Cardinal Chronicle
BY MICHAEL PEÑA
Call it a changing of the grind: Coupa Café will move into the kiosk between Green and Meyer libraries that currently houses the beloved Moonbean's, which has served the Stanford community since 1998. In 2003, the operation secured another five years without competition, and then in December 2008, the university granted a contract extension to June 30, 2009. That will be Moonbean's last day. Over the summer, the structure will undergo upgrades in preparation for the opening of Coupa Café in early September. Owned by JEAN PAUL COUPAL and his wife, NANCY, Coupa Café recently opened a location in the Environment and Energy Building and has operated a popular café in downtown Palo Alto for years. The Coupals also have three children who have graduated from Stanford and will no doubt serve the university loyally. But what won over decision-makers was the Coupa Café's business plan, proven environmental responsibility and professional management, according to University Librarian MICHAEL KELLER. He was among those who presided over a competitive proposal process among four candidates.
Not as visible, but no less popular, is Surplus Property Sales. The operation provides an ecologically friendly method for repurposing and reusing excess Stanford-owned property by making it available for purchase by departments, employees and, most extensively, the public. Its store, at 340 Bonair Siding, has added additional shopping days to give departments the first opportunity to purchase items before they go on sale to the public. These include computers, flat-screen monitors, athletic and audio-visual equipment, furniture and vehicles. Almost all sales are considered public, or non-departmental, and that includes a large percentage of staff purchases for personal use. The store has returned an average of $300,000 in proceeds to departments each of the past three years, according to IVONNE BACHAR, director of the Property Management Office. For more information, including store hours, go to http://surplus.stanford.edu.
Building 170 recently completed a pilot project in energy efficiency that lasted three months. Compared to a year ago, the building's electricity consumption dropped by 16 percent in February, 19 percent in March and almost 22 percent in April. Most of the savings were achieved by using power-management settings on computers, smart power strips and sleep settings on copiers and printers.
Write to Michael Peña at michael.pena@stanford.edu or mail code 2245.