Sustainability

Jay Reno ’10, a business administration major who graduated with honors last month, has been selected as a Green Plus Sustainability Fellow by the Green Plus Institute for Sustainable Development.

All of the 41 campus buildings taking part in the 2010 POWERless Energy Competition showed a reduction in energy use during the sixth week week of the contest. The top building of the week in Division I was Oaks B, showing a 52.2 percent reduction. In Division II, the distinction went to Loy Center A, B and C, which recorded a 66.3 percent reduction.

Students and faculty are invited to take part this Saturday in the Triad Commute Challenge Commuter Dash, a walk/run at a regional park that kicks off a three-month campaign to raise awareness of air quality issues while encouraging people to try alternative transportation, like carpooling or biking, rather than driving alone.

An environmental activist best known for her film documentary “The Story of Stuff” visited campus on April 22 for Earth Day, and her message was simple: People are happier not when they buy “stuff” but when they form quality relationships and work toward common goals.

Students, faculty and staff will have an opportunity this week to provide feedback on Elon University’s draft Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years by setting goals for energy conservation, energy production and commuting.

Annie Leonard, the activist behind the short film “The Story of Stuff,” comes to Elon University for an April 22 evening lecture on the costs associated with the nation’s consumer-driven culture. Leonard’s appearance in McKinnon Hall, which is free and open to the public, coincides with Earth Day 2010.

Elon’s commitment to sustainability has earned the university the distinction of being named one of the “greenest” schools in the country. The university’s profile is included in The Princeton Review's Guide to 286 Green Colleges, which was released April 20 and profiles the nation’s most environmentally-responsible campuses.

Final results were announced Tuesday for two spring competitions that encourage faculty, staff and students to make lifestyle improvements for maintaining a healthier planet. Read this note for a message from Elon University President Leo M. Lambert on the importance of both contests.

In week five of the POWERless Energy Competition, nearly all (95 percent) of the residential buildings taking part in this year's event showed a reduction in energy use. The top building of the week in Division I was Oaks A, which showed a 53.2 percent reduction. In Division II, the distinction goes to the Kenan Pavilion in the Academic Village with a 60 percent reduction.

Oaks A and the Isabella Cannon Pavilion in the Academic Village led the way in the fourth week of Elon's POWERless Energy Competition. In the competition's Division I, Oaks A saw a 40.4 percent reduction in energy use in week four, while the Cannon Pavilion led Division II with a 44.6 percent reduction.