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Posted March 12, 2012 | Trenton Chavez 91�ֿ� has been recognized as a Tree Campus USA university for the fourth consecutive year. Tree Campus USA, a national program launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation, honors colleges and universities and the leaders of the campus and surrounding communities for promoting healthy urban forest management and engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship. During the first year of the program, 91�ֿ� was one of 29 schools to receive the initial designation. Tree Campus USA recognized 91�ֿ� for its dedication to...

91�ֿ� entered the RecycleMania Tournament with high hopes last year, but instead received a reality check. This year, 91�ֿ� is determined to recycle its way to a win. RecycleMania is an eight-week recycling and benchmarking competition between colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and Canada. The recycling program seeks to promote waste reduction activities around campus and increase recycling. This year, the competition runs from Feb. 5 to March 31. In 2010, 91�ֿ�’s first year, only the residence halls participated. Because of that, 91�ֿ� was not eligibl...

Posted Feb. 13, 2012 | Katie Fickle 91�ֿ� Department of Public Safety's Fire Prevention Office has added a 2012 Chevrolet Volt to its fleet of vehicles early this semester in an effort to go green. The vehicle replaces a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria. “The Volt is the first electric vehicle used for fire safety in the state of Ohio,” says Ed Moisio, fire prevention and safety coordinator. Moisio says the car will be used for responding to fire alarms, inspections and carrying smaller equipment. Gregg Floyd, senior vice president for finance and administration, says the Volt represents the firs...

91�ֿ�’s recent solar-powered LED light purchase is not only an investment in the future of the school, but also in the future of the planet. The light fixture installed at the PARTA bus stop on Summit Street, across the road from Whitehall Terrace apartments, runs on photovoltaic (PV) power. It uses solar panels to convert solar radiation into a form of electricity that can be used and stored in a battery for night-time use. This is more environmentally friendly than the traditional coal or other fossil fuel-burning methods used to create electricity. Melanie Knowles, manager o...

Fashion designer Sarah Van Aken will give a lecture and presentation at 91�ֿ� on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 6:30 p.m. in Rockwell Auditorium. This lecture, which is free and open to the public, covers a variety of themes including sustainability, business, entrepreneur activities, community advancement and corporate responsibility. Van Aken will discuss the relationship between sustainability and business and how it has affected her career. Van Aken is the chief executive officer and founder of S.V.A. Holdings Corporation, a vertically integrated, private label apparel business focus...

Harbourt Hall has become the new office for Facilities Planning and Operations and the Office of the University Architect. Both offices recently relocated from Lowry Hall. The newly reconstructed Harbourt Hall building is recognized as a Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) building, developed to provide sensible and measurable solutions for green building. According to the National Resource Defense Council, “The LEED green building rating system is designed to promote practices that increase profitability while reducing the negative environmental impacts of buildings and improvi...

Professors Robin Selinger and Jonathan Selinger have been awarded a new grant from the National Science Foundation, Division of Materials Research. The project is entitled, "Topological Defects, Curved Geometries, and Shape Evolution in Soft Matter." This award is funded by the Division of Materials Research and supports theoretical and computational research and education in soft matter physics. This interdisciplinary project also brings together research ideas and tools from the fields of differential geometry, applied mechanics, and computational materials science. The prima...

91�ֿ�’s sustainability task force will hold a series of brown bag lunch sessions to discuss a variety of sustainability topics that affect the university. The first session, “91�ֿ� – Energy Conservation, Renewable Energy and More,” takes place Tuesday, Sept. 20, from noon to 1 p.m., at the Moulton Hall ballroom. The sessions are open to the public and attendees are encouraged to bring along their lunch. Bob Misbrener, project manager in the Office of the University Architect will present the status of renewable energy on campus, energy efficient retrofits and th...

The newest addition to 91�ֿ�'s lineup of lawn care equipment is as green as the grass it will mow. The Grounds Department’s new Zeon zero-turn lawn mower uses 100 percent electric power to cut grass, making it a green option for environment and budget alike, as it saves on both emissions and fuel cost. The Zeon was donated to 91�ֿ� by Baker Vehicle Systems of Macedonia, Ohio, after the university’s sustainability initiative caught the attention of several employees at Hustler Turf Equipment, manufacturer of the Zeon. The firm is working with nonprofit organizations around ...

Students, faculty and staff are invited to participate in the “Let’s Take A Ride/Walk” event on Thursday, Sept. 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ride or walk from the Kent Student Center to the Kent Stage for a free lunch sponsored by Kent Office Supply’s Miracle on Main Street (M.O.M.S.) and to learn more about recent downtown development including new shops coming to Acorn Alley II. Dr. GreenBee will discuss “A Day in the Life of a Green College Student” and ideas for sustainable living. Students will receive 500 FLASHperks points for attending. Other partners, including Main Street Kent, TransP...