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Sustainability Awards

Past Sustainability Award Winners

2011 Sustainability Award Winners

Christopher Harvey The Director of Capital Projects for Residential Student Services Program's commitment to sustainable, forward-thinking planning has contributed significantly to UC Berkeley's leadership in the green building area and preceded the system-wide policy on Sustainable Practices now in effect. Residence Hall Units 1 & 2 infill project was the first building project on the Berkeley campus to be formally designed and constructed to LEED Silver standards.

Kimberly Lam currently holds two campus positions directly involved in reducing energy use and waste. With Green Campus, Kim currently leads a "laundry project" - that educates students to use cold water washing cycles to save energy, and co-teaches The Energy DeCal class where students learn about the impacts of our energy consumption and alternative energy technologies. Kim is also a student manager of ReUSE, where she expands the free material exchange program by adding additional stations on campus.

Rose Whitson As the student ASUC Sustainability Team Director, she has spearheaded educational and interactive events, provided guidance to sustainability student groups on ways to get started and expand, and she has been particularly involved in raising awareness about the environmental impacts of waste. Rose has been a leading voice in the "End the Sale of Bottled Water" initiative this Spring, and has organized public screenings of educational films to raise awareness about the environmental hazards surrounding bottled water and single-use plastics.

The Berkeley Student Food Collective With over 50 active members, the Collective provides fresh, healthy, sustainable, and ethically produced food at an affordable price to Berkeley students and the community. Opening last fall in a storefront on Bancroft, the collective offers fresh fruits and vegetables (most grown within 150 miles), stocks organic and bulk foods, and offers "real food" options close to campus. An additional goal is to educate people about the positive impacts they can make by choosing sustainable food. The Collective does this through a DeCal class and sustainability events.

 

2010 Sustainability Award Winners

Irene Seliverstov has proven her commitment to and passion for the environment and is a dedicated and enthusiastic leader. Her work is varied, including leading Building Sustainability at Cal for a year, piloting a paper towel composting program, and working with our water provider and campus plumbers to install hundreds of faucet aerators to reduce water usage. She is also working with custodial staff and building inhabitants to create a positive relationship that addresses issues of social sustainability.

Prof. Cris Benton has dedicated his accomplished career to the improvement of the energy and environmental performance of buildings, and truly "practices what he preaches." Cris teaches a course that has inspired the work of many students called the Secret Life of Buildings, served as a faculty advisor on the TGIF grant-making committee, and has been a leader in Wurster Hall - helping students and staff to bring real and innovative sustainability projects to the building, including a recent building energy dashboard. Cris' combination of technical knowledge and efforts to teach and produce actual results is a model for faculty involvement.

Rebecca Anderson, an Environmental Specialist in EH&S (Environment, Health & Safety), takes it upon herself to go beyond compliance and strives to help Cal achieve sustainability in its operations and to be an example for other institutions to follow. She is a founding member of University Hall's Sustainability Committee, is active in the campus effort to bring LEED certification to existing buildings, works with Building Sustainability at Cal students, and founded the Green Building Working Group. Rebecca brings enthusiasm and expertise to whatever she does and energizes others to take action.

The "I Heart Tap Water" Campaign is a partnership between Cal Dining, Recreational Sports, Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S), and University Health Services to promote the drinking of tap water as the preferred beverage of choice - for the environment and for health reasons. The Campaign educates the campus through a website, Facebook, posters, and an on-line pledge to make a difference. Key to the success of I Heart Tap Water was the testing of over 450 water fountains to allay concerns about water quality. The group's efforts have so far reduced campus usage of plastic water bottles by at least 25%.

2009 Sustainability Award Winners

Kameron Kitajima (student) has been a role model of the student sustainability effort. He started out as a Residential Sustainability Education Coordinator and expanded his influence ever since. He played a pivotal role in the success of the Green Campus Program, was a facilitator for the ERG 98/198 DeCal class, and was a participant in the Building Sustainability at Cal project. Kameron has contributed to the mission of the university by integrating sustainability efforts in education, in operations, and in public service.

Professor Dan Kammen (faculty) is a tireless advocate of sustainability, renewable energy, and progressive solutions at the local, state, national, and international levels. His research makes him a nationally-recognized expert, yet he maintains an active role as a teacher and an advocate for a more sustainable campus. Dan is the founding director of The Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory. He is a coordinating lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. Professor Kammen teaches multiple classes with a sustainability focus and advises a large number of graduate students, who work on projects ranging from municipal financing for clean energy to biofuels in Brazil to national climate policy. Dan is also an active member of the CalCAP Steering Committee and actively engaged in increasing campus sustainability.

Theron Klos (staff) is the Grounds Operation Manager and has implemented a successful sheet mulching program as a sustainable method for weed suppression on the UC Berkeley campus. He also volunteers on weekends to introduce this practice to various interested community groups. He has been instrumental in making the Strawberry Creek Restoration Project a success by helping with volunteer events and providing gloves, tools, and green waste bins - often responding to last minute requests. Theron has also been very responsive to conservation efforts to reduce the use of water and fuel use in his operations. Theron is an advocate for sustainability efforts across both workplace and personal spectrums.

Building Sustainability at Cal ( Group Award) The Building Sustainability at Cal Program – a student initiated and run program - trains students to help reduce the environmental footprint of campus buildings by educating building inhabitants and identifying structural and operational changes that can be made to buildings and campus operations. The program started in May 2007 with one student in one building and has expanded to 40 students working in 23 buildings and 4 campus-wide projects. A pilot program has also taken the campus activities out into the community by working in the Berkeley Civic Center building. In addition to greening the campus, this program is training a generation of people who have the knowledge and expertise to be able to evaluate the environmental impact of existing buildings, whether they use it in their personal or professional life.

Judy Chess (Special Recognition Award) Judy Chess, a campus staff member, served as CACS co-chair for over a year and helped to institutionalize CACS activities into on-going practices of campus operations. Her leadership helped CACS conceive, design and develop the Cal Climate Action Partnership that led to the campus setting its first greenhouse gas reduction goal. She continues to act as CACS budget coordinator and regularly volunteers for subcommittee work. Judy also lends her support and guidance to the Building Sustainability at Cal program and regularly guest teaches classes on green building and sustainability efforts on campus and beyond. Judy works to incorporate sustainability into the fabric of university, from policy - by incorporating green aspects into many facets of the campus design standards, to practice - choosing to ride her bike to work. This award is in acknowledgement of her extensive and ongoing contributions to making this campus a more sustainable place.

Check out photos of the award winners.

2008 Sustainability Award Winners

Laura Moreno (student) has taken an active role in sustainability on campus from the very beginning as a freshman when she volunteered as a Residential Sustainability Education Coordinator and has expanded her influence ever since. She was a founding member of the Green Room Committee and the Building Sustainability at Cal Program. Laura has served as the Green Classroom Intern and the first Sustainability Coordinator of Stanley Hall, CACS intern and now CACS co-chair. Several of the projects Laura initiated spread to other areas of campus, further perpetuating all the associated benefits. Laura has had a deep and extensive impact on sustainability on campus and greatly deserves this recognition.

Ashok Gadgil (faculty) is a Senior Research Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and also an Adjunct Faculty member with the UC Berkeley Energy & Resources Group (ERG). His approach and devotion to mentoring students and fostering a forward-thinking and collaborative mindset when tackling sustainability and equity issues is exemplary. Professor Gadgil teaches from his own personal experiences working on sustainability-related projects in developing nations and brings the lessons he learned directly into the classroom. He advocates a mindset that long-term planning requires an understanding of the community that is being served and encourages his students to adapt their technological research to this concept.

Tim Pine (staff) is an Environmental Specialist at the Office of Environment, Health & Tim has made significant contributions to campus sustainability in a number of different areas. He was instrumental in bringing biodiesel to the campus garbage trucks, he initiated a pilot program for bicycle use in the EH&S department to reduce gas vehicle use, he was the lead organizer for the first campus Alternative Transportation Fair, and he has dedicated significant time and expertise to restoring natural areas on campus by working with student volunteer groups. The range of Tim's contributions in meshing sustainability and public service goals within the framework of existing programs, making him a well deserving recipient of this award.

TGIF Grant Making Committee (group): The eight-person Grant Making Committee of the Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) is comprised of students, faculty, and staff. It was created to administer the grants made possible by the $175,000 of annual funds generated by the $5 student fee referendum. This committee strengthens the sustainability dialogue across different constituencies on campus and each member of the team contributes a unique perspective and expertise as the team works to select the most promising grant proposals. In this critical first year, the committee did an amazing job of publicizing the grant opportunity, making classroom announcements, building e-mail lists, hosting info sessions, and spreading the word via their peers. Their work paid off as 28 grant proposals totaling over $1.2 million were received. In parallel with managing the grant-making process this year, TGIF's team also had to develop all other processes and necessary parts of its organizational infrastructure. This energetic group has have paved the way for TGIF to make great contributions to campus greening for years to come.

 

2007 Sustainability Award Winners

Edward Arens, Professor of Architecture, for "his leadership in sustainable design and development." Arens, who directs the Center for Environmental Design Research and the Center for the Built Environment, was recognized for integrating the topic of environmental sustainability in all of his building-design teachings.

Paul Black, a utility-engineering manager in Physical Plant - Campus Services, for his long-term dedication to energy conservation and his role as a leader in the Energy Intern program. Black has played a key role in many of the campus's energy-conservation projects: lighting retrofits, steam-trap replacement, and testing building efficiency.

Rebecca Jones, a graduate student in materials science and engineering, for her efforts in solar-cell research and The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF), as well as her work with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in China. At Berkeley, Jones researches new materials for solar-cell production. She has also co-founded the campaign to create The Green Initiative Fund here. Pending approval from the chancellor and the Regents, this modest student fee will generate $200,000 annually for sustainability projects over 10 years. As a 2004 fellow in China, Jones worked on a project to make solar-powered flashlights available to rural communities that would otherwise rely on highly polluting, unhealthy diesel torches.

The students behind Berkeley Green Campus -- Desirae Early, Vi Do, Jessica Huang, and Kameron Kitajima -- for their dedication to campus education and leadership in energy-conservation projects. Berkeley Green Campus's energy-education efforts include outreach to residence-hall staff as well as a DeCal course, Energy 101 (award winning), which provides students the opportunity to participate in a variety of campus projects. The group has also worked in the dorms to replace light bulbs with the compact-fluorescent variety and to create excitement about resource conservation through energy competitions.

Chancellor Birgeneau received a special recognition for his leadership in sustainability, and for making the commitment not only to act locally but to work globally as well.

Check out photos of the 2007 award winners!

 

2006 Sustainability Award Winners

Sustainability awards were given to the following five groups:

Check out photos of the 2006 award winners!

 

2005 Sustainability Award Winners

Lisa Bauer, manager of Campus Recycling and Refuse Services, called the "driving force behind sustainability at UC Berkeley”.  Lisa has worked relentlessly over the years," the citation read, "to bring UCB to the forefront on all sustainable issues ... going way above and beyond ... to rally everyone’s abilities and enthusiasm to make significant, positive, and lasting changes."

A Cal Dining staff team, for its work to gain Green Business certification at Crossroads and Clark Kerr dining facilities. The facilities compost food waste (60 tons a year), recycle food packaging (350 tons a year), offer discounts for use of reusable mugs, and use biodegradable containers and unbleached napkins. (Update: The Crossroads facility since became the first Organic Certified dining hall in the country. CCOF - California Certified Organic Farmers)

Bill Berry, Professor of Earth and Planetary Science, for "exploring environmental issues with generations of Berkeley students." Berry was honored for "giving students the tools and inspiration to think about problems from a sustainability standpoint and fostering a culture of sustainability and forward-thinking design."

Mezies Chen, a December 2004 graduate of the College of Engineering, who worked with Parking and Transportation to implement a system to provide real-time information on the location of campus shuttle buses.

The ASUC Sustainability Team, for its work to advance the student government's work on such issues as energy use and food and paper waste.

Check out photos of the 2005 award winners.