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The Windrush School (El Cerrito, CA) has a new classroom wing designed to take advantage of the area’s moderate climate. The school uses features like clerestory windows to distribute light and breezes, a combination natural ventilation and radiant heating system, photovoltaic panels, and a green roof with a water runoff system. |
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Northland College (WI) has stopped offering trays in the cafeteria to reduce their environmental impact. They started last fall with “Tray-less Tuesdays” – a program that saved 138 gallons of water every week by not offering trays, and extended it to the rest of the week in January. Trays take up twice as much space as plates do in a dishwasher, and they estimate that they washed 828 fewer trays on Tuesdays – saving water, energy, dish soap and time. There’s a side benefit, too. By only using a tray, students going through the buffet lines are more likely to take less food. It’s been reported that when Viterbo University in Wisconsin went tray-less in 2007, they eliminated almost three tons of food waste in two semesters. |
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Denison University (OH) has a 6,440-watt photovoltaics array on the roof of their main library, providing power to the Environmental Studies facility as well as serving as an educational tool for students. |
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Western Kentucky University tried an energy savings experiment over its recent winter break. In the face of a utility budget shortfall of more than half a million dollars, they shut down the campus for an additional week after their usual two-week winter break. Their facility managers set back thermostats in buildings, turned off all lighting except lights needed for safety, unplugged vending machines and water fountains, and turned off water heaters and other unneeded energy-users. Their energy bills showed a drop of more than one million kilowatt hours of electricity and a cost savings of $128,000. They also estimate eliminating 1,112 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Their emissions reduction is equivalent to taking 185 passenger vehicles off the road for one year, and their electricity savings could provide enough electricity to power 97 homes for a year. |
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In planning a major campus expansion, officials at Northern Kentucky University are planting grass and trees to replace much of the concrete on campus. Their plan includes a number of energy-saving features, including using storm-water management, installing green roofs and rain gardens and expanding its recycling program. |
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