10.29.09
Aggressive Energy and Climate Plan Approved
Stanford University has developed an ambitious, long-range, $250 million initiative to sharply reduce the university's energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The designs detailing the heating and cooling scheme are in the pipeline.
Changes outlined in the Energy and Climate Plan could reduce the campus carbon impact by as much as 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, far exceeding the aggressive goals of California's landmark AB 32 Global Warming Solutions Act.
While the initial phases of the plan rely on aggressive energy conservation and major changes to the campus heating and cooling scheme, even more greenhouse gas reductions may be possible through the use of renewable electricity and other energy management technologies now being explored.
The Energy and Climate Plan, presented to the Stanford Board of Trustees Oct. 12, is one of the most ambitious carbon-reduction programs of major U.S. universities. It includes higher-than-required energy standards for new buildings, major retrofitting of existing buildings, a significant transformation of the campus energy plant, and programs to teach students, faculty and staff how to cut back on their energy use.
"At Stanford, we're taking steps to reduce greenhouse gases through improved efficiency both in consumption and generation of energy," said Stanford President John Hennessy. "Our goal is both to lower our energy costs and to lower our carbon emissions, which is the right step for Stanford and for our planet."
Read the full Stanford Report story or download the fact sheet.
10.29.09
Sustainability on the Farm Tours
In the last few years Stanford has made efforts to make Reunion Homecoming an example of the sustainability commitment and leadership. This year, the Office of Sustainability inaugurated a sustainability tour focused on campus operations to give a flavor of sustainable practices in place. Alumni were escorted around campus in the new hybrid Marguerite bus. Presentations in each area were provided by staff members both on the bus and on-site. Topics included water, waste/recycling, transportation demand management, energy, sustainable landscaping, and a shorter version of the Y2E2 tour. Download the tour handout for more information about the tour and featured presentations.
10.07.09
Stanford Sustainability Efforts at Top Tier for the 3rd Time
The Sustainable Endowment Institute (SEI) released their Green Report Card 2010 today and Stanford remains in the top tier. The top award went to 26 colleges and universities (up from 15 last year) for their leadership in sustainability, out of 332 (up from 300 last year) institutions surveyed. Stanford has now received this rank 3 times in the last four years and A- still remains their highest grade. Stanford was recognized as both an 'overall college sustainability leader' and a 'campus sustainability leader'. It has been a great team effort of SEM, BGM, RD&E, Woods Institute, Stanford Management Company and various student groups to compile and report on all the accomplishments of Stanford in the field of sustainability. Other major research universities in the top tier are Arizona State, Brown University, UC San Diego, University of Colorado, Harvard University, University of Minnesota, University of NH, UNC at Chapel Hill, University of Pennsylvania, University of Vermont, University of Washington, and Yale University. Please see the details on the SEI website www.greenreportcard.org.
09.28.09
Summary of 08-09 External Evaluations
In recent years, various external entities have engaged in rating and ranking university campuses, based on their environmental sustainability performance. The evaluation criteria, depth of inquiry and level of transparency vary widely across the evaluation schemes, which is indicative of an evolving field in need of benchmarking standardization. Nonetheless, Stanford has participated in these survey exercises because it creates the opportunity to track and record our progress, note trends and analyze their relative importance as well as gain insights that might be suitable for Stanford. Generally, Stanford is being recognized for its strength in institutionalizing environmental sustainability, with some evaluators also noting areas of potential improvement. Download the summary report here.
08.14.09
Stanford Rated in Top 10 Greenest Colleges by Discovery Communications
TreeHugger, a Discovery Communications company, released their green ranking today. Stanford rated in its top 10 greenest colleges in the U.S and is in the company of Yale University, Tufts University, Middlebury College, University of Washington, University of Colorado-Boulder, University of New Hampshire, Warren Wilson College, University of Washington, University of Oregon-Eugene, and College of the Atlantic. Discovery Communications is considered world's top ranking nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery has 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Planet Green, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater. Click here to view the 10 of the Greenest Colleges in the U.S slideshow.
07.31.09
A Student's Guide to Sustainable Living at Stanford
A Students’ Guide to Sustainable Living at Stanford has been created by students and the Office of Sustainability, incorporating input from sustainability professionals in student groups, faculty departments, and staff departments. Endorsed by the Freshman Dean’s Office (Undergraduate Advisory & Research), this guide will be presented at the new student orientation events in Fall 2009. Click here to download the guide.
07.15.09
Sustainable Stanford: A Year in Review
Sustainability is a core value at Stanford – demonstrated in academics, operations, communications, and events. This is a quick and chronological snapshot of various activities and accomplishments in the arena by various academic and operational departments. Some of them are big initiatives, others are small. Some programs are for long term implementation, others meet a timely need. However, all activities are strategic, inclusive, and collaborative parts of the integrated and flourishing culture of sustainability at Stanford.
06.09.09
Stanford Commencement Weekend Goes Green
Stanford’s Commencement Weekend, the largest of the “big-five” events at Stanford, attracts thousands of people to campus each year. As part of our campus-wide commitment to sustainability, Stanford Events, Sustainable Stanford, Buildings and Grounds Maintenance, PSSI, Event and Labor Services, and the academic departments and programs at Stanford are working to integrate “Green” practices into every step of the planning and implementation of the weekend’s celebrations. Click here to learn more about the commencement greening efforts.
03.23.09
Water Conservation Efforts Wins Award in Large Organization category
Stanford Utilities received the 2009 Silicon Valley Water Conservation Award on March 23rd. This award honors outstanding achievements in water conservation among businesses, local governments, organizations, and individuals in the Silicon Valley region. “Recognizing the primacy of water issues to the health and economic vitality of our region and to the environment, the Silicon Valley Water Conservation Awards are presented to organizations, agencies, businesses and individuals whose programs and leadership have advanced water conservation in Silicon Valley (San Mateo County, Santa Clara County and Alameda County from Hayward south)”. Source: http://www.waterawards.org/. Visit the Stanford water conservation website for more information about Stanford’s water use and programs. Congratulations Stanford Utilities!
02.15.09
Sustainability at Stanford: Mandate or Mantra?
Stanford's sustainability is the cover story for the February 09 issue of Sustainability: The interviews were conducted in November 2008. Click here to read the full story. It is also available in SULAIR with a Stanford ID.
01.28.09
2008 Green Fund Winners announced!
The Stanford Green Fund committee is proud to announce the fund winners for its inaugural year. We received 25 applications with a total ask for approximately $75K. Three meetings and several interviews later, the committee chose the winners based on the projects’ potential to achieve intended goals as well as enable students to actively participate and make a contribution to campus sustainability. Congratulations to all the winners! To find out more about each of the 9 winning projects, which will be receiving close to $30,000 in total, visit the green fund page.
01.28.09
Transforming energy use
Using energy from efficient sources while reducing overall energy usage is central to creating a sustainable campus. Stanford has a strong foundation for success, as we are building on a decades-long commitment to energy conservation and efficiency, as well as benefiting from a temperate climate and strong state energy codes. Current energy-saving strategies are expected to push energy consumption down through 2011, but by 2012 additional use from new buildings is likely to require further conservation efforts. One such new effort is the extensive use of higher efficiency power transformers for new construction and building retrofits. With another step in achievement for energy efficiency and smart business practice, Stanford’s excellence in implementing sustainability continues.
01.22.09
Zimride - Online application helps Stanford commuters.
Parking and Transportation Services (P&TS) is now providing a ridesharing service through Zimride, a Web-services company based in Palo Alto. The University began using Zimride in early December to provide members of the Stanford community with ridesharing opportunities.
10.22.08
Parking & Transportation Services presented with a merit award.
Stanford’s Parking & Transportation Services was presented with an “Excellence in Motion” merit award by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in Oakland, Calif., on October 22, 2008. Stanford University was among 11 honorees, which included Caltrans, Muir Woods Shuttle, Safeway Inc., and VTA, to be honored by the commission for improving mobility and creating transportation alternatives for motorists who drive alone.
09.24.08
Stanford scores high for sustainability in national study
Stanford has scored in the top tier of the most recognized nationwide study of sustainability practices on college campuses. Only 15 of the 300 colleges and universities studied—Stanford among them—earned the title “overall college sustainability leader” in this year’s College Sustainability Report Card. The report is released annually by the Sustainable Endowments Institute in Cambridge, Mass.
09.23.08
Sustainable Stanford launches Student Green Fund
Sustainable Stanford has launched the Stanford Student Green Fund, which provides one-time grants for innovative student-driven projects designed to create a more sustainable campus. A total of $30,000 per academic year is available to fund projects.
09.17.08
President Hennessy’s residence goes solar
The official home of Stanford President John Hennessy has gone solar. The electric meter for Hoover House now runs backward at times, with the solar panels creating more electricity than the house requires.
09.10.08
Hennessy outlines ‘green’ building plans
As Stanford moves forward with large-scale construction projects across campus, energy efficiency will be planned into the buildings at every step, University President John Hennessy said Tuesday.
05.07.08
Manager for campus-wide sustainability programs to join staff May 19
Stanford has hired Fahmida Ahmed as manager of sustainable programs in the university's Office of Sustainability and Energy Management. When she starts on May 19, Ahmed's role will be to support the office's executive director, Joseph Stagner, in implementing and improving sustainability programs throughout Stanford.
