Issue 14

6/20/11

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Sustainability in the News
IU researchers studying urban forests in Bloomington backyards

Bloomington urban forestry study

After April's violent storms, hundreds of trees in Bloomington and Monroe County were damaged or lost entirely, significantly changing the face of the area's urban forest landscape. While there's no question that Mother Nature has effected dramatic change, urban residents can have a far greater impact over time, notes IU geographer Tom Evans. Evans, Burney Fischer of IU's School of Environmental and Public Affairs and colleagues at IU Bloomington's Center for the Study of Institutions, Population and Environmental Change (CIPEC) are leading a study of how interactions between people, their social and governmental institutions and the environment influence the sustainability of urban ecosystems. The study includes a survey of urban land management in Bloomington. Read More >> 

IU Bloomington reports major tree damage 

Dunn's Woods Damage

As a result of severe weather in Monroe County last month, Indiana University Bloomington sustained significant tree damage, which the university's veteran landscape crew members are calling the worst tree damage on campus in the last 30 years. At most recent count, IU Bloomington has lost nearly 300 trees, according to university officials who surveyed the campus in the wake of the storm, and this does not include damage north of the intersection of East Tenth Street and the Bypass and the IU Golf Course.

 Read More >>

IU hopes for help from donors in quest to replace lost trees

Indiana University Bloomington has begun the process of replacing some 300 trees lost during the severe storms that swept through the campus late last month, and a familiar face is contributing to speeding up the tree-restoration effort. 

University officials announced today (June 13) that former IU Trustee Stephen L. Ferguson and his wife, Connie, have donated 150 trees to IU Bloomington, which will enable the university to begin addressing those areas of campus most heavily impacted by storm damage. IU President Michael A. McRobbie said he hopes other friends and alumni of Indiana University will join with Ferguson in the effort to plant enough trees so that in a decade or two the natural beauty of the campus will be fully restored. 

Read More >> 

 

IU biologist Pikaard one of 15 in nation to benefit from $75 million plant science initiative
 
Indiana University Bloomington biologist Craig Pikaard has been selected by Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation as one of the nation's most innovative plant scientists. He will take part in a new initiative that boosts much needed funding for fundamental plant science research. 
 
"GBMF and HHMI believe the research will generate high-impact discoveries with implications for a range of intertwined concerns facing society: food production, human health, protection of the environment and identification of renewable energy resources," said Vicki L. Chandler, Chief Program Officer for Science at GBMF.

 Read More >> 

2011 Sustainability Course Development Fellowships recipients announced 

SCDF_IUBCampus

Two Sustainability Course Development Fellowships have been awarded to Indiana University Bloomington faculty by the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs. This landscaping site on campus was created to foster a sense of respect and stewardship for the natural environment. It integrates aesthetics and ecological integrity by using native plants, organic fertilizers, and natural pest control. The vegetation features prairie and woodland plants native to Indiana celebrating our natural heritage. Read More >>

Volunteers and donations needed for Hooiser to Hoosier Community Sale effort 

Hoosier to Hoosier Logo

Donate:  If you have items you'd like to donate, you can contact us throughout the summer to arrange a pickup (email [email protected]). 

Volunteer: Interested in volunteering to pickup donations, sort items, or help with sale day?  We need volunteers throughout the summer.  Email [email protected] for more info. Read More >>

In this issue:
Journal article examines effectiveness of state-level energy policies
IU Bloomington reports major tree damage
IU hopes for help from donors to replace lost trees
IU biologist receives grant to study plant science
2011 Sustainability Course Development Fellowships recipients announced
Volunteers and donations needed for Hooiser to Hoosier Community Sale effort
From the Director: Green Buildings at IU
IUOS interns begin blogging project
Featured Event: Lunch and Learn at the Bryan House Garden
Other Events and Opportunities
Bicycle
Support the Office of Sustainability
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Green Buildings at Indiana University
by Bill Brown
CIB Building
The CyberInfrastructure Building is close to Platinum LEED certification.

 

Most of us spend more than 90 percent of our time inside buildings. Those buildings account for approximately 40 percent of our total energy use, over 70 percent of electricity use, and 39 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.

So, if you are trying to improve the health and productivity of people while also reducing environmental impact, buildings are a good place to start.

Since 2008, Indiana University has required all major new buildings and renovations to be certified as green buildings using a metric called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) provided by the US Green Building Council (USGBC).

The IU Research and Teaching Preserve was the first IU building to be certified, followed by the Innovation Center. The Community Building at IU South Bend was also certified.

All of these buildings certified at the second level of the rating system, Silver, which is the minimum requirement for IU projects. The Multi-Science Building II is expected to be our first building certified at the next level up, Gold.  Union Street Center will soon join the ranks of certified projects, probably at the Silver level. A dozen more projects are in process of design, construction or final application, most currently tracking in the Gold level.

The CyberInfrastructure Building, nearing occupancy at the corner of 10th and the Bypass, is flirting with the highest level of certification, Platinum. Although early in design, the new Southeast Residence Hall is currently tracking in the Platinum range as well. Achieving this high level of performance with a limited budget is indicative of an integrated team effort through design and construction and all involved deserve our highest praise.

Our Campus Master Plan includes a discussion of how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2020 and green buildings play a key role. It recommends emphasis on the LEED credit given for building energy efficiency and specifically calls for achieving at least 30% better performance than a minimally code-compliant building.  Several recent projects have exceeded this goal without exceeding their project budgets. This attention to the energy efficiency of buildings will pay increasing returns in the future. IU Bloomington's electricity bill has increased by 74% since 2005 and this trend may accelerate due to proposed utility rate increases.

A new building, no matter how efficient, still adds to the total campus energy footprint, unless it replaces an existing structure that used more energy. The key to achieving overall energy and emissions reductions on campus will be to make the 500-plus existing buildings on campus more energy efficient. We will tell you about some exciting new initiatives impacting those buildings next time. 

Internship Program Update: 
IUOS Interns Begin Blogging Project 

 

This May, we began our fifth session of the Summer Internship Program in Sustainability. Seventeen interns from all corners of the university joined us this summer to work on projects ranging from bicycle friendly campus initiatives to programming support for students interested in living sustainably off-campus.  As always, these students will serve as the driving force for IU Office of Sustainability programming and research initiatives.

We hope our blog will provide the campus and Bloomington community a forum for understanding from student and staff perspectives how we're progressing toward the goals we've set for becoming a more sustainable campus.  Please read, comment, and if you'd like permission to post, email us at [email protected].

The address for our new site is: www.iusustain.wordpress.com

Lunch and Learn at the Bryan House Garden 

 

Lunch and Learn Bryan House

To fulfill its mission of growing food for the IUB campus and engaging the community in the process, the Bryan House Garden will host a Lunch and Learn for faculty and staff on Thursday, June 23rd from 12 to 1 pm. 

 

IU Office of Sustainability intern and Garden Coordinator, Stephanie Hopkins will lead a discussion about the importance of growing food for the campus community and incorporating the food growing process into IUB's academic initiatives.  A small gardening activity will follow. All gardening supplies will be provided, just be sure to pack a lunch! 

 

Additional Lunch and Learn programs are scheduled for July 21st and August 18th in an effort to continue dialogue about how a campus garden initiative can enhance our campus and community. 

 

For more information or to RSVP for a Lunch and Learn, please email: [email protected].

Events, Jobs and Volunteer Opportunities
If you are interested in having an event sent out over the listserv, please send an email with the title, time, date, location and description to [email protected] (or reply to this email) by the Saturday evening before your event occurs. Occasionally, we will send out additional notices, but we'll try to keep those to a minimum.  

 

This Week's Events:

See below for next week's events and ongoing opportunities to get involved!

 

Wednesday, June 22

Green Drinks Bloomington - "Growing a Healthy Food System: The Role of the Bloomington Food Policy Council"
When: 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Where: Upland Brewery Banquet Facility, 350 W. 11th St.
Description: Stephanie Solomon and Michael Simmons, founding members of the Bloomington Food Policy Council, will present a program entitled, "Growing a Healthy Food System: The Role of the Bloomington Food Policy Council" during the programmed portion of the evening from 6-6:30 pm. Solomon and Simmons will discuss why Bloomington needs a food policy council and its potential impact on the community. They'll discuss the role of food policy councils in other communities, what the Bloomington Food Policy Council is up to, and how you can get involved. 
$5 suggest donation, some food will be provided. 
Visit the Green Drinks website for more information. 
 
Thursday, June 23
Lunch and Learn at the Bryan House Garden
Led by Bryan House Garden Coordinator and IU Office of Sustainability intern, Stephanie Hopkins
When: 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Where: The Bryan House Garden
Description: Bring your lunch and a friend and join us for a discussion about the pilot campus garden at the Bryan House. We'll talk about the importance of growing food for our community and incorporating it into IUB's academic initiatives.  A small gardening activity will follow the discussion.
RSVP to [email protected]

Upcoming Events:


Friday, September 16 
3rd Annual Lugar Collegiate Energy Summit
Where: Indianapolis Museum of Art
Description: The Lugar Collegiate Energy Summit brings together students interested in energy issues with the goal of encouraging them in their current and future work. Among other things, there will be workshops on club development, outreach to businesses, and public policy, as well as time for students to network with businesses and organizations. 


Ongoing Events and Opportunities: 

 

University of Illinois seeks Program Advisor of Sustainability
The Illini Union, the campus community center of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is seeking a talented professional to serve as Program Advisor for Sustainability. This position will serve as the administrator to assist the Student Sustainability Committee in managing proposal submission, review process, and funds awarding process. The Program Advisor will work with a diverse group of student leaders and oversee the execution of projects funded through the Committee. In addition to the maintenance of all funding records and project documents, the individual will prepare financial and other reports for the Student Sustainability Committee. For full job description and application visit: https://jobs.illinois.edu/default.cfm?page=job&jobID=6408

Global Village Living-Learning Center Graduate Assistant Position (2011-2012) The Global Village is a residence hall located in Indiana University's northwest neighborhood and home to 170 academically focused students who share an interest in languages, culture, history, globalization, and world affairs and who want to learn from each other through cultural events and special interest groups. The Global Village GA will provide support to students planning co-curricular and extra-curricular events that meet the Global Villages mission of being a multilingual, multinational, multicultural, multidisciplinary residence hall. The graduate assistant would work closely with the three Global Village staff members, who will be supervisors of different aspects of the position.
Preferred Qualifications: 
*must be enrolled in a minimum of six graduate credit hours for fall semester 
* background or experience in student services, student affairs, service-learning, foreign cultural studies,
volunteer management, service-corps, etc. 
* proficiency in one or more foreign languages (and enthusiasm for foreign languages and cultures)
* experience with international travel and studying abroad 
* familiarity with IU structure, student services, IU resources, academic programs 
* (highly preferred) experience with data collection, data analysis, and data presentation 
* flexibility, sociability, compassion, and dedication to undergraduate education and the undergrad experience at IU
For complete job description email Lauren Caldarera, Assistant Director of the Global Village ([email protected]). 

Students Producing Organics Under The Sun (SPROUTS) Offers Summer Workdays When: Tuesdays and Saturdays, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: The SPROUTS garden located at 8th and Fess
Also look for the SPROUTS booth at the Bloomington Farmers Market on Tuesdays from 4-7 PM at the intersection of 6th St. and Madison Ave.  

GREEN Educational Adventure Programs in Costa Rica The Global Renewable Energy Education Network (GREEN) inspires university students to explore the fields of renewable energy and sustainability. The GREEN Educational Adventure Programs in Costa Rica offer a unique way to satisfy your intellectual curiosity while experiencing unforgettable adventures, gaining a cultural experience, and giving back to the community through socially responsible projects. The Programs in Costa Rica are focused on Renewable Energy Education, Adventure, Culture, and Social Responsibility. The 12-day trip gives students a chance to explore the topics of RENEWABLE ENERGY andSUSTAINABILITY through interactive lectures and exclusive hands-on site visits to functioning power plants, like wind farms and geothermal plants, and residential facilities, such as organic sustainable farms and green-centric housing developments.

Summer spots still available. Visit https://greenworknow.com for additional details and scholarship information. 

Sierra Student Coalition Midwest Regional Summer Leadership Training Participate in an exciting training opportunity coming up right in our own backyard! From July 11-18 the Sierra Student Coalition is holding their Midwest regional summer trainings (SPROG)in Bradford Woods (near Bloomington). It is a week long training in which you will learn the skills to run and win local and grassroots campaigns and victories. SPROG's have been around for 22 years and is an award winning training program run by student leaders from across the country. Learn new skills, meet new friends, and come together with other young people from around the Midwest to create a network of support that goes beyond our own communities. Contact Alexis Boxer ([email protected].org) of the Sierra Student Coalition if you are interested or would like more information about the program.

There are a limited amount of spots available so act fast! Share with your friends and networks and help build our movement here in Indiana!
View http://ssc.sierraclub.org/get-involved/training/summer-environmental-leader-training-program/index.html for more information.
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_153154141417658
Scholarship opportunities are available. Contact Alexis for scholarship information.

Simply Living Fair seeking sponsors and exhibitors The Center for Sustainable Living is pleased to announce that the 2011 Simply Living Fair will be held on Saturday, September 10th in Third Street Park (also known as the Waldron, Hill, and Buskirk Park).  They are seeking sponsors and exhibitors, with a goal of raising $1,500 to cover expenses. This is a great chance to showcase your green business or organization to a crowd of eco-minded folks who are willing to spend their dollars where their values are.  Booths are available for $25 for businesses and $15 for non-profits, with sponsorship opportunities starting at $80.  Please visit http://www.simplylivingfair.org for more information or contact the Center for Sustainable Living at (812) 332-8796.

Show tornadoes that they aren't welcome here!!  Donate to the City of Bloomington Tree Fund.
During the storms last month, the campus and community lost an estimated 500-700 trees, some of which were 150 years old or more.  Help replace these monuments in our green city!  Contact dunbarb@bloomington.in.gov (or 349.3498) to make a donation. Anything you contribute will help send a signal to tornadoes to dissipate into refreshing spring breezes.

Weekly Workdays at the Bryan House Garden If you are looking for something to do this summer and want to show the IU community that we can sustain a garden over the summer, come out to the Bryan House Gardens for our weekly work days! Every WEDNESDAY from 6-8 PM, we'll be maintaining our vegetable and herb gardens. Plus, if you volunteer 10 hours over the summer, you will receive fresh produce from the garden!
If you would like to volunteer, or if you are enrolled in a course or work with an organization that you think might be interested in this garden initiative, please email garden intern Stephanie Hopkins at [email protected].
The Bryan House Garden is located on the eastern lawn of the Bryan House, just to the west of the Musical Arts Center.

Hoosier Environmental Council 2011 Summer Internship Program  The Hoosier Environmental Council (www.hecweb.org) works to raise awareness and stimulate discussion about environmental issues in Indiana-and ultimately help change laws, create jobs, protect and improve the environment, and make Indiana a healthier, better place to live and do business.  HEC aims to recruit top quality undergraduates and graduate students for its 2011 Summer Internship program. 
�    Position is competitive; up to 2 positions per HEC program (energy, water, land use, development/marketing) 
�    Interns working in the school year receive course credit & a recommendation from their supervisor; summer interns receive, in addition, an HEC email address and a modest honorarium. 
Visit http://www.hecweb.org/about/jobs-internships/ to apply. 

Student Conservation Association Internships The SCA is one of the biggest partners for national parks and forests. Each year, they send thousands of youth across the country to get conservation experience in awesome places. Living expenses, housing, and round trip travel provided. Internships run from 3-12 months and are available in all 50 states. See http://thesca.org/serve/internships for more information and to apply.

Pick Up America Internships Pick Up America seeks interns year-round. It's a great opportunity for young people to get nonprofit experience while getting the chance to travel slowly. Students work closely with the core PUA team. Travel with us, pick up trash, and focus your skills on a specific project thisyear. Our goal is to make it to Denver by November. If you're interested in this great opportunity to see the USA one step at a time, email Johnna Jackson [[email protected]] with a brief letter to the Pick Up Artists, a resume, and references. At this time, we must ask interns to pay for room/board. $60/week. Or $45/week if you have a car. We'll pay for fuel while you're on the road with us. Visit http://pickupamerica.wordpress.com/help/ for more information. 

Office space available in Bloomington Eco Center Great downtown location. Shared meeting space.  Fantastic deal, includes all utils. and internet. $350/mo., Contact [email protected] for details. 

Contact Us

General comments and questions should be directed to [email protected].

Our address:

IU Office of Sustainability
1001 E. 10th St.
Geology 429
Bloomington, IN 47405

IUOS staff:

Bill Brown
Director of Sustainability
[email protected]
812-855-1822

Emilie Rex
Assistant Director of Sustainability
[email protected]
812-855-2678