The Refinishing Touch Blog

With the environment continuing to be a constant concern to throughout the world, we are excited to see how schools and universities across the country are encouraging green practices in the future leaders of sustainability: students.

Colleges and universities in California are implementing new programs to encourage students to minimize their impact on the environment in several ways. Because public transportation is less than ideal in their areas, schools such as San Diego University, UC San Marcos and UC San Diego are rewarding students who opt to carpool and bike to school. Some incentives include prime parking spots for carpoolers and hybrid car users and free parking for 10 days for students who bike the majority of their trips. Some, such as UC San Diego, even upgraded their university bus programs to reduce the number of buses in use while employing biodiesel technology.

Some colleges go a step further and offer financial incentives and free give-aways to students who don't drive to campus. According to the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), Stanford University is offering non-driving students up to $282. Others offer free bicycles and helmets. Some commuter colleges go even further by offering students the option of taking all their classes in fewer days to reduce the number of cars on the road.

These incentive programs in colleges and universities are just more examples of how sustainability is a continuously growing priority not only in businesses and governments, but also in younger generations. It's great to see schools and students take steps in unison be more environmentally conscious - and produce future business leaders with green values.

Labels: Education, Sustainability, university

This week, the Sustainable Endowments Institute released its 2009 College Sustainability Report Card the only independent evaluation of campus and endowment sustainability activities of colleges and universities with the 300 largest endowments in the United States and Canada.

We like the Report card – it highlights commitments to sustainability and aims to provide accessibility to information for schools to learn from one another's experiences.

According to the Institute's methodology, grades are determined by assessing performance across 43 indicators in nine main categories, and ultimately, the Institute's position is that the Report Card's drive is to enable universities to establish more effective sustainability policies.

The San Francisco Chronicle took a look at this year's results and made note of some of the Report Card's most significant statistics. Or click here for the report itself.

Most notably, this year's report card showed that

• 45% of campuses have made strides to fight global warming by cutting carbon emissions

• 59% have high-performance green building standards for new buildings

Other stats pulled from the report card showed that

• 42% of the included universities use hybrid or electric vehicles

• 37% purchase renewable energy

• 30% produce a quantity of their own with wind or solar generators

Harvard, Dartmouth and the University of Washington received the highest marks, while Juilliard School, Howard University, Regent University, and Samford University received the lowest.

We are thrilled to see an organized external body taking the lead in recognizing and holding the nation's largest competitors accountable for their contributions to sustainability. As you well know, sustainability is an issue of great importance to us, here at TRT. We believe that extraordinary efforts deserve recognition, and we extend our congratulations to this year's top ranked universities.

Labels: College Sustainability Report Card, Education, Sustainable Endowments Institute, university

Labels: 'Go Green', College, green efforts, green rating, LEED, Massachusetts Maritime, microturbine, New Year's Resolution, The Princeton Review, university, wind turbine

Labels: 2009, Calculate your Carbon footprint, College, Education, Energy Efficiency, energy efficient buildings, Green, green rating, New York Times, renewable power, The Princeton Review, university

Labels: university

Education has always been an essential aspect of American culture and with the economy in the state that it is in, tuition fees are on the rise, but enrollment is as well. The university market is one of the biggest markets in which The Refinishing Touch operates, refurbishing older residence halls and common areas, such as the work we have done for Georgetown University.


Sustainability, economic factors, and the environment are all at the top of the Dean's List when considering construction and building maintenance. Cost-benefit analysts should consider all the factors of university, when making sustainable and educated decisions about residence halls. Students with good grades and academic achievements will choose the university that will give them the ultimate campus experience so school officials know that residence halls should be kept up to par, utilizing the school budget.

While reading the June issue of the American School and University Magazine, a residence hall report caught my eye. This publication states that the average cost per resident of 2007 resident halls in colleges is approximately $58,252. This price includes new furniture, construction, and all the amenities. From TRT's perspective, reducing the cost per student could greatly influence education in America.

By maintaining old residence halls, the look, feel, and impression could be better targeted at education. Some solutions would be to use the funding to reduce the cost of books or reduce class size, rather than splurging on furniture.

Labels: university

The Refinishing Touch is a member of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) a non-profit group working to "transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built, and operated, enabling environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life."


According to the USGBC's recent newsletter, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which was signed into law in December of this past year, is making way for the "green" movement in both government and education sectors.

Department of Education facilities and High-Performance Federal Buildings have been driven to take a green approach and re-consider "life-cycle costing issues". Rather than a 25-year life cycle, these government assets in questions (i.e. furniture) must now be considered to have a 40-year life cycle.

The Congressional Research Service also states that the Small Business Administration has been authority to make "express loans for certain energy efficiency projects." This is good news for small business owners and The Refinishing Touch, considering our expertise. Being green is the way to go. Pre-planning, with government incentives can lead to rich and emerald future.

For more information, read further details on the Energy Independence and Security Act (PDF warning)

Labels: government, Green, university

The Refinishing Touch's Green Team just returned from the Association of College & University Housing Officers - International (ACUHO-I) annual conference, which was held at the Disney Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The conference is held every year for University Housing Officers to make decisions about purchasing for college housing facilities- a perfect opportunity for The Refinishing Touch. The drive down to Orlando was an eventful journey, with Mickey Mouse dreams and the hot Florida sun awaiting The Refinishing Touch staff and when TRT staff arrived, tourism was is full force.

Registration at ACUHO-I was effortless and the booth set up was even simpler. The vendors and ACUHO-I staff were all working together to make the show the best it could be. The Refinishing Touch has been an exhibitor of the ACUHO-I Trade Show for almost a quarter of a century. There were varieties of attendees from all over the world, even from a few Australian universities. Helpful volunteers and smiles from Disney definitely made the show one of good spirits.

Exhibitors ranged from MTV-U to dormitory furniture suppliers and the exhibits and giveaways were colorful and eye-catching. Even though Mickey Mouse was right down the street, everyone stayed focused as business transactions were taking place over golf outings and dinners with clients.

Overall, the show was a positive experience. Next year, the ACUHO-I show will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center in Maryland. We hope that it will be just as rewarding and worthwhile as the 2008 Spring Conference.

For more information, visit the ACUHO-I website.

Labels: university