Central New Mexico Community College
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

2019 Update: 1) CNM has implemented electrical submeters in all buildings and has begun collecting energy consumption data at the building level (completed in fall 2019). CNM is also now under contract with LUCID to provide real-time energy dashboards. This will help us develop a better carbon footprint (than past attempts) as well as give students a better idea of carbon emissions which will be an element of the dashboard project. This project will be complete Summer 2019. 2) Both Self-Guided and staff guided green-building (LEED) tours are administered every semester across multiple disciplines (Environmental Science, Construction Management, Electrical Trades (PV), etc). These tours are coordinated by CNM's Campus Living Lab & Sustainability Project Manager (Molly Blumhoefer). 100s of students/year tour the buildings for their energy efficiency (HVAC systems, Solar, and other air quality considerations). 3) LEED Green Associate Exam Prep is a new course that was developed for the "Sustainable Building Technologies Program". It utilizes Building specific LEED scorecards as Campus Living Lab teaching tools. Students are required to study the buildings, with scorecards in hand, in order to pass various aspects of the course, including Air and Climate topics. Historical: Data collected is used in creative & technical writing classes to write technical writing papers on the subject. Data collection is currently taking place for a behavioral modification program (AMERESCO) to reduce the institution's carbon footprint. Students and staff will be involved in writing the institutional energy policy through survey and sub-committees. LEED tours of buildings and HVAC systems in place. Upcoming energy controls project will emphasize energy consumption via individually metered buildings on a public dashboard. This will help students engage with HVAC processes that consume energy and will help to establish a baseline for future carbon footprint studies.

2019 Update: See answers for "Air and Climate", as well as those under "Grounds". Historic: Applied Technology Staff & Students, tour LEED facilities and HVAC systems to gain understanding on how the buildings function. A USGBC Student Charter was formed in 2015. They are leading LEED tours of certified buildings during events like Recyclemania to showcase the recyclable materials and other aspects of LEED design criteria. This allows for USGBC students to study for the LEED exam and to gain experience in the field.

2019 Update: CNM is currently under contract with Affordable Solar Inc. to install a 1.3 MW ground mounted solar facility at the Westside Campus. This facility includes a lab component that was designed for the Electrical Trades Photovoltaic Concentration. Additionally, the dashboard project (mentioned under "Air and Climate" will also be used in courses for an understanding of Energy use at the building level and how this is associated with building envelope and HVAC systems. -Energy is tracked by meter and the information is used by students in technical writing. -Installation of the photovoltaic systems are being used by Adult Education, Creative writing and Applied Technologies. They are planning on using the dashboard information in the classroom. -Upcoming energy controls project will emphasize energy consumption via individually metered buildings on a public dashboard. This will help students engage with HVAC processes that consume energy and will help to establish a baseline for future carbon footprint studies. -Student and staff tours of new ground-source heat pump installation part of the Smith Brasher building renovation. Energy Data is used in Math Classes for statistical analysis (Math 1310), helping them garner "real life" applicability to math classes.

2019 Update: CNM now has an aquaponics lab that is used for online learning, passer-bys (it is located in the Library Building) and is used in several environmental science courses. The tilapia is harvested by the culinary arts students and is used for meals in the Bistro. The culinary arts program also has several garden beds that they plant/harvest herbs and vegetables. See CNM's Instagram @cnmsustainability Historic: Culinary Arts harvests lettuces planted in a bed adopted by the USGBC student charter group and serves them at thier nightly Bistro Services as "CNM Salad". They are learning about farming, harvesting and taking pride in food production. https://www.cnm.edu/news/faculty-and-staff-news/culinary-students-harvest-lettuce-from-garden-on-southwest-corner-of-max-salazar-hall Composting is now up at the same site (summer 2016) and will be used as a campus as a living lab project in combination with the garden beds. Soils produced by composting campus materials (food waste, paper waste and grounds waste) will be used to amend garden bed soils as needed by curriculum-based projects. This is a multi-disciplinary approach to learning about how waste is turned into soil needed for food. It will be utilized by culinary arts and biology department, at minimum.

2019 Update: 1) A tour of the campus grounds and storm drains is a part of the Water in the Desert Service Learning Project that occurs every fall. During this tour, CNM's CLL & Sustainability Project Manager discusses how each building feeds the landscapes and nearby storm drains via runoff (roofs and landscapes) and where the water goes when it hits the drains and why it is important to let ONLY stormwater enter (illicit otherwise). 2) Currently there is a nature trail being designed at the Rio Rancho Campus (to be completed Summer 2019). It is a path around the campus that points out and describes several natural and man-made features including: xeriscaping plants and features, a natural arroyo, dam, native vegetation, and animals. It also acts as a "wellness path". s a part of the Campus as a Living Lab sustainability program, implemented by the Sustainability Curriculum Committee and Facilities, a "Wayfinding" path has been designed and executed, including climate appropriate plants and plants that produce fruit for the culinary arts program (gooseberries and raspberries, for example). 3) Any Faculty is welcome to "Adopt a Garden Bed" on campus, or propose new locations if for curriculum. There are campus gardens on multiple campuses for student learning. https://www.cnm.edu/about/sustainability/garden-bed-adoption-program-1 -Composting is now up at the garden-beds site (summer 2016) and will be used as a campus as a living lab project in combination with the garden beds. Soils produced by composting campus materials (food waste, paper waste and grounds waste) will be used to amend garden bed soils as needed by curriculum-based projects. Rather than tossing grasses, sticks and other grounds refuse into the landfill, we will be recycling it. Many students do not think of compost as a method of recycling. -There is a project in planning phase to place signage for plant identification. -Storm water drain markers have been placed by students (assisted by groundskeepers) throughout campus as a reminder that "drains to river". https://www.cnm.edu/news/faculty-and-staff-news/signs-remind-cnm-community-that-storm-water-drains-lead-to-rio-grande-so-avoid-polluting-the-ground-1

2019 Update: Nutrition students analyze food products in vending machines and mini-marts around campus and make recommendations based on their studies and in-class projects. Historic: There is a nutrition project in place for nutrition students to choose foodstuffs being purchased for vending machines and grab and go shops on campus.

2019 Update: Students take on "Transportation" Projects as a part of service learning. A portal on the CNM Sustainability website has been added for completed student projects. https://www.cnm.edu/about/sustainability/alternative-transportation Historic: -More bike racks and a bike rack caged area have been installed as a part of the Campus as a Living Lab Wayfinding Project. -In process is advertising a "ride your bike to school day" to enhance the sustainable culture on campus.

2019 Update: During the annual RecycleMania event, service learning students utilize data provided by Maintenance and Operations on Recycling and Waste numbers that is used in the case study submitted to RecycleMania Org. (CNM won the 2918 case study in waste minimization). Students also perform a live audit to determine the real diversion rates (vs perceived during visual inspections.) This data is also used in annual case study submissions to RecycleMania org. Historic: -CNM entered the recyclemania competition, and faculty engaged the students in as service learning projects to bring awareness on issues regarding recycling at CNM. https://www.cnm.edu/news/faculty-and-staff-news/keep-america-beautiful-presents-cnm-with-youth-recognition-award -Composting project: Soils produced by composting campus materials (food waste, paper waste and grounds waste) will be used to amend garden bed soils as needed by curriculum-based projects. Rather than tossing grasses, sticks and other grounds refuse into the landfill, we will be recycling it. Many students do not think of compost as a method of recycling. - A student generated proposal for new streamlined recycle bins will be implemented as a part Smith Brasher Renovation. -Math teachers are using campus waste data in classrooms.

2019 Update: Water in the Desert is an ongoing experiential learning project for service learning students offered every fall. Their are live seminars, building and ground tours, and individual campus-based learning projects. CNM has be woring with the USGS on a water project testing underground well. The information is being reported to CNM and the information is being used in the environmental classrooms. Water in the desert is an 8 week experiential learning series for students to gain credit. There are many Campus as a Living Lab opportunities during this program -Hydration stations have been added in most buldings. -Art installation: https://www.cnm.edu/news/faculty-and-staff-news/idea-flow-honors-conclusion-of-water-in-the-desert-series -strom water drain markers have been placed by students (assisted by groundskeepers) throughout campus as a reminder that "drains to river". https://www.cnm.edu/news/faculty-and-staff-news/signs-remind-cnm-community-that-storm-water-drains-lead-to-rio-grande-so-avoid-polluting-the-ground-1

2019 Update: -The student government (ECOS) was involved in the planning and implementation of RecycleMania 2018. -The USGBC student group was involved in the planning and implementation of LEED related tours and RecycelMania 2017. -CNM's Ingenuity Coding Bootcamp Students have been involved in planning several projects, including the Nature Trail Project at Rio Rancho Campus, by planning/designing/drawing components of the nature trail signage. They have also developed virtual reality tours of the campus landscape. -CNM's students involved in RecycleMania's waste audit and data collection are an integral part of advancing operations in Waste/Recycling. Also see "Investment and Finance". Historic: -The Student Government is investing in a revolving fund for sustainability projects, including multi-generational campus initiatives, such as feeding stations for mothers with children, as well as curricular projects such as Water in the Desert and Recyclemania programs. -Information Technology and Facilities have combined goals for Wellness Path and Wayfinding Path. - There is an Energy Controls Study and Implementation Project on the 5-year capital plan for facilities.

2019 Update: The energy dashboards will have an analytics tool available to faculty so that they may develop assignments that determine cost per square foot that will assist the institution with building consolidation and space management projects. With the savings generated by analysis of building energy data, CNM's CLL and Sustainability PM hopes to start a "green fund".

Service Learning projects are being developed to reach the community at large and bring awareness on the issues of sustainability, such as Recyclemania and Water in the Desert. These programs bring in outside speakers from the Water Utility, Pueblos, the City and other entities so that students are able to make connections with outside businesses and organizations. These events are open to the wider public. The Compost to Garden Committee has just generated an "adopt-a-garden bed" process which has been implemented among CNM faculty and students who currently have their own projects up and running. The ultimate goal is to extend this program to the surrounding public schools and community when funds are in place.

2019 Update: In addition to those things mentioned below. There are also "Mindfulness" seminars available FREE to all faculty/staff/students for free every Monday afternoon. There is also now a Social Justice group on campus (originally started by faculty) that includes any student who wants to join. They partner with 3rd party entities that give free information about current political and other issues (LBGTQ, immigration, etc.) issues and other topics that may impact a student's overall well being. - The "Wellness Path" has been combined with Campus Living Lab and encourages the walking of campus down a sustainably designed pathway with fitness equipment that runs along a building with pv panels, the garden beds, compost, a terraced path with berries and native plants, etc. It has been coordinated with the Wayfinding Path Project. https://www.cnm.edu/depts/purchasing/master-plan-projects-list -Students in nutrition classes will be participating in choosing foods purchased for campus. -Mindful CNM Community Program led by faculty: http://www.cnm.edu/mindful

Ongoing: The CNM facilities department works on various campus as living lab projects depending on faculty interest and engagement. many of which are currently static, but each semester varies.