News
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....
Help Tackle Recycling During 2014 Football Season
Aug. 25, 2014—Vanderbilt has partnered with Waste Management again to support the university’s environmental initiatives throughout campus, and Commodore fans can help protect the environment by recycling items at each home football game. The partnership is in conjunction with the continued campus-wide efforts of Vanderbilt’s Sustainability and Environmental Management Office (SEMO) and Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Responsibility...
Earth-friendly Move In Tips for Students
Aug. 6, 2014—Download the Move In flier here!
August SustainVU Newsletter Now Available!
Aug. 1, 2014—Check out what’s going on this month in the August SustainVU newsletter! It has been really quiet on campus this summer without the students around, so we’re excited that they’ll be moving back in this month! Be sure to check out our Earth-friendly move in tips if you are a Vandy student, and we can’t...
Hospital plaza set to undergo major restoration
Jul. 18, 2014—[Originally published by VUMC Reporter] After little change since its construction in 1977, one of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s most familiar landmarks, the plaza behind Vanderbilt University Hospital (VUH), is undergoing restoration. The VUH plaza is a major outdoor thoroughfare for tens of thousands of pedestrians each day, with its surface and existing architecture,...
Natural gas boilers installed at power plant
Jul. 16, 2014—[Originally posted by Vanderbilt News] (Steve Green/Vanderbilt) Two massive natural gas boilers were installed at the Vanderbilt Power Plant July 12 as part of the university’s ongoing effort to convert the co-generation facility completely to natural gas. The new boilers will provide steam to more than 5.8 million square feet of building space at the...
Vanderbilt’s waste and recycling vendor converts vehicles to compressed natural gas
Jul. 8, 2014—Vanderbilt’s waste and recycling vendor, Waste Management, has launched a new fleet of natural gas-powered trash collection vehicles in conjunction with the opening of a self-service compressed natural gas (CNG) retail fueling station in Nashville. The station will refuel Waste Management’s local fleet and sell CNG to commercial fleets as well as to retail consumers...