Monday, Aug. 4, 2008
Catholic News Service
Santa Clara University's participation in the Solar Decathlon as well as AASHE's new Sustainability Tracking And Rating System pilot program are mentioned as some of the ways Catholic colleges and universities are going green.
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IT and Dell reduce packaging waste
Monday, Aug. 4, 2008
Information Technology is partnering with Dell Computers to reduce packaging waste related to the PC Replacement program. Dell now packs multiple products in a single box, reducing packaging size by half. Smaller packages allow Dell to increase shipping density which reduces fuel and related carbon emissions due to product transportation. The Multipack system reduces costs, speeds up deployment time, and reduces the amount of time spent unpacking.
"We replace about 600 computers every year," said Lai-San Malmquist, Manager of Applied Technology and IT Service Center. "Though we ensure the old machines are donated to local non-profits and responsibly recycled, we were looking for solutions to further green this annual process. We are very happy Dell offered us this special packaging option."
Image courtesy of Dell.
(on the left) Before Multipack: 16 1U servers on two pallets
(on the right) With Multipack: 16 1U serviers in one pallet space
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Princeton Review gives SCU 96 points in new "Green Ratings"
Thursday, Jul. 31, 2008
The Princeton Review unveiled its first "Green Ratings" of 534 colleges. Scores ranged from 60-99 points.
The Princeton Review's "2009 Green Rating Honor Roll" - a list saluting 11 colleges that each received Green Rating scores of 99 (the highest score) included: (in alphabetical order)
Arizona State University at the Tempe campus
Bates College (Lewiston, ME)
Binghamton University (State Univ. of New York at Binghamton)
College of the Atlantic (Bar Harbor, ME)
Emory University (Atlanta, GA)
Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA)
Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)
University of New Hampshire (Durham, NH)
University of Oregon (Eugene, OR)
University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
Yale University (New Haven, CT)
Santa Clara University received a Green Rating score of 96.
Ratings were based on schools' efforts to provide and develop an environmentally beneficial student experience. Topics addressed include: local/organic food offerings, promotion of alternative transportation, the presence of a formal committee for sustainability on campus, green building standards, waste and recycling, academic studies related to sustainability, greenhouse gas emissions inventory and climate action plan, and support of renewable energy sources.
For more information, visit the following websites:
The Princeton Review announcement
LA Times: The greenest colleges of them all
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New York Times Special Feature on Campus Sustainability
Monday, Jul. 28, 2008
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Santa Clara University recognized as energy innovator
Monday, Jul. 21, 2008
Santa Clara University was recently recognized with four Silicon Valley businesses for efforts to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Silicon Valley Power (SVP) and Santa Clara Mayor Patricia Mahan named SCU one of two Environmental Innovators for 2007.
SCU is the largest contributor to SVP's Green Power program and was also recognized for its creative sustainability programs and construction of a 338-panel photovoltaic system.
Read more:
Silicon Valley Power Business News
Santa Clara Weekly: SC businesses win energy awards
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Sustainability Update, July 2008
Thursday, Jul. 10, 2008
Read this month's Sustainability Update
In this issue:
Green Highlight
Move-Out 2008
News
SLURP Projects
SCU green building in LA Times
Spare the Air Alerts
Job opportunity
Events
Renewable Energy Symposium
Energy Efficiency Symposium
7th Annual UC/CSU/CCC Sustainability Conference
What Can I Do?
Reduce: Carpool
Reuse: Guess the photo!
Recycle: New bulk paper recycling bins
Respect: Be a sushi source
Read this month's Sustainability Update
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New Resource: SLURP Projects
Tuesday, Jul. 8, 2008
SLURP: The Sustainable Living Undergraduate Research Project
Individual or research teams created posters to summarize their research from 2007-2008. Also featured is a documentary of SLURP's first year. Projects include:
- Bring Your Own Bottle
- The Culture of Sustainability
- Santa Clara University Energy Footprint
- Slurp Energy Reduction Project
- Faculty Cope Through Hope
- Fair Trade Knowledge Decreases as Campus Involvement & Campaigning Decreases
- Effects of Sustainability Across the Curriculum on Students' Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors
- SCU Vegetarians and Vegans
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SCU green building mentioned in LA Times
Monday, Jul. 7, 2008
Colleges, universities take the lead in building green.
Los Angeles Times. July 7, 2008.
Article by Tiffany Hsu, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer.
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New Resource: Green Documentaries
Tuesday, Jul. 1, 2008
SCU students created documentary films about e-waste, recycling, campus culture, fair trade, and waterfree urinals.
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Move-Out Waste Instructions (June 9 - 12)
Wednesday, Jun. 4, 2008
Students: get ready for Move-Out 2008 (June 9 through June 12). Learn what to do with all your stuff as you pack up for the Summer.
In the last two years, students have diverted almost 10 tons of materials by giving reusable items to Goodwill, setting their carpet aside, and donating their old text books.
- Recycling *New this year*
Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and aluminum. There are six recycling areas during move-out. Read your building's instructions to find the recycling area nearest you.
- Carpets
Clean, roll, and leave your carpets at the carpet collection areas so they can be reused next year or recycled. Carpet collection areas are located near your building's trash container.
- E-waste
Don't throw away anything with an electric cord or battery. Leave your old electronics at the e-waste collection areas near your building's trash container so they can be recycled.
- Textbooks
Donate your old textbooks (if you can't sell them back or give them to a friend) to Better World Books. The GREEN Club and SCCAP set up a book donation area in the basement of Benson, near the Bookstore's buyback area.
- Etc.
Donate good but unwanted items to Goodwill Industries of Silicon Valley. GW trailers are parked in two areas: Accolti Way (between Casa and San Filippo) and Santa Clara Street (near McLaughlin). Place your good but unwanted items in a BLUE BAG (provided by your service desk) and drop-off at the Goodwill Trailers between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday (6/9) through Thursday (6/12).
Learn more about move-out waste reduction opportunities for each residence hall.
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New Resource: A guide to the spirituality of our sustainability work
Sunday, Jun. 1, 2008
Environmental stewardship is the vocation of everyone.
Keith Warner, OFM, of the Environmental Studies Institute, has created a document to help SCU staff and faculty bring their environmental concerns to bear on their daily work.
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Enter the 2008 Clean Tech Open Competition
Friday, May. 30, 2008
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Do you have a clean tech idea? Are you ready to take your clean tech business idea to the next level? For only $250 per team, or $150 for all-student teams, and just three summary pages on your business, you can have the chance to win $50,000 in cash and a suite of prizes worth another $50,000.
Executive Summary upload begins June 1st. To download Guidelines presentations, click here.
For more details and to enter the competition, click here.
LEARN what's hot in this $1 trillion market sector
HEAR from a panel of Smart Power industry experts
MEET CTO Alumni and 2008 contestants
DEVELOP your business idea to enter this year's competition
ATTEND the 2008 Smart Power Symposium
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 from 5:00 to 8:00pm
AMD, Sunnyvale, CA
RSVP here
The global power grid is due for an upgrade: we're replacing outdated infrastructure with a new, dynamic smart grid that will enable clean technologies like renewable energy, demand response and plug-in vehicles. A host of new technologies and applications, such as smart meters, improved storage, real-time monitoring and demand management are rapidly emerging to create and take advantage of the Smart Power network.
Join us for a panel discussion, networking time and a poster session showcasing CTO contestants and Smart Power Alumni. Our expert panel will focus on this huge market opportunity, from the perspectives of utilities, vendors, investors and entrepreneurs.
Please RSVP here to join us. This event has limited space.
Wednesday, June 11 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm.
One AMD Place, Sunnyvale, CA
Cost is $20 for online registration and $30 at the door (cash only).
FREE for paid contestants of the 2008 Clean Tech Open
Click HERE to RSVP and for directions.
Walk-ins are welcome, but space is limited, so make sure you join us and RSVP NOW!
5:00pm Registration & Networking
6:00pm Panel Discussion (program to be announced soon)
7:00pm Networking and Poster Session
8:00pm Adjourn
Light appetizers and refreshments will be served.
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Sustainability Update, May 2008
Thursday, May. 22, 2008
Green Highlight
SOAP - clean up and green up your office!
Read this month's green highlight
News & Events
Electronic Time Entry
SCU Cyclists Group
Recycled Paper
Sustainability Science in the Public Interest
Outdoor Green Short-Film Festival
See this month's news & events
What Can I Do?
Reduce: Change your margins
Reuse: Old letterhead
Recycle: Recycle paper ream packages
Respect: Help your peers reduce wasted paper
Read this month's 4R's
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