News
Experts to discuss EPA’s Clean Power Plan May 18-19 at Vanderbilt
May. 11, 2015—See the Vanderbilt News story here. An in-depth exploration of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Clean Power Plan to significantly reduce carbon emissions from power plants is the topic of a two-day conference being held May 18-19 at Vanderbilt University Law School. The event, “The Clean Power Plan: Health, Energy Demand and Economic Effects,” is...
Donation and recycling options expanded on campus April 20 – May 10 for Earth Friendly Move Out
Apr. 16, 2015—Read the MyVU story here. Just in time for student move-out and spring cleaning your office, donation and recycling locations on campus will be expanded from April 20 to May 10. “Earth Friendly Move Out” donation and recycling locations will be available until May 2 on the Ingram Commons until May 10 on main campus....
Vanderbilt celebrates the end of coal
Apr. 13, 2015—Originally published by Vanderbilt News. See a video of the event here. University leaders, students, faculty and staff gathered in the shadow of the university power plant Thursday, April 9, to celebrate Vanderbilt’s conversion from coal to natural gas for its heating, cooling and electricity needs. “Our campus is a place of energy, excitement and...
Vanderbilt and Pittsburgh to lead new center to identify toxic chemicals
Mar. 30, 2015—Each day we are bathed in thousands of man-made chemicals that never existed in nature. They are in cosmetics and shampoo, food packaging and plastic containers, clothing and building materials, furniture and electronic devices. Although the U.S. now produces more than 500 million tons of synthetic chemicals annually, a major “toxicological information gap” has developed...
Turning cellulose into biofuel: VU prof, grad student search for key on molecular level
Mar. 24, 2015—Originally published by the Vanderbilt School of Engineering found here. Brady, left, and Matt Lang, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Vanderbilt University. (Susan Urmy/Vanderbilt University) Nature exquisitely engineered a way to produce fuel from organic matter. The answer to how lies in decaying leaves on the forest floor or a backyard compost pile...
Vanderbilt Coal Free Celebration
Mar. 18, 2015—
Cheaper wind power possible through “talking” turbines
Mar. 16, 2015—Originally published by Reuters. The measurements taken inside a Vanderbilt University wind tunnel could hold the key to making wind power a viable, cost effective energy source in the future, according to Professor Doug Adams and his team of engineers. Inside a massive 20,000 square foot laboratory, Adams and his team fitted inertial sensors on two...
Environmental Law and Policy Annual Review
Mar. 4, 2015—The Environmental Law and Policy Annual Review (ELPAR) welcomes Professor William Boyd of the University of Colorado Law School as a part of its annual Nashville conference to discuss the importance of a revitalized and expanded notion of public utility for efforts to decarbonize the U.S. power sector. A panel of experts will join him...
Time when climate was topsy-turvy in Western U.S. aids climate prediction efforts
Mar. 2, 2015—Climate scientists now put the odds that the American Southwest is headed into a 30-year “mega drought” at 50/50. Meanwhile, the forecast for the Pacific Northwest is continued warming with slightly drier summers and even wetter winters. However, 21,000 years ago, at the peak of the last Ice Age, a period known as the Last...
Blair School of Music VORTEX percussion presents the American Gamelan
Feb. 27, 2015—VORTEX and the American Gamelan Poster Nashville has the unique opportunity to experience the American Gamelan after its 900-mile journey to the Blair School of Music during the VORTEX percussion concert on March 15 at 8pm in Ingram Hall. The audience will be able to experience this unforgettable orchestra made from scrap materials that is...
Inaugural Commons Unplugged Week includes Green Forum and Green Fair
Feb. 11, 2015—The first-ever Commons Unplugged environmental awareness week, from Sunday, February 15 to Saturday February 21, 2015 will celebrate sustainability, natural resource conservation and energy conservation through various events focusing on Vanderbilt’s first-year student population. Commons Unplugged is co-sponsored by The Ingram Commons, in partnership with the Sustainability and Environmental Management Office and the School for...
Dr. Randy Blakely’s lab wins 2015 basketball “Greenest Group on Campus” award
Feb. 11, 2015—Read the MyVU story here. Dr. Randy Blakely’s lab group has been named winner of the 2015 Vanderbilt Basketball Sustainability Competition. Dr. Blakely’s lab staff celebrated their title of “greenest group on campus” at the Vanderbilt vs. South Carolina basketball game Feb. 7 with a catered hospitality event, tickets to the game, an autographed basketball...
Family tradition helps expand environmental and sustainability studies
Feb. 3, 2015—Originally published by Vanderbilt News. Read the article here. For Sommers Kline, BA’14, it all began the first semester of her first year when she signed up for an oceanography course. “Within the first two weeks, I learned that coral reefs were unlikely to last beyond the next 30 years,” Kline recalled. “I thought that...
Energy conservation urged as temperatures plummet
Jan. 7, 2015—Read the Vanderbilt News story here. A polar vortex will bring bitterly cold weather to Nashville this week and with it an unusually increased demand for energy on campus. The demand is expected to peak between 9 a.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. Friday. Plant Operations is asking the Vanderbilt community to take small steps for...
Are you the greenest group on campus?
Dec. 23, 2014—Read the MyVU story here. 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 Basketball Athletics Sustainability competition. Your group could win a catered VIP hospitality event for 20 people, 20 tickets to the game, an autographed item from...