News
Vanderbilt Power Plant Now Coal Free
Dec. 17, 2014—Read the Vanderbilt News article here. At 12:30 a.m. on Nov. 19, the Vanderbilt co-generation power plant burned off its last lump of coal! The plant, which produces 23 percent of Vanderbilt’s electricity, 90 percent of its heat and 40 percent of its cooling, now runs exclusively on natural gas. The decommissioning of the plant’s last...
A dozen ways to go green for the holidays
Dec. 10, 2014—Read the Vanderbilt News story here. The average American household generates 25 percent more trash during the holiday season. (Need proof? Look at your neighborhood’s overflowing garbage cans on the first collection day after Christmas.) Between all that extra trash, thrown-out leftovers and the carbon footprint of holiday travel and entertaining, this time of year...
Power down before leaving for the holidays
Dec. 5, 2014—See the MyVU story here. Vanderbilt students, faculty and staff who are going to be away from their residence halls, offices, classrooms or homes for an extended period of time over the holidays should remember to shut off lights and appliances, unplug electronics, and lower thermostats before leaving. Doing so is a great way to...
New locations for glass recycling available on campus
Dec. 4, 2014—Read the MyVU article here. Vanderbilt’s Sustainability and Environmental Management Office (SEMO) has added six new glass recycling locations to main campus this semester, bringing the total to eight. In addition to existing glass recycling drop-off locations outside the Commons Center and on the Rand Hall loading dock, the VU community can now place glass...
America Recycles Day is November 15th
Nov. 14, 2014—November 15th is America Recycles Day! Celebrate by snapping a selfie while you recycle now until November 20th, then tag it with #RecyclingSelfie on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or Instagram for a chance to receive a prize! Join us in pledging online to recycle more. Sign up with your Vanderbilt email address to pledge to: Learn-...
SPEAR named greenest group on campus
Nov. 13, 2014—Read the Vanderbilt News story here. The Vanderbilt student organization Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Responsibility (SPEAR) has been named winner of the 2014 football sustainability competition and can boast the title “greenest group on campus.” The group celebrated its win with a VIP catered tailgate before the Nov. 8 home football game versus Florida...
The Vanderbilt Hustler issued an update on the power plant conversion
Nov. 12, 2014—Read the full “Plant Conversion ‘40% Complete'” article from the Vanderbilt Hustler here.
Vanderbilt Green Fund Applications Now Open
Nov. 4, 2014—The Vanderbilt Green Fund, established in 2011 by members of SPEAR and VSG, is a fund set aside for sustainability projects proposed by students. We are looking for innovative and educational ideas that conserve utilities. To submit a project proposal, go to the VSG page on Anchorlink, then click on “Forms” on the left-hand side...
Vanderbilt greenhouse gas emissions down 27 percent per person
Oct. 21, 2014—Read the Vanderbilt News story here. To mark Campus Sustainability Day, October 22, Vanderbilt’s Sustainability and Environmental Management Office (SEMO) has released an updated inventory of the university’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the calendar years 2005 to 2013. According to the accompanying report, GHG emissions from the campus and medical center decreased by 17...
Teresa Goddu receives 2014 Chancellor’s Cup
Oct. 14, 2014—Original Story posted on MyVU on October 8th, 2014. Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos presented the 2014 Chancellor’s Cup to Associate Professor of English Teresa Goddu during a surprise ceremony Oct. 7 in Benson Hall with many of Goddu’s colleagues and students looking on. The Chancellor’s Cup is given annually for “the greatest contribution outside the...
2014 Football Sustainability Challenge Going on Now!
Sep. 29, 2014—Are YOU the greenest group on campus? 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 Sustainability Challenge. Your group could win a private catered VIP tailgate, tickets for 25 people, and on-field recognition at the Vanderbilt vs....
Warren and Moore Colleges Earn LEED Gold Certification
Sep. 22, 2014—The new Warren and Moore Colleges, which include the Kissam Center, has received a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED—Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design—is a certification program that sets the standard for environmentally responsible construction in the United States. “LEED has certainly raised the bar since being unveiled in 2000...
Vanderbilt Engineering Students Prepare for 2015 Solar Decathlon
Sep. 17, 2014—Selected last spring for the 2015 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, a team of Vanderbilt students is partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville to build Harmony House. It’s a 1,000-square-foot, energy efficient, fully solar-powered home likely to be used as a test site for the housing nonprofit after the contest ends. “A lot of Solar...
Another Record Year For Move In Cardboard Recycling
Sep. 17, 2014—The cardboard recycling results from Move-In 2014 make it another record year with 37.26 tons of cardboard recycled! This is a 5.31% increase over last year and a 453.64% increase since 2007! The nearly 75,000 pounds collected this year average to about 11 pounds for each of the undergraduate students at Vanderbilt. The collection of...
A Long-Term Vision
Aug. 26, 2014—Vanderbilt’s sustainability programs are discussed in the latest edition of Sustainable Business Magazine, the premiere platform for senior executives to share ways in which they are meeting 21st Century challenges. You can read about our new College Halls, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, conversion of Vanderbilt’s power plant to 100% natural gas, and much more....