California State University, Los Angeles
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Toward a Sustainable Campus: Development of an Environmental Energy Portfolio Management Tool for Cal State LA. To assist campus with its carbon reduction goals an Environmental Energy Portfolio Management Tool will be developed. This integrated energy efficiency and renewable energy sustainability tool will be developed to analyze the impact of supporting mechanisms on various GHG emissions reduction measures. A data driven assessment will be achieved by taking a modular, scalable approach. This approach considers energy inputs and outputs in all levels. The ultimate goal of the project is to establish a baseline for the University’s energy consumption and a roadmap towards cost-effective steps to reduce energy demand and maximize on-site use of renewable energy, while also reducing the University’s carbon footprint .

The CSU Campus as a Living Lab (CALL) grant program provides a unique opportunity to partner faculty and facilities management staff in using the campus as a forum for the exploration of sustainability concepts and theories. Projects have included the study of the campus Hydrogen Station and Central Plant. https://www2.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/sustainability/Campus%20as%20a%20Living%20Lab%20Library/LA-Blekham.pdf https://www2.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/sustainability/Campus%20as%20a%20Living%20Lab%20Library/LA-Rudd.pdf

Design of an Efficient Heating and Cooling System: Residential energy usage for heating and cooling is highly suboptimal with inefficient control and distribution. A subscale testbed at Cal State LA is being used for experiments to determine the effectiveness of HVAC (Heating Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) innovations and architectures. The objective of this project is to upgrade the current testbed cooling and heating system, implement additional sensors, and improve measurement and distribution of airflow throughout the subscale testbed eight rooms. The goal is to better control heat and cooling loads with ventilation ducts that are easily accessible and configurable. http://www.calstatela.edu/ecst/seniordesign/capstone-senior-design-program-2018-2019-project-summaries#dragon

Campus as a Living Lab Grant 2017-18, Sustainable Spaces: Redesigning Campus Landscapes as Interactive Learning Environments. The goal of this project is to create an interdepartmental learning community that will involve students in the design of sustainable and productive green spaces on campus. Students will learn sustainable design principles within the context of their various disciplines in order to create interactive and educational demonstration gardens and outdoor lab spaces. Faculty from History, Biology, Geosciences and Engineering will redesign their courses to include signature assignments incorporating sustainability concepts such as natural resources management, native ecology, edible landscaping, herbal medicine, social equity and climate studies. Our goal is that students will develop a sense of connectedness to their campus environment which will foster a sense of community, facilitate social and recreational needs, and offer spaces for personal renewal and relaxation.

Purchasing worked with Engineering to sponsor an Undergraduate Directed Study (ME 4990) class researching the use of Styrofoam as packaging material in shipments to the campus. The engineering students studied alternate materials and made a final recommendation.

Cal State LA has created the Sustainable Energy and Transportation Technology Program to apply a multi-faceted approach to teach sustainable energy systems and engage students in applied research to mitigate the problems of fossil fuel energy dependence and air pollution. The program is centered upon the University’s Sustainable Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility, an integral part of the technology portfolio needed to achieve clean air health standards, and was made possible by funding from the University’s ongoing partnership with SCAQMD. The station actively pursues public outreach, education and community partnerships, including an internship program offering students a living-laboratory environment to study zero-emissions fuel cell vehicles.

The Department of Marketing has a course titled Community-based Social Marketing. In Spring 2019, student teams developed projects focused on reducing single-use plastics on campus. Students were offered an overview of past and present efforts related to this issue on campus by the Energy & Sustainability Manager. They were then tasked with developing 5 different solutions to problems related to single-use plastics, along with creating written reports and presentations.

Wave Measurement System: Soil erosion is a common natural phenomena in water reservoirs and natural lakes that leads to economic and natural losses. An important variable for erosion control techniques is the wave energy, measured in terms of the wave amplitude and water velocity. This project was tasked with developing a wave measurement device to measure water height and wave period using pressure sensor technology. The device would be attached to the waterway floor, encapsulated in a water tight structure, and would measure and record wave action. Periodically, the device would be retrieved and the collected data downloaded for calculating wave speed and wave energy from the measured wave height and length. http://www.calstatela.edu/ecst/seniordesign/capstone-senior-design-program-2018-2019-project-summaries#dragon

The Center for Engagement, Service, and the Public Good was launched in 2014 to work on behalf of the students of Cal State L.A. and residents of Los Angeles to generate positive change across Southern California. The goal, as envisioned by President William A. Covino, is to transform the University into a hub of civic engagement and public service for our communities, our city, and our region. We are dedicated to service learning and neighborhood transformation and seek to be a catalytic force in the lives of students, faculty and the people who live in the communities we serve. http://www.calstatela.edu/engagement

Established in 1966 by Associated Students, Inc., and the Division of Student Affairs, the Educational Participation in Communities (EPIC) program was created in the wake of the Watts Rebellion of 1965 to help address critical community needs by placing student volunteers in local nonprofit organizations. One of the oldest such programs in the California State University system, EPIC has long been in the forefront for more than 45 years, developing community partnerships, coordinating the University’s community involvement activities, and connecting hundreds of students annually to community-based organizations where students develop leadership and commitment to service. Passionate and dedicated students are the heart of the EPIC program and have always been the foundation of EPIC’s work in the community. Our mission is to promote community service learning by creating opportunities for university students to implement classroom theory in real life situations. Through community service, EPIC inspires and enables university students to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens by volunteering in a wide range of agencies serving a broad spectrum of communities throughout the Los Angeles area. With the support of the administration, staff, and community partners, students are the keystone of the program and the basis for its continued success in serving the community. http://www.calstatela.edu/engagement/epic#overlay-context=engagement

FIN 4470 - Student Investment Fund. Development of skills through managing real investment funds in the securities markets, including establishing an investment plan, analyzing investment opportunities, making recommendations and trading decisions. https://www.coursicle.com/calstatela/courses/FIN/4470/

The Office of Service Learning links academic teaching, learning and community service by engaging students, faculty, and community partners in collaborative relationships that embrace diversity and social justice. OSL supports a campuswide culture of community engagement that contributes to student success and prepares students to serve the changing needs of a global society. The Office of Service Learning provides: Faculty development for teaching and curriculum design Support for student and faculty community-based research Support for research on the pedagogy and practice of community engagement Staff and student support for academic service learning http://www.calstatela.edu/engagement/osl Civic U is a non-credit certificate program offered by the Pat Brown Institute in association with Cal State LA’s College of Professional and Global Education, in partnership with the the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. After the successful Civic U 1.0 for neighborhood councils in 2015, the City of Los Angeles asked the Pat Brown Institute to develop a graduate program in civic engagement. In February 2016, Civic U 2.0 was held at the new Cal State LA downtown campus at 801 South Grand Avenue. http://www.patbrowninstitute.org/what-we-do/civic-university/