Austin Peay State University (Southern Energy Network)
Passed Green Energy Fee Referendum
Students Organized to Advance Renewable Energy (SOARE) at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN organized a student body vote in January to approve a $10 per student per semester Renewable Energy Fee that will increase energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy for the campus. The referendum was approved by an overwhelming 83% majority. The fee must be approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents in June 2007. SOARE has used this victory to leverage even more support for climate action: because of education and advocacy from the students at APSU, the mayor of Clarksville is now entertaining the prospect of joining the Cool Cities pledge. He will host a weekend working group to investigate the advantages and costs of Cool Cities in June.
Bowdoin College (Sierra Student Coalition (SSC))
Commitment to 100% Renewable Electricity
This fall, Bowdoin College was recognized as an EPA Green Power Partner after the purchase of 100% renewable electricity. Bowdoin joined the Green Power Partner list after a student-run campaign, which began last spring, succeeded in securing a commitment from President Barry Mills and Treasurer Catherine Longley.
Duke University (Students United from a Global Social Environment (SURGE))
“SmartHome” Residence Hall
Student efforts at Duke have led to the commitment by Duke, in partnership with Home Depot, to build the “SmartHome” Residence hall - http://www.smarthome.duke.edu/ - which will be a living and learning lab for campus sustainability.
Macalester College (Sierra Student Coalition (SSC))
The student’s ability to achieve these victories with relative ease is not a fluke, but rather testament to the excellent and constant organizing that takes place at Macalester. Large-scale and highly visible events like Campus Wars, where Macalester challenged other Minnesota schools to compete with them in reducing their energy use in the month of February, and a strong working relationship with the President made these wins feasible even without signatures and rallies.
$67,000 Clean Energy Revolving Fund
This fall, students at Macalester College established a $67,000 clean energy revolving fund at the college. They are now looking to put this money toward building a wind turbine
Maryland (Student PIRGS)
CALPIRG, the California Student Sustainability Coalition and a host of campus organizations helped convince the University of California to sign the President’s Climate Commitment, which covers all 9 campuses in the UC system. CALPIRG, CSSC and campus groups like the UCSB Environmental Affairs Board ran a quiet persuasion campaign, focused on the most supportive Chancellors in the UC system (such as UCSB’s Henry Yang). This included personally making the case to these Chancellors, as well as generating visibility for the university’s current initiatives.
Clean Energy Fee Referendum
Working with CCAN and the UMD College Park Student Government Association, Maryland PIRG students won a referendum vote by 91% to increase student fees by $4 to pay for clean energy on campus and paving the way for up to a $12 increase in the next 4 years. Students with the Climate Challenge group, led by coordinator Joanna Calabrese and SGA Environmental Affairs Committee chair Sam Snellings, helped lead the effort.
New College of Florida (Southern Energy Network)
Solar Thermal and PV hook Up’s
New College Enviro Club successfully lobbied administrators regarding new dormitories that have already begun construction and requested hook ups for solar technologies; following serious dialogue, administrators and builders have agreed to include these.
Pomona College (Sierra Student Coalition (SSC))
Purchase of 10% Renewable Energy
At Pomona College in Claremont, CA a Campus Climate Challenge campaign led by Ada Aroneau convinced the college to purchase 10% of the energy used in dorms from renewable sources in return for a 5% reduction in student energy use. The victory came after a month-long conservation inter-dorm challenge where students competed to reduce their energy use.
Rollins University (Southern Energy Network)
1.6 KW Solar Array Installed
The EcoRollins group's ongoing campaign to bring Clean Energy to campus has resulted in implementation of a 1.6 kilowatt solar PV array to power fluorescent ceiling lights in a science laboratory. To achieve this victory, Rollins Students have been working on proposals, holding meetings with administrators and facilities managers for nearly 2 years.
St. John's College (Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN))
Student Leaders – David Bronstein, Malcolm Cecil-Cockwell
100% Clean Energy
This year St. John's Students for a Sustainable Future ran a successful campaign to get the college to switch to 100% wind power. It was achieved by presenting a convincing case to the President as well as gathering petition signatures from half the undergraduate student body (272 signatures) and letters that were presented to the President in order to show the student support for clean energy on campus. The education of students about the serious problems of global warming and the solutions in clean energy was a large component of the campaign. Dorm storms were utilized to gather petition signatures, distribute brochures, and raise awareness about global warming and SJC's clean energy campaign. Petition signatures were then presented to the President and a 100% clean energy purchase was discussed. Although he was in need of more specifics at the first meeting, by the second meeting he was on board. Meetings were also held with the Dean and President of Advancement regarding the switch to clean energy. All administrators were in support and within a month St. John's had bought REC's retroactively, enough to cover the electricity load of St. John's for all of 2007.
St. Mary's College of Southern Maryland (Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN))
Student Leaders - Co-presidents: Rachel Clement, Meredith Epstein, Vice President: Mary Clapp, Treasurer: Anna Vaudin, Secretary: Shane Hall
100% Clean Energy
Next year, SMCM will be purchasing 100% Clean Energy. Students passed the referendum 1,005 to 75, to raise tuition fees $25 per year to pay for 100% clean, renewable energy. The referendum was brought in front of the student body as a result of a supporting bill's passage through the SGA. Students gathered 714 petition signatures for the bill, representing over 500 more students than voted in the SGA elections. Students employed a number of novel tactics to raise awareness and generate support for the referendum, including dorm storming, writing messages on every chalkboard on campus, and handing out 1,000 pinwheels, over the summer, clean energy providers will be submitting "bids" for clean energy contracts with the college and subsequent decisions will be made. (NOTE: decisions will be based on criteria beyond lowest cost) Because of funding cycles, student fees will start paying for clean energy in the beginning of the 2008 academic year. In the interim, the SGA will pull from a large budget surplus to provide the funds necessary to get clean energy online by the beginning of the 2007 academic year. http://www.smcm.edu/newsevents/release.cfm?id=548 Geothermal Heat PumpSMCM will be installing a geothermal heat pump in their boat house as a result of a student proposed bill submitted to the SGA. The bill was submitted by SMCM's Challenge group and requested allocation of surplus SGA funds to pay for the heat pump. The SGA approved the bill and the heat pump will be installed. The money saved (~$15,000) from the heat pump may be allocated to help ensure that the 100% clean energy purchase comes from a local source. http://www.smcm.edu/newsevents/release.cfm?id=519
Swarthmore College (Sierra Student Coalition (SSC))
35% Wind Energy
Led by Rachel Ackoff and Sasha Shahidi, Swarthmore students rallied this year to increase the wind purchase at Swarthmore to 35% of its total electricity usage. This was the latest in a 10-year push for renewable energy at Swarthmore and was achieved through focused student pressure on the President and other administrators. The students organized big events including a rally and a press conference to promote the campaign and the victory.
Berkeley (Student PIRGS)
CALPIRG, the California Student Sustainability Coalition and a host of campus organizations helped convince the University of California to sign the President’s Climate Commitment, which covers all 9 campuses in the UC system. CALPIRG, CSSC and campus groups like the UCSB Environmental Affairs Board ran a quiet persuasion campaign, focused on the most supportive Chancellors in the UC system (such as UCSB’s Henry Yang). This included personally making the case to these Chancellors, as well as generating visibility for the university’s current initiatives.
The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF)
The CalPIRG chapter at UC Berkeley, along with a large coalition of other student groups, helped pass a fee referendum (called TGIF: The Green Initiative Fund) that would assess $5/student/semester to purchase renewable energy credits. The initiative passed with 69% support by the voting student body. CalPIRG's role included providing advice and training to activists on campaigning tactics such as tabling and class raps, about 25 volunteer hours tabling/campaigning, connections with the campus paper to get an op-ed printed, and advice from CalPIRG advocate Emily Rusch on how to prepare for a meeting with an editorial board (TGIF was the only fee referendum to get endorsed by the Daily Cal).
University of Central Arkansas (Southern Energy Network)
Solar Panels
After connecting with Tennessee students involved in a student renewable energy fee campaign, students with the Environmental Alliance group ran a campaign for a renewable energy fee. The fee was not approved, but the student government, instead, changed the bill so that $12,000 of student fees would be used to install solar panels on the Christian Cafeteria. The new edit of the bill was approved, and the panels will hopefully be installed in the 2007-2008 school year.
University of Central Florida (Southern Energy Network))
SGA Passes Declaration of Independence from Dirty Energy
UCF Eco Advocates members drafted a Resolution to incorporate the Energy Action Coalition’s Declaration of Independence from Dirty Energy into official Student Government policies; through meetings with each senator prior to the vote, the resolution passed by acclimation. The Declaration challenges politicians and leaders to lay out a plan for a complete transition beyond dirty energy.
University of Colorado Denver (Student PIRGS)
750 KW Solar Project
CoPIRG helped pass a campus-based 750 KW solar project, which will be the largest campus-based solar project outside of California and the 5th largest in the country (according to AASHE, see http://www.aashe.org/resources/solar_campus.php). The solar provider and campus facilities started this project up over a year ago, but couldn’t persuade the campus Board of Trustees to adopt the plan. The facilities department approached the CoPIRG chapter and asked them for help, thinking that students could build the student support needed to pass the Board. CoPIRG proceeded to get all three student governments on board and collected several thousand signatures of support from students. In addition, they helped campus facilities negotiate a better financial deal for the University, and helped the solar provider sharpen the case for the economic benefits of the project, a critical factor that helped win over the skeptical Board. After the proposal passed the University Board, the students helped guide the final project approval through the Colorado Public Utilities Board. The project breaks ground next fall. Renewed and Increased Renewable Energy FeeThe CoPIRG chapter worked with a coalition of other campus organizations to renew the student fee for renewable energy. The fee, created in 2004, was increased to $3/semester and expanded to cover wind purchases, energy efficiency programs on campus buildings, increasing current recycling and integrated waste management programs, reducing the campus per capita water use, and increasing the fuel efficiency of campus fleet vehicles.
University of Florida (Southern Energy Network)
Renewable Energy Fee
The University of Florida group Gators for Sustainable Campus passed a student referendum calling for a Renewable Energy Fee. Campaigning for the fee included meetings with campus leaders, SG nominees and club advisers. UF President Machin has pledged support to the student effort which will be up for review by the Board of Trustees this summer.
University of Maryland, College Park (Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN)) and (Environmental Justice Climate Change Initiative)
Student Leaders - Amy Dewan, Joanna Calabre, David Rogner and Andrew Nazdin
100% Clean Energy Referendum
Students voted on a non-binding referendum to increase tuition fees by $12 to meet all students' energy needs by renewable energy. The increased fee would begin at $4 the first year and increase $2 each additional year until reaching a maximum of $12. The referendum passed with 3,803 votes. To raise awareness UMD students relentlessly tabled and gathered petition signatures just to get the referendum on the ballot. Leading up to the vote, they held an event titled "Climate Climax" that features spoken word artists, an "environmental justice speaker", and Mike Tidwell Executive Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. Since the referendum is non-binding, next steps include pressuring the administration to purchase clean energy. http://media.www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2007/04/18/News/Students.Pushing.For.Referendum.Support-2849020.shtml
University of Memphis (Southern Energy Network)
Green Power Referendum
The Environmental Action Club (EAC) at the University of Memphis campaigned to pass a referendum to purchase green power and fund on-campus sustainability projects, such as recycling and energy efficiency. Over 1,600 students -- the largest voter turn-out in school history -- approved the referendum with a 69% majority. Beyond the voted support, the EAC and 105 student volunteers also collected over 2,500 signatures specifying that the fee be set at $20/student/semester, which would make the University of Memphis the largest user of green power in the Southeast. The new Green Power fee must be approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents in June 2007.
University of Tennessee, Chattanooga (Southern Energy Network)
Green Fee Referendum
Ecological Decisions for a Global Environment (EDGE) led a successful campaign this semester at the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga, where 847 students voted in support of the Clean Campus Initiative. With 12% of the total student population in support of bringing renewable energy, efficiency, recycling, and other sustainability efforts to the campus this year should prove to be exciting. The campus is currently researching electric bus routes and sustainable fuels.
University of Waterloo (Sierra Youth Coalition)
Raised $40,000 towards Purchase of Solar Panels
Sustainable Technology Education Project (STEP), a student led group from the University of Waterloo raised over $40,000 towards the purchase of solar panels for campus buildings. The group has now set their sites on fundraising for a wind turbine over the 2007-2008 school year.
Valdosta State University, Georgia (Southern Energy Network)
Green Energy and Green Buildings Bill Moves Forward at Valdosta
The student group Students Against Violating the Environment at Valdosta State University in Georgia has been very active in attempting to adopt a Clean Energy Program on campus. Their renewable energy and green building bill, after facing multiple attempts by the administration to stop it, was passed by a majority vote of the Student Government Association. The bill is currently awaiting approval by the Fees Committee, chaired by students and administration, before it can be passed on to the President of the University for approval.
Warren Wilson (Students United from a Global Social Environment (SURGE))
Warren Wilson has by far been a leader in campus sustainability initiatives in North Carolina.
100% Renewable Energy Offsets
In 2006, the University announced that it would purchase 100% renewable energy offsets for the campus,
Built an EcoDorm
The University built an EcoDorm that will function as a living community for about thirty students while showcasing numerous environmentally conscious features. Rainwater is collected for use in toilets, photovoltaic window awnings provide renewable energy to the building, composting toilets reduce water use, solar hot water panels harvest heat from the sun to heat water, natural day lighting reduces electricity consumption, and a permaculture landscape provides seasonal foods for residents.
Wisconsin (Student PIRGS)
University of Wisconsin Campuses off the Grid by 2010
WISPIRG helped play a considerable role in the passage of a joint initiative between WI Governor Jim Doyle and the University of Wisconsin system to get four UW campuses off the grid by 2010.