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Sustainability

Physical Plant Successes in Energy Efficiency for 2018

January 25, 2019

In 2018 the physical plant department continued its commitment to strategic energy management through a program of monitoring and improving energy efficiency throughout campus. In partnership with the Energy Trust of Oregon, the efforts made by physical plant staff resulted in a significant reduction of kilowatts of electricity, thermal units of natural gas, and over $25,000 of savings in combined utility costs.

Major efforts such as renovations to Buckley Center and Waldschmidt Hall, the decentralization of the campus boiler system, and systematic change to LED lighting across campus are prominent examples of sustainable energy management. Just as significant are the seemingly small but progressive changes such as adjustments of boiler set points, sealing of windows and doors to minimize air leakage, and systemized maintenance of HVAC equipment to increase efficiency.

The momentum of sustainable energy management continues into this year. Energy assessments of academic and administrative buildings, dormitories, athletic, and recreational buildings continue to provide a detailed perspective of the University’s energy usage and further action is currently under development to increase efficiency and savings.

For more information contact Todd Yuratich, physical plant, at x7308 or yuratich@up.edu.

Filed Under: 01-28-2019, Campus Services, Physical Plant, Sustainability Tagged With: physical plant, Sustainability, Todd Yuratich

Join The UP Bike More Challenge Team: May 1-31

April 29, 2016

1bikes150John Carleton, information services, has created a University of Portland team page for the 2016 Bike More Challenge. All University employees are welcome to join the UP team and ride, earn points, win prizes and awards, and contribute to the University’s sustainability efforts. Team members can sign up and track bike riding miles at this link.

The Bike More Challenge is a fun, free competition to encourage friends, family, and colleagues to experience the benefits of riding a bike. Businesses compete against each other to see who can get the most staff to ride a bike and log their trips between May 1-31. It’s not just about who can ride the most miles, but also who can encourage the most people to give bicycling a try. The fastest way to earn more points as a team is to encourage more people to get on a bike and ride. Even one ride during the month contributes to the team, but only if you sign up.

For more information contact Carleton at carleton@up.edu.

Filed Under: 05-02-2016, Campus Services, Sustainability Tagged With: Bike More Challenge, John Carleton

University of Portland Named Champion of Sustainability

November 6, 2015

UPsolarpowerThe University of Portland will be honored as a Champion of Sustainability by McKinstry, a full-service, consulting, construction, energy, and facility services firm with offices around the country. The award will be announced during the November 15 Seahawks game at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Wash.

In partnership with the Seattle Seahawks, the annual Champions of Sustainability program recognizes one organization during each regular-season home game that exhibits a forward-looking approach to innovative energy and waste reduction in the built environment.

Sustainability is a hallmark at UP. Shiley Hall is LEED Platinum certified; Fields and Schoenfeldt Halls are LEED Gold certified; and the Clark Library is LEED Silver certified. Bon Appétit partners with local farmers when possible, and the University’s biodiesel processor converts used vegetable oil into biodiesel fuel. The University was also the first college or university on the West Coast to eliminate disposable plastic water bottles in 2010.

For more information contact marketing and communications at 7202 or mktg@up.edu.

Filed Under: 11-09-2015, Sustainability, University Relations Tagged With: Champion of Sustainability Award, McKistry, Sustainability

Princeton Review Names UP “Green College”

May 11, 2015

hThe University of Portland is one of the most environmentally responsible colleges in the United States and Canada, according to The Princeton Review, which included UP in the sixth annual edition of The Princeton Review’s Guide to 347 Green Colleges: 2015 Edition. The University of Portland has been recognized all six years The Princeton Review has conducted its Green Colleges rankings. The Princeton Review’s guide profiles 341 schools in the U.S., five in Canada, and one in Egypt that demonstrate notable commitments to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities, and career preparation. It is the only free, comprehensive, annual guide to green colleges, and can be downloaded at this link.

Filed Under: 05-11-2015, Campus Services, Sustainability Tagged With: Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges

University of Portland Recognized For Positive Impact

March 2, 2015

university of portlandPortland General Electric has presented the University of Portland with a certificate stating, “Portland General Electric recognizes University of Portland for making a positive impact on our environment through your purchase of Clean Wind renewable power,” according to physical plant director and Presidential Advisory Committee on Sustainability member André Hutchinson. Every year, UP self-directs the maximum amount of its public purpose charge toward the purchase of Clean Wind power. In 2014, UP purchased 1,727,587 kWh of Clean Wind power, resulting in a reduction of 2,315,554 pounds of CO2, which equates roughly to 3,464,068 miles not driven or 276 trees planted annually.

For more information contact Hutchinson at 7306 or hutchinsa@up.edu.

Filed Under: 03-02-2015, Campus Services, Sustainability Tagged With: Andre Hutchinson, PGE Clean Wind Power, Presidential Advisory Committee on Sustainability

Energy Trust Rewards UP For Upgrades, Sustainability Efforts

February 9, 2015

energy-trust-of-oregonAs part of information services efforts to centralize infrastructure management and lower costs, technical services has successfully virtualized a majority of campus servers and desktop infrastructure. This results in a more easily maintained environment with significantly lower energy usage in UP’s data center and at the desktop, a major step in the right direction for UP sustainability efforts. Matthew Moss, technical services, was able to meet Energy Trust of Oregon incentive requirements to receive funds back for the University’s efforts. By recycling old equipment at E&G Metals of Hillsboro, UP received a check from the Energy Trust for $10,190.

Energy Trust of Oregon is a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging lower energy usage and clean, renewable power in Oregon. For more information contact Moss at 8681 or mossm@up.edu.

Filed Under: 02-09-2015, Campus Services, Information Services, Sustainability Tagged With: Energy Trust of Oregon, Information Services, Matthew Moss

Bike Commute Workshop, Nov. 20

November 17, 2014

1bikes150The Presidential Advisory Committee on Sustainability (PACOS) will welcome the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) to campus for a Bike Commute Workshop on Thursday, November 20, from noon to 1 p.m., in Buckley Center room 163. All UP community members are welcome to attend. This is a brown bag event, so please feel free to bring and eat your lunch during the workshop. Topics covered at the workshop will include:

  • Basics of riding: laws, traffic signals and signs, how to handle bike lanes, bike boxes, tracks, and sidewalks
  • Skills: hand signals, turning, sharing the lane, and changing lanes
  • Choosing gear: bikes, helmets, lights, locks, accessories, cold and rain gear, carrying kids and cargo
  • Route planning: resources and taking bicycles on transit
  • Q&A: answers to questions from new or experienced riders.

For more information contact Russell Seidelman, financial aid, at russell@up.edu or PACOS chair Gregory Hill, mathematics, at hillg@up.edu.

Filed Under: 11-10-2014, 11-17-2014, Campus Services, Sustainability Tagged With: Bike Commute Workshop, Gregory Hill, Presidential Advisory Committee on Sustainability, Russell Seidelman

Oregon Drive Less Challenge, Oct. 6-17

October 6, 2014

1bikes150Faculty, staff, and students who would like to take part in local sustainability efforts have a great opportunity through the 2014 Oregon Drive Less Challenge, which runs from Monday, October 6 to Friday, October 17. Oregon drivers travel approximately 33.1 billion vehicle miles annually, at a cost of $1.4 billion in gasoline, which produces 14 million metric tons of CO2, according to Drive Less Connect, which offers an online ride-matching tool. In 2013, the Oregon Department of Transpor­tation urged Oregonians to take fewer drive-alone trips to reduce carbon emissions, reduce traffic, and introduce new users to alternate travel options. In its first year, the Drive Less Challenge exceeded its half-million vehicle mile reduction goal in 12 days. This year’s challenge aims to eliminate one million vehicle miles traveled in 14 days. Interested UP community members can sign up and find out more at http://www.drivelessconnect.com.

Filed Under: 10-06-2014, Campus Services, Events, Sustainability Tagged With: Oregon Drive Less Challenge, Sustainability

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Dave Houglum, Franz Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, completed a six-year commitment on the Board of Directors for the Maybelle Center for Community, with two of those years serving as the Executive Board Secretary. Founded by Fr. Richard Berg, C.S.C. (former Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at University of Portland from 1978-1991), the Maybelle Center disrupts social isolation so we can all experience a healthy, connected life and contribute to a thriving Portland.

Chloe Littzen, nursing, co-presented “Pronoun recognition for inclusive excellence across the UACON.” [Abstract]. LGBTQ+ National Symposium.

Eli Goldwyn, mathematics, published “Calculating prescription rates and addiction probabilities for the four most commonly prescribed opioids and evaluating their impact on addiction using compartment modelling.” Mathematical Medicine and Biology: A Journal of the IMA, dqab001.

Aziz Inan, Shiley School of Engineering, published the article titled, “Numerical curiosities for Bob Moore’s 92nd birthday,” in Clackamas Review, Pamplin Media Group, Portland, Oregon, February 16, 2021.

Simon Aihiokhai, theology, was a manuscript reviewer for Springer’s Journal: SN Social Sciences.

Barbara Braband, Amber Vermeesch, Corey Pressman, nursing, published “Piloting the perfect Storm: A vision for the vital practitioner.” Journal of Nursing Education (accepted/in press).

Barbara Braband, nursing, published “Working with community populations to increase wellness.” In A. Vermeesch (Ed.), Integrative health nursing interventions for vulnerable populations, (pp. 73-87). Springer.

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UPbeat is a newsletter for University of Portland faculty and staff published through the marketing & communications office; submit information to Marc Covert, upbeat editor, at 8132 or upbeat@up.edu. Submission deadline is noon the Thursday prior to publication. Submissions may be edited for clarity, consistency, brevity, or style.

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