Campus Green Builder

Second Nature invites all under-resourced colleges and universities to take advantage of the following opportunities that are offered within the Advancing Green Building in Higher Education Initiative.

DISCOUNTED AASHE MEMBERSHIPS

Under-resourced schools can receive 60% membership discounts to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), a network of more than 800 colleges and universities working to advance sustainability in higher education. This discount is limited to the first 100 schools that apply. To take advantage of this special AASHE membership discount offer, visit here.

AASHE's mission is to empower higher education to lead the sustainability transformation by providing resources, professional development, and a network of support to enable institutions of higher education to model and advance sustainability in everything they do, from governance and operations to education and research.

AASHE defines sustainability in an inclusive way, encompassing human and ecological health, social justice, secure livelihoods, and a better world for all generations.  

DISCOUNTED BuildingGreen MEMBERSHIP

We've worked with our friends at BuildingGreen to make their comprehensive and authoritative BuildingGreen Suite available to Title III and Title V colleges at a 50% discount off their regular campus rate of $995/year. Even the regular campus rate is a great deal for this online resource--the usual rate for building professionals is much higher.

BuildingGreen Suite includes online access to Environmental Building News, the GreenSpec product guide, hundreds of in-depth case studies, and much more. A campus-wide license to BuildingGreen Suite can serve both facilities staff as they apply green technologies in design and renovation projects and it's a great resource for classroom use and student projects. Please visit this website and bring this key green design resource to your campus.

LIMITED TIME OFFER: FREE ACCESS TO U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL ONLINE COURSE

Second Nature has partnered with the US Green Building Council to provide free access until September 30, 2010 to the Green Building Basics and LEED^® online course to under-resourced colleges and universities. This course provides an overview of sustainable building, including the environmental imperatives driving the building industry, the integrated design process, and the role of USGBC and the LEED^® Rating System. It explains the intent of each LEED^® Credit Category, identifying best practices, related key terms and concepts, regulations and incentives, and concepts in practice.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) aims to promote the triple bottom line of environmental sustainability, economic prosperity and social equity by working to transform the built environment so that all people are able to enjoy the benefits of living, working, learning and playing in green buildings. It is especially important that members of under-resourced communities have access to the education opportunities that can lead to buildings that support the health of their occupants, reduce utility costs and protect our environment. To that end, USGBC is offering this free access, with the hope that students will be able to take the benefits of green buildings back to their communities. School Administrators should send a request with the name of your school, type of institution (Title III or Title V) and the expected number of students to greencampus@usgbc.org.

DISCOUNTED BIONEERS RESOURCES

 

Bioneers is happy to be partnering with Second Nature and Campus Green Builders to provide access to our Beaming Bioneers Conference program as well as all of our educational materials at a 20% discount for all Title III and Title V educational institutions. Follow the link above for the discounted Beaming Bioneers program and use the coupon code CAMPUSGREEN to receive 20% off all educational products at the Bioneers Store.

The Beaming Bioneers Conference program is a local version of the acclaimed national Bioneers Conference. For educational institutions, Beaming Bioneers provides affordable access via satellite to a well-respected slate of high stature speakers covering a broad range of environmental and social justice issues. For 2010, speakers include Jane Goodall, Anthony Cortese, Dr. James Hansen and more. The Beaming Bioneers Program offers a way for your campus to become involved in a national discussion while generating enthusiasm and surfacing innovation at the local level.

Bioneers is a nonprofit educational organization that highlights breakthrough solutions for restoring people and planet. Since 1990, Bioneers has acted as a fertile hub of social and scientific innovators with practical and visionary solutions for the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges. A celebration of the genius of nature and human ingenuity, Bioneers connects people with solutions and each other. The acclaimed annual national and local conferences are complemented by extensive media outreach including an award-winning radio series, book series, and role in media projects such as Leonardo DiCaprio’s film The 11th Hour.

KRESGE FELLOWSHIP FOR SENIOR MANAGERS

Second Nature is awarding fellowships to 40 under-resourced university and college executives who will learn the skills and technical information to become effective champions for green building at their institutions.

In 2010, Second Nature will award 25 fellowship awards. These fellowships will provide free registration, accommodations, and travel expenses (up to $2000/fellow) for fellows to attend one national green building-related conference. Campus planners, facilities directors, or vice presidents of finance and business will be eligible for these fellowships through which they will take part in learning and networking opportunities, such as the AASHE 2010 and Greenbuild 2010 Conferences.

To learn about the Kresge Fellowship Program, please click here or contact Ashka Naik, Director, Capacity Building.

GREEN BUILDING 101 FOR BUILDING CONTRACTORS

Many under-resourced colleges and universities rely heavily on their building contractors, including architects and engineers, to provide the technical expertise for green building. Colleges and universities in remote areas or in regions where there are fewer green buildings are often subject to higher premiums charged by inexperienced building contractors. Workshops or other activities, such as webinars or visits to selected campuses to meet with building consultants, will introduce these professionals to campus green building. These “101” activities will provide information on the benefits of green building, case studies of higher education green building projects, an introduction to third-party certification, and innovations in the field. Ideally, these activities will result in an increased number of campus green buildings and a reduction in the average premiums charged by building consultants in regions where green building is not yet widespread.

To learn about the Campus Green Building 101 Technical Assistance Grants Program, visit the program page or contact Ashka Naik, Director, Capacity Building.

AMERICAN COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS' CLIMATE COMMITMENT

The American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment is a high-visibility effort to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions, and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate.

The college and university presidents and chancellors who are joining and leading the Commitment believe that exerting leadership in addressing climate change will reduce their long-term energy costs, attract excellent students and faculty, attract new sources of funding, and increase the support of alumni and local communities.

Click here to subscribe to The ACUPCC Implementer, a monthly email newsletter providing resources and information regarding campus climate action planning and activities.

 

 

HIGHER EDUCATION ASSOCIATION SUSTAINABILITY CONSORTIUM (HEASC)

The Higher Education Association Sustainability Consortium is an informal network of higher education associations (HEAs) with a commitment to advancing sustainability within their constituencies and within the system of higher education itself. The current member associations that make up HEASC see the need for developing in-depth capability to address sustainability issues through their associations and have decided to work together in this effort. HEASC hopes to involve all higher education associations to get the broadest perspectives and produce the greatest effectiveness and synergy in our efforts.

BUILDING GREEN AT MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTIONS

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Institute for Capacity Building and Second Nature will be organizing regional learning institutes for networking and information sharing among minority-serving institutions (MSIs). The Kresge Foundation provided the UNCF with a $1.8 million grant in support of this capacity building program, the Building Green at Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) Initiative. The American Indian Higher Education Consortium, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund will also participate in and promote this initiative. Second Nature is UNCF’s sustainability advisory partner on this initiative. Please visit the Building Green at MSIs Initiative page for more information.

KRESGE DIVERSITY INTERNS PROGRAM

The Advancing Green Building in Higher Education Initiative provides internships to encourage minority students to pursue sustainability-related careers.

Diversity Interns conduct research, information-gathering, and assist with the implementation of several national programs that support the Advancing Green Building in Higher Education Initiative and other Second Nature initiatives.