Director's Corner
 This month we announced (see article below) that CU student government has attained carbon neutrality for its facilities. This is another first for CU students to add to the long list of national firsts that punctuate the last 40-plus years of sustainability leadership on this campus. And I am proud that we did this correctly. CU students have led and invested their time and money in the most effective manner. First, we started with a robust energy conservation and efficiency initiative. As a result, total energy load in student government's three large facilities (UMC, Wardenburg, and the Recreation Center) has gone down substantially over the last five years even while campus population, building use, and footprint has increased. Second, we have invested in direct renewable power. About eight different projects funded by students now generate 300,000 kwh/year on campus. If we had space on campus, we'd put up more. And finally, we have looked for years to partner with other worthy organizations to find ways to cut their carbon emissions--because all carbon ends up in the same place, so we work to offset as much as possible. For the last few years we worked with the Colorado Carbon Fund to put solar thermal systems on low income housing in Loveland and to convert landfill methane in Ft. Collins to energy. All great projects. This year we announce a partnership with Native Energy to fund a landfill methane-to-energy system for a brick factory in neighboring Oklahoma. This effort displaces fossil fuels, creates jobs, lowers the price of local building materials, and drives a sustainable economy. Native energy will be here talking to students about all these issues in an educational effort on Fri., Feb 17 in our Carbon Neutrality Forum. Campuswide, there is still much work to do--and even in student facilities, we cannot roll back our efforts. We have only just begun. But it is good to take a breather once in a while and reflect on all we have accomplished. From that we can hopefully inspire tomorrow's students to stay the course. We owe this to all the students who came before us and set the table for this meal. But once we dine, we need to get back to washing the dishes. Let's keep pushing forward and keep CU at the cutting edge of campus sustainability in the nation and the world. Thanks to all past, present, and future CU students for making this ongoing effort necessary-and possible. Go Buffs! |
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Upcoming Events 
Sustainable Practices Upcoming courses
Sustainable Practices in the Building Industry Feb. 24
Sustainability Planning: Building the Business Case March 2
Social Responsibility: Tools for Building Culture, Values and Decision-Making
Friday, March 9
Urban Forests to Rain Gardens: Green Infrastructure March 9
LEED Green Associate Exam Prep classroom course April 27
This course covers material on the LEED Green Associate exam, includes study guides and materials, and satisfies the LEED pre-requisite for sitting for the exam. The Green Associate exam is the first step towards earning other LEED professional credentials in Green Building.
For more information about these classes or to enroll, visit http://sustainable.colorado.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=125
2012 Ecoleader Lunch-n-Learn Series Presents: Green Purchasing, Feb. 23
Bring your lunch and join us from 11:30-12:30 p.m. in UMC Room 355.
Learn about sustainable purchasing and how choices you make can have an improved effect on human health and the environment.
This presentation includes a brief history of purchasing initiatives on campus, and addresses how to find and compare different products in the CU Marketplace so you can make informed purchasing decisions for your office.
RSVP is appreciated at greenoffice@colordado.edu
Environmental Justice
film and discussion Series
CU ASE is hosting free films and biweekly discussions addressing Environmental Justice. Come for the free film screening and/or the discussions.
Climate Justice discussion
Feb. 29, 12-1 p.m.
UMC Room 381
Free film screening of "Climate Refugees"
March 6, 6:30 p.m.
EDUC Room 220
Discussions use a film clip, interview, article or radio series as a platform for the issue, and bring in background information about how the issue relates to current local, regional, national and global events. Discussions are informal. No previous knowledge or experience in Environmental Justice necessary.
Bring a brown bag lunch, an open mind and your own perspective!
The full calendar of Environmental Justice events can be found on the CU Assembly for Sustainability and Equity's website, http://ecenter.colorado.edu/environmental-justice/meetings-and-events or email cu.ase@colorado.edu
for more information.
Sustainabowl every first and third Thursday through April 19
Interested in the environment, passionate about bowling, or do you just want to have some fun? Sustainabowl is a great way to have a good time and meet people with similar interests.
This ongoing event happens every other Thursday in The UMC Connection, University Memorial Center first floor, from 8-10 p.m. through April 19. Join us for the next Sustainabowl on March 1!
CU Bike Station reopens Feb. 27
The CU Bike station will celebrate its reopening for the season on Feb. 27 with refreshments and free bicycle repairs for all registered owners. Registration will also be available on sight.
Join us to celebrate the beginning of another beautiful bike season in Boulder, and to learn more about the CU Bike program!
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Campus sustainability award nominations due March 8
Do you know someone or a group of people who deserves recognition or exceptional environmental efforts at CU? Now is their time to shine!
The annual CU-Boulder Campus Sustainability Awards is accepting nominations for 2012, and we need the entire campus community to help share the stories of those who make a difference.
The University of Colorado recognizes outstanding individuals and departments who help ease CU Boulder's burden on the environment.
Outstanding efforts make CU's successful and challenging approaches to attaining sustainability possible, and awardees exemplify CU's continuing efforts to become a sustainable institution. They set examples for environmental stewardship and responsibility and inspire the rest of us to do the same.
Some awardees have made groundbreaking efforts that will change the overall way CU operates, and others have made an impact on the community and campus environment with their everyday actions.
Nominate someone from any of seven different categories, either as
Individuals or as departments and/or partnerships. Nominees must be faculty or staff members, students, alumni or a department at the University of Colorado at Boulder campus.
The nomination deadline for the 2012 awards is Thurs., March 8, 2012. The Awards ceremony will take place on April 26th.
For more information and nomination forms, visit:
http://ecenter.colorado.edu/greening-cu/campus-sustainability-awards
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The CU Ski Bus wins the hearts of repeated riders
The popular bus brings students and friends to the slopes without the hassle of driving
Kristy Gustafson is a freshman at CU Boulder who has ridden the CU Ski Bus three times this season. Like many students and Boulder residents, she loves to hit the slopes but not the roads. Here's her take on what makes the Ski Bus the best way to travel:
How did you find out about the Ski Bus?
I found out about the Ski Bus through being a member of the Herd (which is awesome because you get a discount on bus tickets!) and also from fliers put up in my dorm.
Whom do you travel with?
Going with friends is awesome! As freshmen, not a lot of people have cars so you don't have to worry about mooching rides from people. The only tough thing is remembering to wake up on time.
What is your favorite resort?
Probably Vail. It's beautiful and the mountain is so big that the crowds are always spread out. (Plus it's awesome that I can tell my family and friends back at home that I'm taking a casual trip up to Vail to ski for the day. Who wouldn't get jealous about that?) It's definitely the longest trip but sleeping for most of the way definitely helps shorten the ride.
Overall impression?
The Ski Bus is great!
To learn more about the "greenest" and most relaxing way to ski or ride this winter, visit http://ecenter.colorado.edu/skibus. Book a seat early! |
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Sustainability Spotlight: Professor Kevin J. Krizek, Senior Transportation Fellow
Kevin J. Krizek came to the University of Colorado in 2007 as a professor of Planning and Design and was appointed director of the doctoral program in the College of Architecture and Planning. In addition to his regular work at CU Boulder, he has recently been named CU's Senior Transportation Fellow.
This new position by the Environmental Center was created to help provide the campus and the community with a vision and plan towards an advanced sustainable transportation system. The role includes interacting with campus and community transportation planning to assist with and synergize local and regional transportation issues, working with the CU Environmental Center's sustainable transportation program, mentoring CU students, and assisting faculty and staff in developing expertise and innovation related to transportation demand management.
"I hope to facilitate what CU has worked toward in motorized and non-motorized planning, and to further solidify the vision for CU and the community toward a sustainable transportation system," said Krizek.
He said technology will likely have a major role in the future of campus sustainability by enabling access to "intelligent resources" for both distance and classroom learning, for parking facilities and systems, and for overall growth and innovation.
Krizek said that it is important to recognize that CU has already taken ambitious steps to embrace sustainable transportation. With one of the most walkable and scenic campuses in the U.S., extensive bike trails with safety underpasses, and a well used public transit system, Krizek emphasized that his work will be to capitalize on these assets as much as possible, and to elevate what is in place to the next level.
"I hope to help provide the CU Boulder community with a unifying theme by interacting with the campus and bridging the disparate transportation themes that are cropping up across it," said Krizek.
"Professor Krizek follows in the huge footsteps of Spense Havlick and Will Toor, who wrote the book on sustainable transportation and university campuses--and helped shaped CU's nationally respected sustainable transportation system," said Environmental Center Director Dave Newport.
"With Professor Krizek's leadership, we can partner with campus and community transportation interests and make CU and Boulder an even more bike, bus, and pedestrian-friendly community, cut carbon emissions, and conserve fiscal resources. We are honored to have the support and expertise of such an esteemed member of the faculty," said Newport.
Krizek is also the outreach and education coordinator for Sustainability Initiatives on the Boulder campus, and he is co-director of Active Communities/Transportation Research Group which studies land use and transportation policy effects on residence and transportation choices.
He holds a doctorate in Urban Design and Planning from the University of Washington in Seattle. Krizek's blog, Vehicle for a small planet, discusses bicycle planning, active transportation, and active communities.
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Fostering Sustainable Behavior
Community-Based Social Marketing with Doug McKenzie-Mohr May 21-23 on the CU Boulder campus
 Most programs rely on disseminating information to achieve the behavior changes they hope to foster. Yet research demonstrates that simply providing information has little to no effect on what people or businesses do. Over the last decade, community-based social marketing has emerged as an effective alternative for promoting sustainable behavior. This three-day workshop with the founder of Community-Based Social Marketing, Dr. McKenzie-Mohr, will fundamentally change the way you think about program delivery. Who Should Attend: - Those who design and/or fund programs to encourage individuals and businesses to engage in sustainability-based behaviors--such as energy and water efficiency, waste reduction, transportation mode changes, purchasing, and more
- Those involved in environmental education, such as parks, recreation, wilderness, zoos, or aquariums
- Public health professionals who work to foster active and health lifestyles.
Introductory Workshop May 21 A comprehensive introduction to community-based social marketing and how it applies throughout the world to foster sustainable behavior. *attendance at this workshop, or an earlier McKenzie-Mohr introductory workshop, is required for the Advanced. Advanced 2 day Workshop May 22-23 An in-depth exploration of how community-based social marketing can be used to foster sustainable behavior. Participants will also be coached in making community-based social marketing presentations to their agency or community. All materials, refreshments and lunch are included in the workshop prices. For more information and enrollment, visit: http://sustainable.colorado.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=102 LODGING: Discounted rates are available at the Boulder Outlook Hotel, Boulder's first Zero Waste Hotel located within walking distance of the University. |
CU student government facilities achieve carbon neutrality in 2012
The University of Colorado Student Government has reduced the net emissions of greenhouse gases, or GHGs, from student-run facilities to zero after committing in 2007 to reach carbon neutrality.
The CUSG operates three large campus facilities including the University Memorial Center, the Recreation Center and Wardenburg Health Center.
More than 9,000 metric tons of GHG emissions attributed to operating the buildings have been eliminated through renewable energy generation, energy conservation measures and carbon-offset strategies implemented by the CUSG. Carbon neutrality was reached even as square footage and usage of the CUSG buildings increased in recent years.
"We are very proud of this accomplishment," said CUSG Vice President Carly Robinson. "It's a reflection of our sustainability-minded campus community and the impressive resources we have on hand to be more environmentally friendly, and even save money."
The CUSG partnered with Facilities Management to install additional solar panels on CU facilities that contribute roughly 72,000 kilowatt-hours of energy per month to the electricity grid -- enough to power about 80 houses. This renewable energy generation replaces a portion of energy generation from traditional systems that emit GHG emissions.
The CUSG buildings have also been renovated with better insulation and sealing technologies, more efficient lighting and windows. These upgrades reduced CUSG's total energy consumption by nearly - 15 percent over the last five years.
The CUSG has also worked with Colorado communities on carbon reduction projects as a way to offset GHG emissions by CUSG buildings. Additionally, the projects provide education, economic development and social equity benefits. One of the projects includes solar thermal system installations-- which are used to heat water -- on low-income housing in Loveland, Colo. Two years ago, CUSG helped support a landfill-methane to energy system installed at the Larimer County Landfill in Ft. Collins, Colorado. Recently, CUSG contracted with Native Energy to support a novel landfill-methane fueled brick kiln in neighboring Oklahoma. The Commercial Brick Company, Inc, provides 200 jobs, produces 144 million bricks/per year sold in 15 states, and the landfill-methane system directly replaces fossil fuels used for fire bricks.
The CU Environmental Center coordinated the carbon neutrality effort. The EC administers grants and loan programs within CUSG facilities that have helped fund energy conservations projects, delivering over $1.6 million in energy cost savings for CUSG over the past five years while driving down GHG emissions.
CU students and staff will gather on Friday, February 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a "Getting to Carbon Neutrality" forum. They will discuss achievements and remaining challenges pertaining to campus carbon neutrality. The event is open to CU students but requires preregistration at
ecenter.colorado.edu/carboneutrality.
For more information on the CUSG visit http://cusg.colorado.edu/. For more information on the CU Environmental Center's Energy and Climate program visit http://cusg.colorado.edu/.
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Green on the screen: Digital Media Contest
Awards up to $1,000 for students
 The CU Environmental Center is hosting a Zero Waste Messaging Contest, titled "Green on the Screen" to engage the CU student body in developing new and improved messaging strategies for zero waste practices on-campus. Student voice and creativity can be the strongest advocate for change, and this contest provides a platform for students to be heard. Sponsored by Ball Corporation, monetary prizes will be awarded as follows: - $1,000 for 1st place
- $800 for 2nd place
- $600 for 3rd place
- $400 for 4th place
- $200 for 5th place
Participants are to produce a 30 or 60 second commercial using any form of digital media. Content of the commercial must promote the Campus Zero Waste Goal 90 percent diversion rate by 2020 and focus on the specific material of Aluminum. Beyond winning the prize money, contest entries will be utilized within campus promotions and outreach to raise awareness around sustainable actions. If the entries are good enough, they could be extended to use in off-campus outreach in Colorado and beyond. You must be a student to enter and win. The contest runs from now through April 2. All entries must be received by April 2 at 5 p.m. to be judged, with winners announced by Earth Day, April 22. Pass the word on to students you know! For more complete contest rules and to submit an entry form, please visit: http://recycling.colorado.edu |
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