News
Sustainability Efforts for Commencement
May. 7, 2019—by Heidi Hall May. 1, 2019, 2:34 Vanderbilt’s Class of 2019 will party with a purpose, hear from a woman who changed tennis forever and bid farewell to the university’s eighth chancellor, Nicholas S. Zeppos, who will deliver his final Commencement address at its greenest graduation ceremony. An expected 1,701 undergraduates and 2,125 graduate students will celebrate at events...
Earth Friendly Move Out Donation and Recycling
May. 6, 2019—Just in time for student Move-Out and spring cleaning of offices, donation and recycling locations on campus will be expanded until May 12. Earth Friendly Move-Out donation and recycling locations will be available until May 12 on the main campus. Donate The Office of Housing and Residential Education (OHARE) will have multiple donation locations set up across campus that benefit...
What’s On My Mind: Sustaining and scaling Vanderbilt’s environmental stewardship
Apr. 26, 2019—Earlier this week, Vanderbilt announced a long-term strategy that will shape our course, affect our daily lives and improve our collective future. We have pledged to power our campus entirely through renewable energy, and to be carbon neutral, by 2050. Better yet, we are committed to generating more renewable energy than we consume. Through the collaborative...
Vanderbilt outlines major plans to reduce environmental footprint
Apr. 22, 2019—University will power its campus entirely through renewable energy and commits to carbon neutrality by 2050 Vanderbilt University today unveiled a comprehensive long-term strategy to significantly reduce its environmental footprint in part by powering its campus entirely through renewable energy, putting the university on track to be carbon neutral by 2050. Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos (Daniel Dubois/Vanderbilt)...
Impossible Burger has 89% smaller carbon footprint than beef
Mar. 29, 2019—Vanderbilt Campus Dining added the Impossible Burger to its menu fall of 2018. Doing so provided a vegetarian alternative to the hamburger and reduced the overall carbon foot print of the school, which is in alignment with our commitment to the Menus of Change University Resource Collaborative Initiative. A new study has found that the...
TVA to present Integrated Resource Plan at Vanderbilt March 21
Mar. 15, 2019—The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) will be presenting and taking comments on the Draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) at Vanderbilt on March 21. The plan provides direction on how TVA can best deliver reliable and affordable energy in the Valley over the next 20 years, and the associated Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) looks at...
Safety remains top priority as electric scooter use increases
Feb. 20, 2019—Since the announcement of their arrival in Nashville in September, electric scooters have permeated campus streets and sidewalks. The university allows electric bike and scooter companies to operate on campus that have permission to operate in Nashville and have also agreed to Vanderbilt-specific guidelines. The guidelines include strict standards regarding staging of scooters, movement of scooters, and...
Third ‘Making Nashville Living Building Ready’ event is Jan. 31
Jan. 24, 2019—The Living Building Challenge is described as a “philosophy, certification and advocacy tool for projects to become truly regenerative.” The third in a local series of focused discussions about the Living Building Challenge is scheduled for Jan. 31, 5:00 p.m. in Featheringill Hall 134 and will address the challenges of creating a Living Building in Music City. The event will be...
SEMO in search of ‘greenest’ group on campus
Jan. 23, 2019—Waste Management Inc., the Vanderbilt Sustainability and Environmental Management Office (SEMO) and Vanderbilt Athletics are looking for the greenest group on campus for this year’s Vanderbilt Basketball Sustainability Competition. The winning group will be awarded: On-court recognition at the March 6 game against Arkansas A catered VIP hospitality event in a private suite 20 tickets to the game Entries should...
Pioneering Vanderbilt School of Nursing building designed with health in mind
Jan. 21, 2019—Written by Nancy Wise Health and well-being inform every part of Vanderbilt University School of Nursing’s new $23.6 million building expansion, opening Jan. 22. The expansion, which broke ground in 2017, was designed to target LEED Gold and WELL Silver certification. Once the certification process concludes, the university anticipates that this building will be the first complete, ground-up structure in...
Engineering and Science building recognized for green design
Jan. 17, 2019—The Engineering and Science Building has been awarded LEED Gold status by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, status is the rating system used to rank buildings of all types as certified, silver, gold or platinum based on the building’s environmental and cost-saving green features. “Receiving gold status shows...
Vanderbilt Green Fund applications open
Jan. 9, 2019—The Vanderbilt Green Fund application for 2019 projects is now open until January 21st. The Vanderbilt Green Fund, established in 2011 by members of Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Responsibility (SPEAR) and Vanderbilt Student Government (VSG), is a fund set aside for sustainability projects proposed by students or faculty. This student-run process awards $150,000 to...
Carbon labeling can reduce greenhouse gases even if it doesn’t change consumer behavior
Jan. 2, 2019—by Liz Entman Dec. 19, 2018, 4:20 PM In a new commentary piece published Dec. 18 in Nature Climate Change, Michael Vandenbergh, David Daniels Allen Distinguished Professor of Law and director of the Climate Change Research Network, examines how carbon labeling can help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a variety of ways. The article, “From Myths to Action,”...
Don’t Forget to Power Down Before Leaving for Winter Break!
Dec. 18, 2018—Please remember to power down before you leave the office or your home for an extended period over Winter Break. Your reductions in energy use can have a large impact when aggregated across the entire university. Here are some things you can do to help conserve energy while you are away: Turn off lights in...
Holiday Greening Tips
Dec. 7, 2018—Want to reduce your impact this holiday season? Here are a few tips from SustainVU’s Holiday Greening Guide to make your holiday a little greener this year. Office/Residence Hall/Home Energy Use Vanderbilt students, faculty and staff who are going to be away from their residence halls, offices, classrooms or homes over the holidays should remember to shut...