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furniture, paint, and even the carpet in the building are created from recycled or low impact material. The building itself is built on a narrow footprint to maximize natural light; 95 percent of offices have access to an operable window. “You walk in there and you notice that most folks don’t need their lights on,” Kaniss said. The narrow design also helps to optimize energy performance. The HVAC system is supported by a closed loop geothermal well system.  There are 28 wells and 34 heat pumps that

Change and Energy A: The report noted that PLU has installed geothermal heating and cooling and has begun the LEED commissioning of all mechanical systems in new and renovated buildings. Wind power (purchased) provides 45 percent of  PLU’s electric use. Food and Recycling A: Dining services purchases from a local dairy and all milk is hormone and antibiotic free. Herbs are from PLU’s garden, chickens are free range and the university has an aggressive composting program. The university implemented

and environmentally sustainable agriculture. Laurie-Berry started teaching at PLU in the fall of 2008. In addition to Plant Physiology, Laurie-Berry’s other classes include Plant Development and Genetic Engineering and a first-year writing class focused on global agriculture, world hunger, genetic engineering and related topics. “Our central question for the course is how agriculture and related systems must change to alleviate global hunger,” Laurie-Berry says.Before 2015, the original PLU

agriculture and related systems must change to alleviate global hunger,” Laurie-Berry says. Before 2015, the original PLU greenhouse functioned more like an extremely hot sunroom built on a black flat top roof. “It got so hot that everything died,” Laurie-Berry says. “The new greenhouse completely transformed what I could do in that class.” Today’s Carol Sheffels Quigg Greenhouse was built in 2015 and named for a former PLU regent, donor and enthusiastic supporter of science education at PLU. The 1,700

and related systems must change to alleviate global hunger,” Laurie-Berry says. Before 2015, the original PLU greenhouse functioned more like an extremely hot sunroom built on a black flat top roof. “It got so hot that everything died,” Laurie-Berry says. “The new greenhouse completely transformed what I could do in that class.” Today’s Carol Sheffels Quigg Greenhouse was built in 2015 and named for a former PLU regent, donor and enthusiastic supporter of science education at PLU. The 1,700-square

having a facility now that can showcase not only a plant collection but also give students the best place to be able to carry out experiments that involve plants,” said Associate Professor of Biology and Dean of Natural Sciences Matt Smith. The state-of-the-art greenhouse will use an innovative, closed-loop geothermal energy system, which means that no greenhouse-gas-producing emissions will be used to heat and cool the building, and it also will fulfill curricular needs in the Biology Department

environment is “an important part of PLU’s DNA,” he added. This commitment to sustainability intertwines seamlessly with PLU’s commitment to social justice and diversity, he said. Several of the future goals for PLU include incorporating a carbon offset for air travel by 2014 and using more geothermal energy in the halls and buildings. During the ceremony, it was announced that Hinderlie Hall won this fall’s unPLUg challenge to reduce energy consumption by 16 percent, when compared with last year’s

wholeheartedly embracing solar power, geothermal energy, wind turbines and other renewable power sources. “The fact that almost all their energy — I think 98 percent of it, at this point — is running on those things was just crazy to see,” Evanishyn said. “That just really impressed me with the resilience factor and the possibility of a green future. So many times in studying environmental stuff, it’s easy to feel hopeless and see how slow change comes — especially in countries like the U.S. So being in

preparation workshops, social and networking activities, and more. Programs Include: Applied Plant Systems Bioenergy Systems Biomedical Engineering Chemistry Integrated Agronomic Systems Minority Health Disparities MRSEC Nanohybrid Functional Materials Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure Redox Biology Sustainability of Civil Infrastructure Systems Biology Unmanned Systems Virology Visit https://www.unl.edu/summerprogram/home for more information and to apply! Read Previous 2018 SCI Scholars Summer

Spring 2017 Venue Upgrades Posted by: Jenna S / May 12, 2017 May 12, 2017 by John Struzenberg After Before Spring is a time for renewal, cleaning, and most importantly: technology upgrades. PLU has been humming away this spring and the same is true for the folks in classroom and event technologies. As the systems around campus get older, the ability to rely on and service those systems diminishes. This is where our upgrades come in. Two spaces in particular were identified as “on their last