News and Resources

 

07.17.12

FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE GEORGE SCHULTZ EXPLAINS
HIS ENERGY PHILOSOPHY

Former Secretary of State George Schultz, now a fellow at the Hoover Institute, has for many years been a strong advocate of renewable energy and bipartisan solutions to combat climate change. He holds leadership positions across Stanford, including advisory council chair of the Precourt Institute for Energy Efficiency. In a recent Q&A with the Stanford Report, Schultz explained why he believes energy is a pressing issue, how he leads by example in reducing his personal energy footprint, and the carbon tax proposal that his Shultz-Stephenson Task Force on Energy Policy has developed. Schultz believes that addressing climate change and the nation's energy future should be a bipartisan issue.

For further reading: Stanford Report, "Stanford's George Shultz on energy: It's personal"

06.29.12

STANFORD EARNS A GOLD RATING FROM THE AASHE STARS PROGRAM

Stanford’s overall sustainability performance has earned a gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). Data from campus operations, academics, and institutional programs was collated and submitted to AASHE’s Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS). The full assessment, publicly available online, represents input from more than 30 university departments and organizations. From AASHE’s membership pool of over 1000, Stanford is one of just 35 institutions to earn a gold STARS rating, the highest level awarded to date. As a Charter Participant in STARS, Stanford engaged in substantive dialogue with AASHE to influence future maturation of the rating system, now the main data source for all third-party sustainability evaluations.

To learn more about the AASHE STARS program, please visit: https://stars.aashe.org/

To view Stanford’s complete STARS submission, please visit: https://stars.aashe.org/institutions/stanford-university-ca/report/2012-06-29/

Read the Stanford Report's article, "Stanford earns gold rating for sustainability efforts."

06.27.12

STANFORD WOODS INSTITUTE ANNOUNCES ENVIRONMENTAL VENTURE AWARDS

The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment announced it has awarded five Environmental Venture Projects (EVP) grants, funding innovative research projects aimed at finding solutions to major environmental and sustainability challenges. The five funded grants total $833,000 over two years, and bring the total the project has awarded to $7.2 million since its inception in 2004.

For further reading: Stanford Report, “Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment announces 2012 Environmental Venture Project awards.”

06.20.12

AWARD HONORS ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE DIRECTOR

For her work to promote sustainability in higher education, Fahmida Ahmed, director of Stanford’s Office of Sustainability, earned one of three individual prizes awarded at the 2012 California Higher Education Sustainability Conference. Including her prior work at UC Santa Barbara and UC Berkeley, Ms. Ahmed has been an active member of the consortium since 2006, and now holds the distinction of being the inaugural recipient of the Private College Sustainability Champion Award. The designation recognizes “an individual who has been a role model to their peers around the state; has promoted sustainability throughout their campus; achieved results; and who truly embodies the term ‘leader’.”

Since joining Stanford’s staff in 2008, Ms. Ahmed’s contributions to campus sustainability include development of Stanford’s Climate and Energy Plan, the CEE/ES 109 service-learning course, the Student Green Fund, and numerous publications and outreach materials. Most recently, Ms. Ahmed forged partnerships between the UC system and the Ivy Plus consortium to influence national sustainability evaluations. Ms. Ahmed’s future work includes the implementation of Sustainability 3.0, a collaborative effort between campus academics and operations that underscores Stanford’s status as a national leader in sustainability teaching, research, and action.

For a full list of award winners at this year’s conference, visit https://www.cahigheredusustainability.org/awards/2012Winners.aspx.

06.13.12

STANFORD LAUNCHES SESI INTERACTIVE PORTAL

Stanford Energy System Innovations (SESI) represents a revolutionary step in campus energy supply, and interested community members can now learn about the project at an interactive website, https://sesi.stanford.edu. Approved by the Board of Trustees in December 2011, the SESI project is now underway to convert all campus steam piping to hot water, and to replace the current aging cogeneration plant with a new heat recovery facility. Once complete, SESI will reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions by 50% and campus potable water use by 18%. The new website explains the SESI project in detail, including related articles, the new climate action video, and an updated project FAQ. Most notably, the new website contains an interactive campus map showing current and upcoming areas of construction.

06.01.12

ENERGY POLICY FORUM AT STANFORD

The Hamilton Project at Brookings hosts an energy forum titled, “New Directions for U.S. Energy Policy,” at Stanford’s Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center. The forum will consider increases in North American supplies of natural gas and petroleum, and the effect on energy choices, climate change, and national security. Participants include staff from Facebook, Chevron, Duke Energy, Sun Microsystems, Farallon Capital Management; directors from the Global Climate and Energy Project, and Hoover Institute; former Michigan Governor Jennifer Grandholm, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert E. Rubin, and former U.S. Secretary of Labor, Treasury, and State George Shultz.

To read more about the event, visit: https://www.hamiltonproject.org/events/energy_event/

05.30.12

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE RECEIVES GREEN AWARD

The Stanford University Medical Center (SUMC) was recognized for multiple awards and commendations from Practice Greenhealth, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing environmental solutions for the healthcare sector. A staff-driven initiative, the medical center continues to examine way to increase resource savings from composting and recycling, to utilizing non-disposable medical tools. This year, staff focused on efforts in its operating rooms, known to generate 20 to 30 percent of a hospital’s total waste. In addition to saving resources at Stanford’s medical facility, Stanford also became of member of the advisory board of the Health Care Plastics Recycling Council, aimed at expanding the medical industry’s sustainability.

Learn more about SUMC’s sustainability initiatives, including a YouTube video of green operating room practices.

05.23.12

SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD MONTH EXPLORES THE FUTURE OF SEAFOOD

The Stanford chapter of the Coastal Society presented several campus events this month designed to examine the state of ocean fisheries and the future of seafood. “Sustainable Seafood Month” events included film screenings of ‘Sushi The Global Catch,’ and ‘The End of the Line.’ The annual Cardinal Cook-Off, which partners students with Stanford Dining chefs featured sustainable halibut. An expert panel discussion titled, ‘The role of business and consumers in the future of sustainable seafood’ was held May 17. The series of events were co-sponsored by the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford Dining, and Stanford Speakers Bureau.

05.11.12

BIKE TO WORK DAY 2012 RECAP & RESULTS

On Thursday, May 10, 2012 the Stanford community participated in the Bay Area's 18th annual Bike to Work Day. More than 1,200 bicycle commuters were counted coming onto campus – approximately 100 more riders than last year. Nine Stanford Energizer Stations were sponsored by Parking & Transportation Services, and offered encouragement, snacks, and prizes for those who logged their mileage. The riders who stopped to log mileage reported an average round-trip commute of 10.3 miles, and a total of 2,330 miles, which translates to 2,213 pounds of CO2 emissions avoided. In addition to prizes offered for logging miles, Stanford community members could win a Fuji Crosstown 4.0 bike, donated by the Campus Bike Shop for taking the Stanford Bike Safety Pledge.

04.23.12

STANFORD CELEBRATES SUSTAINABILITY MILESTONES, LOOKS AT NEXT STEPS

Stanford University will hold the first “Celebrating Sustainability at Stanford” event on May 7th, 2012. The event is designed to celebrate sustainability milestones and accomplishments at Stanford, as well as share achievements of the past and an outlook for the future. The event will culminate a recent and collaborative planning effort on campus that was undertaken to identify a shared and actionable vision for sustainability in the coming years. The event, open to all Stanford faculty, staff, students, and community members, will include Sustainability in Research, Curriculum, and Action – panel discussion, Next Steps in Leading Sustainability by Action, closing remarks by Provost and Acting President John Etchemendy, and a zero-waste reception to follow. To register for this free event, please RSVP online here.

04.18.12

SUSTAINABLE STANFORD PARTICIPATES IN WELLNESS FAIR

The Office of Sustainability, PSSI/Stanford Recycling Center, and Parking & Transportation Services participated in the 8th annual Wellness Fair at the Arrillaga Center for Sports and Recreation. In keeping with this year’s theme “Small Steps, Big Strides,” PSSI/Stanford Recycling gave participants free small trash bins, challenging Stanford employees to fit a week’s worth of trash into the bin. P&TS highlighted the multitude of alternative transportation options on campus and encouraged employees to record their favorite part of their commute. The Office of Sustainability offered participants “The Tree’s Pocket Guide to a Sustainable Stanford,” a new publication that outlines carefully selected simple sustainable actions that are easy to complete, yet make a big difference at Stanford when completed by everyone.

04.16.12

MAKE EVERY DAY EARTH DAY AT STANFORD CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES

The Office of Sustainability carefully studied and identified key individual sustainable actions that are easy to complete, yet make a big difference by conserving resources, reducing costs, and engaging the campus community. Stanford students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to pledge to complete one, many, or even all of the actions over the course of the next six months and make sustainability part of their daily habits. Former Stanford Tree extraordinaire, Jonathan Strange, demonstrated each sustainable act, and the collection of photos and suggestions are published in “The Tree’s Pocket Guide to a Sustainable Stanford,” a publication intended for the entire campus community.

Read more about the Earth Day campaign, download the guide, and take the pledge.

04.04.12

WATER, FOOD, ENERGY, AND CLIMATE SYMPOSIUM

On Monday, April 16, 2012, Stanford experts from a range of disciplines will discuss the interconnections and interactions among humanity's needs for and use of water, food, energy, and environment, in a symposium titled, "Connecting the Dots: The Water, Food, Energy, and Climate Nexus." Drawing on their own research, the speakers will illustrate and evaluate some of the ways in which decisions in one resource area can lead to trade-offs or co-benefits in others. Symposium attendees will participate in breakout sessions, led by Stanford students and faculty, on a range of challenges associated with sustainable freshwater.

Read more and register for this event at: https://connectingthedots.stanford.edu.

03.23.12

STANFORD EARNS $1.64 MILLION REBATE FROM PG&E

After retrofitting four campus buildings for greater energy efficiency, Stanford University has earned $1.6 million in cash rebates from PG&E. Upgrades to heating, cooling, ventilation, electrical and water systems were carried out over the course of two years. Altogether, the improvements are expected to save more than $1.8 million annually in energy costs.

Since 1990, Stanford has earned nearly $4 million through PG&E’s energy efficiency incentive programs. The retrofitted buildings include the Beckman Center for Genetic and Molecular Medicine, Gilbert Biological Sciences building, Cantor Arts Center, and Green Library West (also known as the Bing Wing).

Read more about the Whole Building Retrofit Program.

03.16.12

KNIGHT MANAGEMENT CENTER ACHIEVES LEED PLATINUM RATING

The Knight Management Center, an eight-building complex at the Graduate School of Business, has achieved a LEED Platinum® rating by the U.S. Green Building Council – the organization’s highest certification level. The buildings received 60 points, far above the 52-point threshold for Platinum. Among the energy-efficient features of the buildings are photovoltaic panels on the roof that produce enough solar energy to meet 12.5% of the complex’s annual demand.

Read the full story on the Graduate School of Business' website here.

03.14.12

BEWELL HIGHLIGHTS INTERSECTION OF WELLNESS & SUSTAINABILITY

Stanford’s BeWell Program sat down with Fahmida Ahmed, who directs the Office of Sustainability, to discuss the intersection of wellness and sustainability. Ms. Ahmed spoke about why sustainability matters, how personal wellness and sustainability intersect, and what individuals can do to make a difference in their personal lives and on campus. “Just as personal wellness is about long-term living and existence, wellness and sustainability are linked philosophically and in practice because they have the natural environment as the common denominator,” she says, “and what’s good for one’s individual health is also a strategy for saving natural resources.”

Read the full BeWell interview here: bewell.stanford.edu/sustainability

03.08.12

SUSTAINABILITY PRACTICES SURVEY SHOWS DEEP SAVINGS POTENTIAL

The Office of Sustainability recently surveyed a very small but randomly selected sample of Stanford students, faculty, and staff. The survey, titled ‘Sustainability Practices at Stanford’ sought to identify baseline levels of environmental sustainability awareness and everyday practice on campus. Questions included habits and barriers focused on office and room lighting, computers, monitors, and printer use, air conditioners and heaters, refrigerators, reusable products, water, recycling and composting, food choices, and the influence of others.

Contributors to the design of the survey included the Haas Center for Public Service, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Precourt Institute for Energy, Stanford’s Health Improvement Program (HIP), Stanford Dining, Students for a Sustainable Stanford, Green Living Council, and the Associated Students of Stanford University (ASSU).

For results, see: Stanford Report, “It’s like your mom said: ‘Turn off that light!’”

02.29.12

RECYCLEMANIA CAMPAIGN GENERATES RECORD PLEDGES

The RecycleMania 2012 campaign kicked off in early February and saw a record number of pledges, over 650 in its first three weeks. For each week of the campaign, students, faculty, and staff are asked to visit the RecycleMania campaign page and pledge to keep recyclables out of the landfill/trash bins. 2012 marks Stanford's sixth year in the national competition, a benchmarking tool for higher education recycling programs, with over 200 college and universities competing across the U.S. This year, the Office of Sustainability enhanced the existing campaign by offering $1500 in participation prizes.

02.22.12

STANFORD WINS BEST WORKPLACES FOR COMMUTERS AWARD

For the ninth year in a row, Stanford University was recognized as one of the Best Workplaces for Commuters by the National Center for Transit Research in 2011. Stanford also competed in the Best Workplaces for Commuters 2011 Race to Excellence. The award recognizes those who offer the highest levels of commuter benefits. Stanford was honored with the “Best Of” award, the top prize in the Race to Excellence.

Further reading: Stanford Report, "Stanford wins top honors among workplaces for commuters".

02.16.12

INITIATIVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY: FINAL REPORT

The Initiative on the Environment and Sustainability is one of eight initiatives in The Stanford Challenge that began in 2006. This particular initiative focused on teaching and research in five areas, freshwater, land use and conservation, climate and energy, oceans and estuaries, and the sustainable built environment, which resulted in $432.8 million raised. Led by Pam Matson, Dean of the School of Earth Sciences, with Jeffrey Koseff and Buzz Thompson co-directors of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, this initiative has brought great awareness to and investment in educational resources.

Highlights of the results for the Initiative on the Environment and Sustainability can be read here.

With a total result of $6.23 billion, The Stanford Challenge was “a five-year campaign aimed at seeking solutions to complex global problems and educating the next generation of leaders.” Read the final report here.

02.09.12

WINTER CLOSURE RESULTS AND RECOGNITION ANNOUNCED

The Department of Sustainability and Energy Management and Zone Management announced the results and participation winners of the 2011 winter closure. Exceeding the performance goal of a 10% improvement in energy and cost savings, 168 total buildings participated and increased operating savings by 32%, with a cumulative net energy cost savings since 2001 totalling $2.5 million. The Juniper Building, Braun Music Center, and trades & crafts supervisor Scott Hofflander were participation raffle winners.

Further Reading: Stanford Report, "‘Turn Off for Break’ campaign nets $266,000 in savings." Additional energy saving results are available on the Winter Closure site.

01.20.12

STANFORD'S COMMUTE CLUB CELEBRATES 10 YEARS

The Stanford Commute Club celebrated its 10-year anniversary, and increases the Commute Club Clean Air Cash and Carpool Credit from $282 per year to $300. With nearly 8,000 members participating in the Commute Club, the program helps reduce peak-hour commute trips, a critical goal in the university's growth plan. For further reading, visit the Commute Club site.

01.13.12

SUSTAINABLE STANFORD GOES SOCIAL

To further engage users into its programs and campaigns, raise awareness of sustainable choices and resources, Sustainable Stanford launched news feeds on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

01.09.12

SUSTAINABILITY & CONSERVATION PROGRAM MANAGER JOINS STUDENT HOUSING

Kristin Parineh joined Stanford's Student Housing as the Sustainability and Conservation Program Manager. Kristin received her Masters degree in Public Administration in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management from Columbia University. She also completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Design and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from UC Davis. Kristin is a LEED Accredited Professional and has been an active member in the green building community in the Bay Area and nationally. She has advised design teams, and has provided technical review of building plans with a variety of green building standards and systems (LEED, CALGreen, BIG, CHPS, Energy Star Portfolio Manager, and HERS II).

Kristin's most recent professional experience was with the City of Palo Alto where she was the Sustainability Planner. Prior to her work with the City of Palo Alto, she worked as a Project Manager and Assistant Director for the Collaborative for High Performance Schools with Architectural Energy Corporation (CHPS). Kristin's office will be located at 672 Lomita Court, (next to the Housing Health, Safety, and Environmental Compliance Office).

01.04.12

STANFORD SUSTAINABILITY PRESENTED ON ESPN.COM

As part of the ESPN Eco Challenge, the College GameDay Goes Green Crew visited Stanford during the Stanford – Oregon football game, and features Stanford’s sustainability efforts on ESPN.com this month. The GameDay Green Crew learned about Stanford’s guidelines for sustainable buildings, its plans for an innovative heat recovery system, Green Fund student project winners, its hybrid and electrical vehicle fleet, waste audits, food and water systems, energy-saving programs, and enjoyed a tour of Y2E2, including the building’s state-of-the-art energy consumption dashboard. The ESPN College GameDay Goes Green Crew travels with the ESPN GameDay show, explores sustainability features of universities visited, and trades fans ESPN gear for their used bottles and cans.

01.03.12

CLEANTECHIES FEATURES STANFORD'S TOP TEN SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES

CleanTechies, a San Francisco-based online network hub for clean technology professionals, posted a Top-Ten Sustainability Initiatives for Stanford University, based on information from Sustainable Stanford. Featured were Stanford’s Office of Sustainability, Administrative policies, Climate and Energy Plan, Food and Recycling, Green Buildings, Student Involvement, Transportation, Students for a Sustainable Stanford, Green Living Council, and the Stanford Community Farm.

12.15.11

STANFORD'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVES CAMPUS ENERGY PLAN

Stanford’s Board of Trustees gave concept approval to the Campus Energy System Innovations project (SESI), designed to meet the university’s energy needs through 2050. As part of Stanford’s Energy and Climate Action Plan, SESI involves many components, including building a new central energy facility that recovers waste heat from the campus chilled water system to meet the bulk of campus heating needs, converting the existing central steam system to a more efficient hot water system, and building a new and expanded electrical substation. Once completed, the campus will use 70 percent of the waste heat currently expelled from cooling towers to meet 80 percent of its heat demands, reduce campus water consumption by more than 18 percent, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to less than half of what they are today.

Further reading: Stanford Report, “Reducing Stanford’s carbon footprint.”  Additional background information is available at https://sustainable.stanford.edu/climate_action.

12.05.11

BONAIR SIDING BUILDINGS PILOT OFFICE COMPOSTING PROGRAM

With voluntary delamping complete, and Smart Strips and timers deployed throughout Bonair Siding, LBRE continues to improve its building-level sustainability. A pilot office composting program formally launched on December 5th, 2011 in all Bonair kitchenettes. PSSI will empty the bins three afternoons each week and the pilot will provide valuable information regarding the potential for office composting campus-wide. A poster display created to educate users about compostable and non-compostable break room supplies will rotate through each department to help encourage correct waste sorting.

11.17.11

SUSTAINABLE STANFORD PUBLISHES 2010 - 2011 YEAR IN REVIEW

Again printed for limited distribution, the Sustainable Stanford - A Year in Review: 2010 - 2011 report is now available online. Produced by the Office of Sustainability, this publication summarizes operational and programmatic milestones, presents metrics and trends, and provides a chronological snapshot of various noteworthy initiatives and accomplishments by academic and operational departments. The document highlights the numerous avenues through which sustainability has become a tangible part of the Stanford experience.

11.01.11

OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY JOINS INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION EXCHANGE

The Office for a Sustainable Campus at Japan’s Hokkaido University invited representatives from Stanford and several other PAC-12 universities to present on campus sustainability at the International Symposium on Creation of Sustainable Campuses held October 26th, 2011. This international information exchange provided an opportunity to discuss Sustainable Stanford’s work to integrate sustainability into the campus culture and make sustainability a tangible part of the Stanford experience. Japanese universities shared their campus sustainability perspectives, including the motivation for energy conservation resulting from the great East-Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in March 2011.

10.24.11

OUTREACH COORDINATOR JOINS OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY

Jemal Diamond joined Stanford’s Office of Sustainability as the Sustainability Outreach Coordinator where he will work to advance awareness and implementation of campus-wide Sustainable Stanford programs. His portfolio will include publications, outreach campaigns, educational interfaces for the office’s programs and services, and green report cards for Stanford schools and departments.

Jemal comes to the Office of Sustainability from Stanford's Residential & Dining Enterprises (R&DE), where he spent six years managing communications and campus outreach efforts, including developing and implementing their social media strategy. He was a key contributor to the application that led to Stanford Dining's receipt of the Acterra Award for Business Sustainability, and oversaw the production of Stanford Dining and Stanford Hospitality's first comprehensive sustainability report. Other highlights from his work at R&DE include outreach campaigns for Stanford Seafood Sustainability Week, 350 Climate Conscious Week, and the Love Food, Hate Waste program. Prior to working at Stanford, Jemal was the Instructional Resource Coordinator for The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he also earned his Masters in Fine Arts in Visual Communication.

Jemal’s office is located within the Department of Sustainability and Energy Management on the first floor of 327 Bonair Siding.

10.11.11

SUSTAINABLE STANFORD JOINS FOUNDER'S CIRCLE FOR BILLION DOLLAR GREEN CHALLENGE

Sustainable Stanford joined with 32 other institutions to launch the Billion Dollar Green Challenge. The goal is to invest a cumulative total of one billion dollars in self-managed green revolving funds that finance energy efficiency upgrades on campus. The Challenge is inspired by the exceptional performance of existing green revolving funds, which have a median annual return on investment of 32%, as documented by Greening The Bottom Line, a report published by the Sustainable Endowments Institute. “We’re transforming energy efficiency upgrades from perceived expenses to high-return investment opportunities,” said Mark Orlowski, executive director of the Sustainable Endowments Institute, which is coordinating The Challenge along with 13 partner organizations. “Stanford University should be commended for rising to The Challenge and investing in energy efficiency improvements on campus.” The Billion Dollar Green Challenge launched publicly on October 11 at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education conference in Pittsburgh. With more than 2,500 participants, including representatives from Stanford, the conference was the largest gathering to date on higher education sustainability. Please visit the Billion Dollar Green Challenge website for more information.

09.30.11

STUDENTS INVITED: KEYS TO SUSTAINABILITY AT STANFORD RECEPTION

We invite you to join Fahmida Ahmed from the Office of Sustainability, Dean of the School of Earth Sciences Pam Matson, and Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment Faculty Directors Jeff Koseff and Buzz Thompson on October 17th from 5-6 pm in the Y2E2 courtyard for a Sustainable Student Welcome Reception. This exciting event is designed to unlock the mystery of sustainability at Stanford and introduce you to the multitude of ways you can pursue environmental interests on campus and beyond. The event will feature speakers, giveaways, music, and food catered by eco-friendly local company Raw Daddy. Come learn about: sustainability-related majors and departments, sustainability student groups, and sustainability grants, internships, and research opportunities. Download the event flyer for more information.

09.21.11

STANFORD MBA RANKED #1 FOR CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

The Aspen Institute awarded a first place ranking to Stanford's MBA program for corporate responsibility and sustainability. The strength of course content that emphasized for-profit ways of addressing social and environmental impact contributed to the top ranking, published in the online report, Beyond Grey Pinstripes.

09.06.11

STANFORD EARNS 2ND PLACE SUSTAINABILITY RANKING FROM NEWSWEEK

Newsweek combined existing rankings from Sierra magazine, the Sustainable Endowments Institute, and College Power to determine its own list of the nation's greenest colleges. Stanford earned the second place spot in the ranking. The methodology for the Newsweek's scoring, as well as a list of the top 25 colleges and universities, can be found online. Stanford consistently performs in the top-tier on third-party evaluations, and a history of prior rankings can be viewed on the Recognition & Awards page.

08.29.11

SUSTAINABLE ENDOWMENTS INSTITUTE HIGHLIGHTS STANFORD IN GREEN REVOLVING LOAD FUND REPORT

The Sustainable Endowments Institute (SEI), the organization responsible for the sustainability survey and evaluation scheme published annually in the Green Report Card, opted to take a sabbatical year this summer to focus on detailed investigation of Green Revolving Funds. As shown SEI’s report Greening the Bottom Line: The Trend toward Green Revolving Funds on Campus, the Energy Retrofit Program, Whole Building Retrofit Program, and Water Conservation Program contributed to the Stanford having the largest fund size of universities surveyed, as well as the largest amount of invested capital and the most number of projects. As a follow-up to the initial report, SEI published a Stanford-specific case study to explore these retrofit and conservation programs in much greater detail. With this case study publication, Stanford joins just nine other schools profiled for exceptional investment in efficiency.

08.17.11

STANFORD REPEATS 5TH PLACE RANKING ON SIERRA'S COOL SCHOOLS SURVEY

For the second consecutive year, Stanford placed 5th on the Sierra magazine's "Cool Schools" sustainability survey, making it one of "The Coolest" schools in the country. On this year's survey, Stanford improved its scores on the Food and Purchasing categories, and maintained last year's perfect or near-perfect scores on the Academics, Waste, and Other Initiatives sections. To view the complete list of "Cool Schools" and Stanford's Top 10 feature, please click here.

07.25.11

THIRD EDITION OF SUSTAINABILITY ON THE FARM STUDENTS' GUIDE PUBLISHED

Prepared by student associates working with the Office of Sustainability, the third edition of the Students' Guide to Sustainable Living at Stanford is now available electronically. The short guide provides an overview of campus operations, showcases tips and tricks to use throughout the year, and highlights sustainability campaigns in which student involvement is critical. A limited number of printed copies will be available during New Student Orientation and at sustainability events throughout the year.

06.20.11

NEW BIKE REPAIR STAND OPENS IN BONAIR SIDING

A new bike safety repair stand, located at the front entrance to 340 Bonair Siding, opened on Monday. The new stand, the third installed on campus, enables bicyclists to make minor repairs and pump up tires for free, making it more convenient for the campus community to maintain safe bicycles. Multiple tools are securely fastened to the rack, which also serves as a bike stand. For more information, and to find the other repair stand campus locations, visit the bike safety repair stand website.

06.17.11

SUSTAINABLE PURCHASING CAMPAIGN DRAWS RECORD PARTICIPATION

In its first week, the One Less, Save More sustainable purchasing campaign, the fourth offering in the Be Cardinal Green series, recorded record participation from the Stanford Community. The Procurement organization, in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability, launched the campaign to promote purchasing habits at Stanford that minimize negative impacts on the environment while appropriately supporting teaching, learning, and research needs. To learn more about the campaign and see how you can get involved, visit the campaign website where you can review the major goals, take the pledge and enter the weekly raffle, and watch a recording of the informational webinar.

06.05.11

STUDENTS LAUNCH FREE STORE FOR GREEN MOVE-OUT

Students for a Sustainable Stanford and the Green Living Council increased the visibility and quantity of events associated with the university’s green move-out. The Green Free Store event, publicized via a student-created video, encouraged everyone to bring things they could not keep over the summer and allow others to take them instead of buying new products. Items brought to the event included futons, bean bag chairs, books, movies, clothing, desk supplies, lamps and more. Partnerships to create the Green Free Store incorporated other student groups targeting reuse, including the new Clothes Loop and Project Kickback.

05.25.11

ERP EXPRESS FOR OFFICE EQUIPMENT REBATE PROGRAM LAUNCHED

Sustainability and Energy Management (SEM) recently launched the ERP Express for Office Equipment rebate program, which offers incentives to departments to purchase and install small energy-saving devices like Smart Strips and appliance timers. The new FY11 offering supports the Building Level Sustainability Program, a platform for Stanford's Schools and Departments to educate occupants and implement sustainability practices at the building level via individual action and engagement. For more details on available rebates, eligibility requirements, terms, and conditions please review the online application form. Questions can be directed to [email protected].

05.19.11

BIKE TO WORK DAY 2011 RECAP & RESULTS

On Thursday, May 12, 2011 the Stanford community participated in the Bay Area's annual Bike to Work Day. More than 1,100 riders passed one of nine Energizer Stations set up on campus. Those riders who stopped to log mileage reported an average round-trip commute of 6.7 miles and a total of 3,611 miles — translating to 3,430 pounds of CO2 emissions avoided. For a complete review of the results, and more information on the Bike to Work Day celebration, please visit the Stanford Dish article.

05.02.11

SEM & SOM LAUNCH FY2011 CASH FOR CLUNKERS FREEZER RETIREMENT PROGRAM

Sustainability and Energy Management (SEM) and the School of Medicine (SOM) have again partnered to offer financial incentives to labs that put DNA and RNA samples into room temperature storage and dispose of old ultra-low temperature freezers. The FY11 Cash for Clunkers program makes it easier for researchers to try room temperature storage technology and earn rebates up to $13,000. Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis so visit the SOM sustainability page today to learn more about sustainable alternatives to frozen sample storage and download an application form. Researchers outside SOM can earn cash back through ERP Express for Lab Equipment. An application form with details and an FAQ sheet are available online. Please download the program flyer suitable for posting and distribution to all campus laboratories.

04.20.11

STANFORD AGAIN INCLUDED IN PRINCETON REVIEW’S GUIDE TO GREEN COLLEGES

In partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council, the Princeton Review released its annual Guide to Green Colleges. The handbook profiles the 311 schools out of 703 that scored 80/100 or better on a 50-question sustainability survey. Stanford scored 97 points and has again been included in the publication. For more information on the 2011 guide and the survey methodology, please visit the Princeton Review’s recent press release.

04.18.11

TELL YOUR WATER TALE - WATER WISE CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES TODAY!

The next focus area in the Be Cardinal Green campaign series is water. For the next four weeks we invite you to help identify opportunities for improved landscape irrigation efficiency. Visit the Water Wise campaign page to learn more about the campaign and to “Tell Your Water Tale” by filling out a water action report. Raffle prizes are available for those who complete reports that contribute to positive change. Sustainable Stanford will host an open invitation webinar on Monday, April 25th, 2011 at 11:30AM. The 20-minute presentation will provide more information about the 2011 Water Wise campaign and explain more details about Stanford's water conservation programs. The session will feature a Q&A with Marty Laporte from the Environmental Quality and Water Conservation group within Sustainability and Energy Management. To sign-up for the webinar, click here and select "register" to complete the process.

04.06.11

JOIN SUSTAINABLE STANFORD FOR AN EARTH DAY CELEBRATION

Sustainable Stanford invites you to an Earth Day celebration in the main tent at White Plaza from 11AM to 12:30PM on Friday, April 22, 2011. The Office of Sustainability will give a brief presentation that will showcase program highlights and explain opportunities for the campus community to engage with Sustainable Stanford through the Be Cardinal Green campaign series. Student grants will be announced and dessert and networking will follow the presentation and discussion. For more information, download the Earth Day event flyer or consult the Events page. The celebration is offered in partnership with BeWell, Vision Earth, and the Haas Center for Public Service.

03.22.11

SEM STAFF TO DISCUSS "STANFORD'S ENERGY STORY: PRESENT AND FUTURE" AT MARCH 28 ENERGY SEMINAR

Stanford is embarking on a new era of sustainable energy management to further improve its operational efficiency and reduce its energy footprint, which is no small task for a growing campus! Speakers from the Department of Sustainability and Energy Management will talk about the three key prongs of the balanced approach that has shaped Stanford’s long range energy and climate plan — high energy efficiency standards in new buildings, energy conservation in existing buildings, and a greener and more flexible energy supply for campus. The plan intends to reduce Stanford’s GHG emissions well below 1990 levels by 2010. The presentation will also touch on the untapped potential of behavioral programs on campus to motivate individuals to conserve energy without compromising their quality of life at Stanford. The Energy Seminar will be held in NVIDIA Auditorium in the Jen-Hsun Huang Engineering Center on Monday, March 28th from 4:15 – 5:30 PM. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit the Energy Seminar web page.

03.14.11

STUDENT EVENT CONSULTING GROUP FEATURED IN AASHE STUDENT DIARY SERIES

This week’s AASHE Student Diary Series highlighted Stanford’s new Green Events Consulting (GEC) team, a student-run group that provides peer-to-peer consulting for other student groups looking to host an event more sustainably. The diary entry chronicles GEC’s recent work with the Stanford Association for International Development on its annual conference. Click here to read the full story on AASHE’s website. Stanford’s official green event guidelines, Greening Events at Stanford, are also available online.

03.09.11

STANFORD WINS PLATINUM BICYCLE FRIENDLY UNIVERSITY DESIGNATION

The League of American Bicyclists designated Stanford a Platinum-Level Bicycle Friendly University. This year marks the inaugural year of such designations by the League and Stanford is the first and only university to achieve the platinum rating. The League praised Stanford’s high percentage of bike commuters (21.7%), education and safety programs, incentive programs, and the campus’s cycling infrastructure. Announced at the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C., the full press release can be viewed here. The Bike Program website provides more details and resources about Stanford’s specific offerings.

03.07.11

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM CEE/ES 109 PROJECTS PRESENTED TO HAAS CENTER

Students from this quarter’s CEE/ES 109: Greening Buildings & Behavior course presented their final projects and sustainability recommendations to representatives from the Haas Center for Public Service, the case study building for the service learning course. Other audience members included operational staff and a delegation of visitors from UC Santa Cruz interested in developing a similar course. CEE/ES 109, an annual course developed in partnership with the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, aims to engage students in employing sustainability within an institution. It featured a variety of Stanford faculty and staff who lectured on topics that included energy efficiency, water use, waste management, sustainable food, and transportation systems. The final class project required students to complete Building Level Sustainability Program audits and evaluations for the Haas Center, which had been identified as prime program candidate. Class participants can capitalized on the course’s momentum and joined the Office of Sustainability as Student Sustainability Coordinators to help further deploy BLSP within the Haas Center, turning their final project recommendations into reality.

02.14.11

RECYCLEMANIA COMPETITION IN FULL SWING - ENTER THE WEEKLY RAFFLE

An informational webinar and advertisements in the Stanford Report and on all Marguerite buses helped kick off the annual RecycleMania competition. This year, members of the campus community who pledge not to throw any recyclable items into the trash are entered into a weekly raffle drawing for sustainability-themed prizes! The campaign webpage has more information on Stanford’s goals for RecycleMania 2011 and a recap of the university’s past performance.

02.03.11

WINTER CLOSURE RESULTS AND RECOGNITION ANNOUNCED

The Department of Sustainability and Energy Management and Zone Management announced the results of the 2010 winter closure. The campus exceeded the stated performance goal of a 10% improvement in energy and cost savings and increased campus-wide participation. To view the full performance results, participation raffle winners, and performance improvement champions, please visit the Winter Closure Campaign page.

01.29.11

STANFORD'S Y2E2 HONORED WITH ASHRAE TECHNOLOGY AWARD

Stanford’s landmark Jerry Yang and Akiko Yamazaki Environment and Energy Building (Y2E2) was honored with a first place ASHRAE Technology Award in the new institutional building category. Stanford representatives were on hand in Las Vegas at ASHRAE’s 2011 Winter Conference to accept the award, which recognizes Y2E2’s exceptional design and proven energy performance. Y2E2 currently consumes 44% less energy than code (ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004). For more information on the ASHRAE Technology Award given to Y2E2, please visit the ASHRAE pressroom.

01.18.11

STUDENTS FOR SUSTAINABLE STANFORD AND P&TS TO HOST BIKE REPAIR/MAINTENANCE WORKSHOP

Join skilled mechanics from the Campus Bike Shop to learn the basics of bike maintenance and repair. The event, co-hosted by Students for a Sustainable Stanford, Parking & Transportation Services and the Campus Bike Shop, will be held Friday, January 28th from 1 – 2PM in White Plaza. For more details, consult the electronic flyer, and please RSVP to [email protected] by Thursday, January 27th, 2011.

01.09.11

STANFORD STUDENTS FEATURED IN NY TIMES SUSTAINABLE FASHION SLIDE SHOW

A New York Times design feature titled “The Eco Look” included student photographs demonstrating the trend of sustainable fashion on campuses nationwide. Several members of Students for a Sustainable Stanford donned their environmentally conscious clothing selections and posed throughout campus. Materials featured on the students included vintage and thrift-store purchases, inventive repurposing of discarded items, and fabric from bamboo and other rapidly renewable sources. The slideshow was highlighted in the AASHE Weekly Bulletin and remains available online via the New York Times.

11.29.10

Turn Off for Break Featured in Stanford News

The Turn Off for Break campaign for winter closure 2010 was recently featured in a Stanford News article. The story highlighted the new features of the 2010 winter closure, including awards and recognition, as well as an increased emphasis on individual action. The full text of the article is available online.

11.19.10

Foreign Press Visits To Learn About Campus Sustainability

Fahmida Ahmed, Associate Director of the Office of Sustainability, spoke Friday to a group of international media representatives. The team visited Stanford to learn more about sustainability initiatives on campus. Ahmed’s presentation included an overview of sustainability programs, explanation of the Energy and Climate Plan, and a brief question and answer period. The journalists expressed the most interest in hearing about behavioral programs and which topics tend to get students most excited about sustainability. They also inquired about the relationship between Stanford and new ventures in cleantech and greentech.

11.18.10

Sustainable Stanford Hosts Turn Off For Break Webinar

Turn Off For Break! Sustainable Stanford hosted an open invitation webinar on November 18, 2010 to explain important changes to the university’s mandatory winter closure program. Subject matter experts within the Department of Sustainability and Energy Management led the discussion and reviewed both the procedures and goals for the 2010 winter closure. New program features this year include an increased emphasis on individual action and building-level recognition and awards. A recording of the short webinar is publically available and suitable for distribution to all building occupants.

11.02.10

Green Fund Deadline Extended

The Office of Sustainability extended the Green Fund application deadline to Thursday, November 11 at noon. Visit the Green Fund page for more information, and to download the application and by-laws.

10.27.10

Stanford Maintains "Overall College Sustainability Leader" Title for Third Consecutive Year on Sustainable Endowments Institute Survey

For the third consecutive time, and the fourth time in the last five years, Stanford received an “A-“ grade on the Sustainable Endowments Institute’s College Sustainability Report Card. As such, Stanford joins 51 other schools as Overall Campus Sustainability Leaders out of the 322 surveyed institutions. Stanford earned straight “A” grades in the following topic areas: administration, climate change & energy, food & recycling, green building, student involvement, transportation, investment priorities, and shareholder engagement. The “A” in climate change & energy represents a letter-grade improvement over the “B” earned in that category last year, and recognizes the formalization of the university’s Energy and Climate Plan, among other energy conservation programs. The full survey responses for all participating institutions can be found online.

10.21.10

Sustainable Stanford Publishes 2009 - 2010 Year in Review

Printed for limited distribution, the Sustainable Stanford - A Year In Review: 2009-2010 is now available online. This report is produced by the Office of Sustainability as one of the many deliverables that make sustainability a tangible part of the Stanford experience. Beyond an annual report, this publication catalogs the many efforts within a large campus that contribute to a steady pulse of sustainability milestones and accomplishments.

10.15.10

STANFORD LAUNCHES CLIMATE ACTION VIDEO

On Monday, Stanford released a video overview of the university’s Energy and Climate Plan. In addition to a historical perspective of Stanford’s environmental stewardship, the video highlights the technical differences between Stanford’s existing cogeneration plant and the proposed heat recovery “regeneration” facility. The potential associated savings in operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions are also discussed. Click here to view the Climate Action video.

10.05.10

Stanford Dedicates Huang Engineering Center in the Science and Engineering Quad

President John Hennessy joined several hundred members of the Stanford community to formally dedicate the Jen-Hsun Huang Engineering Center (HEC) at a reception in the building’s outdoor amphitheater. Following the example of its predecessor, Y2E2, HEC epitomizes high-performance design and construction. Performance models suggest that aggregate energy use, including plug loads, will be 42% less than standard buildings. HEC features an enhanced building envelope with high-performance windows, makes extensive use of daylight and photocell technology, employs a combination of natural ventilation and active chilled beams, includes rapidly renewable materials in architectural woodwork and furniture, and uses the university’s recycled water system to flush toilets and urinals. A 30kW DC solar photovoltaic installation will be operational by the end of 2010. To complete the HEC auditorium, 316 seats were salvaged from the demolition of Kresge Auditorium, refurbished, and redeployed. Stanford News coverage provides more information about HEC and the dedication ceremony.

09.21.10

Graduate School of Business Wins "Green Project of the Year" from Silicon Valley Business Journal

The Silicon Valley Business Journal selected the Graduate School of Business’ new Knight Management Center as the “Green Project of the Year” in the private sector. The award recognizes the 360,000 square-foot project for its deep commitment to sustainability, from the photovoltaic panels that will supply 12.5% of the center’s annual electricity needs, to the 80% reduction in water use compared to similar campus buildings. The project is currently on track to receive a LEED-NC Platinum Certification upon occupancy in March 2011. Click here to read the full article in the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Click here to read the GSB announcement.

09.20.10

Office of Sustainability to Host Student Open House Friday, October 1st

The Office of Sustainability invites all students to come to an open house / town hall to see our new office location, meet sustainability staff, and learn about the Stanford Student Green Fund. Pizza and cake will be provided. The event will take place on the 1st floor of 327 Bonair Siding from 3PM – 5PM on Friday, October 1st, 2010. Please RSVP to [email protected], and we look forward to seeing you at the meeting! Click here for more details.

09.13.10

Sustainable Stanford Increases Presence During New Student Orientation

Numerous fairs during New Student Orientation (NSO) provide an opportunity for students and their families to interface with the university’s programs and services. This year Sustainable Stanford increased its presence with tables at four NSO events: the Residential Advisor Resource Fair, the New Student-Athlete Orientation, the Parent’s Resource Center, and the Graduate Orientation Activity Lunch and Information Event (GOALIE). Student interest at the events was strong, particularly at GOALIE, where many requested brief descriptions of the Energy and Climate Plan and took away information regarding the advantages of Smart Strips and Desktop Power Management. Freshmen and their parents frequently commented on receiving the updated Students’ Guide to Sustainable Living at Stanford, which Dean Julie Lythcott-Haims distributed electronically in August. Continuing the momentum of NSO, Sustainable Stanford will provide information and staffing at the School of Engineering Student Services Fair on September 29th in Packard Auditorium.

08.24.10

KQED Features Stanford's Energy and Climate Plan

QUEST, a KQED Multimedia Series Exploring Northern California Science, Environment and Nature, profiled Stanford University in the community science blog post, Go Big Green: Stanford Lightens Its Carbon Load. Since the late 1980s, Stanford has provided campus energy via natural-gas-fired cogeneration, a combined heat and power system which accounts for approximately 70% of Stanford’s carbon emissions. In October 2009, Stanford formalized an Energy and Climate Plan that outlines an approach capable of achieving a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions 20% below 1990 levels by 2020. Achieving this goal requires a three-pronged approach: energy efficiency in new building design, energy conservation in existing buildings, and a greener energy supply. The university has a significant simultaneous need for both heating and cooling within buildings, which presents an opportunity to recover about 70% of the heat normally discharged from the cooling system and use it to meet up to 50% of the simultaneous heating loads, reducing both greenhouse gas emissions and water use. As a result, the Central Energy Facility will be converted from cogeneration to ‘regeneration’ with heat recovery, and the existing steam infrastructure will be converted to a hot water system. The opening of the university’s first regional heat exchange station this summer provides evidence that implementation of the steam to hot water conversion is underway. KQED highlights this and other developments in the comprehensive article.

08.16.10

Stanford Ranks 5th on the Sierra Magazine Cool Schools Sustainability Survey

Sierra Magazine released the 2010 Cool Schools sustainability rating today, and Stanford ranked 5th out of 162 schools surveyed. This represents an excellent overall improvement from Stanford’s 26th place ranking last year (out of 135 schools). Stanford earned perfect scores in the Waste, Investment, and Other Initiatives categories, and performed strongly in the Academics, Transportation, Purchasing, and Administration categories. Accomplishments highlighted in this year’s survey included the release of Stanford’s Energy and Climate Plan as well as the CEE/ES 109 Green Buildings & Behavior course.

07.30.10

Stanford Data Center Earns Rebate Check for Sustainable IT Efficiency Measures

Last week, Stanford received a $36,428 rebate check from PG&E for energy efficiency improvements in the Forsythe Data Center. Under the direction of the Sustainable IT program, the project included installation of a data center-wide environmental sensor network to track temperature, pressure, and humidity at each rack. Managers can log into the dashboard and review a visual display of conditions within the space. Alarms notify the team if sensors detect conditions outside the acceptable range. Existing Computer Room Air Handlers received variable speed drives to facilitate greater precision in temperature management, and the existing outside air economizer was reconnected so outside air directly supplies cool air whenever the weather allows. Additional modifications included floor and ceiling tile replacement to better direct and contain air within the data center. Compared to operations a year ago, Forsythe houses an additional 17% of IT load but uses only 10% more electricity and 8% less chilled water. According to PG&E, the implemented efficiency measures save 359,000 kWh of electricity annually, equal to approximately 147 tons of avoided greenhouse gas emissions.

07.20.10

Office of Sustainability Signs Open Letter to Evaluating Organizations

Stanford’s Office of Sustainability signed an Open Letter to Sustainability Evaluating Organizations outlining eight principles that define responsible rating programs, including transparency, consistent metrics, and an “opt out” feature. More than 30 colleges and universities have signed the letter with the hope that various evaluating organizations will raise their standards and improve the overall strength of rating systems. Detailed coverage is provided in the Chronicle of Higher Education and a discussion forum on the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education website.

07.19.10

Stanford Mourns Climate Expert Stephen Schneider

Stephen Schneider, Stanford biology professor, senior fellow of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, co-winner of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, and influential climate scientist, died Monday on a flight from Stockholm to London. Dubbed a “climate warrior” by the New York Times, Schneider was a vocal advocate for the veracity behind the science of climate change. He implored the media to deploy journalists trained in science to cover climate change stories and to allocate more time to explaining the complexities of climate change. He recently published a book chronicling his involvement with public debates, Science as a Contact Sport: Inside the Battle to Save Earth's Climate. More information on Stephen Schneider’s life and work can be found in the Stanford News coverage.

07.07.10

Energy Star Rated Faculty Homes to Open in August

Energy and water efficiency were major targets in the design and construction of 39 new faculty homes on the Stanford campus. The Olmsted Terrace project earned an ENERGY STAR rating for exceeding existing standards. Families are expected to start occupying the homes in August 2010. Please see the complete Stanford News article for more details.

06.22.10

Stanford Woods Institute Announces Four New Sustainability Grants

The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment has awarded grants totaling $787,013 to four interdisciplinary Stanford faculty teams working to promote global sustainability. The latest awards raise the Environmental Venture Project (EVP) grant total to $5.4 million since its inception in 2004. To learn more about the 2010 EVP grant recipients and their projects, please read the full coverage in Stanford News.

06.11.10

NY Times Features Responsible Investing at Stanford

The New York Times recently covered Stanford University's (CA) grassroots effort to pressure the technology industry to crack down on “conflict minerals.” In the Democratic Republic of Congo, armed groups force villagers to mine minerals like wolframite and cassiterite. Metals processed from these minerals are used in consumer electronics products like laptop computers and cell phones. Stanford’s trustees are considering a resolution to create a new proxy voting guideline for the University’s investments. The guideline would support shareholders’ efforts to make companies trace the supply chain of the minerals used in their products. See the NY Times article for the full story.

06.03.10

Stanford's Drive-Alone Rate Drops to 48 Percent

Stanford University’s employee drive-alone rate dropped from 72 percent in 2002 to 48 percent in 2010. If all university commuters (employees and students) are counted, the drive-alone rate is even lower at 43 percent. “Reaching this point where more than half of the university’s commuting employees choose alternative transportation instead of driving alone is a major milestone for Stanford,” said Brodie Hamilton, director of Stanford University Parking & Transportation Services. “The reduction in drive-alone commutes demonstrates a high level of commitment both from the university and from commuters. It’s even more significant in the context of the 78 percent drive-alone rate in the County of Santa Clara.” Visit Parking & Transportation alternative transportation page for more information on alternative ways to commute to campus.

06.02.10

Cash In On Freezer Replacement Program

The application deadline for the Department of Sustainability and Energy Management’s 2010 Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer Retirement Program is August 15th, 2010. Researchers at the University and the Medical School are encouraged to replace aging freezers with more efficient models, or remove freezers entirely by taking advantage of dry room temperature storage technologies. Cash incentives vary but typically range from $5,100 to $7,600 per retired freezer. More program details can be found in the Stanford News article. Interested participants should contact Shalini Singh at 650-721-1267 or [email protected].

05.12.10

Stanford’s C3Nano Wins $200,000 MIT Clean Energy Prize

Congratulations to Stanford’s C3Nano for winning the MIT Clean Energy Prize and a $200,000 grant! A start-up lead by doctoral students Ajay Virkar, Melbs LeMieux and chemical engineering Professor Zhenan Bao, C3Nano designed an electrode that will both increase efficiency and reduce the cost of thin film solar photovoltaic panels. Crossover applications with the electronics industry make the team’s technology even more attractive. For more details, please see the press release from the MIT News Office and C3Nano’s recent coverage in the Stanford Daily.

05.05.10

May 13 is Bike to Work Day -- Stanford Promotes Biking and Walking

Join us in celebrating the greenest ways to commute on Bike to Work Day, May 13. By bicycling (or walking) instead of driving five miles a day, you could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1,287 pounds annually. According to Bikes Belong, the energy savings is equivalent to replacing 13 incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs or flying 2,429 fewer miles a year. On Bike to Work Day, Stanford is hosting eight Energizer Stations between 6:30 a.m. and 9 a.m., where you can pick up a re-usable bag and snacks while supplies last. Remember to wear a helmet every time you ride. Pledge to wear a helmet and to follow the rules of road.

05.01.10

Sustainable Stanford Presents Climate Plan & High Performance Buildings During Walk the Farm Event

The Bill Lane Center for the American West selected climate change as this year’s theme for Walk the Farm, an annual 21-mile hike through Stanford lands. Participants spent twelve hours trekking a course that started and ended at Y2E2, wound its way to Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve by way of the Dish, Felt Lake, and Web Ranch, and returned to campus via the Stanford Linear Accelerator, Sand Hill Road, and Campus Drive Loop. The group stopped at regular intervals to hear presentations describing the effects of climate change on Stanford lands as well as the university’s response. Jiffy Vermylen, Sustainability Coordinator, summarized the 2009 Energy and Climate Plan at the cogeneration facility and highlighted high-performance building design at the Knight Management Center construction site. Also from the Department of Sustainability and Energy Management, Marty Laporte, Associate Director of Utilities for Water Resources & Environmental Quality, discussed the potential impact of climate change on Stanford’s water supply and requirements. Visit Stanford News to read the full Walk the Farm article.

04.22.10

Stanford Makes the Princeton Review’s Guide to 286 Green Colleges

Stanford is included in The Princeton Review’s first ever Guide to 286 Green Colleges, produced in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and released on Earth Day 2010. The Energy and Climate Plan, A Student’s Guide to Sustainable Living, and the CEE/ES 109 Green Buildings and Behavior course were a few of the new items Stanford highlighted in this year’s survey response. The Princeton Review specifically praises Stanford’s Transportation Demand Management program and building-level energy conservation programs in the half-page profile. The Guide to 286 Green Colleges is free and available to the public.

04.19.10

AASHE Weekly Bulletin Highlights Stanford Student Initiative to Include Sustainability in Curriculum

The Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) Weekly Bulletin highlighted this month’s Stanford Daily article describing student efforts to formalize sustainability in Stanford’s curriculum. Members of Students for a Sustainable Stanford developed the proposal which calls for the addition of “Sustainable Citizenship” to the four areas of study that satisfy the “Education for Citizenship” general education requirement. The Committee on Undergraduate Standards and Policies met April 9 to discuss the student proposal and are set to convene again April 23 for a formal vote. Pending that outcome, the proposal will move forward to the full Faculty Senate for review and further discussion.

03.08.10

Sustainability Coordinator Joins the Office of Sustainability

Jiffy Vermylen joined Stanford University’s Office of Sustainability in March 2010 to support further development and implementation of the campus‐wide Sustainable Stanford initiative. Her portfolio includes rollouts of the department/building level conservation programs, related communications and training to the campus community, and overall program evaluation especially for the built environment on campus.

Before joining Stanford, Jiffy served as a Senior Project Engineer for DPR Construction, Inc. Project highlights include a mission‐critical data center in Oakland, CA and a LEED‐CI Silver tenant improvement for VISA International in San Francisco, CA. She led Bay Area LEED‐AP training courses, served on the company’s innovation working group, and volunteered as Construction Captain for the annual Rebuilding Together Peninsula project. Jiffy also instructed CEE 248G: Measuring Sustainability at Stanford in the spring of 2009.

Jiffy earned an M.S. in Structural Engineering and Geomechanics at Stanford University in 2006, and a B.S.E. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Princeton University in 2005 where she also received certificates in Architecture and American Studies. Ensuring that future generations can experience the same natural environment is Jiffy’s motivation and the basis for her commitment to sustainability.

01.04.10

President's Column: When Less Is More

In the Stanford Magazine January/February 2010 publication, President Hennessey addresses the University’s increasing commitment to sustainability and climate action. To read more, click here. The column focuses on the Energy & Climate plan, which will reconfigure building systems to transfer the heat discharged by the campus cooling system to buildings that need warming. The column also mentions the ongoing success of building retrofit programs, new building construction standard, “greening” of events, and how students, faculty and staff play an important role in campus-wide sustainability implementation efforts.

Click these links to view past articles.

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12.05.09 - Podcast Tour of Campus Plants, Animals, and Science Art

11.30.09 - Stanford Recognized Among Best Workplaces for Commuters

11.18.09 - 2009-2010 Green Fund Winners Announced

11.07.09 - Sustainable Information Technology: Educause

11.04.09 - Aggressive Energy and Climate Plan Approved

11.04.09 - Sustainability on the Farm Tours

10.07.09 - Stanford Sustainability Efforts at Top Tier for the 3rd Time

09.28.09 - Summary of 08-09 External Evaluations

08.14.09 - Stanford Rated in Top 10 Greenest Colleges

07.31.09 - A Student's Guide to Sustainable Living at Stanford

07.15.09 - Sustainable Stanford: A Year in Review

06.09.09 - Stanford Commencement Weekend Goes Green

03.23.09 - Water Conservation Efforts Wins Award

02.15.09 - Sustainability at Stanford: Mandate or Mantra?

01.28.09 - 2008 Green Fund Winners announced!

01.28.09 - Transforming energy use

01.22.09 - Zimride - Online application helps Stanford commuters.

10.22.08 - Parking & Transportation presented with award.

09.24.08 - Stanford scores high for sustainability in national study

09.23.08 - Sustainable Stanford launches Student Green Fund

09.17.08 - President Hennessy’s residence goes solar

09.10.08 - Hennessy outlines ‘green’ building plans

05.07.08 - Manager for sustainability programs to join staff

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For additional news about the environment, conservation, teaching and research, and other aspects of sustainability at Stanford, check out these resources:
Stanford News Service
Stanford Woods Institute, In the News
Precourt Institute for Energy News