From www.union.edu---Union News---
http://www.union.edu/N/DS/s.php?s=8658Green Grants reward sustainability projects
Projects ranging from a solar-powered water heating system for Achilles Center to increasing campus trolley ridership were selected Wednesday as winners of the Presidential Green Grants. The grant initiative, now in its second year, is aimed at supporting environmentally sustainable projects at Union.
"Sustainability is something we have to be committed to at Union," said President Stephen C. Ainlay, who highlighted seven projects that will share $12,000 in grants. "We have a unique connection with and respect for history. But we are never bound by that. We also pursue innovation and these innovative projects are the type of things that will carry us into the future."
The Green Grants are just one way in which the U Sustain Committee is promoting sustainable operations, increasing environmental awareness, and reducing the College's impact on the environment.
President Stephen C. Ainlay stands with winners of the 2009 Presidential Green Grants.
The 2008 Green Grant winners included projects ranging from an innovative way to clean car exhaust to the design of a micro-wind turbine.
"These project have had measurable benefits for Union," said Jeffrey Corbin, professor of biology and leader of the sustainability committee. "These grants support our intellectual endeavours to make contributions to the environment."
The 2009 Green Grant winners and their project goals are:
Paul DeBiase, Printing Center manager: “Reduction of detergent into our sewer systems with the use of a new green product – ‘True Green 2 Laundry Washing Ball’”
Goal: To eliminate the flow of potentially harmful detergent from campus washing machines into sewers.
Benjamin Engle '12: “Rock beats paper: Replacing a traditional bulletin board”
Goal: Replace the Reamer Center bulletin board near the Post Office with a chalkboard to reduce paper waste. The board lists Minerva House events.
Kim Plofker '11: Protecting greens, harvesting rain: Sustainability improvements for the Octopus’s Garden organic gardening project”
Goal: To fence in the campus community garden to protect crops from insects and animals.
Paul Herbert '10: “Binding of Perflourochemicals to serum albumin: A mechanistic evaluation of spectroscopic measurements”
Goal: A joint research project with Professor Laura McManus-Spencer aimed at perflourochemicals found in many common consumer goods. Such chemcials bind with human proteins and accumulate in the body. The project aims measure the uptake and accumulation perflourochemicals.
Isaac Rogers : “Increasing ridership of the Campus Trolley – The Trolley Tracking Project”
Goal: To create a Web-based trolley tracking system that will allow riders to pinpoint the trolley's location using a portable computer or hand-held devices.
Gareth Lewis : “The research, design and production of a sun-tracking solar thermal system for the Union College Achilles Center”
Goal: To study and create a preliminary design for a solar-powered water heater in Achilles Center.
Erin Delman '12 and Jill Falchi '10: “Campus Kitchens Project”
Goal: To package unused Dining Services food and donate food for delivery to area homeless shelters.
Posts
