Join the Vermont Student Sustainability Listserv

Greenchampion listserv is an informal method to keep active students from each Vermont campus in touch with each other. The listserv is open to any student from Vermont colleges and universities. Use it to let each other know what's happening at your school(speakers, events, etc), to collaborate on events(Focus the Nation, Fossil Fools Day, Powershift...), to ask each other questions(how did you start that green fee program?) or for anything else you can think of. To sign up for the listserv just follow the link.

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Presidential Forum on Renewable Energy Essay Contest

The Presidential Forum on Renewable Energy is sponsoring a student essay contest in which three college students will be awarded a $10,000 educational prize. The contest is intended to engage college students in the issues of renewable energy, sustainability, and conservation. It is open to students who, as of January 1, 2008, are between the ages of 18 and 24; enrolled, full-time or part-time, in an undergraduate college program; and a citizen of the US. Deadline is February 1, 2008.

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Conscious Lifestyle Innovative Idea Competition

Conscious Lifestyle is accepting applications for its 2008 Ventures program, which offers $1000 in start-up funding, web space, monthly skill building workshops, and personalized support to the team with the most innovative idea on how to sustainably make students and their institution more socially responsible. Applicants must be full time students, have leadership and/or volunteer experience, and be able to work with an adult ally and other community leaders. Application deadline is February 15, 2008.

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Recyclemania 2008 – Registration Deadline Approaching

January 27 – April 5, 2008; Nation-wide RecycleMania is a friendly competition among college and university recycling programs in the United States that provides the campus community with a fun, proactive activity in waste reduction. Over a 10-week period, campuses compete in different contests to see which institution can collect the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita, or have the highest recycling rate. Registration closes January 18

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Cascade Power Shift Summit '08

February 8-11, 2008; Eugene, OR This February, hundreds of Northwest youth will converge on Eugene, Oregon for the Cascade Power Shift summit entitled, Mobilizing for Climate Justice. The weekend will feature informative panels, skill-building workshops, kick-offs for exciting climate campaigns, Citizen Action Days in Salem and Olympia and a chance to connect with hundreds of other Northwest students and youth working for a sustainable, just, and prosperous future.

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Greening the Supply and Purchasing Chain Roundtable

January 31, 2008; University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL The University of Miami and the Chlorine Free Products Association will co-host a Sustainability Roundtable, entitled Greening the Supply and Purchasing Chain Roundtable. The event is geared toward university professionals in purchasing, facility management, and sustainability, and will focus on greening the supply chain as a means to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Registration ends January 26, 2008.

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Eco-philosopher Joanna Macy to Speak at Middlebury College

January 24, 2008 8pm Dana Auditorium, Sutherland Language Center Middlebury College Eco-philosopher, Buddhist scholar, and author Joanna Macy will speak about the “great turning” toward a sustainable culture. Macy is an internationally respected voice in movements for ecology, peace and justice, who interweaves her scholarship in Buddhist thought and general systems theory with four decades of activism. Her lecture will focus on “the great turning,” which she describes as “the essential adventure of our time: the shift from the industrial growth society to a life-sustaining civilization.” The event is open to the public and admission, which can be paid at the door, is $2 for students and seniors and $3 for the general public.

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CFP: Smart and Sustainable Campus Conference

March 31– April 2, 2008; University of Maryland, College Park, MD The 3rd Annual Smart & Sustainable Campuses Conference will bring together current and future leaders in the areas of campus planning and development, environmental health and safety, sustainability, finance and business, facilities management, and procurement. The conference will feature sessions and workshops on smart growth and sustainable practices, with emphasis on institutionalizing sustainability, operational sustainability, smart growth and campus planning, and assessment and measurement. The conference program committee is currently accepting proposals for concurrent sessions. Proposals will be considered until January 18, 2008.

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Clinton Global Initiative University Meeting

March 14 – 16, 2008; Tulane University, New Orleans, LA Former President Bill Clinton is hosting the inaugural meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) in which hundreds of students, university officials, and global leaders will come together to make commitments related to CGI U’s four main focus areas: energy and climate change, global health, human rights and peace, and poverty alleviation. All attendees are expected to make a commitment. There is no cost to participate. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis on until February 25, 2008.

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Sustainable Energy Education and Training Project Workshop

July 7 – 18, 2008; National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado The 2008 Sustainable Energy Education and Training Project (SEET) workshop will focus on energy efficiency technologies and renewable energy content presented by educators, practitioners, and researchers from across the country. The workshop will provide hands-on, inquiry-based lab experiences; take-home equipment and training; and site visits and field work assisted by professional partners of the hosting institution. The workshop participants will team up to identify teaching and learning resources and to develop materials to share with high school and two-year college educators in an online energy resources clearinghouse. High school and two-year college science, math, and technology instructors from across the U.S. are invited to apply. Twenty-five instructors will be selected to attend, with the following expenses covered: travel, lodging, meals, study materials, and optional tuition. Applications are due by January 18, 2008.

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CFP: Greenbuild International Conference and Expo

November 19-21, 2008; Boston, MA U.S. Green Building Council is now accepting proposals for potential presenters and topics for the 2008 Greenbuild conference. The conference will feature sessions on all aspects of sustainable design, construction, and operations practices for buildings and communities, including their impact on people, the environment, and the economy. Proposals from the education sector are particularly welcome. The deadline for proposals is January 11, 2008

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Webinar on Geothermal Energy for Campuses

January 10, 2008; 11:00 AM - Noon EDT Haley & Aldrich is hosting a knowledge-sharing webinar about geothermal energy for the higher education community. The webinar will provide an over view of geothermal system types and their potential for achieving carbon emissions reductions. It will also describe potential pitfalls and lessons learned from previous geothermal installations.

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Deploying a Wind Turbine for Your Campus Web Conference

February 19 & 21, 2008; 1:00-2:30 pm EDT Participants in this two-part web conference will learn key considerations in planning and implementing a wind generation project on campus. Instructors will address practical tactics for bringing a campus wind project from vision to reality. Participants will also learn how to assess project viability, plan the project over a long-term timeline, monitor and maintain operational performance, and integrate the wind turbine into the campus educational experience.

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The Future of Plug in Hybrid Vehicles - 12/11/2007

December 11, 2007 Time: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Location: Davis Center Silver Maple Ballroom - 4th floor University of Vermont The Future of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles Green Vehicle Report Released by UVM Researchers & A Conversation with Nancy Gioia Director of Sustainable Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Vehicle Programs Ford Motor Company Free and open to the public Parking and shuttle service available from the Sheraton parking lot

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National Wildlife Federation Campus Ecology Fellowships Call for Proposals

NWF’s Campus Ecology program is accepting proposals beginning November 1 through December 15, 2007, for the 2008 class of Campus Ecology Fellows. NWF is seeking proposals from undergraduate and graduate students working with a team of faculty, staff, or other students on projects to reduce their campus’ carbon footprint.

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Environmental Grants Solicitation Issue 172

Solicitations is a grant funding newsletter put together by the Washington State University Extension Energy Program. There are 16 grant funding notices in this issue.

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"Focus the Nation" Global Warming Educational Initiative, Jan. 31, 2008

Focus the Nation is organizing a national teach-in on global warming solutions for America—creating a dialogue at over a thousand colleges, universities, high schools, middle schools, places of worship, civic organizations and businesses, and directly engaging millions of students and citizens with the nation’s decision-makers. Focus the Nation will culminate January 31st, 2008 in simultaneous educational symposia held across the country. Our intent is to move America beyond fatalism to a determination to face up to this civilizational challenge, the challenge of our generation. Take a look at Vermont VCSN Focus the Nation Forum

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Step it Up - National Day of Climate Action, Nov. 3, 2007

The Vermont-based Step It Up initiative held its second day of climate action on November 3. Organizers across the country creatively showed the world that they will hold their politicians accountable. Collectively all of us sent more than 14,000 messages to our members of Congress and presidential candidates, inviting them to attend a Step It Up rally More than 80 of them attended events, sent representatives or statements.

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Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF) Loan Program

The Vermont Department of Public Service (DPS) has announced the launch of the Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF) Loan Program. This program will offer low interest loans to help finance a wide variety of clean and/or renewable electric energy technologies. Attached is the CEDF Loan Program brochure that highlights the main points of the program. Please contact John Becker, the CEDF Manager for additional information about the loan program, and to request a loan application. Additional information on the CEDF purpose and goals can be found in the CEDF Strategic Plan

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