In April, 2008, Provost Harry Hellenbrand approved a manifesto for greening the CSU Northridge campus. This manifesto called for the initiation of a footprinting of the environmental and ecological impacts of the campus, the reorganization of the curriculum to more effectively integrate sustainability theory and practice learning into CSUN pedagogy, and the establishment of a diverse stakeholder group comprising students, staff and faculty to help move the campus toward a more sustainable future.

A Green Core Team emerged, comprising faculty and staff already engaged with sustainability issues, and in August 2008 a blog was established to begin dissemination of information relevant to the CSUN Greening Project. More »

There’s a moral of sorts to this story, but it’s a little tricky. Last semester, Professor David Campbell, a psychologist at Humboldt State, taught two online courses: Psychology of Critical Thinking (PSYC 100) and the Senior Seminar (PSYC 485).

Humboldt State has recently increased its number of courses offered via the Internet and Campbell has been one of a collection of professors who have been quick to adopt the new format. As the semester went on, he became curious as to the environmental impact of his Internet classes.

Full Story: Online Courses Cut Carbon Emissions

California State University Channel Islands earned recognition for its sustainable lighting practices at the Seventh Annual CSU/UC/Community College Sustainability Conference. More than 1,000 people attended the conference that was held July 31 through Aug. 3 at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

CSU/CI was one of eight California State University campuses recognized for efforts in areas such as building retrofits and operations, green buildings, sustainable transportation and student sustainability programs. The award CSU/CI received specifically recognized the University for 2008 Best Practice in the category of Lighting and Controls for its work in retrofitting portions of the campus with efficient and sustainable exterior lighting.

Full Story: CSU Channel Islands Receives Award For Sustainable Lighting

A team of Humboldt State University faculty and graduate students has won a $620,000 federal grant to develop water management solutions in the face of soaring population growth and rapid changes in water and land use in the rural West.

Field work for the three-year project, which starts in January, will be situated in the upper Snake River basin in Idaho and Wyoming at the Henry’s Fork (North Fork) watershed, considered by fly fishermen to be one of the premier trout fishing streams worldwide. Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Humboldt State Sponsored Programs Foundation.

Full Story: HSU Wins Major Conservation Grant

Cal State San Marcos’ efforts to reduce the amount of electricity the campus uses during periods of high demand have earned the university a statewide energy efficiency award.

Ed Johnson, director of facilities services for the university, was in San Francisco on Monday to accept the award from Flex Your Power.

A partnership of utility companies, businesses, government agencies, institutions, nonprofit organizations and individuals, Flex Your Power presents the awards annually to businesses, government agencies and other entities who demonstrate energy efficiency. More »