Land Use
Tree replacement policy will guide sustainability of Vanderbilt’s green canopy
Mar. 1, 2023—Vanderbilt University, whose campus was first referred to as an arboretum in 1879 and is home to nearly 200 species of trees and shrubs, has flourished for nearly 150 years as a green spot amid Nashville’s ever-expanding urban footprint. Now campus planners have developed an official tree replacement policy to ensure that Vanderbilt’s tree canopy is preserved...
New technique unlocks ancient history of climate and wildfires recorded in California cave rocks
Feb. 2, 2023—Posted by April Evans on Thursday, January 19, 2023 in News Story, Research. Data gained could help with fire activity predictions and environmental planning NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A newly developed technique is revealing how prehistoric climate change shaped fire activity in California. The new data suggest that increased climate whiplash—change between extreme wetness and dryness—occurred at the same time...
Urban Land Institute Student Competition
Dec. 2, 2022—ULI Hines Student Competition Registration Closes Dec. 9! The ULI Hines Student Competition—entering its 21st year in 2023—offers graduate students* the opportunity to form their own multidisciplinary teams and engage in a challenging exercise in responsible land use. Teams of five students pursuing degrees in at least three different disciplines have two weeks to devise...
Vanderbilt University to host PARK(ing) Day Sept. 16
Sep. 9, 2022—Vanderbilt University is home to a variety of student living centers and residential colleges that provide not only an academic experience, but also a sense of community for students within their residential lives on campus. In the larger Nashville community, however, there is a lack of affordable housing and a significant unhoused population. At Vanderbilt’s...
How to Enjoy Vanderbilt’s Arboretum
Jul. 18, 2022—Text by Kim Green Photos by John Russell Illustrations by Kelly Thompson When Bishop Holland McTyeire oversaw the planting of more than a thousand trees on Vanderbilt’s campus nearly 150 years ago, he set in motion a time-release canopy that now provides widespread shade for the university community. As steward of today’s arboretum, University Landscape Architect James...
Sustainability, inclusion advancements highlighted in FutureVU FY2021 Progress Report
Dec. 1, 2021—Written by Shelby Pendowski Vanderbilt University made significant strides during FY2021 in sustainable building and landscape projects, accessibility improvements and transportation and mobility initiatives, even through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sustainability was a key area of focus, with many initiatives launching throughout the year. Vanderbilt University announced a collaboration with the nonprofit organization Climate Vault...
Vanderbilt acorns to become forests of the future
Oct. 27, 2021—With the crisp, cooler temperatures, Vanderbilt’s iconic white oaks have begun dropping their acorns. While the campus squirrels are busily storing their share, Vanderbilt has partnered with the Tennessee Department of Forestry to collect acorns to plant the forests of the future. Vanderbilt Facilities and the Department of Forestry set up nets on the Peabody College...
Vanderbilt University to host PARK(ing) Day 2021 Sept. 17
Sep. 15, 2021—Have you ever imagined what campus would be like with more green space? Vanderbilt University is hosting PARK(ing) Day, an annual global event competition where urban areas like parking lots are transformed into green spaces to promote sustainable designs, on Friday, Sept. 17 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will both celebrate the...
Annual report on campus sustainability efforts now available
Jan. 20, 2020—Vanderbilt University greenhouse gas emissions have dropped 7 percent per square foot compared to FY17-18, and 18.5 percent compared to CY16. The finding is among those showcased in the annual sustainability report released today by FutureVU Sustainability in the Division of Administration. “The achievements highlighted in this report reflect the work of hundreds of faculty, staff and students in...
Join FutureVU Sustainability Leaders and help foster a sustainable campus
Jan. 15, 2020—As part of Vanderbilt’s commitment to achieving zero waste by the year 2030, the Sustainability and Environmental Management Office is launching a new program—Sustainability Leaders—to improve sustainability outcomes on campus through culture change, education and the facilitation of actionable goals. Sustainability Leaders will act as peer mentors to foster a community that raises awareness of...