|
Take this Campus Bike Share Survey!
You may have heard about a group on campus looking to start a bike share. Well, this group is trying to get the wheels rolling by gauging interest on campus. So please, if you are a student, fill out this short, 5 question survey! Also, if you're looking to get involved, feel free to email me ( Jason.Merges@tufts.edu) for more info!  |
|
USGBC Launches "Center for Green Schools"
The US Green Building Council has launched the Center for Green Schools, an organization that will encourage the greening of campus buildings around the country. There are nearly 140,000 schools in the US with countless buildings, thousands of which barely make code. The Center for Green Schools will advocate the benefits of a sustainable learning environment, and help foster a dialogue on these issues. For more information, visit their website.  |
|
How Green is your Automaker?
The Union of Concerned Scientists have conducted their 2010 Rankings of "Greenest Automakers" and Honda, once again, ranks first, barely edging out Toyota and Hyundai by just one point. Chrysler, for the fourth time in five assessments, ranks at the bottom of the list. Read the full rankings here.  |
White House Gets Solar White House Sets Example for Fed Buildings by Going Solar
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) Chair Nancy Sutley recently announced plans for the installation of solar on the roof of the White House residence. The plans are for two solar panels that will provide electricity, and a solar hot water heater that will heat water for use in the residence. More.
|
 Know a friend who would like to get this newsletter?
|
Got this via a friend? Then |
|
|
Greetings!
Hope you are doing well and that you're managing to stay somewhat warm in this blustery weather we're having. This past weekend saw 40 people participate in a world-wide climate action day at Tufts - read about it below. While Tufts students were taking action Tina went to the AASHE conference, where about 2000 sustainability officers from 49 states and 10 countries gathered to share ideas and learn about ways to make their campuses 'greener'. Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Chair Julian Agyeman gave one of the keynote presentations - reminding attendees that sustainability isn't just about the environment; but there are also very important social justice issues related to sustainability. In addition, last year's Environmental Action co-teacher, Dallase Scott, accepted AASHE's award "for Student Research on Campus Sustainability" She also gave a presentation on the Environmental Action class that was very well received. And lastly, don't forget to RSVP for the tour of Casella's recycling plant next Friday! (see below for details) Stay Green!
-Jason
Header photo: Sign from Sunday's 10/10/10 Climate Action Day event at ATO
|
|
The Tufts Global Work Party ATO Barnraising a success!
Thank you to everyone who came to the Global Work Party at ATO today! We put over 40 people to work making ATO more energy efficient and had a great time doing it! Plus we sent teams out into the community and exchanged over 20 CFLs for incandescents.
Even though we don't know the exact numbers, we still know that we did make ATO more energy efficient, and many of us learned skills we can bring back to our own houses/apartments and share with others.
Thanks again to our sponsors, Tufts Institute of the Environment, HEET, Urban + Environmental Policy + Planning, Fletcher Green, Tufts Energy Forum, ECO, and the Office of Community Relations. You can read the article in the Daily on the event here.
Sunday's events all over the world mark the biggest day of collective action about anything that has ever happened ever! This fight against climate change totalled 7,347 events in 188 countries! Pretty amazing to have been a part of it! Check out http://www.350.org/ to see all the pictures and videos streaming in from actions all over the world.
-Libby
|
|
Medford and Somerville move towards Single Stream Recycling
Medford and Somerville have announced their intent to move to a single-stream recycling system where all recyclables are disposed of in a single bin. This is to make recycling a more simplified process and hopefully increase residential recycling rates.
Both programs were slated to start in early October but have experienced some delays. The program in Somerville is a pilot program and as of right now will take place only in the 5th ward. For more information on the cities' recycling initiatives, read the article in the Daily.
Did you know that Tufts has single-stream recycling as well? Tufts Recycles has been pilot testing it in the Dental School for the past year.
|
|
Tufts Energy and Climate Policy Research Seminar
Sustainable Development: Rising incomes in developing countries and the acquisition of energy-using household appliances
Catherine Wolfram
University of California Berkeley, Haas School of Business
Monday October 18, 2010
12:30 - 1:45pm
Tisch Library, Room 304, Tufts University Light refreshments provided
In her most recent paper Wolfram and her co-authors explore the implications of rising incomes amongst the world's poor for energy use, focusing on the accumulation of energy-using assets (household appliances). Using data from Oportunidades, the Mexican conditional cash transfer program that began in 1998, the paper shows that households are more likely to give up consumption of non-durables, such as food, in order to acquire durables, such as refrigerators, when cash transfers are lumpy or income growth is fast. They show that the main driver of increased energy use among poor Mexicans has been the accumulation of energy-using household appliances. The results have implications for evaluating the effects of the timing of cash transfers and for considering the effects of income growth on energy use.
Sponsored by the Tufts Department of Economics, Tufts Institute of the Environment, and Fletcher's Center for International Environment and Resource Policy
|
|
Recycling Facilities Tour
October 28, 2010 12pm - 1:30pm
Casella Waste Systems, Charlestown MA
|
| Green Products "Tupperware Party"
October 17, 2010 12pm - 1pm
Eitz Chaim, 136 Magazine St, Cambridge
A dynamic and inspiring presentation by Laura Kischitz of Sustainable Life Solutions, detailing ways to consume less, live green, and save money- Moderated by CEA.
The presentation is followed by the opportunity for community members to purchase energy-saving and toxin-reducing products. To see the types of products
Sustainable Life Solutions promotes, you can visit http://www.sustainablelifesolutions.com/store/.
If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Bill Donaldson at 617-276-4913 or BillDonaldson@comcast.net to help us anticipate how many guests we will have.
Sustainable Life Solutions
Experts in helping people save - money, energy, health - through Educational Seminars, Programs, and Sustainability Consultations.
www.sustainablelifesolutions.com
|
| A View from the Top: Sustainable Roofs in Boston
October 28, 2010 4pm - 6:30pm
Federal Reserve Bank, Boston
The Boston Redevelopment Authority, in conjunction with a number of industry stakeholders, invites you to participate in A View from the Top: Sustainable Roofs in Boston, an event designed to help participants evaluate the features and benefits of various rooftop applications including a review of relevant, local case studies, as well as practical step by step advice to bring projects to successful completion. The audience of Boston building owners, facility managers, developers, the building community, decision makers and opinion leaders will gain practical, actionable guidance on an array of sustainable roof development options including solar photovoltaics, solar thermal, vegetated "green roofs" and high performing systems.
A View from the Top will include panel discussions and a cocktail reception featuring an exhibit hall designed to provide participants with all the resources necessary to complete sustainable roof projects.
The event will be hosted by Boston's Energy and Environment Chief Jim Hunt, BRA Chief Planner Kairos Shen, and BRA GreenTech Business Manager Galen Nelson.
Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and cash bar.
To sign up, see http://sustainableroofsboston.eventbrite.com/.
|
| 6th Annual Conference on Clean Energy
October 28, 2010
November 3-4, 2010
Hynes Convention Center, Boston
The Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center and the Massachusetts Hydrogen Coalition are hostingtwo days designed to provide you with the latest investment opportunities, business insights, and fund-raising strategies in Clean Energy. Company leaders participating in the Industry Panels will give their perspective on critical issues in many industry sectors including:
BioEnergy, Combined Heat & Power, Efficiency & Energy Services, Energy Storage, Portable Power, Smart Grid, Solar Energy, Wind Power, Electric Vehicle, Ocean Energy and Solid State Lighting.
Finance panels will feature top investors to provide insights into sources of seed, VC, project and government funding, providing the information startups need today to finance their companies. Presentations by over 40 early stage companies seeking investments and partnerships.
For more information about the conference, please visit http://www.greenovationconference.com/ and to register please visit http://greenovationconference.com/conference-logistics/fees.html
|
Previously Mentioned:
(Click the links for more information)
|
|
16th Annual Mystic River Cleanup
October 16, 2010 9:30am - 2pm
Condon band shell parking lot, Medford |
|
MCAN Climate Action Conference
October 24, 2010 10am - 5pm
Clark University, Worcester MA
|
|
Educational Opportunities |
| Windows on Water
October 21, 2010 7-9pm
Senior Center, Arlington
Windows on Water will focus on the many ways that water affects Arlington residents, businesses and the Town, and vice versa. Myriad aspects of water will be covered including:
- Learn about, enjoy, and protect Arlington's seven water bodies (all in the Mystic River Watershed);
- Storm water drains, storm water overflows and flooding;
- Pollution impacts from run-off containing pesticides, herbicides and de-icing salt;
- Water conservation by residents, the Town and businesses;
- Water and energy; and
- Water, climate change and Arlington.
For more information, visit the First Parish website.
|
|
Previously Mentioned:
(Click the links for more information)
|
|
The Greenest Building is Already Built Symposium
October 16, 2010 9am - 12:30pm
Boston Architectural College,
320 Newbury Street, Boston
|
LEED & Green Project Management
Oct 21 and 28, 2010 1:30 pm
Chauncy St., 7th Floor, Boston, MA
|
|
|
EPA Sustainability Grant Opportunity
Deadline: December 22, 2010
Inman Square, Cambridge (specifics TBA) |
|
Solectria Renewables Webinar Series
Friday, October 22nd, 2010 at 2pm - How to select the right PV inverter
Friday, November 19th, 2010 at 2pm - Utilizing Solectria Renewables PO Check list
Friday, December 3rd, 2010 at 2pm - Utility-Scale Solar
For more information, and to register for the webinars, click here. |
|
Evaluating Campus Sustainability
Friday, October 28nd, 2010 at 2pm
This webinar will focus on the history and purpose of various evaluation efforts for campus sustainability. Many different groups develop systems and publish reports on campus efforts, this webinar will highlight a few and discuss the value of each.
The webinar, with Q&A, will be 1 hour. Participants will receive dial-in and URL information two days before the conference. Participants that want to participate via the phone only can request a copy of the presentation.
Register for the webinar here.
|
The Tufts Office of Sustainability
http://sustainability.tufts.edu/
|
|
|
