| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 56.91 |
| Liaison | Natalie Hayes |
| Submission Date | July 9, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Bentley University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Natalie
Hayes Associate Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
Is the institution utilizing the campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in the following areas?:
| Yes or No | |
| Air & Climate | Yes |
| Buildings | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes |
| Energy | Yes |
| Grounds | Yes |
| Purchasing |
No
Date Revised: Aug. 26, 2014
|
| Transportation | Yes |
| Waste | Yes |
| Water | Yes |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | No |
| Diversity & Affordability | No |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | Yes |
| Investment | Yes |
| Public Engagement | Yes |
| Other | No |
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Air & Climate and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
A professor who teaches Global Climate Change (NASE 337) asked his students to do an energy waste analysis on 2 buildings on campus that have an issue with lighting being left on overnight. The project was then translated from KwH to carbon dioxide equivalent to study the climate change effects.
Date Revised: Aug. 26, 2014
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Buildings and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Bentley University has a solar wall located in the gymnasium. This wall has a sign in front of it that explains how the wall uses solar energy to heat a portion of the gym. This wall is a sustainable option for energy and students learn about this in the NASE 344 (Energy Alternatives) elective. Students do projects for various classes studying the effects of the wall.
Date Revised: Aug. 26, 2014
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Dining Services/Food and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
There are many initiatives to encourage students and faculty to be more sustainable in the dining aspect of campus life. These initiatives include but are not limited to: saving $.25 when you bring a reusable cup to purchase coffee or tea, The Better Tomorrow Plan, trayless dining, and recycling cooking oil. The Better Tomorrow Plan focuses on local products and conserving the environment, trayless dining has reduced the amount of waste by 52,000 pounds per year, and Sodexo's used cooking oil becomes biofuel to heat local homes. Sodexo employs a green dining intern jointly managed by the Office of Sustainability whose job is to educate their fellow students about these initiatives. More information can be found at: http://www.bentley.edu/offices/sustainability/green-dining.
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Energy and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Students often examine the feasibility of renewable energy installations on Bentley’s campus. This is because Bentley does not yet have a significant renewable energy system installed. Bentley currently has a solar wall on our Dana Center athletic facility, but this installation does not contribute any significant reduction in greenhouse gasses.
While exploring this issue, students have written about the installation of a wind turbine on campus, as well as solar and what the payback could be. In NASE344 (Alternative Energy) a group of students wrote their final paper on a survey of renewable energy installations on New England Campuses. They explored tax incentives, renewable energy credits, carbon footprint impact and return on investment. The paper was written at the request of the Office of Sustainability to inform the exploration of increased renewable energy installations on campus.
Date Revised: Aug. 26, 2014
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Grounds and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Bentley’s campus grounds include a protected area called the Bentley Pond. This unique water feature is home to a few different protected species. Several courses in the Natural and Applied Sciences department use the pond as a living laboratory including NASE328 (water quality) which studies drinking water and its sources, delivery, and treatment as well as the treatment and disposal of wastewater. In the course students analyze local water samples for bacteria, heavy metals, pesticides, and fertilizers. Samples are sourced from the Bentley Pond, the Charles River, and Walden Pond.
Date Revised: Aug. 26, 2014
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Purchasing and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Students in the Student Government Association have worked with the Purchasing department to ban Styrofoam and to switch campus over to 30% recycled paper. These both were student –led efforts which included doing research, passing a bill, and making a formal presentation to Purchasing. More information can be found at: http://www.bentley.edu/offices/sustainability/green-it.
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Transportation and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
N/A
Date Revised: Aug. 26, 2014
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Waste and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
An environmental psychology class has partnered with the Office of Sustainability to assess the efficacy of signage for recycling on campus. The results of this project highlighted several improvements for Bentley's waste diversion practices. In addition our Eco-Rep student group does in person recycling trainings with the campus community in the dining areas to try and influence behavior.
The Office of Sustainability employs an intern who logs waste and recycling tonnage reports and keeps track of our diversion rate. Interns have also been instrumental in improving waste and recycling collection on campus.
The Green Dining Intern is instrumental in training and auditing waste practices in our kitchen areas.
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Water and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
In the past year, promotion of drinking tap water over bottled water is starting to gain traction on campus. Facilities Management has installed 9 touchless water fountains to encourage students to use reusable water bottles. This past year two students in Com 210 (Effective Speaking) chose to do their final oral projects on the drawbacks and impacts of bottled water. Students in this class were allowed to pick from a variety of topics including sustainability related issues. Their speeches were forwarded to the Office of Sustainability to show support for the issue on campus.
Date Revised: Aug. 26, 2014
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Coordination, Planning & Governance and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
n/a
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Diversity & Affordability and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
n/a
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Health, Wellbeing & Work and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Bentley’s campus has an active Center for Health and Wellness with nurses and counselors available to students. Students in Expository Writing classes are often challenged to write pieces on alcohol or drug abuse, and stress in the college environment. These students access the clinicians at the Center for Health and Wellness for their research.
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Investment and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Bentley University has a one of a kind "Trading Room" where students learn about stock market functionality and simulate trading on the stock market floor. Many courses in the Accounting, Finance, Economics and Math Departments use the trading room in course work. For example, in GB112 (Tools and Concepts in Accounting and Finance) Students are tasked with determining the investment quality of a company. Criteria include financial and accounting data, relevant company policies, and the triple bottom line.
The Bentley Corporate Immersion Institute brings sustainable startups to campus. Students are engaged in a forum where the startups share information about their business model and receive feedback from students.
Date Revised: Aug. 26, 2014
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Public Engagement and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Over 1,000 students per year are engaged in Bentley's Service Learning center. A number of them have projects directly related to a 4th credit option for a course. The students who use the 4th credit option are required to journal about their experiences and create a final deliverable to sum up their project. Students work on myriad projects in the local community providing support for educational, sustainability and social justice initiatives.
Date Revised: Aug. 26, 2014
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory in Other areas and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
n/a
The website URL where information about the institution’s campus as a living laboratory program or projects is available:
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.