John D. Spengler of Harvard University will give a talk titled "Leadership for Campus Sustainability" on Feb. 9, 2010 at 3:30 p.m. The talk will be held at the Life Sciences Building Auditorium (Room LSB 001) on SyracuseCoE Platinum Partner Syracuse University's main campus. A brief Q&A will follow the talk. Spengler is Akira Yamaguchi Professor of Environmental Health and Human Habitation at the Harvard School of Public Health and director of the Sustainability and Environmental Management Program at the Extension School. Spengler has conducted research in personal monitoring, air pollution health effects, indoor air pollution, and a variety of environmental sustainability issues. Several of his investigations have focused on housing design and its effects on ventilation rates, the selection of building materials, energy consumption, and total environmental quality in homes. The talk is sponsored by the SU Vice President for Research. It is co-sponsored by SyracuseCoE as part of its Research & Technology Forum series, supported by a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency. For more information on Jack Spengler, click here. To RSVP to this free event, click here.

SyracuseCoE is seeking applications for competitively awarded one-year Graduate Fellowships. Proposed Fellowship projects will address research questions associated with either air quality or water resource management, in support of the development of technology innovations for improving environmental quality in built and urban environments. SyracuseCoE is specifically interested in supporting graduate fellowship projects that focus on research that utilizes the capabilities of the newly completed SyracuseCoE Headquarters Building in Syracuse, NY. Applications are due February 1 by 5 p.m. For more information, click here.

O'Brien & Gere Wins Awards, Collaborates with SUNY Morrisville on Sustainable Food/Energy Production System

SyracuseCoE Platinum Partner O'Brien & Gere has been selected for two awards honoring significant growth in its delivery of Climate Action Plans (CAPs) and related greenhouse gas emission reduction services to US colleges and universities. The Climate Change Business Journal has recognized the firm as a winner in its Climate Change Practice category, and the Environmental Business Journal has recognized O'Brien & Gere's achievements in its New Practice Areas category. The awards cite O'Brien & Gere's success in 2009 developing CAPs for six signatories of the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment, a voluntary pledge made by colleges and universities to exercise environmental leadership by modeling strategies for eliminating global warming emissions and achieving climate neutrality. The firm is also collaborating with SUNY Morrisville, working on a closed-loop production system that would be the first in the industry to simultaneously address the future of energy supplies, food security, local food supply, and environmental quality. The project is funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and seeks to enhance the production of locally-grown foods using a combination of aquaculture and hydroponics called "aquaponics." For the full story, click here.

IAQVEC 2010 Deadline for Abstracts Extended

Abstracts will be accepted until January 31, 2010 for the 7th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality, Ventilation, and Energy Conservation in Buildings, to be held Aug. 15 to 18, 2010 in Syracuse, NY. IAQVEC is a premier international conference series, held once every three years. The theme of IAQVEC 2010 is "Innovation and Integration," and it will provide a forum for presentations of original research work and findings; demonstration and displays of innovative technologies; and discussions of future challenges and opportunities. The conference will cover a wide range of key research areas with the goal of simultaneously improving indoor environmental quality and energy efficiency and enhancing well-being and sustainability. Click here for more information and to submit an abstract.

Celebrate Downtown Syracuse with Open Atelier, Jan. 29

SyracuseCoE Silver Partner Open Atelier, along with the Cathedral Square Neighborhood Association, will host "Celebrate Downtown" on Jan. 29 at 4:30 p.m., at Open Atelier's new offices, 449/451 South Warren St. The event will showcase innovative concepts for downtown Syracuse as it continues to experience renewed interest and business expansions, with an exhibition theme of "Energy Conscious Design and Urban Revitalization." The event will feature special guest speakers, refreshments, and live music. For more information, call 315.200.1560.

CNY Works Receives $3.7M for Green Jobs Training

SyracuseCoE Collaborator CNY Works was one of 38 national recipients of green jobs training grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The $150 million grant program is designed to help transition workers into employment "pathways" in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. The Syracuse-based CNY Works application was a consortium effort that included a coalition of workforce providers, government agencies, educational institutions, not-for-profits, and trade associations, with SyracuseCoE as part of the team. For a full listing of the grants and project descriptions, click here.