Green, greener, greenest
Newsweek has recognized Colorado State University as one of the nation’s greenest universities in its "Kaplan's How to Get into College Guide." The Newsweek article "Green, Greener, Greenest" covers how CSU has set the standard as a sustainable and environmentally responsible institution of higher education by implementing green-campus operations, educating tomorrow's green workforce, and deploying research through enterprise-based solutions. The article also references CSU's plans to build a 65-megawatt wind farm, which will provide more power than the University currently consumes, and CSU start-up Envirofit International, which has created a more efficient, cleaner-burning two-stroke engine, which is now retrofitted on taxis in the Philippines.
NREL board
Colorado State University is among five national research universities with a seat on the new board of directors of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's management team. The Alliance for Sustainable Energy LLC, the operating contractor selected by the U.S. Department of Energy, will manage the $1.1 billion five-year contract for the Golden, Colo.-based NREL. NREL is connecting with the university community on national energy research, technology, and policy development. CSU will have a strategic role to play as a member of the board of directors, leveraging the resources of NREL to develop changing technology and move it into the marketplace, says Bill Farland, vice president for Research at CSU and a member of the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory's executive team. The Alliance also named four other universities to the board of directors: Colorado School of Mines, the University of Colorado at Boulder, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
College-access alliance
A new educational alliance in Colorado will provide thousands of community college graduates a link to associate's, bachelor's, and advanced degree programs. The Colorado Community College System and the Colorado State University-Global Campus have partnered to provide working adults and other students constrained by time, location, and life commitments access to affordable, high-quality education. CSU-Global Campus expands access to higher education and creates a path to a four-year degree for those students who find a traditional university setting is not a viable option, says CSU President Larry Edward Penley. Through the agreement, students can earn an associate's degree through classes at a community college or online through CCCOnline and then complete a bachelor's degree or earn a master's degree online through CSU-Global Campus.
Trayless
Colorado State University takes seriously its environmental responsibility. Within its dining centers, CSU has included energy-efficient features and incorporated green power, eliminated Styrofoam take-out containers and replaced disposable cups with reusable water bottles, and integrated pulpers to divert food waste from the landfill, reducing waste by an estimated 70 percent. In a new sustainability move, CSU also is discontinuing the use of trays in its dining halls, where more than 7,500 meals are served each day. By not having to wash and sanitize 50,000 trays each week, CSU dining services will conserve an estimated 195,000 gallons of water every month, in addition to reducing the use of dish-washing chemicals and energy. Dozens of universities across the country have gone trayless and report a dramatic reduction in plate waste and water and energy usage.
Green policing
The Colorado State University Police Department is going green. This fall, police officers are patrolling sidewalks and hallways on 3-wheeled, upright, electric T3 Personal Mobility units, which can travel up to 25 mph over a variety of surfaces and move through tight spots off-limits to patrol cars. The vehicles — equipped with police sirens, flashing blue and red lights, quiet electric motors, and a zero-degree turning radius — emit zero gas emissions and can be used indoors, enabling officers to patrol residence halls, libraries, the student center, and other campus buildings. The T3s support community policing, which encourages officers to be more visible and approachable. The units hold two power modules, can be charged in 3 to 4 hours, and run on less than ten cents a day, helping to offset fuel and maintenance costs.
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