Bicycling
Bicycling is not only enjoyable and good for your health, but it is also a very sustainable means of transportation.
Commit to Leadership in Sustainability
The benefits of making a clear commitment can be dramatic, especially over the long term. When students, faculty, staff, and alumni know that the college or university is making a broad and comprehensive commitment to sustainability, they are more likely … more
Endowment Investments with High Return & Ultra-Low Risk
This is another no-brainer. Recently, colleges and universities have been earning an average 6–8% return on their endowment funds. Most facilities projects to reduce energy & greenhouse gas emissions [GHG] have a 5–7 year payback — a 14%–20% return—which means … more
‘Green Revolving Funds’
A ‘Green Revolving Fund’ provides funds for small projects such as the one described above, projects that will make the college or university more sustainable and, in most cases, pay for itself by reducing expenses for energy. Any project that … more
Public Spaces Endangered
The Fall and Rise of Great Public Spaces Why we need parks, streetlife, squares, markets, trails, community gardens and other hang outs more than ever by Jay Walljasper, On the Commons, August 5, 2012 Opponents of Copenhagen’s first pedestrian street … more
Public Spaces
This article from On the Commons makes a number of important points about land use, pedestrian-friendly environments, and building community. The Rise and Fall and Rise of Great Public Spaces by Jay Walljasper Public space is a literal commons: the … more
Sustainability for Events
Like most other areas of our lives, events are usually organized without a commitment to minimize their impact on our ecosystems, health, and sustainability. [Coming soon: Resources to help plan events that have minimal impact on global warming and sustainability, … more
Fifty Ways to Help Save the Planet
What you can do The problem is so vast and the urgency so great that advice which suggests you turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or switch off lights and standbys when they are not needed or go … more
Transportation Plans for the Lehigh Valley
The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission’s 2007-2010 Transportation Improvement Program and Surface Transportation Plan 2010-2030) again favor expanded highway transportation at the expense of improved mass transit, light rail, and bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly planning. The plans are available on the LVPC … more
Completing a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory for Your Campus
Following is a very brief overview of the types and sources of data needed for a typical GHG inventory. Most of the data usually comes from the Faciliities or Plant Operations department. For more detailed information see the Clean Air-Cool … more