Newsletter
January, 2004



In this issue:



New Year's Greeting from Dr. Donald Wheeler,
NJHEPS Executive Director
Dear Friends:

A happy new year to you all as we work together for peaceful, just and sustainable world!

Some happy developments at NJHEPS:

Exciting innovations large and small are happening on our campuses: We are anxious to hear of other sustainability activities wherever on New Jersey campuses. It’s the cold mid-winter but they are signs of hope and spring. We wish you happy, healthy, and sustainable New Year!

Dr. Donald Wheeler
Executive Director, NJHEPS



NJHEPS Receives Renewed Support from Dodge Foundation and BPU

NJHEPS is pleased to announce that the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation has provided 2004 support for the NJHEPS Sustainable Campus Initiative and for an inclusive planning process aimed at producing an overall 5-year plan for NJHEPS. Likewise, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has committed to supporting NJHEPS work in green energy from January - June 2004, and intends to seek further funding to support our energy work on into the future.



NJHEPS Energy Planning Meeting

February 4th, 9:30 AM - 1 PM
McMillan Hall, Princeton University

NJHEPS seeks your contributions to a planning and project development session, to help NJHEPS refine and develop a vision and a strategy to guide its energy work in the coming years. We invite the suggestions and the participation of New Jersey higher education professionals, and those familiar with the opportunities and obstacles in the sector.

Please contact Carmela Federico with ideas and suggestions, and also let us know if you would like to attend the meeting (cfederico@njheps.org; 973/596-2938).



AROUND THE CAMPUSES


Princeton Feeds Pigs, Saves Cash

Princeton University, since the 1990's, has been able to turn almost all it's cafeteria's food waste into useful and cost-saving pig feed. Neil McIntyre III, a New Jersey pig farmer, hauls away Princeton's food waste, charging 1/3 less than Princeton pays for garbage removal--which saves Princeton over $20,000 each year. These leftovers, after being boiled, become nutritious food for McIntyre's pigs. McIntyre also forges more direct connections between his pigs and Princeton students through offering periodic tours, helping students see how great it is to "close the loop" on food waste.

Other institutions may be able to make similar arrangements -- contact Mr. McIntyre at 856/468-0727.



Middlesex County College to Engage in Performance Contracting for Waste Management

Seeking an increased revenue stream, lower costs, and enhanced recycling, Middlesex County College has engaged the services of ESMG, a diversified waste management consulting firm, specializing in the cost reduction of commercial refuse collection, transportation, and disposal services. Based on a baseline to be determined from an audit (ongoing now), ESMG will seek to change waste-handling at Middlesex, and will be paid a percentage of the resulting savings to the college. "We're looking forward to exploring the savings possibilities and waste management improvements with this new partnership," says David Fricke, Director of Purchasing and Inventory at Middlesex County College. "We're eager to work with colleges and universities," says John Metzger, "both in general waste management and in the environmental management of construction waste" (ESMG is skilled in LEED compliance and the recycling/reuse of construction waste).

Contact David Fricke, Middlesex County College (david_fricke@middlesexcc.edu;732/906-2519) or John Metzger, ESMG (jmetzger@esmg.com; 732/264-1010) for further information.

Greening your material and waste stream not only saves money -- it also reduced your institution's greenhouse gas emissions. Should you start documenting changes in recycling, waste reduction, and use of recycled materials, NJHEPS can help your institution documents its emissions reductions, which can help you comply with the Greenhouse Gas Action Plan commitment all New Jersey institutions have made to reduce CO(2) emissions to 3.5% below 1990 levels by 2005. (You can explore the EPA's Project WARM website for further information on the connection between materials use and greenhouse gases).



Kresge Foundation Offers Green Building Initiative

Not-for-profit organizations that have 501(c)3 designation are eligible to apply; certain schools, hospitals and other government and religious organizations may also be eligible. The typical grant awards will be $50,000 to $100,000. The foundation, which also has a separate capital grant program for non-profits, is also offering bonus grants for grant recipients in that capital program whose green building projects are certified by the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) program. Grants will be awarded until program funds are expended.

For more information, visit www.kresge.org/initiatives/index.htm, then click on the "Green Building" link on the left.



Green Buildings Come Cheap: Article and Study Tell the Good News

You can find in the latest Northeast Sun magazine ($35 year to become a NESEA member and receive this publication) a nicely-written two-page summary of a comprehensive national study of green buildings. The study, available as a free download at www.cap-e.com, brings a host of good news about green buildings: A Massachusetts study, even more relevant to New Jersey residents, is underway.

Contact Carmela Federico (cfederico@njheps.org; 973/596-2938) to be loaned this article, available on the web Spring 2004 at www.nesea.org/publications/NESun/.



Graduate Internship Opportunities

Grand Canyon National Park Foundation
The Grand Canyon National Park Foundation is currently seeking qualified applicants for two summer internship positions at Grand Canyon National Park: "Carnivore Research & Ecology" and "Archeological Inventory & Monitoring." Candidates should be graduate-level university students (or students about to enter their 1st yr. of grad school). Award amount for each position is $4000 plus free housing. Internship dates are June 7 -August 20, 2004. Deadline to apply is 2/13/04. Project descriptions and application procedure is online at www.gcnpf.org/internship.html.


The Great Lakes Commission - Sea Grant Fellowship
May 2004 - April 2005
Application Deadline: February 6, 2004

POSITION: The Great Lakes Commission-Sea Grant Fellow will work with members of the Great Lakes' science, policy and information/education communities to advance the environmental quality and sustainable economic development goals of the Great Lakes states. In so doing, the fellow will contribute to and benefit from research coordination and policy analysis activities. The fellow will be housed at the Great Lakes Commission offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

ASSIGNMENT: The length of assignment is for one full year and is non-renewable. The inclusive dates of the official fellowship are May 1,2004 until April 30, 2005; however, these dates are flexible to accommodate academic semester or recipient needs.

ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants include: students who, at the time of application, are in a graduate or professional degree program in a marine or aquatic-related field at a U.S. accredited institution of higher education in the United States.

APPLICATION: Interested students should discuss this fellowship opportunity with their local Sea Grant programs. Interested individuals should submit their applications to local Sea Grant programs, which then screen the applications for forwarding to the Great Lakes Commission.

MORE INFORMATION can also be obtained from:

NOAA-Coastal Management Fellowship
The Coastal Management Fellowship was established in 1996 to provide on-the-job education and training opportunities in coastal resource management and policy for postgraduate students and to provide project assistance to state coastal zone management programs. The program matches postgraduate students with state coastal zone programs to work on projects proposed by the state and selected by the fellowship sponsor, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center. This two-year opportunity offers a competitive salary, medical benefits, and travel and relocation expense reimbursement.

Any student who will complete a master's, doctoral, or professional degree program in natural resource management or environmental-related studies at an accredited U.S. university between January 1, 2003, and July 31, 2004, is eligible to apply for the Coastal Management Fellowship, and students from a broad range of environmental programs are encouraged to apply. Students from non-U.S. institutions are not eligible.

Application packages must be submitted to your nearest Sea Grant program office by February 2, 2004. Each Sea Grant program office may select and forward up to three (3) applications to the NOAA Coastal Services Center for review.



Call for Papers, Presentations, and Posters

2004 Greening UF Conference: "People, Profits, and Preservation: Empowering Sustainable Solutions"
October 11-14, 2004
University of Florida (Gainesville FL)

The 2004 Greening UF Conference seeks to highlight realistic pathways towards a sustainable future that can empower action. The objective of the conference is to showcase how sustainable solutions flow from inter-relationships between people, profits, and preservation. Presenters should focus on how their subject program, research, perspective or policy forges links between these three areas in order to advance sustainable outcomes. Presentations may focus on local, regional, or global issues.

The mission of the 2004 Greening UF Conference is to create an environment of intensified networking between students, faculty, staff, decision makers and the public at large, and to empower the creative development and implementation of sustainable solutions. Novel papers, posters, and presentations that address these themes are invited from practitioners, students, business and industry people, researchers, citizen advocates, and professionals with local, national, or international perspectives.

The conference theme will have three primary tracks: (1) Empowering people, (2) Sustaining Profits, and (3) Preserving Nature. Each of these tracks has numerous conceptual themes that can be addressed in papers, presentations, and posters at the conference. A special panel will focus on promoting sustainability at the University of Florida.

SCHEDULE
Abstract submission deadline: February 27, 2004
Authors notified of selection: March 26, 2004
Deadline for submission of final paper: July 30, 2004

CONTRIBUTIONS
Abstracts of 250 words or less are invited for consideration and should include the title of the submission and the name(s), affiliation(s), address(es), contact phone number(s), and email address(es) of the author(s). The primary author should indicate if the abstract is being submitted for: a paper only, a presentation only, a paper and a presentation, or a poster only. Authors of selected abstracts for papers are to submit a final paper by July 30, 2004. All selected papers will be published on CD proceedings of the conference. All selected presentations will be given at panel sessions during the conference. All selected posters will compete in a judged poster session during the conference; winning posters will receive monetary prizes.

Abstracts should be sent to Greening UF, attn: Donna Isaacs:
dlisaacs@ufl.edu; fax 352/392-9606; PO Box 115703, Gainesville FL 32611

Questions should be directed to Dave Newport, conference director:
dnewport@ufl.edu or phone 352/273-1173. For more information on UF's sustainability initiatives, see www.sustainable.ufl.edu.



Global Essay Competition: "Do We Need Nature?"

The international essay contest sponsored each year by Shell and the Economist magazine chose "Do We Need Nature?" as this year's topic. Read the winning essays at www.shelleconomistprize.com/index2.html. Submitters ranged from poets to bioengineers, and entertainingly illuminate various perspectives on the topic!




UPCOMING EVENTS

Living With Nature: Everyday Actions to Sustain Our Planet
A Roundtable Discussion and Resource Fair
Wednesday, February 11, 2004, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.
(Resource Fair begins at 6:30 p.m., Roundtable Discussion at 7:30 p.m.)
New York City, American Museum of Natural History (Main Auditorium)
Enter via the Museum's 77th Street Entrance (between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue)

Moderated by Brian Lehrer of WNYC Radio, this discussion will explore manageable ways to sustain biodiversity while still benefiting from and enjoying it. Tundi Agardy, a conservation biologist; Eric Chivian, founder and director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at the Harvard Medical School; and Betsy Taylor, founder and president of the Center for a New American Dream, will offer their expertise and insights during a thought-provoking and inspiring evening.

"Living With Nature" and the Resource Fair are FREE and open to the public. Reservations are strongly recommended. Please visit research.amnh.org/biodiversity/ or call 212/496-4323 to reserve your place.



Free Student Northeast Climate Conference
Sponsored by The Climate Campaign, A Coalition of 8 Student Networks: ECO-Northeast, EnviroCitizen, Free the Planet, Greenpeace, Sierra Student Coalition, Student Environmental Action Coalition, SustainUS, The Student PIRGs
Harvard University, Boston MA
February 20-22, 2004

Join us for a weekend of education, strategizing, networking and FUN!

Housing will be provided for all conference participants! Bring a sleeping bag and get ready to share floor space. Vegetarian food will be provided for all. Bring a bowl & silverware to reduce waste. Students are responsible for securing their own transportation to the conference, but we will help out with arranging carpools, rides from the airports and train stations. Let us know if you need a ride or can give one!

More information and registration: bparish@climatecampaign.org; 203/773-4991; www.climatecampaign.org/forms/feb-reg.html.



Build Energy Savings into Your Procurement System
Internet presentation
Tuesday January 20, 1:00-1:45 PM, EST.

ENERGY STAR offers the tools to assure that your purchases of efficient products will reduce your energy costs without compromising quality. This 45-minute session will highlight:

ENERGY STAR also offers many other presentations on such topics as: ENERGY STAR -- An Overview, New Building Design, Benchmarking Tool/Portfolio Manager, Money for Your Energy Upgrades, The Five-Stage Approach to Building Upgrades, and Monitor Power Management. To see the schedule or to register, visit www.energystar.gov/purchasing and click on "on-line training."

There is no cost for participation. You simply view the presentation on your office computer and converse with the presenter using a toll-free telephone line. Once you register, your confirmation information will appear on the screen. Please wait for this screen to appear and print it out, as it will be needed to access the presentations. Feel free to contact Michael Segal (msegal@thecadmusgroup.com) if you have any questions.



Water for a Sustainable Future
Offered by The National Council for Science and the Environment
January 29 - 30, 22004
International Trade Center, Washington DC
$310; $100 for students; $200 Exhibitor; some complimentary admissions.

The World Food Prize Foundation selected Dr. Pedro Sanchez as winner of the 2002 World Food Prize for his groundbreaking work throughout the developing world that helped transform depleted tropical soils into productive agricultural lands. Dr. Sanchez served as Director General of the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), a Future Harvest center of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), and was appointed Chair of the UN Taskforce on World Hunger as part of the United Nations Global Millennium Development Project.

Also, mark the following date on your calendar:

Rivers for Life: Managing Water for People and Nature
January 20, 2004, 6:00 PM
New York Academy of Sciences, NYC
Speakers: Sandra Postel, Director, Global Water Policy Project and Brian Richter, Director, Freshwater Initiative, The Nature Conservancy.



Nuts and Bolts: Do's and Don'ts of Successful Green Building
February 24, 2004
Hilton Garden Inn, Philadelphia, PA
Sponsored by SDK Environmental and Energy Consulting

This workshop will provide you with a practical "how-to" guide to procure or provide the design and consulting scope of services required for a successful green building design development. Learn specific and detailed approaches to getting green building requirements into project specifications, drawings and construction contracts that deliver the desired green building results while minimizing cost and schedule impact.

For further information, contact Resource Dynamics at 215/428-9655.



NESEA Events

Northeast Green Building Awards
Entries are due by 4:00 PM at the NESEA office on Tuesday, February 3,2004.

The Northeast Green Building Awards recognize outstanding achievements of high-performance architecture throughout the northeast. The annual competition is open to built works - either new construction or renovations - completed after January 1, 1998 and before January 1, 2004 in the northeastern US, as well as to student projects. Award categories include: places to live, places to work, places to learn, and student projects.

Winners will be announced in many professional magazines and all project boards will be on display at the Building Energy 2004 conference held on March 10-13, 2004 at Boston University in Boston, MA. All projects will be featured on the NESEA website. Cash prizes in the amount of $1,000 will be awarded for first place in each building category. In addition, those in the student projects category who place second will receive $500 and those who place third will receive $250.

For more details about how to enter, please visit the NESEA website at www.nesea.org or contact Anissa Sanborn (413/774-6051 ext 30; asanborn@nesea.org.


Building Energy 2004
March 10-13, 2004
Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
www.nesea.org/buildings/be/04home.html

The Building Energy 2004 Conference and Trade Show will take place at Boston University on March 10-13,2004. Mark your calendars now so that you don't miss the premier professional conference on green building and renewable energy.

Building Energy focuses on the intersection of renewable energy and green building. Featuring four full days of workshops, tours, over 100 world-class speakers in over 50 conference sessions, a trade show, special networking opportunities, and a chance to meet, mingle, learn, and share, Building Energy 2004 will be an event not to miss. A.I.A. Continuing Education credits will be available for all workshops, conference sessions, and tours.

Organized by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA), Building Energy 2004 will provide the information and contacts that you need to stay competitive in the rapidly-changing fields of high performance building and clean energy generation. Save these dates now and don't miss this exciting event next March in Boston.



Geothermal Technology Training
Offered by The Geothermal Project at Stockton
February 11, 2004, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1 PM - 4 PM (Lunch provided)
JCP&L, Morristown, NJ
Registration Fee: $75 - $195 (see below).

GEOTHERMAL TECHNOLOGY II: FOR DESIGN PROFESSIONALS
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Architects earn 3 AIA Learning Units
Registration begins at 8:30 with a Continental Breakfast

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will review Geoexchange Technology giving overviews of two case studies. Life cycle cost analysis will be discussed in detail. Project design details will be taught: Heat/Gain Loss Data; Test Bore & Thermal Conductivity Test; Borehole Layout; Software Applications and Ventilation Issues.

(Suggested Perquisite: Some knowledge of Geothermal Technology is assumed. Quick overview will be given.

INSTRUCTORS: Lynn Stiles, Ph.D. Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, and Howard Alderson, P.E.

Course Fee $ 125.00 (Cost reduced to $100.00 if 4 or more employees from same firm attend).


GEOTHERMAL CONTRACTING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Useful for engineers, construction managers and contractors. This course provides details on marketing, proposal writing, budgeting and bid process. NJ regulatory & classifications. Vendor and trade ally information. Covers issues related to grouting materials and size of piping. Details on construction site management; completing a job on time and under budget.

Course Fee $ 95.00 (Cost reduced to $75.00 if 4 or more employees from same firm attend).

DISCOUNT FOR ALL DAY TRAINING $ 195.00 (4 or more employees $ 150.00)

Directions to JCP&L in Morristown: www.neep.org/boc/MrstownDir.PDF; 973/455 8200. For further information and to register, contact Diane Hulse-Hiller (609/652-4677, diane.hulse-hiller@stockton.edu).


***
NJHEPS
Dr. Donald Wheeler, Executive Director
Dr. Daniel Watts, President

Want to share progress towards sustainability on your campus? Please send news items to Carmela Federico (973-596-2938; cfederico@njheps.org) for inclusion in our newsletter.

NJHEPS gratefully acknowledges the support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Educational Foundation of America, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, the AT&T Foundation, AT&T, Inc., and the NJHEPS 33 Member Institutions.

This newsletter is available online (from www.njheps.org/press.html). This newsletter is sent out twice a month by NJHEPS via an announcements-only listserv, NJHEPS-news@listserver.njit.edu. If you no longer wish to subscribe to this listserv, please use the tools available on the listserv's homepage, at http://listserver.njit.edu/mailman/options/njheps-news/* (replace the "*" with your email address), or notify Carmela Federico, NJHEPS Program Manager.