News

As part of an ongoing effort to make the University of Notre Dame more eco-friendly, the Office of Sustainability and student government are hosting a Dorm Energy Competition, which kicked off yesterday and will continue through Nov. 30.

The second annual Dorm Energy Competition will run from November 1st through November 30th. The energy savings accrued by the winning dorm will be donated to the Global Water Initiative, Student Government’s year-long program to raise money to build wells in Africa.

In response to requests by many faculty and staff, the University has adopted a policy to limit the distribution of mass mailings through Campus Mail Services. Under the new policy, Campus Mail will only accept up to 300 of the same item within a one month period.

Energy executive T. Boone Pickens will conduct a town hall meeting to discuss his Pickens Plan for U.S. energy independence from imported oil at 5 p.m. on Monday October 26th at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.

Notre Dame received a B on the College Sustainability Report Card, improving over last year’s B-. The higher grade came in response to a reduction in the University’s carbon emissions and a number of resource-saving policies.

The first game of the season featured some key changes to the Game Day Recycling program in an effort to improve upon last season’s success of 73 tons of avoided landfill waste.

The Hydration Station, an alternative to a traditional drinking fountain, was installed last week between the men’s and women’s restrooms on the first floor of the LaFortune Student Center.

Notre Dame will soon host Renewing the Campus: Sustainability and the Catholic University. The conference on October 9th-11th will bring together 250 faculty, students, administrators, and clergy from over 40 Catholic universities across the country.

Notre Dame is introducing a new program designed to encourage more eco-friendly commuting: preferred parking spots will now be available in five lots on campus for qualifying low emissions vehicles.

Geddes Hall, the first Notre Dame building expected to earn LEED certification, welcomed the Center for Social Concerns as its first occupants this week.