News
University’s bike-share pilot wins TN Sustainable Transportation Award
Sep. 19, 2018— Read the myVU story here. Vanderbilt University’s pilot of the bike-sharing service ofo has won a Tennessee Sustainable Transportation Award from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. TDEC presented the award to university representatives on Sept. 18. “We are honored to be recognized by the state for our efforts in sustainability,” said Eric Kopstain, vice chancellor...
Campus community invited to PARK(ing) Day on Sept. 21
Sep. 12, 2018—The Division of Administration invites the campus community to participate in and enjoy PARK(ing) Day 2018. The university’s park, comprising 18 parking spaces located at the corner of Broadway and 20th Avenue, will highlight aspects of FutureVU and its guiding principles. The park will feature sustainable features and materials and demonstrate how land used for parking...
Facilities invests in sustainable technologies across campus
Sep. 12, 2018—The Division of Administration’s Facilities department has invested in two new sustainable technologies for the 2018-19 academic year. Integrating sustainable practices throughout campus is a fundamental element of FutureVU. Seven Bigbelly solar-powered compacting trash cans and recycling bin units were installed around Rand Hall and one at the new Hank Ingram VandyVans shelter. The units...
Vanderbilt to offer dockless bike and scooter options on campus
Sep. 5, 2018—Read the myVU story here. Following Metro Nashville’s ordinance establishing a one-year pilot to allow dockless bike, electric bike and electric scooter companies to operate in Nashville, Vanderbilt will allow the same companies that obtain Metro certificates and also agree to Vanderbilt-specific guidelines to operate on campus starting Sept. 6. “We worked closely with Metro on...
FutureVU lecture and visioning session focuses on sustainability
Aug. 31, 2018—More than 150 community members participated in a two-day series of events focusing on FutureVU’s BlueSky Vision, the university’s strategic planning and implementation initiative to re-envision campus energy infrastructure. Jason F. McLennan In collaboration with students, faculty and staff, the Division of Administrationhosted consulting partners from HDR, McLennan Design and Integral Group for the second planned visioning...
First sustainable, app-based VandyVans shelter launched
Aug. 29, 2018—Read the MyVU Story here. Students can now follow their VandyVans route and van in real time at the new shelter located at the Hank Ingram stop near The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons. Designed by undergraduates in the School of Engineering* and partially funded through the Vanderbilt Green Fund, which provides seed funding for student ideas that improve...
Earth Friendly Move-In
Aug. 13, 2018—Whether you’re a first-year or returning Commodore, we are excited to have you back on campus soon! While moving in to your room or your office, please try to minimize waste and recycle. The VU Cardboard Crew will assist first-year students at the Commons with recycling their cardboard, Styrofoam, and plastic film wrapping. SustainVU will also host...
FutureVU lecture: Jason McLennan on ‘The Power of Transformative Goals’ Aug. 27
Aug. 13, 2018—Please note GME credits are available for attending. Read more here.
Vanderbilt Campus Dining boosts healthy options, sustainability
Aug. 9, 2018—More plant-based dining choices—like the “Impossible Burger” and “Cauliflower Steak”—and sustainable packaging are improvements that Vanderbilt Campus Dining customers can look forward to in the new school year. “Accelerating our goal to become a zero-waste environment while expanding our healthy food options are changes that we are excited about,” said David ter Kuile, executive director of...
Vanderbilt engineers’ smart grid platform joins new Linux Foundation energy project
Jul. 27, 2018—Read the Vanderbilt Engineering story here. Vanderbilt University is the first academic partner to join a new effort by The Linux Foundation to advance open source innovation in the energy and electricity sectors, contributing both deep expertise and a platform for smart grid applications LF Energy also has support from Europe’s largest transmission power systems provider, a network...
Earth Friendly Move-In
Jul. 27, 2018—Whether you’re a first-year or returning Commodore, we are excited to have you back on campus soon! While moving in to your room or your office, please try to minimize waste and recycle. The VU Cardboard Crew will assist first-year students at the Commons with recycling their cardboard, Styrofoam, and plastic film wrapping. SustainVU will also host...
Renovated Eskind Library meets LEED Certification
Jul. 24, 2018—The Annette and Irwin Eskind Family Biomedical Library and Learning Center opened July 18 after a yearlong, $12.9 million renovation with infrastructure improvements and updates to support the continuing evolution of medical education. The construction project was designed to incorporate the university’s research, learning and teaching goals and includes features that complement the School of Medicine’s...
Safe solid-state lithium batteries herald ‘paradigm shift’ in energy storage
Jul. 20, 2018—The race to produce safe, powerful and affordable solid-state lithium batteries is accelerating and recent announcements about game-changing research using a solid non-flammable ceramic electrolyte known as garnet has some in the race calling it revolutionary. “This is a paradigm shift in energy storage,” said Kelsey Hatzell, assistant professor of mechanical engineering. A paper –...
SCUP Tour showcases FutureVU Plans and Progress
Jul. 20, 2018—The Division of Administration hosted over 50 architects, designers and higher-education leaders from the Society for College and University Planning on July 16 to showcase Vanderbilt’s FutureVU vision and progress across campus. “Inviting these industry leaders on campus to see, touch and learn about the innovative work being done at Vanderbilt is an honor,” said Mike Perez, associate vice chancellor...
Vandy Walks Sustainability Tour of Campus
Jul. 11, 2018—A guided tour of Vanderbilt’s sustainable campus features will be given on July 17th, 2018 for this month’s Vandy Walks Tour. The tour group will meet at Rand Terrace and will be from 12-12:45pm. Chelsea Hamilton and Paul Marshall will lead participants through tour spaces including the Rand Hall green roof and LEED-certified Warren/Moore Colleges...