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@edu Blog Series
May 15, 2013

The greening of academe has been in process for years, as campus after campus takes on a wide range of initiatives, from alternative energy to zero waste. There are lessons here for companies. In this monthly column, Second Nature offers stories and insights from ACUPCC signatory colleges and universities around the United States. Interested in Contributing? Find out how.

New and Retrofit Green Schools: The Cost Benefits and Influence of a Green School on its Occupants
February 27, 2013

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This report, published by McGraw-Hill Construction, reveals that K-12 and higher education institutions are achieving significant benefits from their green school efforts-both in improved health, wellbeing and performance, but also teacher and faculty satisfaction.

The ACUPCC Implementation Guide
December 20, 2012

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The Implementation Guide is the “handbook” of the ACUPCC, providing more detail on the specific obligations in the Commitment, explaining technical issues related to implementation, and outlining key policies.

Higher Education: Leading the Nation to a Safe and Secure Energy Future
June 22, 2012

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Outlines how the federal government should develop and enhance clean energy incentives and investments for the higher education sector to support sustainable practices on campuses.

Fast Forward: Latest Climate Science Shows Human Society Facing Greater Risks from Global Warming Sooner Than Predicted in 2007 IPCC Report
June 1, 2012

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The steady stream of new evidence about the dramatic physical changes across the Earth makes it harder to avoid urgent questions about what lies ahead for today’s college students.

Sustainable Campuses: Building Green at Minority-Serving Institutions
March 1, 2012

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This publication, produced by the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), showcases the outstanding leadership and accomplishments achieved by Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) in their efforts towards campus sustainability and climate neutrality. Second Nature collaborated closely with UNCF in this publication by sharing an overview of the progress made by MSIs in the ACUPCC network.

Campus Climate Leadership: Reports from the Field, October 2008 - December 2010
December 13, 2011

A compilation of articles written by experts and practitioners with valuable examples, best practices, and stories from the education for sustainability movement over the past two years.

Higher Education’s Role in Adapting to a Changing Climate
November 3, 2011

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Evaluates how colleges and universities are preparing society for a changing climate through their education, research, operations, and community engagement activities.

The Ultimate Stakes: Climate Change and the Fate of Civilization
June 1, 2011

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The challenge of global warming can be mind-boggling and complex, but the bottom line is both simple and clear. Change is under way and hitting harder and faster than expected. What is ultimately at stake is the human way of life we call civilization.

Why Public Reporting Matters
May 1, 2011

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Setting goals, tracking progress and reporting results are standard business practices for any organization, business or initiative. Public reporting on progress towards sustainability is a key driver for long-term success, and provides several benefits.

Minority-Serving Institutions Green Report: 2010 Campus Sustainability Survey
April 21, 2011

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In this report, 52 Minority-Serving Institutions across the country have completed online surveys developed by UNCF to share sustainability efforts at their institutions.

Institutionalizing Sustainability
January 4, 2011

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Creating a healthy, just, and sustainable society must be central to the core purpose of any organization in the 21st century. In the case of colleges and universities that means educating students and creating new knowledge through research, as well as modeling sustainability in operations and promoting sustainability through community engagement.

Climate Action Planning: A Review of Best Practices, Key Elements, and Common Climate Strategies (Oct 2010)
October 5, 2010

Analyzes 50 Climate Action Plans prepared by diverse set of ACUPCC signatories. Details important best practices and identifies helpful approaches to use in developing their first CAP or updating an existing CAP.

Advancing Education for Sustainability: Teaching the Concepts of Sustainable Building to All Students
July 1, 2010

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Explores the critical role of the built environment in educating all students about sustainability. Includes examples, recommendations, and a rich appendix of empowering resources.

Financing Sustainability on Campus
November 1, 2009

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A comprehensive handbook to financing sustainability with real world examples, creative strategies, and clear explanations of a wide variety of financial tools and programs.

Boldly Sustainable
August 2, 2009

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Showing how sustainability is both the right thing to do and the smart thing, this book provides breakthrough concepts, strategies, and tools that produce a sharper vision, an energized mission, and a firmer footing in the marketplace.

Leading Profound Change: A Resource for Presidents & Chancellors
July 1, 2009

Provides an overview of research on select approaches to leading transformational change and examples of successful strategies from ACUPCC campuses to help with the big-picture thinking needed to sustain enthusiasm and implement climate action plans over the long-term.

Cool Campus! How-To Guide for College and University Climate Action Planning
June 1, 2009

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Designed to assist colleges and universities in creating climate action plans, Cool Campus! outlines a how-to approach for each of the steps required to develop and implement a plan for campus climate leadership.

Education for Climate Neutrality and Sustainability
May 1, 2009

Identifies some of the best practices across higher education and provides resources to assist signatories in creating their own strategies to make climate neutrality and sustainability a part of the educational experiences for all students.

Best Practices Toolkit: Energy Performance Contracting for Higher Education
April 15, 2009

A comprehensive resource for signatories interested in learning about and conducting an EPC CREATED BY THE American Colleges and Universities Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) and the William J. Clinton Foundation’s Climate Initiative (CCI) with the assistance of many industry experts.

Financing Energy Performance Contracts (EPC)
April 1, 2009

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Offers a detailed overview of the various financing options for EPC-based energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. It also covers EPC’s impact on credit rating, and a matrix of the options’ distinguishing features.

ACUPCC Voluntary Carbon Offset Protocol
November 10, 2008

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A coordinated effort of the US academic community to develop a formal voluntary protocol to guide institutions through the process of evaluating and investing in the voluntary carbon offset market.

Investing in Carbon Offsets: Guidelines for ACUPCC Institutions (Full Report)
November 10, 2008

These guidelines aim to expand on and interpret the principles laid out in the ACUPCC Voluntary Carbon Offset Protocol in order to provide more practical and concrete guidance to institutions as they consider investment in offsetting activities.

GHG Inventory Brief
July 1, 2008

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Brief summary of common greenhouse gas inventory tools and resources, discussing the merits and drawbacks of each in the campus context.

A Call for Climate Leadership: Progress and Opportunities in Addressing the Defining Challenge of our Time
March 1, 2007

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Why sign the Presidents’ Climate Commitment? A resource that makes the case for joining the ACUPCC network with sections on “Benefits and Opportunities,” “Climate Leadership in Action,” “Roadmap to Climate Neutrality,” “Program Overview,” and more.