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Jul 11 2011

Stanford University Scientists Forecast Permanently Hotter Summers

Submitted by Niles Barnes on July 11, 2011 - 11:53am

Important climate research from a team of scientists at Stanford University was announced in June. The research indicates that "many tropical regions in Africa, Asia and South America could see "the permanent emergence of unprecedented summer heat" in the next two decades. Middle latitudes of Europe, China and North America – including the United States – are likely to undergo extreme summer temperature shifts . . ."

Stanford released an article summarizing the research along with a short video featuring one of the researchers on its website here. The video clip is also included below.

Jul 6 2011

Student Sustainability Research: The Culture of Water Consumption at New York University

Submitted by Niles Barnes on July 6, 2011 - 11:31am

Similar to the highlights of campus sustainability case studies that have been profiled (here and here) we also hope to highlight the excellent student research on campus sustainability that AASHE has available in our resource center. AASHE's student research database (main interface accessible to AASHE members-only) includes papers from undergraduate and graduate students on a wide variety of topics related to campus sustainability. Many of the papers were submitted for our annual student research on campus sustainability award. Although we can only recognize a few papers as "official winners" for that program, there are many exemplary research papers in the database worthy of recognition and wide dissemination.

The issue of reducing bottled water consumption has been gaining traction with many campuses experimenting with restricted sales or with campaigns to reduce bottle water use on campus. Max Liboiron, an undergraduate at New York University wrote and submitted an excellent research paper in 2010 entitled, "H204U: The Culture of Water Consumption at New York University". Included below is the abstract. The full paper may be accessed here.

May 26 2011

APA Special Issue: Psychology & Global Climate Change

Submitted by Niles Barnes on May 26, 2011 - 10:11pm

In August of 2009, I wrote about the findings from the report of the American Psychological Association's (APA) task force studying the interface between psychology and global climate change. That report was in a way, a call to action for additional research and work to better understand the role of human behavior in climate change, the reasons people are not acting and ways to get people to act. The report made clear the many ways psychology as a discipline has important contributions to make in understanding climate change and helping to reverse it.

Jumping forward two years and the May/June 2011 issue of American Psychologist (APA's official journal) is a devoted special issue and follow up to that earlier report.

May 18 2011

Smart Microgrids on College & University Campuses

Submitted by Niles Barnes on May 18, 2011 - 12:30pm

There are numerous reasons campuses are beginning to implement smart microgrids (small-scale versions of centralized electricity systems). Many are interested in improving the ability to measure and reduce energy usage by tying together a campuses power source, transmission, distribution and consumption into one system. For institutions investing in on campus renewable energy systems and who have made commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, smart microgrids are an idea to consider.

Jul 28 2010

New Research: Can Urban University Expansion and Sustainable Development Co-Exist?

Submitted by Niles Barnes on July 28, 2010 - 10:36am

As campuses work on developing climate action plans and long term sustainability projects, a challenge that many face is how to balance the need (or desire) to grow in a way that won’t detract from the determined path toward sustainability.

Jul 13 2010

Universities in US and Australia Research Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Submitted by Niles Barnes on July 13, 2010 - 2:47pm

Washington State University is working to research the viability and impacts of growing, refining, transporting and using plant based aircraft fuel in the Pacific Northwest through a new partnership called the "Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest" project.

Jun 21 2010

New Study: Students More Concerned with Sustainability than CEOs, yet Education Lags

Submitted by Niles Barnes on June 21, 2010 - 4:55pm

Beginning in 2004, IBM has published a Global CEO Study to “understand and articulate the goals of leaders worldwide”.

Jun 10 2010

Colleges and Universities across the US work on Oil Spill

Submitted by Niles Barnes on June 10, 2010 - 11:01am

Since the oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20th, I have felt anger, frustration, and disbelief over the severity of this disaster. I have also been struggling since the oil spill began to feel much hope about a situation that is seemingly out of control.

May 4 2010

Resources to Help Track and Reduce GHGs from Campus Dining Facilities

Submitted by Niles Barnes on May 4, 2010 - 10:49am

A press release from Johns Hopkins University reminded me of the important work being done to quantify and reduce GHG emissions from dining services programs.