News
Green the season: Holiday waste reduction tips
Nov. 13, 2015—Americans throw away 25 percent more waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day than other parts of the year, resulting in about 1 million extra tons of trash annually. To help you combat this increase, the Sustainability and Environmental Management Office (SEMO) has some tips for reducing waste and making your holiday season more sustainable. ...
Vanderbilt researchers helping to build a futuristic, sustainable city
Nov. 11, 2015—Read the Vanderbilt Magazine story here. Bouncing along a red-dirt road peppered with a few terrifying embankments, a Vanderbilt delegation arrives at an empty hilltop meadow carpeted with prairie grass and cordoned off by a barbed-wire fence. Other than a few bored cows, the only cue indicating the destination is a lone sign reading “Sterling...
Alumni Hall earns LEED Gold certification
Nov. 10, 2015—Read the Vanderbilt News Story here. Alumni Hall has received LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for its recent renovation and addition. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a certification program that sets the standard for environmentally responsible construction in the United States. Alumni Hall, which was originally constructed...
Vanderbilt designated a Bicycle Friendly University
Nov. 5, 2015—Read the Vanderbilt News story here. Read the League of American Bicyclists story here. The League of American Bicyclists has named Vanderbilt University and Medical Center a Bicycle Friendly University (BFU) at the bronze level. With this designation, Vanderbilt becomes one of 127 BFUs in 42 states and Washington, D.C. As defined by the league, bicycle...
Slay energy vampires this Halloween
Oct. 26, 2015—Read the MyVU story here. As little ghosts and ghouls prepare to come out in search of Halloween treats, be sure you don’t have any silent menaces lurking around your office or home tricking you into using more energy! Energy vampires are electronic devices that slowly suck energy when they are turned off but still...
Vanderbilt greenhouse gas emissions down almost 30 percent per square foot
Oct. 20, 2015—Read the MyVU story here. Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions decreased by 18 percent from its peak in 2008 and by 13 percent overall from calendar years 2005 to 2014, according to the Vanderbilt Sustainability and Environmental Management Office’s latest annual GHG inventory. Taking into account Vanderbilt’s significant growth...
Vanderbilt recycling up 430 percent since 2007
Oct. 14, 2015—Read the MyVU story here. Vanderbilt has yet again increased the amount of materials it recycled last year! Recycling increased by 25% from 2013 to 2014, now totaling 7.4 million pounds of materials. That is the same weight as 10 fully loaded Boeing 747s! Since 2007, Vanderbilt has increased its recycling by over 430%. In...
Vanderbilt sustainability groups to help bring ‘green’ education to MNPS students next spring
Oct. 9, 2015—SustainVU, the Vanderbilt Center for Science Outreach and Vanderbilt Student Volunteers forScience are subgrant recipients of a $91,000, two-year EPA grant to Nashville’s Urban Green Lab to deliver hands-on science and sustainability education to Nashville middle- and high-schoolers. With assistance from partners Metro Nashville Public Schools and Nissan North America, the Urban Green Lab’s mobile...
Printing Services 2.0 Includes Environmental Stewardship
Oct. 5, 2015—Read the MyVU story here. Vanderbilt Business Services has named Sean Carroll as director of Printing Services. Carroll, a graduate of the University of Tennessee, has more than 15 years of leadership in the graphic communications industry and began his Vanderbilt career as assistant director of Printing Services in 2011. “Sean’s wealth of industry knowledge,...
Second Annual Commons Unplugged: October 25-31
Sep. 29, 2015—The second annual Commons Unplugged environmental awareness week, from Sunday, October 25 to Saturday, October 31, 2015 will celebrate sustainability, natural resource conservation and energy conservation through various events focusing on Vanderbilt’s first-year student population. These events are presented by The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons, in partnership with the Sustainability and Environmental Management Office and...
Are YOU the greenest group on campus?
Sep. 28, 2015—VU Athletics, the Vanderbilt Sustainability and Environmental Management Office (SEMO) and Waste Management, Inc. are looking for the greenest group on campus during this year’s Football Athletics Sustainability competition. Your group could win a catered VIP tailgate event for 20 people, 20 tickets to the game, an autographed item from Vanderbilt athletics, and on-field recognition...
Life Phase Series: ‘Composting and Need to Know for Successful Gardening’
Sep. 24, 2015—Originally published by MyVU. The Vanderbilt Recreation and Wellness Center presents the next installment in its Life Phase Series on Thursday, Oct. 8. “Composting and Need to Know for Successful Gardening” is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. at the VRWC. Feel free to bring your lunch to the event. Guest speaker Ryan Cooper, an...
Vanderbilt Campus Dining & Coca-Cola Bring OCRA Digester to Campus
Sep. 15, 2015—Nashville, TN, September, 2015 – Organic food waste and overburdened landfills have long been an issue in food service, and developing “zero waste” initiatives is key to stopping landfilling organic waste. The Organic Refuse Conversion Alternative (ORCA) machine can be a significant component to these initiatives. The ORCA offers a method to digest food waste...
Eight Vanderbilt researchers named ‘Inspiring Women in STEM’
Aug. 17, 2015—Originally published by MyVU. Eight Vanderbilt professors are recipients of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine’s 100 Inspiring Women in STEM Award. The award honors highly accomplished women working in science, technology, engineering or mathematics who have made a positive impact on the trajectories of other women thinking about or newly embarking on STEM careers. “For many...
Earth-Friendly Move In Tips for Students
Aug. 4, 2015—Whether you’re a first-year or returning Commodore, we are excited to have you back on campus! While moving in, 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 a booth at the University Resources...