News Archives:
2009
2008
2009
Furman University Honored by Clean Air-Cool Planet for Sustainability Efforts
October 7, 2009 | Greenville, SC
Is LEED Worth it for College and University Buildings
Today's Campus Magazine Publishes Article by Second Nature Senior Fellow Peter Bardaglio (p. 18-23).
September, 2009 | Ithaca, NY
Second Nature to Support Sodexo’s Sustainability Efforts on Campuses Nationwide
August 19, 2009 | Gaithersburg, MD
Second Nature Calls on Leaders in Higher Education to Sign letter to Senators Urging "1% for Education" in new Climate Bill
July 2009 | Boston, MA
Second Nature and others call on leaders in Higher Education to sign a letter to Senate leaders urging them to set aside at least 1% of the proceeds of emissions allowances being considered in a new climate bill for a range of educational activities that will prepare the American workforce and public for a clean, green energy future. Deadline for signing this letter is Tuesday, July 7.
Dr. Anthony Cortese, President of Second Nature, receives Honorary Doctorate at Allegheny College
May 2009 | Meadville, PA
Second Nature has selected 15 under-resourced higher education institutions
for Kresge Green Building Fellowship Awards.
May 15, 2009 | Boston, MA
Second Nature congratulates the 15 institutions awarded the 2009 Kresge Green Building Fellowship Awards. With funding from the Kresge Foundation, Second Nature has presented these fellowships as a way to provide under-resourced institutions with information and networking opportunities that will develop champions for green building on campus. There were 82 applicants for the fellowships. Please click HERE to learn if your institution is one of the awardees.
New Guidance for Universities and Colleges to Provide Students with Education on Climate Change and Sustainability
May 2009 | Boston, MA
Many in higher education are struggling to determine the right curricula, research, courses, and programs that will train students and faculty to confront the massive challenge of climate disruption and to have the marketable skills needed in a new clean, green economy. To help leaders in higher education meet this challenge, the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment and Second Nature have released Education for Climate Neutrality and Sustainability: Academic Guidance for ACUPCC Institutions.
Energy Financing Toolkit now available
April 15, 2009 | Boston, MA
The American Colleges and Universities Presidents’ Climate Commitment and the William J. Clinton Foundation’s Climate Initiative, with the assistance over 35 industry experts, created a best practices toolkit as a resource for ACUPCC signatories interested in learning about and conducting an Energy Performance Contract (EPC). EPC is a contractual and financing mechanism through which building owners can undertake comprehensive energy efficiency retrofits with minimal financial exposure and maximum energy and financial savings.
"Boldly Sustainable - Hope and Opportunity for Higher Education in the Age of Climate Change" published
April 2009 | Boston
Citing real world examples of innovative solutions in higher education, Second Nature Senior Fellow Peter Bardaglio and Second Nature's Director of Sustainability Financing Andrea Putman, illustrate how building a culture of sustainability through creative leadership, a signature curriculum, and enhanced learning environment, and sustainability initiatives can help institutions to distinguish themselves from the pack, bolster their value proposition, and raise their institutional profiles. Geared to both newcomers and experienced practitioners, this book offers higher education leaders a strategy for breaking through the static and capturing the attention of a world overwhelmed with a barrage of information.
New Report on Major Strides of American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment
April, 2009 | Washington, DC and Boston, MA
The 2008 Annual Report of the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment demonstrates major strides, ambitious plans, and concrete examples of the more than 600 universities and
colleges participating in the ACUPCC. A news release is also available.
Second Nature, with a $1.2 M Kresge Foundation grant, launches Advancing Green Building in Higher Education Program
March 11, 2009 | Boston, MA
This initiative will assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges, and the US Department of Education’s Title III and V institutions to “build green” on their campuses.
For more information, please click HERE.
Greenopolis Foundation implements new micro-grant program
March 2009
A new micro-grant program from the Greenopolis Foundation is online and open for applications from implementation liaisons, students, and faculty for sustainability education projects, such as GHG inventories or emissions reductions projects. Both open and defined grants available. Please click HERE for more information.
U Maryland announces the Chesapeake Project: Integrating Sustainability Across the Curriculum
The Chesapeake Project is a two-day workshop designed to help University of Maryland faculty integrate sustainability across all academic disciplines. Participants learn about core concepts of environmental, economic, and social sustainability from resource experts who help the participants integrate sustainability into their existing courses.
Article in Scientific American
March | 2009
Top 10 Myths about Sustainability is an article published in the Scientific American with contributions from Dr. Anthony Cortese, President of Second Nature.
The State publishes Op/Ed by board member David Shi
February 22, 2009 | Columbia, SC
The State recently published an excellent opinion piece by David Shi, President of Furman University and member of the board of Second Nature, on higher education climate leadership. Dr. Shi outlined the challenges and opportunities presented by climate issues and pointed to his signing the Presidents' Climate Comittment as a pivotal decision that has led to action and cascading benefits for Furman's sustainability efforts.
2008
Letter to the New Education Secretary
December 19, 2008 | Worldwatch Institute| Washington, DC
Dr. Cortese, President of Second Nature, joined fellow prominent education and environmental leaders in an open letter urging the newly nominated U.S. education secretary, Arne Duncan, to consider the importance of education in carrying out President-elect Barack Obama's environmental agenda. View article.
ACUPCC Carbon Offset Protocol launched
November 10, 2008 | Raleigh, NC
At the 2008 AASHE conference in Raleigh, NC, the ACUPCC announced the release of the ACUPCC Carbon Offset Protocol. The Protocol will help ACUPCC institutions evaluate the complex carbon offset markets and determine if and how to incorporate offsets into their climate action plans. It was developed over a 6-month period by a Working Group of representatives from ACUPCC institutions, and chaired by David Hales, President of College of the Atlantic, and coordinated by Second Nature. Read the press release here, and the Protocol and the accompanying Guidance Document here.
Greening the Campus: How Educational Institutions Combat Climate Issues
October 1, 2008 | Aurora, IL
Michelle Dyer, Vice President of Second Nature, gave a keynote address and moderated a panel of college and university representatives who shared strategies for climate action at higher education institutions working toward the goal of climate neutrality.
Arizona State University hosts Sustainability Solutions Summit
September 19, 2008 | Washington, DC
ASU President Michael Crow convened a panel of national leaders in business, government, advocacy and academia, including Dr. Anthony Cortese, President of Second Nature. The Summit offered a lively discussion moderated by journalist Aaron Brown of what the leaders from key sectors are doing – and should be doing – to ensure our planet will be able to continue to sustain life in the future. View webcast.
ACUPCC signatory GHG inventory submissions begin
September 15, 2008 marked the first major milestone for Charter Signatories of the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. Signatories commit to reporting on GHG emissions within one year of signing the Commitment. |
