University Business December 2006 - (Page 23)

FUTURE SHOCK A New Breed of American Energy Colleges and Universities Efforts to conserve energy and explore alternative power sources reflect the greening megatrend on campuses today. By James Martin and James E. Samels F planning, says, Colleges and universities O R ALL OF THE HUMAN must develop energy partnerships to gain suffering and economic pain in- necessary economies of scale, efficiencies flicted by the Middle East wars in operations, and nonduplication of en- and the skyrocketing petroleum costs ergy generation and development. around the world, there is a glimmer of With gas prices on and off campus hope on America's energy horizon that hovering between $3 and $4 per gallon is, America's colleges and universities are in the spring 2006 semester, college and increasingly joining the race to explore re- university faculty and students planned newable and alternative energy sources. summer field trips and academic practica Remarkably, this new breed of energy focused on developing renewable energy colleges and universities has witnessed a sources and solutions to bring back to virtual renaissance in energy exploration, A local energy district campus in the fall. process, and logistics. We are now seeing By way of example, consider the re- U.S. research universities partner with partnership could newable energy exploration of State Uni- major energy providers to further energy recapture waste energy versity of New York, Canton faculty and exploration and yield as well as decrease from industrial sites. field research students who are creating, production, refinement, and distribution designing, and building a solar-powered costs. A scan of the academic energy wooden boat to participate in the 2007 courses and training programs as part of environment provides an encouraging Solar Splash sponsored by the American its long-range strategic plan. Significantly, picture of higher education energy Society of Mechanical Engineers. Beyond NCCC's energy-related aspirations are corridors now forming from the northeast the interest to students, SUNY faculty focused on the several critical fields of to the southwest corners of the nation. are applying their practical research skills renewable energy, alternative power, and to out-of-classroom projects like power- environmental studies. A POCKET OF GREEN plant operations, wind monitoring, and For its part, the University at Buffalo Consider the area around Niagara Falls, alternative energy sources. is offering courses in environmental stud- N.Y. It was the first region in the United As well, other Northeast colleges are ies and alternative energy systems that States to harbor community-based energy discovering creative means to meet their provide students with new core knowl- sources. In the City of Light, as Buffalo current energy needs. Just consider Green edge and energy-industry-specific compe- is known, the New York Power Authority Mountain College Vt. . This tuition-de- tencies for assessing energy efficiency and has a 50-year successful track record pendent private college reportedly gets a environmental impact in the workplace. of operating one of the nation's most significant part of its electricity from In response to increased energy costs, efficient hydroelectric plants. Now, the Nassau Community College N.Y. is ex- power plant is forming a partnership with ploring the development of mission-com- an ethanol plant and undertaking co- James Martin is a professor at Mount Ida Col- plementary partnerships with local mu- generation initiatives to better meet the lege Mass. . James E. Samels is president and seums and hospitals to create an energy needs of the western part of the state. CEO of The Education Alliance. Their book district that would recapture waste energy Nearby, Niagara County Community is Presidential Transition in Higher Educa- from local industrial sites. Ezra Delaney, College is exploring the development of tion: Managing Leadership Change Johns vice president of administration and new corporate and public sector utility Hopkins University Press, 2004 . www.universitybusiness.com December 2006 | 23 FuShck.indd FuShck.indd 23 11/17/06 4:00:59 PM http://www.universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of University Business December 2006

Table of Contents
College Index
Company Index
Advisory Board
Editor's Note
Behind the News
Viewpoint
Future Shock
Admissions
Financial Aid
On the Hill
EDUCAUSE 2006 Highlights
Technology Spending Survey '07
101 Smart Revenue Generators (and Money-Saving Ideas)
Parking: A Lot To Look At
Engaging Alumni Online
One River, Not Two Streams
Internet Technology
What's New
Calendar of Events
Direct Connect
End Note

University Business December 2006