It's "350 Day" at Massasoit

Massasoit's Emerald Earth Club collected 350 empty cans and bottles in support of International 350 Day of Climate Action, a day to fight Climate Change and become aware of Global Warming.

What Does "350" Mean?
350 is about the concentration of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere. It means 350 parts per million, a concentration that is lower and safer than the CO2 level today. In September 2009, atmospheric CO2 moved deeper into the danger zone at 384.78 parts per million (ppm).

Despite the economic slowdowns of the early 70s, the early 80s, the early 90s and the early 2000s, atmospheric carbon dioxide has been accelerating upward from decade to decade. This unyielding trend is the main driver of global warming, climate change and ocean acidification. A reversal of this trend is key to solving these problems.

In 2008, a paper published by ten leading scientists made a game-changing finding that 350 ppm is the upper ceiling for safe levels of atmospheric CO2. Never before has there been a science-based target for atmospheric CO2 that can sustain a safe and stable environment.

Like no other number, 350 is already having an impact on the thinking of more and more people around the world. It is hailed as “the most important number on the planet” by 350.org and Bill McKibben, acclaimed author of The End of Nature. At the 2008 UN Climate Conference in Pozna?, Poland, the least developed countries advocated for a 350 target to fit their vision of a world that is dealing effectively with the global climate challenges. “350” is a target that can help us see what we can do to avoid the worst of what is now heading our way.�

Colleges Team Up to Win $200 K Green Energy Grant

MASSASOIT, BRISTOL, AND CAPE COD COMMUNITY COLLEGES TEAM UP TO CREATE COURSES IN GREEN ENERGY DESIGN AND BUILDING - THE PLAN WINS THEM A $196,666 GRANT AWARD

Massasoit Community College has successfully partnered with Bristol Community College and Cape Cod Community College in proposing the Green Energy Design and Building (GEDB) Project. The project is one of six in the state to be awarded a highly competitive Clean Energy Workforce Training Capacity Building grant from the Commonwealth Corporation, in collaboration with the state’s new Clean Energy Center. The $196,666 award will enable the three community colleges in southeastern MA – in partnership with industry, vocational technical high schools, and Workforce Investment Boards – to develop a Green Energy Design and Building course.

The course, aimed at building industry professionals and vocational school students, will survey technologies, materials, and techniques used in building and designing green, energy-efficient buildings. It will combine online instruction with hands-on workshops at the three community colleges, and it will be offered in modules, with both credit and non-credit options.

Course topics include:
· Planning, design and construction process
· Geothermal technology
· Selected changes in the Massachusetts State Building Code related to energy efficiency
· Lighting including day lighting, control systems, new luminaries, and other applications
· Wind turbines
· Greenhouses
· Siting and landscape design for energy savings
· Water, including supply sources, acquisition, and resource management
· Air conditioning and refrigerants
· Solar thermal for space and water heating
· Solar photovoltaic

The GEDB Project will also develop Sustainability and Green Energy (SAGE) career and educational pathways from secondary schools to a range of green post-secondary degree and certificate programs and careers in the region. Massasoit’s Emergent Technologies Division will be an important locus of activity in the development of this and similar projects.

Green Job Preparation

Massasoit Community College proudly offers a Brockton-Area, Energy Efficiency Career Pathway Program (250 Hour Certificate). The training attained through this certificate prepares participants to enter the green jobs field. In addition to classroom and lab training, the paid internship provides job experience that is valuable for resumes.

Specific jobs targeted by this grant are:

• Weatherization Sealer / Insulator or Assistant
• Energy Auditing Assistant
• Green Products Sales

Other Job Possibilities:

• Carpenter/Construction Crewmember
• Building Maintainer
• Green Construction Sales

In addition, participants are introduced to the many green jobs pathways available to them through continued education in:

• HVAC Technology
• Architectural Technology
• Construction Technology

As well as further study toward becoming an Energy Auditor, Environmental Engineer, or LEED Green Building Consultant.

For more information contact Steven Litcoff, Grant Coordinator, 508-588-9100, x1931 or slitcoff@massasoit.mass.edu. The Coordinator will then place individual phone calls to each potential participant, send out the application form, and set up an individual appointment to review enrollment priorities.

Group assessments in Basic Math and Career Interests will be given to all candidates. Twenty candidates will be approved for the fall session (September through December) and an additional twenty will be approved for the spring semester group (February through May).

Grant Partners include:

• The Brockton Mayor's Office
• Brockton-Area Workforce Investment Board
• Brockton CareerWorks
• Brockton 21st Century Corporation
• Metro-South Chamber of Commerce
• Brockton Interfaith Community
• Old Colony YMCA/YouthBuild Brockton
• Self Help, Inc.
• Honeywell Utility Solutions
• RISE Engineering

Sustainable Gardens

On Thursday, April 30th Professor Melanie Trecek-King and her Issues in Environmental Science students planted a Native New England Garden on the Brockton Campus Quad. This project was supported by a Raise Your Voice Presidential Civic Engagement Activity Fund grant from the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Campus Compacts.

The new Native Garden has the following species:
Eastern red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae)
Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Blue wild indigo/False indigo (Baptisia australis)
Summersweet/Coastal sweet pepper bush (Cethra alnifolia)
Sweet Fern (Comptonia peregrina)
Pink coreopsis/Pink tickseed (Coreopsis rosea)
Dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata)
Virginia rose (Rosa virginiana)
Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum)
Woodland phlox/Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata)

The Native Garden that was planted in November of 2008 has the following species:
New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae)
Dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata)
Woodland phlox/Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricata)
Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
New York aster (Aster novae-belgii)
Flat-topped white aster (Aster umbellatus)
Appalachian sedge (Carex appalachica)
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)
Oak-leaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
Purple-flowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus)
Black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
Little bluestem (Schizachyrium turbinellum)
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Barren wild strawberry (Waldsteinia fragarioides)

If you are looking to add new flowers and plants to your native home garden, you may want to consider buying your supplies at the following locations:

Garden in the Woods in Framingham - Everything they carry is native!
http://www.newfs.org/

Kennedy’s Country Gardens in Scituate - They carry the American Beauty brand of natives
http://www.kennedyscountrygardens.com/

Please take a few moments from your busy schedules to visit the quad and enjoy the native gardens!

Check out the AASHE blog

AASHE is an association of colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada working to create a sustainable future. It was founded in 2006 with a mission to promote sustainability in all sectors of higher education - from governance and operations to curriculum and outreach - through education, communication, research and professional development. Businesses, NGO's, and government agencies can participate as AASHE partner members.

Check it out.

Sustainable Native New England Garden Planting at Massasoit Community College

Please join Professor Melanie Trecek-King and her Issues in Environmental Science students as they plant a Sustainable Native New England Garden on the Brockton campus quad on Thursday, April 30 at 10:00 a.m. This project is supported by a Raise Your Voice Presidential Civic Engagement Activity Fund grant from the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Campus Compacts.

The garden is part of an ongoing effort – spearheaded by Massasoit’s Sustainability Task Force Landscaping Committee – to rid the campus of invasive plant species and introduce native, non-invasive plants that are adapted to the New England environment and can thrive with minimal watering and maintenance.

Vice President of Administration Betty Ann Learned will speak at the planting about Massasoit’s sustainability initiatives since President Charles Wall signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment in 2007. Special guest will be Barbara Canyes, Executive Director of Massachusetts Campus Compact.

Win an Amazon Kindle2

With more than 240,000 books available, plus top newspapers, magazines, and blogs, riding the train or bus has never been more fun.
Sign up in the MassRIDES ridematching database or view your online profile today and automatically be eligible for this prize.

(Winners will be notified May 4th, 2009. One new and one existing applicant who accesses their profile at www.commute.com will be awarded a prize.)

Webcast: Chill Out

The National Wildlife Federation is hosting a webcast on April 15th entitled: Chill Out: Campus Solutions to Global Warming. The college campus with the most people registered will win a free concert by The Steps. The Steps are an up-and-coming band from Austin, TX that just had a huge premier at South by Southwest music festival. I realize that this is short notice but the deadline to register to win the free concert is April 5th.

Please register now at www.campuschillout.org

Earth Hour

The next Earth Hour will take place on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 8:30 pm, local time. Earth Hour is an annual international event created by the (World Wide Fund for Nature/World Wildlife Fund), held on the last Saturday of March, that asks households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change. Currently, 82 countries and more than 2100 cities are committed to Earth Hour 2009, a huge increase from people participating in 35 countries for Earth Hour 2008.

I hope that everyone will take part!

Logo Design Contest!

Enter the
Emerald Earth Environmental Fair
Logo Design Contest
Submit your logo to Student Life by 3/13/09.
The winning design will be printed on Limited Edition t-shirts and the winner will receive a $100 gift card to the South Shore Plaza in Braintree!

Contact the Student Life Office for more details!

Massasoit Community College's Canton Campus deamed "good site" for a Geothermal Heating/Cooling System

As part of the Massasoit Community College Energy and Water Conservation Proposal, the Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM) has determined that the Massasoit Canton Campus may be a good site for a Geothermal Heating/Cooling System. This system would involve a Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) that extracts heat stored in the upper layers of the Earth and delivers it to the building. During the summer, the GSHP system rejects the heat removed from a building, into the ground rather than into the atmosphere. This new system can potentially reduce the energy costs for the Canton Campus by 25% to 40%.

DCAM is paying for a test well at the Massasoit Canton Campus. The test well will be approximately 1500 feet deep. Drilling activities will begin this week. On Tuesday, January 13th at noon, rigging and heavy equipment will be arriving to complete the site orientation. On Wednesday, January 14th the first day of drilling will begin. On Thursday, January 15th we hope to take a video to share with our students. The drilling is expected to take approximately two weeks and when completed, we hope that our students will be able to witness the installation of the induction tube.