Conservation
Nobel prize-winner tells seniors to be agents of change
May. 12, 2011—by Jim Patterson [Originally published by Vanderbilt News Service] Read a transcript of Maathai’s talk. A Vanderbilt University graduate is a “potential great change agent,” Nobel Peace Prize-winner Wangari Maathai told seniors the day before their Commencement ceremony. “You are ready,” Maathai exhorted students in Memorial Gymnasium. “Go forth then, the world is waiting.” Maathai...
Have a clean Spring: Add some green to your cleaning routine
Apr. 28, 2011—Now that spring is well underway and the weather is warmer, thoughts turn to freshening up your surroundings. Spring cleaning is a time-honored tradition, and can result in simplifying and organizing your home and/or office without impacting the environment by following some simple strategies. “Spring cleaning is a great time to think about your environmental...
Vanderbilt University receives ‘A’ rating on new report ranking the top 50 national universities on environmental and social transparency
Apr. 22, 2011—[Originally published by Vanderbilt News Service in MyVU] by Missy Pankake Vanderbilt University received an “A” rating and was one of the top five universities recognized in a recently released analysis of environmental and social sustainability transparency. Using data collected during the spring of 2010 from university websites and other voluntary reporting initiatives, the Roberts...
VUMC taking steps, both big and small, to cut energy use
Mar. 24, 2011—[Originally published by Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Office of News and Public Affairs in The Reporter] By: Leslie Hill 3/24/2011 – Vanderbilt University Medical Center spends about $38 million per year on energy. That breaks down to $26 million on electricity, almost $9 million on steam and $3 million on water. As such a large...
World Water Day examines where water comes from in urban areas
Mar. 16, 2011—Do you know where the water comes from that you drink? Cook with? Bathe in? Access to clean water is central to our well-being. It is a critical resource necessary for survival, contributing to human health, irrigation and transportation. When we turn on the faucet or shower or flush a toilet, we don’t often think...
Noted photographer, environmental activist J Henry Fair talks ‘Industrial Scars’ March 1 at Vanderbilt University
Feb. 23, 2011—[Originally published by Vanderbilt News Service] by Princine Lewis Noted photographer and environmentalist J Henry Fair will give a talk on and do a slide presentation of images from “Industrial Scars,” his exploration of the detritus of consumer society through large-scale aerial photographs and documentary research, Tuesday, March 1, at 7 p.m. at Vanderbilt University....
Show love for the Earth this Valentine’s Day
Jan. 28, 2011—Valentine’s Day, February 14, is a day filled with cards, sweets, flowers and gifts. Like many holidays, its celebration can create unintentional environmental side effects, such as the consumption of natural resources and the generation of solid waste. But that doesn’t have to be the case. When showing their affection for each other, Americans tend...
Energy conservation urged as new semester begins
Jan. 11, 2011—[Originally published by Vanderbilt News Service in MyVU] While many of our faculty, staff and students have been away from campus enjoying the holidays, Nashville has seen extremely cold temperatures and several snow events. Temperatures are predicted to continue in the teens this week as we welcome back the entire campus community. VU’s energy consumption...
Owen Net Impact Chapter to host panel of sustainability experts
Jan. 10, 2011—The Owen Net Impact Chapter is proud to announce “The Triple Bottom Line: How to Sustain Profits, People, and the Planet” on Wednesday, January 19 from 6-7 pm in the Owen Graduate School of Management’s Averbuch Auditorium at Vanderbilt University. This is a unique opportunity to learn how leading companies integrate sustainability into core business...
Cumberland Project workshop to assist faculty in the design of sustainability-related courses
Jan. 4, 2011—Instructors teaching a course during the 2011-2012 academic year with sustainability as a major theme may be interested in participating in the Cumberland Project, a two-day workshop hosted by Vanderbilt’s Program in American Studies and the Vanderbilt Center for Teaching on May 9-10 that is designed to assist faculty in the design of courses around...