Posts tagged sustainability
CU-BOULDER TO HOST CAMPUS MASTER PLAN OPEN HOUSE ON MARCH 16
Mar 14th
The Campus Master Plan, a guiding document required by the Colorado Commission of Higher Education, outlines campus development over the next decade. The university began the planning process over a year ago with eight task force groups consisting of members from the campus and the community. Each task force provided input on larger focus areas and subjects. After receiving final reports from each task force, the university hired consultants for technical areas, compiled information, and wrote the draft plan.
“The Campus Master Plan represents a convergence of key communities on campus and within the city of Boulder,” said CU-Boulder Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano. “We are putting forth a bold vision — one that makes maximum use of our existing resources, promotes sustainability and innovation, and that will accommodate new generations of students. Together, moving the plan forward, we are laying the groundwork for a bold new century for CU-Boulder.”
Following the 30-day comment period, planners will finalize the document and submit it for approval to campus planning and design boards, the Board of Regents and ultimately the CCHE. The approved Campus Master Plan will guide CU-Boulder campus development until 2020.
The Center for Community is located on the CU-Boulder campus on Regent Drive, just east of Broadway, and the Flatirons Room is located on the third floor. Pay visitor parking is located just west of the building. After 5 p.m. the parking lot across the street is free.
A draft of the master plan will be available for download on March 16 at http://www.colorado.edu/masterplan.
City of Boulder Colorado, State of the city 2011 Mayor Susan Osborne & CM Jane Brautigam TV special
Feb 24th
Jan. 27, 2011 – State of the City of Boulder Colorado emphasizes sustainability, economy and opportunities in 2011
City Manager Jane S. Brautigam and Mayor Susan Osborne delivered the State of the City in the Library Theater this morning, outlining the highlights of a year that included two major wildfires, award-winning construction and improvement projects, a commitment by voters to continue funding valued city services and a decision to explore supply-side energy options.
Both Brautigam and Osborne spoke of challenges, difficult decisions and collaborative leadership in the face of recent wildfires and a still uncertain economic future.
Speaking of the devastating Fourmile Canyon Fire, Brautigam said, “Firefighters from around the nation set up operations at the new regional fire training center. More than 1,100 firefighters responded, including 70 city firefighters. A significant amount of city resources were used to protect Boulder County and city residents. During the Fourmile Canyon Fire, city staff supported around-the-clock emergency operations and services to the community. While 169 homes were destroyed, not a single life was lost in any of last year’s fires.”
The mayor emphasized partnerships that formed in 2010 with local government, the business and technology communities and residents. Collaborations, such as the bid to bring Google ultra high speed Internet to the city, and a spirit of shared innovation helped Boulder stand out, both at home and abroad.
“Our international reputation as an innovator continues to make Boulder a destination city and enhance our economic sustainability,” Osborne said.
Standing in front of a backdrop of video and photographs from the year past, the city manager told the audience that Boulder was able to maintain a flat budget for 2011 but must continue to “be prudent in how we manage resources.” The city will continue to look for ways to close a gap between expenditures and revenues to maintain long-term sustainability.
Both speakers looked ahead to 2011 with optimism, particularly about the community’s commitment to charting an energy future that draws more power from renewable sources, promotes local decision-making, stabilizes rates for consumers and puts customer service and reliability in the forefront.
“We heard the community’s desire to lead by example, and to more fully explore Boulder’s energy options before entering into another long-term franchise agreement,” Brautigam said.
The mayor thanked voters for their support.
“We asked voters to approve a replacement tax on Xcel for five years to provide the time needed to analyze, discuss and make decisions as a community about our energy future. This may ultimately mean a renewed partnership with Xcel to meet our community goals, municipalization to provide our community with more direct control over its energy decisions and investments, or possibly a different option that we have yet to develop. . . . It was a tremendous vote of confidence from this community, and we are grateful for the overwhelming support that was shown for the Utility Occupation Tax. Without your support, the city would have eliminated 50 positions this year and significantly reduced city services and programs,” she said.
CU-BOULDER NAMES MOE TABRIZI ITS FIRST DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY
Dec 22nd
Currently CU-Boulder’s energy conservation officer, Tabrizi will continue to work in collaboration with the CU Environmental Center, Housing and Dining Services and CU Student Government to further CU’s many campus sustainability initiatives.
“As a university, we’ve already made large strides in achieving goals in sustainability,” said Frank Bruno, vice chancellor for administration. “In order to get beyond what we’ve already achieved, there will be a need for greater collaboration and innovative ideas. Elevating Moe’s current position will help to facilitate and coordinate these efforts.”
As CU-Boulder’s first sustainability director, Tabrizi is charged with the task of meeting the “Greening the Government” Governor’s Energy Orders, as well as campus initiatives that include:
–Reduce energy consumption by 20 percent by 2012
–Reduce water consumption by 10 percent by 2012
–Reduce petroleum use by 25 percent by 2012
–Reduce paper use by 20 percent by 2012
–Utilize energy efficient and sustainable design standards on all new construction and applicable renovation projects. All such projects shall seek to meet or exceed LEED Gold Certification.
CU-Boulder recently was awarded the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, or STARS, Gold rating. The Gold rating is the first to be awarded to a college campus. With more than 230 colleges and universities registered with STARS, this rating accurately compares colleges and universities around the nation, and is a key measurement of CU’s national leadership on sustainability issues.
Tabrizi will spearhead CU’s combined efforts on a number of challenging long-term tasks, such as achieving carbon neutrality. He will serve as the campus’s chief sustainability coordinator and spokesperson on issues of sustainability. He will interface with key campus leaders, as well as with officials from state and local government and from other universities, to ensure that CU-Boulder maintains its national leadership position on sustainability issues.
“I am honored by this appointment,” said Tabrizi. “I look forward to working with valued campus partners – including our amazing student leadership at the Environmental Center – and to making new progress on a bold sustainability agenda.”
In addition to moving the campus forward on many goals and initiatives, he will continue in his role as the assistant director for engineering in the department of planning, design and construction.
For more information about CU-Boulder’s sustainability efforts visit Resource Conservation and http://ecenter.colorado.edu/index.php.