events

Four takeaways from the 30th Campus Sustainability Summit

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Four takeaways from the 30th Campus Sustainability Summit Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 04/11/2023 - 00:00

The 30th annual Campus Sustainability Summit takes place Wednesday and Thursday, April 19 and 20, at the UMC. Following the global focus of the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit and the Conference on World Affairs events, the Campus Sustainability Summit is an opportunity for faculty, staff and students to localize the focus on the CU �鶹ӰԺ’s impacts and goals. Join the Summit to share, learn about and celebrate the wide array of accomplishments, challenges and new ideas.

The Summit starts off on Wednesday, April 19 with four sessions and workshops:

Aiming for Zero Waste
Accelerating the Transition to a Clean Energy Future
Sustainability across the Curriculum
Navigating Climate Anxiety

More than 50 student projects will showcase climate and sustainability solutions at the summit, with the opportunity to win $25,000 in funding from the CU Climate Action Fund. Drop in to the UMC ballroom on Thursday, April 20 anytime during 12-3 p.m. to browse exhibits. Vote for your favorite when you attend.

Help shape the campus climate action plan through the Town Hall. Learn about the strategies that are being developed for CU to get to zero emissions. The format will be a one-hour session on the plan's climate justice and equity initiatives, a one-hour session on the CAP presentation, followed by interactive whiteboarding breakout sessions. Choose to attend the portions that are of interest to you and learn how the campus plans to further define its climate commitment.

The “Buffs Kick Gas!” exhibition will feature some of the newer low carbon transportation provided by CU and our partners that are driving us towards a cleaner transportation future. Stop by the UMC south plaza to touch, sit in and even ride some of the latest in EV transportation options.

Check out the interactive schedule for the event program here.

In collaboration with campus partners, CU Environmental Center has produced a Campus Sustainability Summit annually or semi-annually since 1994 for the campus community. The Campus Sustainability Summit and the Campus Sustainability Awards program are sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Infrastructure and Sustainability and the CUSG Environmental Center. The Summit is open to all CU �鶹ӰԺ students, faculty and staff and community members.

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Recap of President's Sustainable Solutions pitch night 2023

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Recap of President's Sustainable Solutions pitch night 2023 Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 04/08/2023 - 00:00

Last week, CU �鶹ӰԺ's Environmental Center hosted the 4th annual President's Sustainable Solutions Challenge event where three proposals were presented on how to make the campus more sustainable. The CU President's Office funded the prize money, totaling $2,500. Students developed their innovative proposals as individuals or as teams.

Lauren Uram and Mason Liddell presented their Plant-Based Campus Initiative, advocating for CU to become the first U.S. university to offer 100% plant-based food. Campuses in the UK have already made similar commitments, so this initiative isn’t unheard of. This would make meals 30-40% cheaper than an omnivorous diet, and the initiative would be implemented gradually over several semesters with education.

“I think it’s important to talk honestly about what our future is going to look like,” Uram explained.

Brandon Brown's Winds of Change proposal focused on the role of Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) in sustainable portfolios. By tailoring a PPA with Xcel, CU campus could run off 50% renewable energy by 2025 and 80% by 2030, making CU a leader in campus clean energy initiatives. Renewable energy sources comprise less than one percent of the total energy sources used to power campus, according to the 2021 STARS report. Xcel is already in the process of building a new Power Pathway after the Colorado Clean Energy Plan was put into place. This will ensure the state is 80% renewable by the end of the decade. While there may be cheaper alternatives, this plan would fulfill CU’s obligation to its local community and the state, making them a leader in campus clean energy initiatives.

The Xero Heros, consisting of Q Redmond, Jennalee Battson and Quinn Harper, presented their project on Waterwise Landscaping on Campus. Keeping the drought in the west in mind, they proposed replacing grass turf on East Campus with native vegetation to reduce mowing emissions and maintenance costs and decrease the goose population on that side of the campus.

“We’re thinking big but starting small,” Harper explained.

The judges awarded first place and $1,500 to Brown, second place and $500 to Uram and Liddell's Plant-Based Campus Initiative, and the Audience Choice award of $500 went to the Xero Heros. The presenters were also invited to share their initiatives at the Climate Action Expo April 20 from 12-3 p.m. in the UMC, with more opportunities to earn prize money.

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Students bring bold ideas for campus at the President’s Sustainable Solutions Challenge

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Students bring bold ideas for campus at the President’s Sustainable Solutions Challenge Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 04/01/2023 - 00:00

The Environmental Center is gearing up to host the 4th annual President's Sustainable Solutions Challenge, where CU �鶹ӰԺ students will showcase their sustainable innovations and solutions for the university. It's all happening on Wednesday, April 12 from 5-6 p.m. in CASE E422.

Student finalists have crafted dynamic pitch presentations that tackle crucial issues like environmental quality, natural resource use, social justice and economic longevity within the CU �鶹ӰԺ system. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the CU President's Office, the winning proposal will receive $1,500 in prize money! The runner-up and audience favorite will each be awarded $500. Come vote for your favorite solution!

The best part? All proposals will be considered for implementation review and funding after the competition ends. So join us for inspiring campus sustainability solutions. See you there!

The three finalist presentations in the 2023 President’s Sustainable Solutions Challenge are:

Plant-based campus initiative: Lauren Uram and Mason Liddell
Winds of change: Brandon Brown
Replacing non-essential turf across the CU �鶹ӰԺ campuses: Xero Heroes (Q Redmond, Jennalee Battson and Quinn Harper)

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