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Developing a rating system for sustainable
campuses
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher
Education (AASHE) has released the latest draft of the rating system it
is developing to measure sustainability in higher education.
The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System
(STARS) will enable higher-education institutions, from community
colleges to large universities, to assess the progress of
sustainability
efforts on their campuses.
"There is currently no standard, comprehensive way to
compare the sustainability performance of higher-education institutions
and to benchmark a single institution's performance over time," the
draft states. "This makes it difficult for schools to reap the
marketing, recruitment and fundraising benefits of sustainability
leadership."
The association began working on a rating system in 2006.
It released the previous draft (version 0.4) of the STARS system in
September 2007 and used the feedback to make changes for the latest
version.
The goals of the rating system, the AASHE says, are to:
- Provide a guide for advancing sustainability in all sectors of
higher education.
- Enable meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions by
establishing a common standard of measurement for sustainability in
higher education.
- Create incentives for continual improvement toward sustainability.
- Facilitate information sharing about higher education
sustainability
practices and performance.
- Recognize sustainability achievements for all institutions,
including leaders and beginners.
- Build a stronger, more diverse campus sustainability community.
The AASHE says that as proposed, STARS would enable
campuses to earn two types of credits: performance, which
consists of quantitative measurements, and strategy, which
focuses on approaches or processes. Performance credits generally are
given a higher priority. "The primary goal of the system is to catalyze
tangible improvements in sustainability achievement, not simply to
encourage adoption of more strategies," the AASHE says.
Credits also are broken down into three
categories--education and research; operations; and administration and
finance. STARS Version 0.5 lists a possible 66 points under education
and research; 61 points under operations; and 51 points under
administration and finance.
For instance, under operations, colleges and universities
can receive credits for having a green cleaning program, for using
local
sources in food services, for buying environmentally preferable
furniture and paper products, and for reducing greenhouse gas
emissions.
More than 90 colleges and universities are taking part in
a
pilot project testing STARS. They will provide feedback to AASHE
throughout 2008 and help develop STARS version 1.0, planned for release
in spring 2009.
Version 0.5 of STARS is online at www.aashe.org/stars/documents/STARS_0.5.pdf.
The AASHE is seeking comments on the draft at stars@aashe.org until May 9.
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Clean hard & soft floors with one machine
The new Adphibian walk-behind carpet extractor/automatic scrubber
enables cleaning staff to use only one machine to pre-spray and extract
carpet as well as to scrub hard floors. In just 30 seconds, operators
can switch between extracting and scrubbing--no compromises, no
hassles.
Too good to be true?
See the video at www.advance-us.com/adphibian
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Green-themed charter school coming to Woodbury,
Minn.
The outdoors will be the classroom for about 60 young students
in
a proposed "green" charter school in Woodbury, Minn., that is
scheduled to open in the fall, The Minneapolis Star Tribune
says.
To read more, click
here.
The Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction is urging
schools in the state to consider using renewable energy sources,
including geothermal heating and cooling. To read more, click
here.
Officials in Boulder, Colo., district want to make the $31
million Casey Middle School the district is building to be a
"green" showplace, The Daily Camera says. To read more, click
here.
Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., is installing a
wind turbine on campus that will produce enough energy to supply about
60 percent of the annual energy needs at the college's entrepreneurship
gallery. To read
more, click here.
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SCA Tissue provides environmentally friendly sanitary paper solutions
to
schools with its Tork® tissue, towel and napkin dispensing systems.
Tork® Xpressnap®, for example, produces significant reductions
in usage and waste by always delivering only one napkin at a time. SCA
Tissue products and processes meet strict EcoLogoM
certification requirements. www.torkusa.com.
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Reduced emissions
Source: Yale University
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Now Accepting Entries
Architectural Portfolio 2008
American School & University is now accepting entries for the
2008 Anniversary Architectural Portfolio. Entry deadline for the 26th
annual competition celebrating the best in school design is June 3.
Portfolios are due July 2. Make sure your best projects are part of the
commemorative November 2008 Architectural Portfolio issue.
- Feature your best projects in the November 2008 Architectural
Portfolio Issue.
- Enjoy free benefits. Free copies of the Architectural Portfolio
issue, free promotional mailings, free plaque, public relations support
and more.
- Free Web exposure on the SchoolDesigns.com site.
- National recognition for the project, the architect and the
client.
- New! Complimentary Green Facility Spotlight in the Architectural
Portfolio issue.
For a complete Call For Entries packet and complimentary copy of
last
year's Architectural Portfolio issue, e-mail Molly Roudebush at mroudebush@asumag.com or call
her at (913) 967-1959. Or visit schooldesigns.com/Architectural_Portfolio.htm
for entry forms and more information about Architectural Portfolio
2008.
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Take advantage of AS&U's extensive
archives
TAKING INITIATIVE: In today's classrooms, the three R's might refer
to reduce, reuse and recycle. Schools are major consumers and producers
of waste, and many are assuming responsibility for instilling
environmental values and practices in their students...To
read the entire AS&U article, click here.
SUCK IT UP: Now that LEED standards are gaining a foothold among
facilities management and building professionals, there is a benchmark
to strive for. And a high-quality vacuum is a key part of the
equation....To read the
entire AS&U article, click here.
BUILDING GREEN: As resources become more scarce and expensive, and
technological progress enables institutions to use materials and
maintain facilities more efficiently, more administrators see
sustainable design as a way to maximize their budgets, conserve
resources, create learning opportunities for students, and provide
their
communities with an example of social responsibility....To read the
entire AS&U article, click here.
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Green calendar
April 20-22: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 4th annual National Sustainable
Design
Expo, Washington, D.C.
April 22: Earth
Day
April 28: National Healthy
Schools Day
April 30-May 2: Sixth Annual International
Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference, sponsored
by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, Baltimore
May 3-4: Living Green Expo, St.
Paul, Minn.
May 3-8: American Solar Energy Society, Solar 2008 conference, San
Diego
May 8: Virginia Sustainable Building Network, The State of High Performance Schools in
Virginia
May 17-18: Chicago
Green
Festival, Chicago
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