| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 91.10 |
| Liaison | Alex Davis |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2023 |
Arizona State University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Jenae
Camacho Sustainability Analyst University Sustainability Practices |
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
The Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory is the world’s first comprehensive, university-based approach to ensuring a habitable planet and a future where well-being is attainable for all humankind. The lab will design implementable options to sustain global habitability and improve well-being for all humankind.
Using the model of the multi-focused National Laboratories, the Global Futures Laboratory is creating a platform for an ongoing and wide-ranging exchange across all knowledge domains to address the complex social, economic and scientific challenges spawned by the current and future threats from environmental degradation. The Lab provides key engagement spaces for scientists, educators and leaders across ASU and around the world to address critical issues related to the future of planet Earth. Rather than solving problems after they arise, we seek to design a future in which humanity not only survives, but thrives.
A part of the Global Futures Laboratory, the College of Global Futures prepares students to address some of the greatest challenges of our time, from ensuring the social benefits of powerful new technologies and creating just and sustainable futures, to exploring solutions to emerging issues that transcend the limitations of conventional thinking. There are four schools within the College: School of Sustainability, School for the Future of Innovation in Society, School of Complex and Adaptive Systems, and the newly added School of Ocean Futures with degree programs launching in Fall 2024.
https://globalfutures.asu.edu/about/
https://collegeofglobalfutures.asu.edu/
Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Research
Public Engagement
Website URL where more information about the accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Name of a second highlighted sustainability program/initiative/accomplishment:
A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Arizona State University has a comprehensive solar program responsible for over 53 MWdc equivalent solar generating capacity development from both on-site and off-site components. The on-site component extends to four campus locations and the ASU Research Park. The off-site component includes a major collaboration between ASU and Arizona Public Service (APS) at APS’s Red Rock, Arizona site. The program includes generating facilities that are owned by third parties and others owned by ASU.
On-site Program Milestones as of June 30, 2021:
On-site Solar Generation Capacity: 24.3 MWdc equivalent.1
On-site Solar kWh Equivalent FY 2021: 38,013,292 kWh.1
On-site Solar Systems: 90.
On-site PV Panels Installed: 80,633.
On-site Concentrated PV Modules Installed: 8,652.
On-site Solar Thermal Collectors Installed: 1,013.
On-site Shaded Parking Spaces: 5,952.
On-site Shaded Stadium Seats: 828.
ASU solar system installations on the Tempe, West and Downtown Phoenix campuses are facilitated, in part, by APS's Renewable Energy Incentive Program. This program offers financial incentives to customers, such as ASU, who add renewable energy systems to their homes and businesses. The program is funded by APS customers and approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission.
Solar system installations on the Polytechnic campus and ASU Research Park are facilitated, in part, by Salt River Project's EarthWise Commercial Energy Incentive Program. This program offers financial incentives to customers, such as ASU, who add renewable energy systems to their business. The program is funded by SRP customers and approved by the Arizona SRP Board.
Off-site Program Milestones as of June 30, 2021:
The ASU Red Rock Solar Project is a collaboration between ASU and APS in which APS constructed and operates a solar energy generating facility at Red Rock. Beginning January 2017, ASU has committed to purchase 65,000 MWh per year of solar-generated electricity from APS.
Off-site Solar Generation Capacity: 28.8 MWdc.
Off-site Solar kWh FY 2021: 65,000,000.
Off-site PV Panels Installed: 91,440.
Total Solar Program Milestones as of June 30, 2021
Total Solar Generation Capacity: 53.1 MWdc equivalent.1
Total Solar kWh Equivalent FY2020: 103,013,292.1
Total Number of PV Panels Installed: 172,073.
Total Number of Concentrated PV Modules Installed: 8,652.2
Total Number of Solar Thermal Collectors Installed: 1,013.
Total Number of Shaded Parking Spaces: 5,952.
Total Number of Shaded Stadium Seats: 828
Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Energy
Website URL where more information about the second program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the second program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Name of a third highlighted program/initiative/accomplishment:
A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Arizona State University’s Center for Negative Carbon Emissions (CNCE), with our commercial partner, Carbon Collect, is testing a prototype technology that would remove CO2 from the air through the use of MechanicalTrees™. It's a first-of-its-kind mechanical tree, primed to become a major technology in the global fight against climate change. The tree features a metal column and 5-foot diameter disks, with each disk holding six “leaves. The MechanicalTree at ASU rises to a height of 33 feet (10 meters) to collect carbon from ambient air. Once loaded with carbon, it will retract into a canister that is 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall, where it gives up the carbon drawn from the air.
Widespread use of such a technology could help draw CO2 out of the air and reduce global warming. The CO2 collected by the Mechanical Trees ™ can then be converted into a carbon neutral fuel or other useful chemicals, or disposed of to cancel out present or past emissions. The specific design licensed to Carbon Collect is an ASU innovation developed through Salt River Project sponsorship. ASU and Carbon Collect are partnered on research and commercialization of
the Mechanical Tree ™ design.
Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Air & Climate
Website URL where more information about the third program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the third program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.