From Portland, Oregon and the neighborhood grocery store to European city planning with wider sidewalks and more bike lanes, cities were (and still are) being reshaped to consider non-motorized traffic. In order to reduce vehicular congestion, the authors suggest the following solutions:

1. Make parking and driving bear their true costs.
2. Foster genuine competition between different modes of transportation.
3. Emphasize sensible land use over actual physical mobility – a symptom of being in the wrong place.

These three ideas have yet to fully take hold. However, cities like London have implemented higher toll rates for driving in the city, thereby decreasing traffic and allowing pedestrians to roam more freely.

[Image source]

Winners were determined by the amount of “green power” they purchased. Smaller schools with lower consumption were at a disadvantage, although the percentage of green power purchased was also calculated. The EPA defines green power as “electricity produced from solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass, and low-impact small hydroelectric sources.”

The top conference in terms of total green power purchased was the Pac-12. Although only four schools from the conference participated, they collectively purchased in excess of 228 million kilowatt-hours. Here are the top five conferences and their green power purchases:

1. Pac-12 Conference (228,529,654 kWh)
2. Big Ten Conference (213,707,149 kWh)
3. Ivy League (200,194,600 kWh)
4. University Athletic Association (119,515,000 kWh)
5. Big 12 Conference (113,001,780 kWh)

Interestingly, only one school from the UAA (Carnegie Mellon University) and one from the Ivy League participated. Perhaps next year more schools will take part. To join the Partnership, visit the “Join Us” page. According to the challenge, in order to be included, “a conference must have at least one Green Power Partner and an aggregate green power use of at least 10 million kWh between conference members.”

[Image source]

As stated on their site, “Sustainability is central to everything we do at MUSE. From our mission statement to our campus design to our daily way of life – we focus on inspiring our students, teachers, staff and community to live sustainably in the classroom, at work and at home, and to become future leaders in preserving and caring for the planet.” Los Angeles based design and consulting firm EcoVations, assisted with the campus renovation. While most schools aim for LEED certification, MUSE School decided to take part in the Living Building Challenge, a stringent set of guidelines for green building that aims for no additional resource consumption beyond what is already in use. Among the school’s goals in the renovations were:

• Diverting 100% of construction waste from landfills.
• Operating with the highest possible energy efficiency
• Constructing zero-net energy buildings that generate as much energy as they consume.
• Constructing zero-emissions buildings that have no carbon footprint.

Numerous campus structures were reclaimed during the construction process, such as cabins from the old camp site. The school maintains a shed with materials from decommissioned buildings and assorted objects from the former site to use in future projects. One such example is the an LED light installation made from old bed frames (circa WWII) that students from MUSE helped to design. In addition, enormous water slide tubes from an Old Navy commercial were diverted from the landfill and repurposed for their playground.

Food also plays an integral role. The school anticipates growing roughly one-third of the food it consumes on site in its organic garden. Furthermore, the school’s kitchen staff, headed by chef Leslie Joy, work with students to prepare meals. Students rotate through the kitchen and learn about the foods grown on site in conjunction with the garden. Second and third graders were involved in raising chickens, which they watched hatch in the classroom. In addition, goats will be introduced into the curriculum for all grades in the coming months.

MUSE School is planning on producing as much energy as it consumes and being water neutral. The first goal will be aided by the installation of solar panels that will also be used to teach students about math and science. Their water reclamation project looks to replenish the water table and irrigate the gardens with water that falls naturally on the campus.

One of the more unique steps the school took was in its rodent control. When they first came to the campus, it had a rodent problem. Not wanting to use pesticides or poisons, the school’s ground keeper brought in three hawks he had trained to work with owls that lived in the canyon, and cats rescued from a shelter to reduce the rodent population by approximately 95%.

For a more complete list of practices the school engages in, click here.

[Image source]

In addition to the “Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conference“, a regional event that also takes place in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia at various times throughout the year, there are a couple of symposiums looking at education and the role of sustainability. One is a domestic event at Prescott College in Arizona, the other is in Sweden, at Uppsala University.

Take a look at some of the choice events and peruse our calendar for conferences near you. Please let us know of any conferences, events, or festivals in your area. If they are appropriate, we will gladly add them to our green events calendar. Send us an email with the event’s name, date, location, description, and website. In fact, one of the events listed below was submitted by a reader of the site.

Here are a few of the events happening around the world:

The Future of Education and Sustainability
When: May 3 – 5, 2012
Where: Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Description: How will higher education and research be shaped in a time of crisis? What are ways forward in an era of declining resources? What role can and should students and academia have when addressing challenges of today and tomorrow? Note: This is a free conference, but registration is required for the first two days.
Further details: http://uppsalaconference.se/

Good Jobs, Green Jobs Midwest
When: May 10 – 11, 2012
Where: Detroit, MI
Description: The 2012 Good Jobs, Green Jobs Regional Conferences will each reflect the character and uniqueness of their locations and will bring together thousands of labor, environmental, business, elected and community leaders working in their area and around the country to promote, preserve, and build coalitions that create good jobs and preserve our economic and environmental future. The Regional Conferences provide a renewed focus on networking opportunities and showcase the best and most innovative ideas and strategies in the public, private and non-profit sectors.
Further details: http://www.greenjobsconference.org/detroit

Solar Power Mexico
When: May 15 – 16, 2012
Where: Mexico City, Mexico
Description: The Solar Power Mexico conference and exhibition aims for the first time to unite key international players in this growing industry to drive forward government support, promote financial backing and provide a platform for discussion on how the Mexican solar industry can become a global market leader. Solar Mexico is being held as part of the Mexican International Renewable Energy Congress that will unite the leaders of the wind and geothermal industries, further granting your organization an overview of how solar will fit into the wider picture of renewable development.
Further details: http://www.greenpowerconferences.com/solarmexico

Fourth Annual Sustainability Symposium
When: May 17 – 20, 2012
Where: Prescott College, Prescott, AZ
Description: With internationally-known keynote speakers and renowned sustainability experts, each May the Prescott College Ph.D. program in Sustainability Education hosts a symposium centered on the theme of sustainability and its connection with education throughout our society.
Further details: http://www.prescott.edu/experience/news/actual-phd-symposium-2012.html

INFOCAST: DEFENSE RENEWABLE ENERGY AND MILITARY MICROGRIDS SUMMIT
When: May 30 – Jun 1, 2012
Where: Arlington, United States of America
Description: The Department of Defense, the biggest single energy user in the U.S., must source 25% of its power from renewable energy by 2025. The Army’s Energy Initiative Task Force (EITF) will issue PPAs for over 2GW of power in 2012—projects that will require tens of billions of dollars in private investment and finance—making the military the greenest area in green energy going forward. There is room at the table for almost any type of player in the renewable energy space, but only those with a thorough understanding of the DoD’s renewable energy programs will gain access to a market estimated to exceed $7B in 2012 alone.
Further details: http://infocastinc.com/index.php/conference/625

[Image source]

Ecology and Environment, Inc., a global environmental consulting company with offices on five continents, founded Project Earth as part of their social corporate responsibility. The project’s mission “is to generate ongoing conversation and collaboration across national boundaries that will collectively lead to positive environmental change.” Project Earth provides tools for schools to:

• Showcase innovative environmental projects.
• Connect and interact with ecologically-minded people around the world.
• Share ideas, resources, and solutions to environmental problems.
• Participate in environmental contests and earn recognition for efforts.
• Help educate and raise awareness of environmental issues facing the planet.

For those interested in joining, Project Earth is a free service. Click here to register. Watch the following video for more on Project Earth Network.

[Image source]