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Penn State is concerned about the environment, and it shows in many ways. Here are some examples of things the University has done to maintain or improve its surroundings. Penn State's decade-long newspaper recycling program saves -- and earns -- green resources In 1997, when Penn State developed its Newspaper Readership Program -- now a program model for colleges and universities nationwide -- a complementary program was developed with the environment in mind. The University's newspaper recycling program, another innovation replicated across the country, has saved landfill space and energy and also benefited students. For the full story, click here. On rooftops, it's blue, white -- and green Last year, green roofs were installed on the new Forest Resources Building (4,700 square feet) and on the top of a horticultural facility known as "The Root Cellar" (4,500 square feet) not far from Eisenhower Parking Garage. Over the next couple of years, green roofs will be installed on three buildings under construction -- the Dickinson School of Law at University Park (10,360 square feet), the Dickinson Law School in Carlisle (11,687 square feet) and the new health center on the University Park campus (12,500 square feet on two separate roofs). For the full story, click here. Penn State using airplane to plant cover crops this fall Seeking to be a role model for farmers in the state and across the Northeast, Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences will undertake aerial seeding of a cover crop in late September. Cover crops, such as the winter wheat Penn State will be planting, offer great benefits because their roots prevent soil particles from being washed away by late fall, winter and spring runoff, they lock up carbon and they take up nutrients such as nitrogen. For the full story, click here. Baseball park honored for green initiatives Penn State's Medlar Field at Lubrano Park was recognized last Wednesday (Aug. 30) as the first baseball stadium in the country to be honored for its environmental initiatives. That achievement will be noted with certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental (LEED) design. For the full story, click here. Demand for renewable energy fuels hot new careers As energy companies, agribusinesses, government
agencies and environmental groups scramble to promote and develop
alternative fuel sources, demand is growing for the people who
will fill positions in this burgeoning energy workforce. And the
need for trained and educated personnel will cross a wide spectrum
of fields, according to a biofuels expert in Penn State's College
of Agricultural Sciences. Residential land development goes 'green' with new standards A team of Penn State engineers, builders and planners have created a new set of standards that allow for a sustainable approach to residential land development. The guidelines, Pennsylvania Standards for Residential Site Development, were produced by the College of Engineering's Pennsylvania Housing Research Center (PHRC) with support from the Department of Landscape Architecture's Hamer Center for Community Design. For the full story, click here. Student-led tree planting initiative part of greener efforts Penn State's University Park Campus is getting greener -- and cleaner -- thanks to the efforts of student organizations and the University's Office of Physical Plant. The University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) has established a new Tree Planting Initiative as an opportunity for student clubs and groups to sponsor the planting of commemorative trees on campus. The first group of trees were planted in April in an area south of the Bryce Jordan Center. For the full story, click here. Friday Night Lights encourages simple, effective environmental stewardship Penn State students have their own version of Friday Night Lights. It's called Friday Night Lights Out and it's aimed at helping the University minimize pollution and reduce its $1 million a month electric bill. Some 20 to 45 student volunteers gather on Friday night at the HUB-Robeson Center on the University Park campus. They are divided into small groups and assigned to targeted buildings, where they turn out lights that were left on in public areas such as classrooms, study rooms, restrooms and lounges. It's estimated that students turn off approximately 1,500 to 2,500 light bulbs every Friday night. For the full story, click here. Penn State program encourages large-scale
A recent waste audit in Pennsylvania showed that of the material we throw away -- more than 9 million tons annually -- 34 percent is easily composted organic material and another 33 percent is paper, a substantial portion of which could be recycled and composted. Two professors in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, working with farmers, municipal officials and businesses, have started a campaign to boost composting in the state. The researchers are promoting the European model in which farmers and agricultural interests help to separate and utilize organic materials and nutrients from the municipal trash stream and reduce the need for landfill space. For the full story, click here. Video explains Penn State's strategy to Greenhouse gases and rising fuel costs have caused Penn State and other institutions to consider ways to reduce the ecological "footprint" they leave on the planet. Steve Maruszewski, deputy vice president for physical plant, outlines the strategy that the University has devised to combat the problem. Watch the video, one of Penn State Live's "In Motion" video features, at http://x02.ur.psu.edu/video/in_motion/psu_green.html online. View the future of Penn State 'green outreach' via video Penn State is building a new outreach center devoted
to "green" education, research and economic development
-- one that will be completely powered by the sun. Dubbed the
MorningStar, the 800-square-foot structure is being built by the
University's first Solar Decathlon team. In 2006, some 650 Penn
Staters, representing more than 20 University departments, contributed
to the MorningStar's design. In fall 2007, the finished building
will be transported to Washington, D.C., to compete with 19 other
university-built solar homes. After the competition, the building
will return to University Park’s Center for Sustainability,
where it will serve as a publicly accessible outreach center.
Green roofs show University's ecological commitment Long a leader in green-roof research, Penn State this spring will plant vegetation on two large green roofs that were prepared last fall and begin a monitoring program that promises to last for years. One of the green roofs will be what lead researcher Rob Berghage calls "a showcase," on top of the University's recently opened $30.5 million Forest Resources Building at the corner of Park Avenue and Bigler Road. The green roof was a key factor in the structure recently receiving a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. For the full story, click here. Energy contracts to enhance University's existing green initiatives In a continuing commitment to reduce the environmental impact of fossil fuels, Penn State has awarded contracts to meet more than 20 percent of its electrical energy needs through renewable energy sources for the next five years. The University has been a leader in use of renewal energy, making its first purchase of wind energy through a five-year contract in 2001 that provided for five percent of its annual electrical energy needs. For the full story, click here. Biomass Energy Center created to In effort to enhance coordination and collaboration among the many and varied green energy research projects under way and planned across the University, Penn State recently created the Biomass Energy Center. An interdisciplinary initiative that also includes the Eberly College of Science, the College of Engineering and the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, the center will be housed in the College of Agricultural Sciences' Environment and Natural Resources Institute. For the full story, click here. Stuckeman Family Building receives top national rating The Stuckeman Family Building for the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture has been awarded a Gold Rating from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. For the full story, click here. Penn State Erie embraces sustainability Over the past decade, Penn State Erie has accelerated the pace of sustainability efforts that date back to its founding in 1948. When Penn State was given Mary Behrend's 400-acre Glenhill estate to create a presence in Erie, the University chose to retain the gentleman's-farm feel of the Behrend family's weekend retreat. Rather than bulldoze and start fresh, existing buildings were used for classroom and office space, right down to the sheep barn and car garages. For the full story, click here. Erie receives $231,000 grant to establish energy research center A new Applied Energy Research Center at Penn State
Erie is expected to generate 200 advanced-manufacturing jobs in
the Erie region over the next five years. For the full story, click here. Engineering pushes boundaries of sustainability, green design Finding sustainable solutions that provide energy while preserving the environment is the focus of major initiatives by students and faculty in the College of Engineering. For the full story, click here. Engineers address poverty, sustainability through ESW For Thomas Colledge, Penn State assistant professor of engineering design, an education in engineering means more than learning the math and science that go into technical design. It also means understanding how those efforts can be used for the betterment of the world. For the full story, click here. Penn State Berks converts to biodiesel Penn State Berks will convert all its off-road equipment, diesel equipment to biodiesel fuel during the week of June 26. Biodiesel fuel is a blend of regular diesel and soybean oil, designated by number. Penn State Berks will be converting to B20, which is 20 percent soybean oil, making it an attractive alternative to traditional fuel. For the full story, click here. Environmental award recognizes partnership's success A coalition that helped businesses reduce waste and emissions, save energy, save or create more than 400 jobs, and achieve $40 million in economic benefits over five years has won the 2006 Western Pennsylvania Environmental Award in the higher education category. For the full story, click here. With Penn State DuBois program, Companies often think long and hard before considering a "soft cost" investment such as employee training. But when the results translate to real, bottom-line savings and efficiencies, the decision to invest in a program like Penn State DuBois' lean manufacturing training quickly becomes a "no-brainer." For the full story, click here. Manure digestion as fuel getting Thirty years ago, researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences operated an experimental manure digester on the University Park Campus in Centre County. In the midst of an energy crisis brought on by uncertainty about the flow of Middle Eastern oil, the pilot project was thought to have considerable promise for demonstrating how biogas could be produced from animal manures on Pennsylvania farms. This low-grade "natural gas" could then be used to generate electricity or replace other energy used on farms for needs such as water or space heating. For more information, click here. Mixed fleet soon to fill up at The only hydrogen fueling station currently located in Pennsylvania is on Penn State's University Park campus, where efforts also are under way to develop a mixed-vehicle fleet, including two cars, a bus and vans, to demonstrate the potential of the new "gas." For more information, click here. Penn State students ready for Penn State's entry in the Challenge X competition departed May 24 for the General Motors proving ground in Mesa, Ariz. A 75-foot trailer was on hand to carry the vehicle and the team's equipment, spare parts and tools from the garage at the Pennsylvania Transportation Institute's Hybrid and Hydrogen Vehicle Research Center. Though the silver Chevrolet Equinox looked unchanged as it was driven onto the car transport -- except for a plethora of sponsor decals adorning the sides -- there is little under the skin that has remained the same since the vehicle, donated by General Motors, arrived at Penn State last summer. Since that time, engineering students have been working to transform the small "crossover" SUV into a hybrid electric vehicle that meets the goals of the competition, a three-year initiative known as Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility. For more information, click here. Trash to Treasure Sale aims for When the gates open this year for Penn State's annual Trash to Treasure sale on Saturday, May 27, at Beaver Stadium, folks are going to get the chance to become part of the Guinness Book of World Records. For more information, click here. OPP Segway helps keep facilties coordinator on the go Following foot surgery last spring, Alice Fogg, a facilities coordinator for Penn State's College of the Liberal Arts, wondered how she could return to work. A 14-year veteran of the position and one of 42 such coordinators whose job it is to act as liaison between a college or unit and the Penn State Office of the Physical Plant (OPP), she has a job that entails walking among a dozen buildings scattered across campus in order to meet with OPP staff as well as the college's faculty and staff. Meanwhile a new project converting former residence hall space to administrative space at the Beam Building meant frequent travel from Sparks Building on central campus to Beam on Park Avenue. For the full story, click here. Penn State Mont Alto to host Envirothon The 2006 Pennsylvania Envirothon will be held on May 22 and 23 at Penn State Mont Alto. Penn State Mont Alto is located next to the Michaux State Forest and adjacent to Mont Alto State Park, offering a beautiful setting for one of Pennsylvania's largest environmental education programs. For the full story, click here. Alternative fuels a key to Penn State's environmental strategy Developing the use of alternative fuels is a key component in environmental stewardship, and at Penn State the University's Finance and Business Environmental Strategy is committed to efficient use of energy in its efforts to ensure responsible environmental practices are woven into the business and operational aspects of Penn State. For the full story, click here. University to recycle tires into roads Penn State's Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies received a $696,685 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to use waste tires to improve dirt roads that are causing silting of local waterways. For the full story, click here. Ag scientists tout alternative energy sources at expo Converting agricultural commodities into energy can help the environment, reduce the country's reliance on foreign oil and open new markets for farmers, according to experts in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. For the full story, click here. EPA recognizes Penn State as top green power purchaser Penn State has made the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) list of the top 10 college and university Green Power Partners. The University is being recognized for its voluntary purchase of 17,600 megawatt-hours (MWh) of green power. For the full story, click here. Pollution prevention efforts earn Penn State national recognition Highlighting Penn State's ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, the Environmental Protection Agency recognized the University for its pollution prevention program with the EPA Partnership Award at the 2005 EPA Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Conference in Baltimore. For the full story, click here. Coal-based jet fuel poised for next step A jet fuel comparable to Jet A or military JP 8, but derived from at least 50 percent bituminous coal, has successfully powered a helicopter jet engine, according to a Penn State fuel scientist. For the full story, click here. Board of Trustees meets in Pittsburgh; President Spanier's remarks "At Penn State we have been very proud of the efforts that we have made to reduce energy consumption through a wide variety of techniques. This has been important both for budget savings as well as environmental concerns. So it was particularly nice to note that Penn State has made the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's list of the top 10 college and university Green Power Partners. The University is being recognized for its voluntary purchase of 17,600 megawatt-hours of green power." For the full story, click here. Clean Energy Expo showcases new, 'green' technology The PA Clean Energy Expo, a clean energy showcase for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, March 31, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at the Bryce Jordan Center, University Park. For the full story, click here. Modern-day homesteader leads 'green' life David Lettero, the Penn State Center for Sustainability's director of operations, is homesteading on the center's 8-acre site that sits on a secluded hillside on the University Park campus. Penn State's Center for Sustainability has been around since 1995. Its mission is to integrate education, research and outreach on issues of sustainability through interdisciplinary projects, facilities and hands-on learning opportunities. "The most important role that we're trying to play with the center is to help inform personal and professional decisions by making people more cognizant of the impacts of those decisions on our environment," said David Riley, the center's executive director. For the full story, click
here. Penn State expert offers tips to combat soaring home energy costs With natural disasters pinching fuel supplies -- and energy demand expected to remain strong -- many homeowners are bracing for soaring home-heating bills this winter. But a Penn State Extension energy specialist says there are steps you can take to minimize the effects of rising home-energy costs. For the full story, click here. Production features renewable energy sources in state With oil prices continuing to rise to unprecedented
levels, Penn State Public Broadcasting, WPSX-TV, broadcasts its
production of "Pennsylvania Energy" at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday,
April 6, and Wednesday, April 13. "Pennsylvania Energy"
examines renewable energy sources including biomass, bio-diesel,
landfill gas, wind energy and solar energy. For the full story, click here. New washers to save water, energy, time and money at Penn State It's a rite of passage for many first-year college students: That pile of dirty clothes is growing exponentially, and the laundry fairy who used to make clean duds magically appear in the dresser drawer dropped you off on campus weeks ago. It's time to breach the unknown and pay a visit to the laundry room. For the full story, click here. Penn State's energy-saving initiatives represent an ongoing commitment The introduction of energy-saving washers is just the latest in a long laundry list of initiatives implemented in recent years by Penn State that are designed to save natural resources and money. For the full story, click here. College of Agricultural Sciences converts to biodiesel It takes about 100,000 gallons of fuel annually to run the 200 trucks, tractors and pieces of agricultural equipment that make the 3,000 or so picturesque acres of Centre County farmland owned by Penn State productive. And almost all of that fuel this year will be biodiesel -- 20 percent soybean oil. Leaders in the College of Agricultural Sciences believe the move toward "green fuel" is important, for both symbolic and practical reasons. "We want folks to know the University is leading the way in greening up Pennsylvania's agriculture industry," said Glen Cauffman, manager of farm operations and facilities. "This is the right thing to do for our state's soybean growers, our environment and our country's independence from foreign oil." For the full story, click here. Microbial fuel cell cleans water, generates electricity Penn State environmental engineers have shown, for the first time, that a microbial fuel cell (MFC) can generate electricity while simultaneously cleaning the wastewater that you flush down the drain or toilet. Bruce E. Logan, the Kappe professor of environmental engineering and director of the project, says, "MFCs may represent a completely new approach to wastewater treatment. If power generation in these systems can be increased, MFC technology may provide a new method to offset wastewater treatment plant operating costs, making advanced wastewater treatment more affordable for both developing and industrialized nations." For the full story, click here. Bright idea saves big money for the University Penn State's classrooms, offices and residence halls are getting brighter -- at no cost to the University. Through a Guaranteed Energy Savings Program (GESP), the University has begun retrofitting buildings on the University Park campus with new energy-efficient lighting systems that will pay for themselves in energy savings over a 10-year period. For the full story, click here. Coal source of jet fuel for next generation aircraft New fuel for the next generation of military aircraft is the goal of a team of Penn State researchers who are demonstrating that jet fuel can be made from bituminous coal. These coal-derived fuels have no ash and very low sulfur. For the full story, click here. Titania nanotube hydrogen sensors clean themselves Self-cleaning hydrogen sensors may soon join the ranks of self-cleaning ovens, self-cleaning windows and self-cleaning public toilets, according to Penn State researchers. Among other things, hydrogen sensors are used in combustion systems of automobiles to monitor pollution. For the full story, click here. College seeks input in Penn State Erie is developing a comprehensive stormwater management program and will host a public meeting concerning the plan. Thomas Wortman, special projects assistant to the dean, said the plan will complement a variety of environmental activities already undertaken by the Greener Behrend Task Force. For the full story, click here. Orange peel process may yield multi-million industry A process developed by a researcher in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences to extract high-quality pectin from orange peels may result in a new multi-million dollar American industry. For the full story, click here. Engineers share 'Oscar of Invention' for energy software R&D Magazine has named the EnergyPlus Building Simulation Program, created with the aid of Penn State engineers, one of the 100 most technologically significant new products of the year. The R&D 100 Awards are widely considered the "Oscars of Invention." For the full story, click here. Skyrocketing natural gas prices make winterization crucial With headlines warning of natural gas price hikes as high as 50 percent later this year, a Penn State energy expert urges agricultural producers to start winterizing their properties right away. For the full story, click here. Trade waste materials online Penn State's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) now offers assistance using Pennsylvania Material Trader, a new online service that makes it easy to exchange and reuse traditionally discarded materials, such as outdated inventory, used shipping containers, old computer equipment, etc. For the full story, click here. Alumni Center landscaping an An excruciatingly protracted winter for many Pennsylvania gardening and landscaping fans has left them itching to get their hands dirty with outdoor improvement projects. Few are digging with the zeal – and under the deadline pressure – of Penn State students who have a scant 18 hours to turn an unremarkable lawn into a campus showpiece. For the full story, click here. Four students win national The Morris K. Udall Foundation has awarded scholarships to four Penn State undergraduates for the 2003-04 academic year, based on their potential to contribute to society through environmental careers. For the full story, click here. Penn State researchers among first Life Science Greenhouse grantees Three researchers at Penn State’s University Park campus and four at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and College of Medicine were among the recipients of Technology Development Fund awards announced April 29 by the Life Sciences Greenhouse of Central Pennsylvania. For the full story, click here. Information technology can bridge People on different sides of environmental issues rarely speak the same language, but Penn State researchers say information technology can bridge that linguistic gap. For the full story, click here. University's thermometers are going green Thermometers throughout the University have taken on a new -- and environmentally friendly -- look. In an intensive pollution-prevention and health-hazard reduction project, the Department of Environmental Protection and Health (EHS) is removing mercury thermometers and replacing them with environmentally safe equivalents that eliminate the risk of potentially dangerous mercury release. For the full story, click here. Penn State Erie gets formal Long recognized by area environmentalists as a haven for some of the area's most interesting trees, Penn State Erie has gained membership in The American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta. This formalizes the college's status as an arboretum and opens the way to developing public education, outreach, and research programs focusing on the college's extraordinary collection of native and exotic trees. For the full story, click here. Shaver's Creek adopts Penn State has taken a step toward a greener fleet of cars, thanks to the purchase of its first hybrid vehicle for use by Shaver's Creek Environmental Center, the University's Outreach resource for environmental programming. For the full story, click here. University a leader in consumption of wind energy In seeking the answer to clean, environmentally friendly energy to help meet its extensive electrical power needs, the University has become one of the largest purchasers of wind power in the United States. Penn State made its first commitment to wind energy in October 2001 with a five-year contract for the purchase of 5 percent -- or 13.2 million-kilowatt hours annually -- of total electricity demands at the University Park campus. It strengthened its leadership role last July through another five-year contract for the annual purchase of 4.5 million-kilowatt hours at non-University Park campuses. For the full story, click here. Purchasing fosters use of diverse, Duane Bullock is up for a challenge, and as the University's new manager of supplier diversity and environmentally responsible purchasing, he has found one. For the full story, click here. Libraries project helps environment University faculty and staff can help the environment by recycling ink jet or laser (fax/printers) cartridges. For the full story, click here. Eco-friendly vehicle carries environmental For an electrifying change of pace from his normal duties and a demonstration of Penn State's commitment to environmentally-friendly technologies, Paul Ruskin, communications coordinator for the Office of Physical Plant, drove the University's first electric hybrid vehicle to Washington, D.C., yesterday (Sept. 30) to accept a 2002 "Green Power Leadership Award" on behalf of the University. For more information, click here. Alternative transportation gaining It's called co-mingling. And, on the University Park campus, it involves motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians. Officials estimate there currently are some 12,000 bicycles on campus and in the Centre Region. And there probably will be more as the University moves toward implementation of the University Park Campus Master Plan, which envisions a more pedestrian-friendly campus with less dependence on cars, better mass transit and more use of bicycles and walking. Gordon Turow, director of campus planning and design, said bicycles are an integral component of the Master Plan's intermodal transportation concept. For more information, click here. Erie works to save Bruno's Café in the Reed Union Building at Penn State Erie uses about 10,000 disposable paper and plastic foam drink cups each week. That much trash takes up a lot of landfill space. To combat that waste, Housing and Food Services, in conjunction with the Greener Behrend Task Force, has developed a reusable ecomug that is expected to drastically reduce waste. For more information, click here. Desulfurization process A process that removes organic sulfur from liquid fuels at low temperatures and ambient pressure without using hydrogen may help refiners provide fuels for fuel cells and meet the upcoming government's ultra-clean fuel requirements, according to researchers. The researchers hope that refineries can employ the process to remove sulfur and meet future ultra-clean fuel requirements and that those providing fuel for fuel cells can use the process to produce ultra clean fuel. For more information and photos from the event, click here. Penn State wins Governor’s Award Penn State’s Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) has been recognized by Gov. Mark Schweiker for outstanding commitment to pollution prevention and environmental protection. Maurine Claver, director of EHS, and Kate Lumley-Sapanski, EHS manager, accepted the award on behalf of the University at a special ceremony in Harrisburg on Sept. 25. The event was sponsored by the Department of Environmental Protection to honor those organizations who have demonstrated the best environmental leadership in Pennsylvania. For more information and photos from the event, click here.
They direct Internet traffic for millions of e-mails each week, pave the way for computer networking between buildings and campuses, and bridge great distances with high-tech videoconferences, but getting to appointments on time over the crowded sidewalks and streets of the University Park campus has some of Penn State's "information superhighway" experts riding a low-tech solution. Rather than get huffy about lost time en route to meetings and chores, managers with Information Technology Services (ITS) last month pedaled out a fleet of bicycles for its staff and student assistants to use on a voluntary basis. For the full story by Gary Cramer and John Dixon, click here. Rush to Recycle program A significant amount of recyclables was collected by 88 student volunteers at Beaver Stadium after Saturday’s football game against Louisiana Tech. The students were joined by David Hess, secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and several recycling mascots for the kickoff of a “Rush to Recycling” campaign. Through the campaign, the University has been challenged to increase the amount of recycled material collected at the games and on campus. For more information and photos from the event, click here. Blue and White ... and GREEN: Penn State
as Environment. Sustainability. Efficiency. All are popular buzzwords today. Politicians gain office on promises to clean the airways and waterways. Scientists debate over the scale of global malady that will eventually be wrought by pollutants. Companies claim compliance with pollution protocol. Celebrities take up the glamorous cause of promoting a clean, green Earth. Rhetoric abounds when the subject of protecting our natural surroundings is broached. But these words are more than catch phrases at Penn State. They are a way of everyday life. For the full story by Tysen Kendig, click here. University works Each month, the University Park campus spends $1 million on electricity costs -- not exactly chump change. That's why the University is working to become more energy efficient through the Energy Star program. For the full story by Julie A. Brink, click here. Wattmuncher chews up The Wattmuncher, a hybrid electric 2002 model Ford Explorer re-engineered by students of the Pennsylvania Transportation Institute won or placed in several categories in the recent FutureTruck Competition at Ford's Arizona Proving Ground in Yucca, Ariz. For the full story, click here. Efficient nuggets key to A process that would be a plastics recycler's nightmare may help
farmers deal with the disposal of agricultural and domestic plastics
by creating burnable, energy-efficient plastic nuggets. "In
plastics recycling there are two unbreakable rules," says
James W. Garthe, For the full story by A'ndrea Elyse Messer, click here. Chestnut saplings offer
Trash to Treasure sale features items This year, students living on-campus will have the opportunity to give something back to the State College community by donating unwanted, usable items to a Trash to Treasure sale that will benefit local charities through a newly developed recycling program. The Trash to Treasure sale will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 25, in the Ag Arena and all proceeds will be donated to the Centre County United Way. For the full story, click
here. Alternative fuel shuttle bus to run at Penn State A one-of-a-kind on-campus shuttle bus that operates on an environmentally clean, alternative transportation fuel - dimethyl ether (DME)/diesel fuel blend was recently dedicated Friday, April 19 in front of the Coal Utilization Laboratory on the University Park campus. Andre Boehman, associate professor of fuel science, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, began investigating DME's potential as part of a diesel blend in 1998. More ... Process removes sulfur from A process that removes organic sulfur from liquid fuels at low temperatures and ambient pressure without using hydrogen, may help refiners provide fuels for fuel cells and meet the upcoming government's ultra-clean fuel requirements, according to Penn State researchers. "Currently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency allows 500 parts per million sulfur in diesel fuel and 350 parts per million in gasoline, but by 2006, the regulations will require only 15 parts per million sulfur in diesel and 30 parts per million in gasoline," says Dr. Chunsan Song, associate professor of fuel science and program coordinator, Clean Fuels and Catalysis, Penn State Energy Institute. "Long before that, however, we will need ultra clean fuels for fuel cells." Removing organic sulfur from hydrocarbon fuels is difficult because the sulfur is usually bound to aromatic compounds that exist together with non-sulfur aromatics based on toluene and naphthalene, compounds that fuel producers would like to remain in the fuel. When sulfur is removed with the aromatic compounds, further treatment of the sulfur rich fraction becomes difficult. Current methods of removing sulfur from liquid fuels use high temperatures and pressure and hydrogen gas. The new Penn State process, called SARS for selective adsorption for removing sulfur, goes at low temperatures and pressure and does not use hydrogen or other reactive gases. More... Air pollution meeting focuses on ozone,
A symposium on the use of native plants as ozone air pollution detectors, a first look at plans for Penn State's Air Quality Learning and Demonstration Center and a field trip to an electric power generation station near Johnstown will highlight the 34th annual Air Pollution Workshop being hosted by Penn State's air pollution and forest effects research programs April 16-18. More... Governor honors Penn State for compost program Penn State has been recognized by Gov. Mark Schweiker
for its commitment to pollution prevention and environmental protection
demonstrated in a University-wide composting program. The initiative
takes pre-consumer food wastes from student dining commons, hospitality
service units and the Bennett Family Center and mixes them with
organic debris and manure from the University's dairy herd. Over
the last four years, the amount of materials recovered has increased
from 403 pounds per day to 1.6 tons per day. During the Green Deisgn Conference calls for submissions The 9th annual Green Design Conference, themed this year on "Greening the Dream House, " will be held on April 6 and 7, 2002, in the Kunkle Activities Center on the University Park campus. Sponsored by the Center for Sustainability at Penn State, the Bowers Fund for Excellence in the Built Environment, the PA Space Grant Consortium and the Science, Technology and Society Program at Penn State, the conference is open to the public and is now accepting submissions for a design competition highlighting innovation and sustainability in an exhibition of architecture, engineered house systems, landscape/garden design, community design and ecological innovations. For more information on the event, visit http://www.psu.edu/dept/cs, call Jackie Bonomo at 814-237-5569 or Barbara Anderson at (814) 865-2223, or e-mail greendesign@psu.edu. University wins environmental excellence award The Office of Physical Plant, Housing and Food Services, and the College of Agricultural Sciences jointly were recognized recently with the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence coordinated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for their innovative processing of organic materials. The Organic Materials Processing and Education Center, a collaborative project among all the units, processes dining hall food waste into compost, which ends up as high-quality flower bed mulch all over the University Park campus. More ... Penn State develops "rainforest" to soak up wastewater For nearly two decades Penn State has recycled all of its wastewater by irrigating farm crops and forest areas. Now, thanks to tree research done in the College of Agricultural Sciences, the system will perform better. "We have created a sort of northern rainforest," said Todd Bowersox, professor of silviculture, a branch of forestry dealing with the care and development of forests. In the last seven years he has developed a plant community that can continue to absorb much of the 2 inches of wastewater that is sprayed on it every week of the year. By replacing the typical central Pennsylvania forest community of red oak, black oak, red maple and hickory -- trees adapted to normal rainfall and acidic soils - with thirstier species that prefer less acidic soils higher in nutrients, such as bigtooth aspen, quaking aspen, silver maple, sycamore and green ash, Bowersox created a natural demand for wastewater. More ... Penn College gets state OK The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources recently approved Pennsylvania College of Technology's forest-stewardship plan for a property straddling Bald Eagle Ridge in southwest Lycoming County. More ... Altoona students to teach youth Political science students from Penn State Altoona have created an all-day event to teach local and regional youth aged 11-14 about land use and environmental issues facing Pennsylvania communities. More ...
Demonstrating their commitment to renewable energy resources and the environment, the University signed a contract with Community Energy Inc. (CEI), a renewable energy marketing firm, to purchase 5 percent of University Park's electrical needs from wind energy over the next five years. More ...
Few American colleges or universities can boast of tree populations with the scope and diversity found on the University Park campus, so it's not surprising that many people in the University community consider a specific campus tree or grove their favorite. More ... Visitor Center architecture
Since its inception three years ago, Project Earth Grow has been successful in more efficiently turning food waste from University dining commons into a wealth of campus beautification opportunities. Each new step taken in the program at University Park has yielded bigger aspirations and larger pilot tests in pursuit of the ideal way to recycle and compost the waste accumulated on a daily basis. More ...
Increased funding, detailed planning and diligent monitoring mean that the number of trees being planted each year at the University Park campus has outgrown the number of trees lost to disease, age and drought. More ...
What began as a grass-roots initiative from students and employees to reuse waste from the University Park campus dining halls, has since grown into a well-orchestrated, campus-wide composting program, which is not only environmentally friendly but economically beneficial. More ...
Along with providing education, research and public service, a healthy environment also is at the forefront of Penn State's mission to "make life better." Since its beginning, Penn State has partnered with the environment. But in recent years, even greater environmental strides have been made as Penn State continues to grow and meet the demands of its surroundings. More ... Students are designing a leaner $1.3 million research project pact A three-year, $1.3 million hydrogen research project agreement among Penn State, the U.S. Department of Energy, and two private-sector research and development companies will look at more practical uses of hydrogen for industry and manufacturing. More ... This CAUSE is fueled by enthusiasm Sticker shock over high gasoline prices last winter and rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are just two reasons why Americans need to consider replacing nonrenewable energy sources with renewable sources like solar energy, wind and coal, say two Penn State faculty members -- and they are teaching a yearlong seminar to educate students on how to solve this complex problem. More ... Solar rooftop system to be A solar rooftop system will be installed on top of the Main Building of Penn State Delaware County, compliments of Clean Air Council and Conectiv Energy. This is the first program of its kind in Pennsylvania and it gives Penn State Delaware County, along with more than 20 other schools, the opportunity to benefit from solar power without having to purchase a system on limited school budgets. More ... Recycling aids United Way Penn State fans, with assistance from area Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, are making a major contribution to the University Park United Way Campaign. Through recycling programs at Beaver Stadium and The Bryce Jordan Center, some $8,500 is donated annually to the United Way. More ... University recycling Penn State was recently recognized by the Can Manufacturing Institute, a national trade association of the can manufacturers of America, for its Beaver Stadium Recycling Program. It awarded $1,000 to the Office of Physical Plant Department of Solid Waste Management for its coordination of the stadium program. The money has been donated to the Paterno Library for the purchase of reference materials related to recycling. More ... Recycling pays Not only have thousands of students been reading the morning newspapers provided in their residence halls every day, but they also are recycling the papers at a record pace. Just two months into the program, the University has recycled enough papers to earn $2,000 in scholarships from PennMulch, The New York Times, USA Today and the Centre Daily Times. More ...
With more than 42 tons of newspapers recycled to date, Penn State's Residence Hall Newspaper Readership Program is encouraging increased recycling of other materials including cans and plastics. A special recycling program has been arranged to handle the additional newspaper volume created through the readership program. More ... Energy Institute to administer West The University's Energy Institute has been selected to administer the new West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund. The fund, which is one of four sustainable energy funds in the Commonwealth, was established by the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission as part the of deregulation and re-structuring of Pennsylvania's electric generation. Collectively these four funds will provide nearly $55 million in the development and implementation of sustainable energy technologies throughout Pennsylvania. More ... Institute to advise state In a move that could save millions in taxpayer dollars, Penn State's Facilities Engineering Institute (PSFEI) will be monitoring and advising two state agencies on energy usage -- the State System of Higher Education (SSHE) and the Department of General Services. More ... Energy program back by popular demand A free Penn State energy education program widely used by public school teachers in the 1980s and 1990s is once again available to help educate school children about energy awareness. More ... Technique cuts computer circuit Researchers from Penn State, the University of South Florida and the University of Texas at El Paso have developed and demonstrated a new method for reducing computer circuits' energy requirements --by more than one-half in some applications -- without cutting down on overall operating speed. More ... Energy Institute to establish The University has been selected by the Strategic Center for Natural Gas and the National Petroleum Technology Office at the National Energy Technology Laboratory to establish and manage a national natural gas and petroleum stripper well consortium. More ... Consortium to explore Developing premium carbon products, like those used in electronic equipment and instrumentation, is the primary goal of a new consortium that has the backing of $3.75 million from the U.S. Department of Energy over the next five years. More ...
High-value carbon products like activated carbons may become a commercially viable byproduct of the new, environmentally friendly methods used to burn coal, according to a researcher. More ...
Pork producers who pride themselves on using every part of the pig except the oink have seen the use of lard in cookies, chips and other foods decrease. In search of alternative outlets should the lard become unmarketable, a team of researchers has found that lard and choice white grease can replace Nos. 4 and 6 fuel oil in a process steam boiler with little or no retrofitting. More ... Alternative fuel to power classic pickup Spiritual center plans move ahead Consumers will buy 'green' milk
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High-tech
unit uses low-tech approach to
A
grove of experimental chestnut saplings was planted at the site
of the Arboretum on the University Park campus. The project, in
conjunction with the American Chestnut Foundation, aims to restore
the trees to a rightful place in Pennsylvania forests. About 100
years ago, a fungus wiped out the native population. From left
are Robert Steele, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences;
Kim Steiner, director of the Arboretum; and Herb Darling of the
American Chestnut Foundation. 
University
plugs into wind power 
Heritage
trees, groves protect leafy past 
Greener
is better at the new Centre County/Penn State Visitor Center.
The $3.5 million, 15,000-square-foot building, located at Park
Avenue and Porter Road near Beaver Stadium on the University Park
campus, is a joint venture of the Centre County Convention and
Visitors Bureau and Penn State. 
Pilot
composting program good for 
Campus
trees getting tender loving care 
Composting
program offers 
University's
initiatives are 
As
the U.S. government recently issued a mandate requiring all sport
utility vehicles to meet the same emission standards as passenger
cars, Penn State engineering students continued eight months of
competition to design an environmentally friendly SUV. 
Readership
program 
Waste
makes saleable coal product 
Lard-fired
boiler found to burn 
When
David Wagner hits the road to publicize an alternative fuel to
farmers, he wants to do it style. The assistant professor of agricultural
engineering and Extension specialist for precision agriculture
plans to be behind the wheel of a '56 Ford pickup restored to
cherry condition and fueled with biogas, a natural fuel derived
from manure. 
...
Richard Riccardo, Pasquerilla Spiritual Center project manager,
realizes the new structure not only must work in harmony with
the existing chapel, but also balance well with the area around
the chapel. He said the design has many opportunities to tie into
the natural wooded area just outside of Eisenhower Chapel. 
People
are concerned about protecting water quality and some even are
willing to pay for it, said a scientist in the College of Agricultural
Sciences. The Environmental Quality Initiative Inc. -- a collaboration
between Penn State, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Pennsylvania
Association for Sustainable