World News
Five U.S. Colleges Win National Award For Campus Climate Innovations
By
Apr 20, 2010, 12:20

Five colleges and universities from across the United States have won national recognition in National Wildlife Federation’s annual competition Chill Out: Campus Solutions to Global Warming. This award program is the nation’s premier campus competition to promote sustainability and honor U.S. schools that are advancing creative approaches to reducing the carbon footprint on campuses.

Environmental visionaries and advocates from higher education and over 200 campuses will come together to celebrate the leadership of these campuses on the webcast of the fourth annual national awards which can be viewed anytime on or after Wednesday, April 21 "on-demand” at www.campuschillout.org. The colleges also receive a monetary award from the National Wildlife Federation.

"National Wildlife Federation applauds the campus innovators and pioneers who are helping to propel us down the path toward a society that no longer depends on pollution for prosperity. The warnings from both scientists and nature itself are clear that we are overdue in curbing the pollution that is disrupting our climate and jeopardizing the air we breathe and the water we drink,” said Jeremy Symons, Senior Vice President of Conservation and Education for National Wildlife Federation.

“Colleges and universities have always been seed beds for many of the best ideas and innovations in American Society,” adds Kevin Coyle, vice president for Education and Training for National Wildlife Federation.  “In the face of our boldly moving to a low carbon economy, they will be called upon once again to help invent new technologies and educational approaches.” 

Chill Out participants have demonstrated effective solutions to global warming. Some treat the campus as a student laboratory for green education and training; others reach out to form relationships with the surrounding community, green their transportation systems, and offer incentives to students to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Innovative Research, Design and Technology Category: Boston Latin School’s (Boston, MA) Youth Climate Action Network (YCAN) is taking a comprehensive approach to greening the campus, including creating an energy model and action plan, an Education for Sustainability Campaign and curriculum pilot, and a green roof.

The program advances environmental goals set by students. The Sustainable Roofscape Learning Lab, designed by YCAN students in partnership with Studio G Architects, proposes varieties of vegetation, a green house, and curriculum to go along with it.

Students in Action Category: Western State College of Colorado (Gunnison, CO) students are leading  a variety of visionary efforts to green the campus, including funding a sustainability program with student fees, installing solar panels, launching a free bus system for students, and creating a closed-loop food system with a community garden and onsite composting. The students have been the inspiration and energy for all of these projects.

Green Jobs and Education Category: Central Florida Community College (Ocala, FL) is collaborating with other organizations in the community to create The West Ocala Green Job Coalition Training Project. The project provides much needed job training to dislocated workers and low income adults while improving the overall economy, environment and quality of life. The certification curriculum includes a home weatherization program and a solar panel installation program.

Campus-Wide Actions Category: University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AK) is truly a climate leader, with its goal to be climate neutral by 2040. 25 ambitious projects are underway to reduce greenhouse gases emissions 50% below current levels by 2021. These projects range from replacing laboratory fume heads to lighting retrofits, to making adjustments to the campus’s central power plant for better efficiency.  These retrofits and projects save the campus $4million per year.

Best Video: Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA) student groups—Students Organizing for Sustainability and Environmental Alliance—have created the best video highlighting their efforts to green their campus. This category was selected based on having received the most votes from the online community. The video showcased the recycling, environmental education, bicycle repair and proliferation, and community garden programs at Georgia Tech.

For all these impressive efforts, National Wildlife Federation will feature the winning schools in the Chill Out: Campus Solutions to Global Warming webcast on April 21. This year’s webcast will feature Alisa Reyes (Nickelodeon’s All That) and NWF’s own David Mizejewski, (NWF Naturalist and Media Spokesman) as co-hosts.  They will celebrate the winning campuses and showcase the work that is happening on campuses nationwide.  The free program is a great organizing tool for campus groups and should prove to be entertaining, educational and inspiring.

“The passion that comes from these students, faculty and staff for a sustainable world invigorates the rest of society to continue the fight towards a clean energy and sustainable economy,” says Jen Fournelle, Chill Out Manager for National Wildlife Federation. “Chill Out is an incredible opportunity for campus leaders to take a look at what others are doing and see what they can do in their own community. Colleges and universities are an integral part of society—if they don’t lead in fighting climate change, who will?”

Chill Out: Campus Solutions to Global Warming is proudly supported by The Kendeda Fund and many partners. Join students and faculty to register for and view the webcast and learn how to take action throughout the year, at www.campuschillout.org.

National Wildlife Federation’s Campus Ecology Program is an integral part of the campus greening movement, supporting thousands of students, faculty and staff at more than one-third of all colleges and universities since 1989 with consultation, training, best practice resources and fellowships since 1989. The nation’s 4,100 colleges and universities educate as many as 19 million students in any given year making colleges and universities among the United State’s most important laboratories for creativity and innovation in confronting the climate crisis.

National Wildlife Federation's mission is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future. Visit www.nwf.org.

www.campuschillout.org