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ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ produced fewer greenhouse gas emissions between June 1, 2008, and May 31, 2009, compared to the previous fiscal year. The emissions reduction is the primary finding released this month in the second annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory.

A new BioBus route made its debut Tuesday afternoon as a group of faculty, staff and students traveled through Burlington as part of the Downtown/East Burlington Express Loop. The route will help will lead to a reduction in the university’s carbon footprint and assist academic service-learning and federal work study students who need transportation away from campus.

RecycleMania returns to ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ this spring for the university’s fourth year taking part in a national recycling competition involving hundreds of college and universities. Leaders hope to surpass the 73,638 pounds of recyclable materials collected last spring on campus during the contest.

Martha S. and Carl H. Lindner III Hall, the new administrative home for ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ College, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the ‘greenest’ building on campus, has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, a national recognition for design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

November 16-20 is Sustainability Pledge Week! ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ's Sustainability Pledge was created to encourage campus community members to reduce their environmental impact. Those who take the pledge are asked to make at least three positive changes in their daily lives. In addition, pledge takers have the opportunity to identify the steps they are already taking to reduce their impact on the environment.

Three sustainability programs at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ are featured in the National Wildlife Federation’s Campus Ecology 2009 campus sustainability case studies, the only database of its kind featuring sustainability practices at 59 schools from 30 states across the country.

Students, faculty and staff will have an opportunity this month to provide feedback on ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s proposed Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years by setting short- and long-range goals for power management, energy production and commuting.

To assist campus community members with finding carpool partners, ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ has created a new Rideshare page within the E-net Want Ads. The page has two sections – one for regular commuting and one for one-time trips such as a drive to the airport, beach or mountains.

ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s Zipcar fleet is expanding to three vehicles this fall with the addition of a Honda Civic to provide more availability to more than 350 people who take part in the program.