News and Events

UNI's Tallgrass Prairie Center and CEEE present Emerald Horizons: Sustainability and Nature in Iowa

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Emerald Horizons: Sustainability and Nature in Iowa will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19. The presentation, hosted by the University of Northern Iowa's Tallgrass Prairie Center for Energy and Environmental Education (CEEE), will be in the CEE auditorium, room 11.

Connie Mutel, historian and archivist of the Iowa Institute for Hydraulic Engineering at the University of Iowa, will discuss the transformation of Iowa's extensive tallgrass prairie into cropland, the results of this conversion, and suggestions to reverse the negative effects. Mutel will explore how Iowa can move toward sustainability by nurturing biodiversity and natural ecological goods and services.

Mutel, author of the recently published "The Emerald Horizon: The History of Nature in Iowa," "Fragile Giants," "The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook," and soon-to-be-published "A Watershed Year," is committed to protecting and restoring Iowa's natural features. "The Emerald Horizon" will be available for sale and signing by the author after the presentation.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information contact Ryan Welch, outreach coordinator for the Tallgrass Prairie Center, at (319)-273-3828 or rwelch@uni.edu

Indoor farmers markets to be held around the Cedar Valley through December

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The Northern Iowa Food and Farm Partnership, a local food advocacy group at the University of Northern Iowa's Center for Energy & Environmental Education, has announced an extended farmers market season for the Cedar Valley. Indoor markets in Cedar Falls, Waterloo and Waverly will be open to the public in November and December. Buyers will find locally produced fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, eggs, poultry, and other foody items at these late-season markets.

This is the first year the Northern Iowa Food and Farm Partnership is sponsoring an extended farmers market season. Andrea Geary, Northern Iowa Food and Farm Partnership coordinator, states that the late-season markets are an important asset to the community, as many farmers are making great efforts to extend their growing season, thereby offering fresh, healthy and local food far beyond September or October.

"It's important to increase access to this food for the benefit of our larger community's food growers and local food consumers," she said. "It enriches the health of our families and our communities."

Extended season farmers market information is listed below, by date. For more information call (319) 273-7883.

Waverly Harvest Farmers Market: waverly Civic Center, 200 1st St. NE

8:30 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 7 and Saturday, Dec. 5.


Cedar Falls Harvest Farmers Market: Cedar Falls Community Center, 524 Main St.

8:30 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 14 and Saturday, Dec. 12.


Waterloo Harvest Farmers Market: PUblic Market Building, 317 W 3rd St. 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 21 and Saturday, Dec. 19.

UNI to celebrate Green Week, Oct. 18-24

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Northern Iowa Student Government (NISG) will host Green Week at the University of Northern Iowa, kicking off Sunday, Oct. 18 and continuing through Saturday, Oct. 24.

Green Week is a campus-wide event that serves to entertain, educate and inspire the campus community. NISG, in collaboration with several other student and university organizations, wants to reach out to individuals who have not yet considered the consequences of environmental ignorance and provide a forum for students to voice their concerns.

Green Week activities, by date, are listed below and on the NISG Web site at http://www.uni.edu/studentorgs/nisg.

Sunday, Oct. 18

- Campus Conversation: 7 p.m., Center for Multicultural Education (Maucker Union)

Students, faculty and staff can discuss ideas, provide input, share concerns and identify strategies that could assist the university with sustainable practices and energy conservation.

Monday, Oct. 19

- The Green Light Program: 2 to 4 p.m., fountain area in front of Maucker Union

Sponsored by the Department of Residence Programming Board, students can exchange their old incandescent light bulbs for a free energy star rated compact fluorescent light bulb.

Tuesday, Oct. 20

- Sustainability in Action: 10 a.m., Center for Multicultural Education (Maucker Union)

Led by local experts, faculty, staff and students can get tips to reinforce good habits while making simple, effective changes in their daily routine.

- "Speaking of Change": 7 p.m., University Room (Maucker Union)

A theatrical performance that examines the planet's struggle through the eyes of the young, old, concerned and ignorant.

Wednesday, Oct. 21

- Green Fair: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Hemisphere Lounge (Maucker Union)

Join NISG, Recycling and Reuse Technology Transfer Center, UNI Energy Team, GreenProject UNI, Panther Pick-up and Capstone Students for Sustainability to learn about "green" initiatives on campus.

- "King Corn": 7 p.m., Ballroom A (Maucker Union) Join GreenProject UNI for movie night.

"King Corn" follows two Ivy League graduates who move to Iowa and discover the "real" agricultural industry.

Thursday, Oct. 22

- Recycle Fest: 1 to 4 p.m., fountain area in front of Maucker Union

Students can show their "green" pride by bringing in recyclables. For every pound of recycling students bring, their name will be entered into a Recycle Fest drawing.

- Green: The Color of Wellness: 4 p.m., University Room (Maucker Union)

Kathy Green, University Health Services; Robert Conway, director of environmental affairs for NISG; and Blake Argotsinger, president of GreenProject UNI, will show students ways in which choosing to "go green" is healthy for their bodies and their bank accounts.

- Tides of Tomorrow: 7 p.m., University Room (Maucker Union)

Local experts will speak about the controversial topic of climate change.

Friday, Oct. 23

- Recycle Fest: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., fountain area in front of Maucker Union

Students get a second chance to bring in their recyclable items and enter in the Recycle Fest drawing.

Saturday, Oct. 24 "Day of Action"

- Bash the Trash: 9 a.m., meet at Maucker Union

Students can join the Honors Student Advisory Board in a campus-wide clean-up effort that extends to College Hill.

- Green Munch 'n' Lunch: 11 a.m., Honors Cottage

Join local sororities and fraternities for lunch to reward trash bashers and prepare attendants for the March to McCloud.

- March to McCloud: 1 p.m., Honors Cottage to McCloud Center

Students can showcase their concerns for a healthier planet by marching to the McCloud Center to take part in Project 350.

- Project 350: 2 p.m., McCloud Center

UNI will be a part of this international event, as it joins together to form the number 350. A picture will be taken and submitted to 350.org to show UNI's support of the project. According to scientists, 350 parts per million (ppm) is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Currently, our atmospheric concentration of co2 is 390 ppm.

UNI's CEEE presents Solar/Energy Efficiency Tour in five communities on Oct. 4

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --Home owners in five Cedar Valley communities will open their doors to the public for the Cedar Valley Solar/Energy Efficiency Tour on Sunday, Oct. 4. The home tours will feature: solar hot water systems, photovoltaics (solar electric), ground source heat pumps, insulated concrete form construction and energy efficiency. The Center for Energy & Environmental Education (CEEE) at the University of Northern Iowa with the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) are hosting this opportunity for the public to see solar and energy efficient technologies that can reduce monthly energy bills, reduce harmful carbon emissions and qualify for tax credits and cash incentives.

Tour homes are located in Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Waverly, Evansdale and Independence to encourage wide participation. Homes on the Solar/Energy Efficiency Tour are listed below, by community. Homeowners will be on hand to talk about why they use alternative energy sources to warm and cool their homes and to make their homes more energy efficient.

"We hope the Cedar Valley tour and other ASES National Solar Tours will help Americans address a critical problem -- the need to reduce energy use -- while introducing them to an array of clean, effective solutions that generate ongoing economic and environmental rewards," said Carole Yates, who is coordinating the tour for UNI's CEEE.

More information is available at www.ceee.uni.edu/Home/SolarEnergyEfficiencyTour.aspx or http://www.ases.org.

Cedar Falls

Kamyar Enshayan and Laura Jackson, 1703 Washington St., 1 to 4 p.m.

Features: flat-panel solar thermal system that provides hot water for dish washing, showers and laundry; wood burning stove is main heating source.

Jack and Carole Yates, 519 Chateau Court, 1 to 4 p.m.

Features: passive solar home with photovoltaic system (solar electric) producing 85 to 90 percent of the electrical needs and solar thermal/evacuated tube system for domestic hot water and in-floor heating.

Bill and Marie Stigliani, 922 W. 9th St., 2 to 4 p.m.

Features: retrofitted home with a geothermal system for heating, cooling and hot water; vertically installed system using eight wells drilled 75 feet deep.

Clark Rickard, 903 Main St., 1 to 4 p.m.

Features: homeowner designed and had a geothermal system installed in an older home with a small yard; seven vertical loops extend 150 feet deep in the backyard; retrofitted ductwork.


Waterloo

Dave and Del Turner, 430 Prospect Blvd., 1 to 4 p.m.

Features: older home (1939) with new solar thermal system.


Evansdale

Fred and Ellen Morris, 208 Grand Blvd., 2 to 5 p.m.

Features: geothermal retrofitted for this 1928 home, saving the homeowners on average $70 per month on utility bills.


Waverly

Randy and Pam Druvenga, 1100 Copper Terrace, 1 to 4 p.m.

Features: new passive solar home with solar thermal system; high energy-efficiency insulated concrete forms construction, 6 to 8-inch concrete form walls with foam insulation.


Independence

Joe and Judy Olsen, 2003 206th St., 1 to 4 p.m. (1/3 mile north of Independence)

Features: log cabin home with solar thermal system; energy efficient windows and doors.

UNI CEEE and other Community Partners Sponsor "Apples, Cheese & More," September 19

The Cedar Falls Annual Community Read for the Enviroment partners are hosting an "Apples, Cheese & More" mini-festival and potluck picnic on Saturday, September 19, 5:30 - 8 p.m. at Hartman Reserve Nature Center, 657 Reserve Drive, Cedar Falls. At this fall festival, sample apples from local orchards, help make apple cider, participate in a laughter yoga activity, and learn to make cheese from Cedar Falls resident Jack Yates. This celebration will end with comedy improv troupe "Half Masted's" tribute to apples. The event is free to the public. Participants are asked to bring a dish or two to share, tableware, and a beverage. For Information, go here, call Hartman Reserve Nature Center @ (319)-277-2187, or email Susan Salterberg

GreenProject UNI Sponsors 2009 Wind Generation Festival

The 2009 Wind Generation Festival, put on by GreenProject UNI, will be held on Friday, Sept. 18. The event will take place from 4 to 9 p.m. at Lawther Field on the University of Northern Iowa campus (rain location in Lang Hall Auditorium).

The purpose of the Wind Generation Festival is to spread the excitement of the green movement at UNI. During the festival participants can play games, including miniature golf made from recycled material, win prizes, eat pizza and listen to speakers and live music. Organizations from campus and the community also will have "green" information available.

"We want students to hear about what is happening in their campus community, to spark some interest, and inspire students to get involved," says GreenProject UNI President Blake Argotsinger. "We want students to be the change, to know that their voices will be heard when it comes to bettering our campus."

- 4 p.m. Live music with The Stuffed Collective.

- 5 p.m. Cortney Schiappa, Green AmeriCorps supervisor.

- 5:30 p.m. Pete Olson, energy services manager, Cedar Falls Utilities.

- 6 p.m. Live music with Green's Island.

- 7 p.m. Bill Stigliani, professor, UNI Center for Energy & Environmental Education.

- 7:30 p.m. Jack Yates, professor of psychology at UNI, and member of UNI's Energy Conservation Committee.

- 8 p.m. Live music with Eli Kilburg

Recycling Revolution Hits Rider Hall

In an effort to help students learn about responsible recycling practices, a pilot recycling program will take place on the University of Northern Iowa campus this fall. The Rider Hall Recycling Revolution (RRR) will start in student's dorm rooms in Rider Hall and will be initiated through the Recycling and Reuse Technology Transfer Center (RRTTC).

"Recycling containers will be placed in each room for student use, and we will be taking measurements from the residence hall on a weekly basis," according to Jenny Bruss, RRTTC program and community outreach coordinator. A recycling presentation highlighting the prose of recycling and proper recycling preparation will be given to students. Students also will learn how to prepare recycling to avoid contamination.

Tyler Lorenzen, senior biology teaching major from Oelwein and RRTTC student employee, said, "waste reduction can be a tricky process, especially for an institution, as it's really hard to get people to change their habits and behavior. We hope this program will help students become more responsible and develop better recycling habits while living on campus."

Lorenzen also said efforts to spread the "recycling revolution" across campus will depend on the results of the pilot program. "We hope to have this program spread to other dormitories across campus and help recycling become a habit for students instead of throwing recyclable items in the trash."

The program is sponsored by the RRTTC, Green Project UNI and the Department of Residence.

For more information, contact Phil Wilson, RRTTC student employee, at (319)-273-3858 or philjw@uni.edu.

UNI's RRTTC 'Get Your Green On' to expand its reach

Elementary students in the Cedar Falls area have the opportunity to engage in an environmental education program. Through the efforts of the University of Northern Iowa's Recycling and Reuse Technology Transfer Center (RRTTC), "Get Your Green On," a pilot project launched at Lincoln Elementary School last year, is expanding its reach.

"Get Your Green On" will be implemented for kindergarten through sixth grades at all elementary schools in Cedar Falls during the 2009-2010 academic year. The program will serve more than 7,000 students, teachers, staff and parents, according to Jenny Bruss, RRTTC assistant program manager. She said the program incorporates the importance of reduction, reuse and recycling; water quality and conservation; natural resource and energy conservation; and landfill education to promote a green lifestyle to elementary students.

"This is a one-year project that will have a great impact on the local community," said Bruss. "Not only does the program include interactive education, there will also be in-class discussions over books that teach about several environmental issues of concern. Throughout the program students will get the chance to see how the environment can be relevant in all of the different classes they take ranging from math to art."

Recognized by Governor Culver for leadership in environmental education, the RRTTC was recently honored with a Governor's Environmental Excellence Award for its "Get Your Green On" program. RRTTC was acknowledged for, "providing a program that helps to engage and empower participants to be stewards of their local natural resource."

"Since the program was implemented at Lincoln Elementary, members of the janitorial staff have reported a 25 percent decrease in solid waste, a 50 percent increase in cardboard recycling and a 150 percent increase in paper recycling," said Bruss. "Students have been encouraged by the recycling figures collected through their efforts, including more than 2,300 pounds of paper and 50,000 plastic milk cartons."

Bruss said the program is designed for the schools to carry on with program implementation after the first year. "Teachers, staff and students will have the needed resources to keep the program going, but we are always available to help or give presentations. We also hope to pursue other programs in the near future that will address junior and senior high students."

For more information, contact Bruss at (319) 273-3689 or Jennifer.Bruss@uni.edu.

Healthy, Fresh, Made-From-Scratch Meals to be Served at UNI's Laboratory School

Something new will be in the air at the University of Northern Iowa's Malcolm Price Laboratory School this fall. The aroma of fresh, healthy, made-from-scratch meals from the school's kitchen will greet the students, faculty and staff each day at the Grassroots Café, which will provide food and educational experiences to enrich bodies and minds.

This new model school lunch program focuses on student health and will provide educational experiences for students and for school administrators across the state.

"As a school, Price Lab is trying to transform the food environment by exploring new ways of doing things, " said Bridgette Wagoner, interim director for PLS. "A school's food environment plays a role in setting attitudes about food and nutrition in place. It's a double standard to be adamant about daily physical education while serving kids unhealthy food."

Taking a holistic approach, the new model will connect the kids to their food and integrate food into the curriculum. A school garden, guest speakers, and new foods will be introduced to students next year along with the changes in the cafeteria.

A state-wide push for healthier food in schools, an internal push from PLS parents, and trends across the nation made now a good time to find funding and change the system at PLS, organizers said.

"The beef recall in February 2008 piqued my interest in what my kids were eating for lunch," said Christopher Martin, parent of two PLS students and a UNI associate professor of communication studies. "There were parents who had been talking about it for years, and this got things going again."
PLS Food Service Manager Rob Stanley has been developing menus and working with school officials to develop a nutritious, good-tasting menu that students will enjoy. The menus are designed to reduce the amount of high-fructose corn syrup, transfats, and artificial colors and preservatives served; to eliminate unnecessary packaging; and to support local growers and producers whenever possible.

"We don't have all the answers," Stanley said, "but what we learn from this will be documented, and the change from the old system to cooking from scratch with whole ingredients at Price Lab will help other schools."

With funding from grants, PLS will have the flexibility to develop an efficient program that other schools can tap into. The goal is to transition from grant assistance into a self-sustaining model that other schools can replicate and adapt to their needs.

The cost of lunch at Grassroots Café for 2009-2010 is $2.25 for K through sixth grade and $2.50 for seventh through 12th grade. An adult lunch costs $3.50. Families can still qualify for free or reduced lunches.

"Food is a big deal," said Kamyar Enshayan, director of UNI's Center for Energy and Environmental Education. "People across the country are pushing for schools to lead. What children eat is fundamental to their health."

UNI's CEEE staff will help connect the school to local food sources, and Stanley plans to keep the menu flexible with the seasons. Milk served at Grassroots Café will be from Hansen's Farm Fresh Dairy, about 10 miles from the school and a popular field trip destination.
"Serving healthier meals can strengthen community connections," Enshayan said. "Local farms can offer fresh, seasonal ingredients, and buying from local growers and producers strengthens the region's economy."

This project has received funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Leighty Foundation, the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship, UNI College of Education and the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

"The grants will allow development this first year and allow us to determine the most efficient ways of providing these meals," Wagoner said. "Schools across the state have the will to serve healthy meals to their students. Our hope is to help provide the way."

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation was established in 1930. The organization supports children, families and communities as they strengthen and create conditions that propel vulnerable children to achieve success as individuals and as contributors to the larger community and society. Grants are concentrated in the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean, and the southern African countries of Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. For further information, please visit the foundation's Web site at www.wkkf.org.

Guide to Local Grown Meats, Fruits, and Vegetables

The 2009 Buy Fresh Buy Local Food Directory is now available from Northern Iowa Food & Farm Partnership (NIFFP) at the University of Northern Iowa Center for Energy & Enviromental Education. The directory features information about where to purchase locally grown meats, fruits, and vegetables in Black Hawk and neighboring Iowa counties. It also lists grocers, restaurants and institutions that buy local foods.

"New additions to the directory this year include a chart that shows the best times to buy Iowa fruits and vegetables, information on how to buy locally grown meat, and a list of 2009 local food events," says Andrea Geary, NIFFP coordinator.

To receive a copy of the new giude, contact Geary at andrea.geary@uni.edu or (319) 273-7883, or visit www.ceee.uni.edu and download a guide under Local Foods/Find Local Foods Near You.

Get Your Green On! - UNI Earthday - April 22

UNI Earthday
Wednesday April 22
Maucker Courtyard
10 am - 3 pm

Free Bike Tune-Ups, 10am - 3pm, Maucker Union courtyard, provided by Europa Cycle and Ski.

Click here to view the flier for more information.

Sabin Hall Renovation to Meet Silver LEED Certification Standards

Construction of the four-story Sabin Hall (initially known as the Training School) began in 1912 and the building was ready for use in January 1914. The building served as a modern K-12 model school for teacher training and student education.

Currently, Sabin Hall houses offices and classrooms of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Many of the Liberal Arts core classes in these departments take place here. The building has undergone several major remodeling that reflect its changing functions.

Last December, the consultant team Brooks Borg Skiles Architecture Engineering (BBSAE) was retained by UNI to design the next major renovation to the 58,000 SF building. The current renovation’s primary objective is to provide modern, updated classrooms and departmental offices with new infrastructure to meet life safety and accessibility codes as well as maximize instructional and faculty research needs.

Although not the first building on the UNI campus to incorporate sustainable design strategies, the project team has made the decision to seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification from the United States Green Building Council. The renovation will provide an opportunity for students and faculty to study sustainable design practices and help further advocate the principles of environmental stewardship within the university environment. The renovation is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2010.

For more information regarding LEED standards, click here.

Campus Conversation on Sustainability - April 14, 2009

On April 14,2009, the University of Northern Iowa is hosting a Campus Conversation on Sustainability. The event will open with special remarks from President Ben Allen, Vice President Tom Schellhardt, Provost James Lubker and NISG President Pernell Cezar. A number of breakout sessions follow, addressing a wide variety of topics relevant to the campus community.

To learn more about this important event, click here.

New Sustainability Course Offering - Fall, 2009!

A new course, Introduction to Sustainability, is being offered to all students beginning Fall, 2009! This course is an introduction to sustainability, providing a broad overview of challenges posed by environmental degradation and resource depletion, and potential ways societies can respond to ensure that these problems are not left for future generations to solve. The course will explore the multi-faceted dimensions of sustainability as a web of interactions between the environment, technology, economy, and society. The course will be solution-oriented, surveying the numerous options put forward as pathways toward sustainability. Students will be required to partake in service projects that promote local sustainability in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area.

To view the course flyer, click here.

Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council's Report on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

To read the Executive Summary of the Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council's report on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, click here for more information.

UNI Recycling Center Statistical Informationa

The volume of materials processed at the UNI Recycling Substation has increased dramatically in 2008. Click here for more information.

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Last Updated November 4, 2009