Sustainability News: Renovations in Manitoba, Farms in Utah, and More

Falling dominoes: The University of Manitoba is planning a $100-million renovation project that “at its heart” is really about sustainability, according to the university’s president, Emoke Szathmary, in the Winnipeg Free Press. The renovation plan, dubbed Project Domino, will create only one new building, then lead to shuffling programs around the campus as construction begins. “Dominoes would fall throughout the Fort Garry campus, faculties and departments and programs leaving one space to move to a better one, and leaving behind square footage, classrooms, and labs to be filled,” the article says. “Existing buildings would look the same from the outside, but inside they’d be refurbished, retrofitted, and repaired. U of M is calling the moves ‘bundling’ that is environmentally sensitive and sustainable—moving scattered programs into one area, moving associated programs into close proximity, while forgoing hugely expensive new construction.”

A new student farm: Utah State University will reserve five acres of its land for a student-run organic farm. Students will be involved in the planning and production of crops, where they will also learn about composting and cover crops. Faculty advisers hope that the farm will eventually support itself, and perhaps even support interns, by selling its harvest. “If we ever want to see a change happen, we need the youth to care,” Daniel Drost, a Utah extension specialist, told The Utah Statesman. “They need to care about conservation, maintaining agriculture, organics and supporting the local farmer.” For more on teaching students about agriculture, see articles here and here.

Cogent case for energy upgrades: Installation of the first cogeneration unit in the Oregon University System is now underway, according to the Corvallis Gazette Times. The cogeneration facility will save Oregon State University $250,000 to $1-million a year in energy costs.

The energy-independence ticket: Students of Liberty, a party running candidates in the Student Senate elections at the University of Kansas, has revealed its platform: build enough wind turbines to power a third of the university. “There’s a green revolution happening right now all over the world,” Eric Hyde, a student candidate, told The University Daily Kansan. “The University of Kansas ought to be a leader in this new trend.”