Colorado State University
PAE-20: Inter-Campus Collaboration on Sustainability

Colorado State University and The Ohio State University have created a shared leadership position to explore energy and environment-related research and economic development opportunities. The three-year position - called the Vice President and Enterprise Executive for Energy and the Environment - is filled by Ron Sega, who serves Colorado State University as Vice President for Energy and the Environment and Woodward Professor of Systems Engineering. Between the two land-grant universities, more than 500 faculty members are researching areas of energy and the environment. Sega's mandate is to help the institutions work together to identify and lead potential national initiatives and economic development opportunities and also look for opportunities for collaboration between the universities. The position leverages both universities’ energy and environmental assets toward increased economic opportunity for multiple university and community partners.

Colorado State became a ClimateWise partner in 2000, joining local businesses in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the quality of life in Fort Collins. Directed by Michael Kostrzewa of CSU's Mechancial Engineering Department, the Colorado Anemometer Loan Program is a partnership between CSU, the Governor’s Energy Office, and the U.S. Department of Energy. Anemometers are instruments used to determine the feasibility of wind energy in a specific location. The Colorado Anemometer Loan Program assists ranchers, farmers, and homeowners in determining if their site is a good location for small scale wind turbines. The Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory includes Colorado State University, the Colorado School of Mines, the University of Colorado and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Their first major project, known as the Colorado Center for Biorefining and Biofuels or C2B2 is a research venture between large and small businesses and the Collaboratory. C2B2 will perform cutting-edge research to develop new biofuels and biorefining technologies. Housing & Dining Services is a member of the EPA's Energy Star Program, which provides a powerful platform for utilities, state agencies, and other organizations implementing energy efficiency programs to make a bigger difference in their communities. As a Green Power Partner, Housing & Dining Services has agreed to procure at least 4% of its electric usage from green sources. Colorado State University has forged a strong partnership with federal agencies that share research interests with the University and have located branches in Fort Collins or the region to facilitate this strong collaboration with CSU and other research partners. Federal agencies located in the region include the: * Natural Resources Research Center * National Center for Atmospheric Research * National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration CSU researchers served as Lead Authors on current and previous Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment reports and have led the development of the soils components of the IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. Their work contributed to the Panel’s sharing in the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. International Partnerships CSU is a lead partner in the Northern Colorado Clean Energy Cluster, a clearinghouse that connects entrepreneurs and major power users with researchers and government officials, encouraging innovation, new job creation, and investment in the region. In FY02, CSU Facilities Management joined the U.S. Green Building Council. Council members work together to develop LEED products and resources, the Greenbuild Annual International Conference and Expo, policy guidance, and educational and marketing tools that support the adoption of sustainable building.

Colorado State is the sponsoring institution for Colorado’s involvement in The Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray Observatory in southeast Colorado, which provides a new window through which scientists can study the universe's highest energy particles. CSU, joined by associate member institutions Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University-Pueblo, and University of Colorado-Boulder, along with Lamar Community College, have been part of the effort since 2004 to build the Pierre Auger Observatory Northern Auger Site near Lamar. The Colorado School of Public Health will be the first and only school of public health in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region. The SPH is collaboratively formed by the University of Colorado-Denver, Colorado State University, and the University of Northern Colorado.