Land Use
Composting efforts restore balance, help campus trees thrive
Jul. 26, 2012—The Vanderbilt campus is home to more than 7,500 trees – that adds up to a lot of leaves. But did you know that Vanderbilt Plant Operations’ grounds program has been harnessing nature’s own processes to help trees on campus weather the record heat this summer? Mulching the areas underneath the trees with compost made...
Vanderbilt Central Library earns gold for ‘green’ renovation
Mar. 16, 2012—by Ann Marie Deer Owens [Article originally published by Vanderbilt News Service] Vanderbilt University’s Central Library has been awarded gold certification for its environmentally friendly 2010 renovation from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. The recognition makes the Central Library the first Vanderbilt campus renovation...
March 28 Green Bag Luncheon to focus on sustainable landscaping and gardening
Mar. 1, 2012—The Sustainability and Environmental Management Office (SEMO) and the American Studies Sustainability Project will sponsor the seventh installment of the Green Bag Luncheon Series on Wednesday, March 28 from noon to 1 pm in Sarratt 189. Join Julie Berbiglia of Metro Water Services for an up-close look at rain barrels, stormwater management, and pollution prevention...
Green Building Council lauds One Hundred Oaks project
Jun. 30, 2011—by Leslie Hill [Originally published by VUMC News and Communications in the VUMC Reporter.] Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks has received a Green Star Award from the Middle Tennessee chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. The Green Star Award recognizes sustainable projects designed or built in Middle Tennessee from these categories: new construction, existing...
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...
Idea for community garden grows into reality
Apr. 22, 2011—[Originally published by Vanderbilt News Service in MyVU] Last year, the Vanderbilt Initiative for Vegetarian Awareness (VIVA) had the idea to create a Vanderbilt Community Garden to grow crops for Vanderbilt students in organic and sustainable ways. This month, the garden became a reality with the first planting. “VIVA created the garden, along with generous...
Attend the release of Nashville’s Open Space Plan on Thursday, April 14
Apr. 12, 2011—Photo credits: Gary Layda, Anita McCaig and The Land Trust for Tennessee. Directions to Shelby Bottoms Nature Center For more information about The Land Trust for Tennessee, visit http://www.landtrusttn.org/.
Nobel Peace Prize winner to deliver Senior Day address
Dec. 3, 2010—[Originally published by News and Public Affairs in MyVU] Wangari Maathai, the 2004 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and founder of the environmentally conscious Green Belt Movement, will receive Vanderbilt University’s prestigious Nichols-Chancellor’s Medal in May 2011 when she will address graduating seniors and their families during Senior Day. Senior Day, which will be...
Vanderbilt improves grade on College Sustainability Report Card 2011
Nov. 1, 2010—[Originally published in MyVU by VU News and Public Affairs] Vanderbilt University’s results on the 2011 College Sustainability Report Card improved in five of the nine sustainability categories and stayed consistent in the other four categories. The university received an overall grade of “B,” an improvement from the C+ in the 2010 Report Card. The...
Pollinating gardens created around Library Lawn as part of Fulbright Eco-Leadership Grant
Oct. 13, 2010—Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Responsibility (SPEAR), with the assistance of Campus Planning and Construction and the Plant Operations Grounds Department, planted six pollinating gardens near Library Lawn this past fall. The gardens are designed to rebuild habitats for pollinators such as butterflies, birds, bats, and honey bees that stimulate the growth of plants. Funding...