Green Living News

Green, greener, greenest: campus momentum grows for all things green
On Facebook, Connecticut College's more than 2,200 fans can't get enough of green news. And it's no wonder. This year saw an increased momentum for shrinking the campus's carbon footprint. (June 2, 2009)

College receives state's Climate Change Leadership Award
Connecticut College is one of eight organizations and individuals across the State of Connecticut recognized as Climate Change Leaders. (May 12, 2009)

Students look to wind for energy production
Six students are completing an independent study to determine the feasibility of a wind turbine on campus. (May 4, 2009)

Recyclemania 2009
In RecycleMania 2009, 515 colleges and univerities participated, and Connecticut College (CC) was a constant presence in the Top 5, never dropping below fourth place in the Targeted Materials-Bottles and Cans competition. In the final standings, the College ranked 27th in the Grand Champion, 13th in the Per Capita Classic, 21st in Targeted Material ‐ Paper, 11th in Targeted Material ‐ Corrugated Cardboard, 4th in Targeted Material ‐ Bottles and Cans and 12th in the Targeted Material ‐ Food Service Organics.

Celebration Earth: 2009
This April, Connecticut College is cranking Earth Day up a notch with a month´s worth of events aimed at promoting sustainability, conservation and awareness. "Celebration Earth: 2009" will take on everything from water scarcity-derived violence to landing a "green" job. All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted and take place on the campus. (March 26, 2009)

It's Lights Out at Connecticut College for Earth Hour 2009
For one hour on Saturday, March 28, lights all around the Connecticut College campus will be switched off in a symbolic gesture intended to raise awareness about climate change.(March 26, 2009)

Connecticut College continuing to offset energy usage
Connecticut College has purchased wind renewable energy certificates (RECs) to offset an estimated 100 percent of the college's annual energy consumption. (February 16, 2009)

Connecticut College students head to D.C. for green "Power Shift"
A total of 120 Connecticut College students will attend Power Shift ´09, a four-day climate and energy conference that will culminate with a rally on Capitol Hill. Only two other colleges in the country are bringing more students than Connecticut College. (February 13, 2009)

Connecticut College to conduct "green audit"
This fall, Connecticut College is putting its long-standing reputation as an environmental leader to the test with a third-party environmental sustainability audit that will assess everything from the amount of water flushing down the pipes to the post-consumer content of paper purchases. (Published Oct. 2, 2008)

Sproutfest! offers organic culinary delights
Stephanie Blennerhassett '11 was the mistress behind the culinary delicacies at this year's fourth annual Sproutfest!, sponsored by the College's organic gardening initiative, held inside Earth House, a small residential house on the Connecticut College campus for students dedicated to earth-friendly living. (Published Sept. 1, 2008)

Connecticut College finishes in top 10 out of 400 colleges and universities in RecycleMania 2008
The College finished eighth in both the "Grand Champion" portion of the competition, which measures the percentage of the total amount of solid waste recycled on each campus, and in the "Per Capita Classic," which measures the total amount of recyclables collected per person. The College finished first among peers in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), beating rivals Amherst, Williams, Tufts, Middlebury, Bowdoin and Colby, and edged out Yale, Princeton and Harvard. (Published April 16, 2008)

Connecticut College to celebrate Earth Day-Community Day with a variety of environment-themed events April 19. (Published April 11, 2008)

Juniors Audrey Davis and Stephen Rossiter awarded Goldwater Honorable Mentions
Two Connecticut College juniors, Audrey Davis and Stephen Rossiter, have been awarded 2008 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships, a prestigious honor to students who have outstanding potential and intend to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences or engineering. Published April 1, 2008

Connecticut College launches on-campus composting initiative
With one big grind, Connecticut College officially began composting earlier today, as the college community gathered for a celebration and demonstration of the college´s two Earth Tubs, commercial-sized compost units that will reduce the college´s food waste by up to 35,000 pounds a year. (Published November 19, 2007)

Junior Tyler Dunham makes a great "green" impact
Tyler Dunham '09 has been a driving force behind Connecticut College´s efforts to go green, working diligently to improve student awareness on issues of conservation and renewable energy. (Published November 7, 2008)

Professor to speak about the importance of large nature reserves
Robert Askins, the Karla Heurich Harrison '28 Director of the Goodwin-Niering Center for Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies at Connecticut College, lectured about the importance of large nature reserves. (Published October, 2007)

Connecticut College celebrates the centennial of the birth of Rachel Carson, the influential author of "Silent Spring"
Connecticut College is celebrating the centennial of the birth of Rachel Carson, the late biologist, ecologist and author, with a lecture, a panel discussion moderated by Carson biographer Linda Lear and an illustrated presentation of the Lear/Carson collection at Connecticut College on Sept. 21. (Published September 14, 2007)

Connecticut College student takes a F.R.E.S.H. look at the summer internship
For Linnea Camerota '08, the seeds she sowed at the F.R.E.S.H. New London garden represented the hope, sustainability and conservationism that are at the very core of this New London-based community organization. (Published September 14, 2007)

Richard H. Goodwin, early land preservationist and Connecticut College professor, dies at 96
Richard H. Goodwin, land preservationist, past president of the Nature Conservancy and Katharine Blunt Professor Emeritus of Botany at Connecticut College, died on July 6, 2007. He was 96. (Published July 6, 2007)

Connecticut College alumna funds student initiative for composting on campus
An anonymous Connecticut College alumna has stepped up to fund a student-initiated environmental program to use commercial-sized compost units to reduce the amount of food waste generated by the campus community. (Published May 2, 2007)

College to celebrate Earth Day-Community Day with a variety of environment-themed events
Connecticut College will celebrate Earth Day-Community Day with a variety of events for children and adults on the college green from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. on April 21. The rain date is April 22. (Published April 11, 2007)

Conn finishes top 25 in RecycleMania competition
Connecticut College recycled 39.5 pounds per person during the 10-week national "RecycleMania" competition, earning a spot in the top 25. More than 200 schools competed in the "Per Capita Classic" section of the competition, which measured pounds of recycled items per person. The college beat Wesleyan, Harvard, MIT, Brown and Yale. (Published April 17, 2007)

Conn students reduce energy use in residence halls by 12 percent
Connecticut College students decreased their energy usage in the campus residence halls by 12 percent in the last five months. The savings, which amount to 108,000 kWh, were the result of a student-led competition among residence halls to reduce the consumption of heating fuel and electricity on campus. (Published April 17, 2007)

Conn recognized for purchasing more green power than peer institutions
Connecticut College has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the 2006-2007 Individual Conference Champion for purchasing more green power than any other school in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). (Published April 18, 2007)

Connecticut College president pledges to plan for campus carbon neutrality
Connecticut College president pledges to plan for carbon neutrality at Connecticut College Higdon is charter signatory of national effort to reduce greenhouse emissions on college campuses. (Published February 23, 2007)

College among ten finalists in Ecomagination Challenge
Connecticut College was one of ten finalists in the "Ecomagination Challenge," sponsored by GE and mtvU, which challenged college students to "develop new, creative ways to green their campus." The college´s entry, "Community, Conservation, Compost: A Holistic Approach," proposed using commercial-sized compost units to reduce the amount of food waste generated by the College.

Conn College considers a wind turbine
The College took the first step to determine the feasibility of erecting a wind turbine on campus that would generate electric power.

Conn College ranks No. 1 in Connecticut in RecycleMania 2006!
In its first foray into the national RecycleMania contest, Connecticut College emerged No. 1 in the state, recycling 56 pounds of waste per person over the 10-week competition. (Published April 14, 2006)

Conn College Earth Day celebration includes vendors, events and music, April 22
Connecticut College's Earth Day Celebration on April 22nd includes a lot of fun! (Published April 12, 2006)

CC continues commitment to renewable energy
In an effort to reduce the environmental impact of its energy usage, Connecticut College´s Environmental Model Committee (EMC) has coordinated the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) that provide a subsidy for production of wind energy equal to approximately 50 percent of the college´s annual electricity consumption (Published March 7, 2006)

Lighting the way to save energy
What a difference a light bulb can make. If all goes according to plan, more than three quarters of the student body will be using at least one energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) by the end of November. (Published November 17, 2005)

"Greener" technology for printmaking
Professor of art Timothy McDowell, a printmaking specialist, on his way to transforming the CC printmaking studios into new "greener" facilities, is in the final stages of implementing an acid-free "etching" technique using light energy to produce Intaglio plates. This new method of printmaking will replace the original process in which hazardous acids were used to incise etchings. (Published November 4, 2005)

Fossils co-discovery unlocks clues.
In a recent co-discovery of 50 million-year-old fossils of a common freshwater group of algae, Peter A. Siver, the Charles & Sarah P. Becker ’27 Professor of Botany and Director of Environmental Studies Program at Connecticut College, may have unlocked clues about the evolution and environmental degradation of freshwater lakes and the characteristics of lake ecology during ancient geologic time periods. (Published August 12, 2005)

Garden Party. A new student club has sprouted up and stolen that very action as its name. “Sprout” was created to tackle the college’s first sustainable garden, which is being planted next to 360 House. Co-chairs are Anne Lind ’06 and Anna Meyer ’07. (Published May 13, 2005)

Organic meal, film festival, tree dedication at Vandana Shiva appearance April 13
An organic meal prepared with native New England foods, a film festival, a panel discussion and a tree dedication will attend the appearance at Connecticut College of globally renowned physicist, environmentalist and feminist scholar and activist Vandana Shiva. (Published April 5th, 2005)

Endowed chair lecture on estuarine wetlands April 6
R. Scott Warren, Connecticut College’s Jean C. Tempel ’65 Professor of Botany, will speak on “Restoring Estuarine Wetlands on Long Island Sound: A Quarter Century of Lessons in Restoration Ecology,” on Wednesday, April 6, at 8 p.m. in the Ernst Common Room of the Blaustein Humanities Center. (Published: March 30th, 2005)

Examining nature through mathematics Feb. 17
Meredith Greer, assistant professor of mathematics at Bates College, will look at these two very different questions through the eyes of a mathematician in a lecture titled “From Periodic Locusts to Mad Cow Disease: Translating Nature into Mathematics.” The free and public lecture will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 4 p.m. at Connecticut College in Fanning Hall Room 310. (Published: February 5th, 2005)

Green Party presidential candidate to speak Oct. 29
Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb will speak at Connecticut College on Oct. 29 at 10:30 a.m. in the Ernst Common Room in the Blaustein Humanities Center on campus. (Published: October 27th, 2004)

CC administrator joins panel on renewable energy at national conference
Connecticut College Vice President for Administration Ulysses Hammond will speak about the college’s leadership in and commitment to green power and environmental sustainability at the National Green Power Marketing Conference in Albany, N.Y., on Oct. 5. (Published: September 24th, 2004)

Professors honored for work restoring CT coastal tidal marshes
Two Connecticut College professors received 2004 Coastal America Partnership Awards on Sept. 10 for their restoration work at the Barn Island Wildlife Management Area in Stonington, Conn. The award was presented by the Department of the Interior’s Coastal American Partnership program. (Published: September 13th, 2004)

CC researchers receive grants to evaluate invasive grass control in coastal estuary
When the highly invasive, European strain of native common reed grass – Phragmites Australis – invades a marsh, it can disrupt natural tidal cycles, negatively impact fish and wildlife habitats and provide a luscious breeding ground for mosquitoes. (Published: July 20th, 2004)

CC to host 14th annual festival to celebrate Earth Day in southeastern Connecticut April 24
Southeastern Connecticut’s 14th Annual Earth Day Festival gets under way at Connecticut College on Saturday, April 24, with local artists, yoga, environmental product vendors and a plethora of activities for children. (Published: July 20th, 2004)

CC Arboretum to restore meadow habitat on 12 acres north of campus
In order to enhance increasingly uncommon habitats and control the spread of invasive plant species, the Connecticut College Arboretum will undertake a multi-phased project to convert forest and thicket to meadow and fields on the arboretum’s Matthies Tract in Waterford, Conn. (Published: December 22, 2003)

CC student helps draft and direct college’s energy policy
Jennie McLaughlin, a CC junior from Blue Bell, Pa., and co-chair of the college’s student-run Renewable Energy Club, is one of the authors of college's energy policy.
(Published: December 01, 2003)

Connecticut College students aren’t “in the dark” about energy conservation and alternative energy sources
Connecticut College students are writing their own energy policy by turning the lights off, paying extra for renewable energy, embracing solar energy and conducting a trash audit.
(Published: November 17, 2003)

Professor, graduate to travel to Cuba for eco-convention
Jane Dawson, Virginia Eason Weinmann ’51 Associate Professor of Government, and Sarah Zisa, a 2003 graduate and West Hartford native will join 200 other leading professionals from various environmental and development fields for the Global Exchange-sponsored convention in Cuba. (Published: May 27, 2003)

Jennifer Dziubeck ´05 wins Morris K. Udall Scholarship to study environment, economics
A Connecticut College student is one of 80 college students in the U.S. to be selected to receive a $5,000 Morris K. Udall Scholarship. Jennifer Dziubeck, a sophomore majoring in environmental studies and economics, was chosen on the basis of academic merit. In her application, Dziubeck said she hopes to work for a policy think tank and to conduct research related to environmental economics “in order to guide U.S. legislators in formulating policies relating to the environment.” She also plans to earn a master’s degree in public policy.
(Published: May 12, 2003)

Leading environmentalist to speak April 16, prelude to April 19 Earth Day for family festivities on college green
NEW LONDON, Conn. – William Shutkin, a leading voice in environmentalism and sustainable development and co-founder of the Boston-based environmental justice law center Alternatives for Community & Environment, will speak Wednesday, April 16, at Connecticut College as part of its 13th annual Earth Day festivities for southeastern Connecticut. Other Earth Day activities will be Saturday, April 19, on the College Green. All events are free and open to the public
(Published: April 2, 2003)

Goodwin-Niering Center conference on coastal development and conservation March 28 and 29
The conflict between coastal development and conservation will be the focus of a conference titled “Our Changing Coast: Private Rights & Public Trust," March 28 and 29.
(Published: March 05, 2003)

CC joins energy Co-op, first college in nation to make commitment
In a move that will support cleaner sources of electricity and significantly reduce its emission of air pollutants, Connecticut College has joined the Connecticut Energy Cooperative as an organizing partner. It is the first college in the United States to commit to support 100 percent, Green-e certified, renewable electricity, according to the Co-op.
(Published: May 18, 2001)

Last Modified: Friday, September 18, 2009 10:00