| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.69 |
| Liaison | John Pumilio |
| Submission Date | July 23, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Colgate University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
John
Pumilio Director of Sustainability Sustainability Office |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
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 | Yes |
| Transportation | Yes |
| Waste | Yes |
| Water | Yes |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | Yes |
| Diversity & Affordability | No |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | No |
| Investment | Yes |
| Public Engagement | Yes |
| Other | No |
None
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:
ENST 390 Student Research Projects:
Carbon Offsets: this group investigated and evaluated the voluntary carbon offsets market. Their recommendations helped inform the work of the Climate Action Plan Offsets Subcommittee.
Climate Action Plan: defining and evaluating climate action plans. This group is looking at how ACUPCC defines a Climate Action Plan and evaluates the key elements of existing climate action plans. This research will provide valuable insight into Colgate’s climate action planning work.
None
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:
ENST 390 Student Research Projects:
LEED Certification of the Trudy Fitness Center by Anna Cvitkovic, Ian Dombroski, Sonya Falcone, Mark Janett and Chris Mahoney.
Assessing Colgate University's Sustainability Through Building Performance by Scott Brayden '13, Brendan Karson '13, and Carly Trainor '14.
The Feasibility of a Green Roof at Colgate University by Jesse Reiber '13, Carolyn Savoldelli '13, and Jenna Taylor '13.
None
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:
ENST 390 Student Research Projects:
Examining Sustainable Coffee Production and Consumption on Colgate University's Campus by Jessica Hootz '13, Elise Sidamon-Eristoff '13, and Mary Spetsieris '13.
The Sustainable Seasonal Sandwich Sensation: Providing a Local Food Option at Colgate University by Nick Pawlush '13, Danny Werber '13, and Caroline Williams '13.
Trayless Operations: this group is looking into the social, environmental, and economic feasibility of trayless dining operations in Frank Dining Hall.
Local Foods: this group explored the barriers and opportunities to increasing local food options in our campus dining halls.
None
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:
ENST 390 Student Research Projects:
The Replacement of Fuel Oil #6 at Colgate University by Steve Dickinson, Mike Girard, Jeffrey Ledwick, Alexandra Hite, Christine Hebert and Rebecca Roberts.
Biomass: this group is researching the sustainability of Colgate's current supply of woodchips and will consider recommendations for improving Colgate's supply of biomass.
Colgate University and the Village of Hamilton Becoming an EPA Green Power Community by Sophie Rudolph '13, Chris Barry '13, and Tyler Swiggett '13.
None
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:
ENST 390 Student Research Projects:
Reforestation at Colgate University by Sarah Ellis, Cassidy Holohan, Becca Robinson, Jared Madison and Jenna Klynstra.
None
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:
ENST 390 Student Research Projects:
Paper Use: this group is researching Colgate's current use of paper on campus and analyzing which types of paper are most sustainable (i.e. recycled, tree-free, etc.)
Vehicle Fleet: this group is looking into the environmental, social, and economic feasibility of incorporating electric or hybrid vehicles into Colgate's vehicle fleet.
None
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:
ENST 390 Student Research Projects:
Alternative Transportation: this group explored commuting behaviors on campus and ways to reduce single occupancy vehicle travel. Their work assisted and provided relevant data for the Climate Action Plan Ground Transportation Subcommittee.
Vehicle Fleet: this group is looking into the environmental, social, and economic feasibility of incorporating electric or hybrid vehicles into Colgate's vehicle fleet.
None
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:
ENST 390 Student Research Projects:
Economic, Ecological, and Social Feasibility of Zero-Waste Colgate Commencement by Sarah Cochran '13, Carly Keller '13, and Sarah Vondracek '13.
None
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:
ENST 390 Student Research Projects:
Water Use at Colgate by Cassie Lawson, Joe Coplan, Bess Magnuson, Annemarie Heinrich, Scott Coates and Jason Hinder.
The Feasibility of a Green Roof at Colgate University by Jesse Reiber '13, Carolyn Savoldelli '13, and Jenna Taylor '13.
None
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:
ENST 390 Student Research Projects:
Sustainability and Climate Action Plan: a comparative analysis as to what makes a quality climate action plan.
None
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:
---
None
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:
---
None
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:
Environmental Economics Student Research Project:
Investing in renewable energy and divesting from fossil fuels at Colgate University through our endowment portfolio.
None
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:
ENST 390 Student Research Projects:
Fostering Sustainable Behavior: this group explored the new and emerging discipline of how to encourage behaviors that advance sustainability on campus. They focused on recycling behaviors that helped inform my office regarding the best approaches to increasing recycling rates on campus.
None
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:
---
None
The website URL where information about the institution’s campus as a living laboratory program or projects is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
ENST 390 (Community-based Study of Environmental Issues) is a project-based, interdisciplinary course that examines current environmental issues in the context of community-based learning. Students in this course take on semester-long research projects that help advance our campus sustainability program and operations. Topics for investigation are selected by faculty in conjunction with Colgate's director of sustainability, the Upstate Institute, or directly with local and regional agencies or organizations. Students get practical experience working in interdisciplinary teams to examine environmental issues with a goal of developing relevant recommendations. Examples of recent research projects include:
• Examining Sustainable Coffee Production and Consumption on Colgate University's Campus by Jessica Hootz '13, Elise Sidamon-Eristoff '13, and Mary Spetsieris '13.
• The Feasibility of a Green Roof at Colgate University by Jesse Reiber '13, Carolyn Savoldelli '13, and Jenna Taylor '13.
• Colgate University and the Village of Hamilton Becoming an EPA Green Power Community by Sophie Rudolph '13, Chris Barry '13, and Tyler Swiggett '13.
• Assessing Colgate University's Sustainability Through Building Performance by Scott Brayden '13, Brendan Karson '13, and Carly Trainor '14.
• The Sustainable Seasonal Sandwich Sensation: Providing a Local Food Option at Colgate University by Nick Pawlush '13, Danny Werber '13, and Caroline Williams '13.
• Economic, Ecological, and Social Feasibility of Zero-Waste Colgate Commencement by Sarah Cochran '13, Carly Keller '13, and Sarah Vondracek '13.
• Reforestation at Colgate University by Sarah Ellis, Cassidy Holohan, Becca Robinson, Jared Madison and Jenna Klynstra.
• Water Use at Colgate by Cassie Lawson, Joe Coplan, Bess Magnuson, Annemarie Heinrich, Scott Coates and Jason Hinder.
• LEED Certification of the Trudy Fitness Center by Anna Cvitkovic, Ian Dombroski, Sonya Falcone, Mark Janett and Chris Mahoney.
• The Replacement of Fuel Oil #6 at Colgate University by Steve Dickinson, Mike Girard, Jeffrey Ledwick, Alexandra Hite, Christine Hebert and Rebecca Roberts.
• Biomass: this group is researching the sustainability of Colgate's current supply of woodchips and will consider recommendations for improving Colgate's supply of biomass.
• Vehicle Fleet: this group is looking into the environmental, social, and economic feasibility of incorporating electric or hybrid vehicles into Colgate's vehicle fleet.
• Paper Use: this group is researching Colgate's current use of paper on campus and analyzing which types of paper are most sustainable (i.e. recycled, tree-free, etc.)
• Trayless Operations: this group is looking into the social, environmental, and economic feasibility of trayless dining operations in Frank Dining Hall.
• Alternative Transportation: this group explored commuting behaviors on campus and ways to reduce single occupancy vehicle travel. Their work assisted and provided relevant data for the Climate Action Plan Ground Transportation Subcommittee.
• Fostering Sustainable Behavior: this group explored the new and emerging discipline of how to encourage behaviors that advance sustainability on campus. They focused on recycling behaviors that helped inform my office regarding the best approaches to increasing recycling rates on campus.
• Local Foods: this group explored the barriers and opportunities to increasing local food options in our campus dining halls.
• Carbon Offsets: this group investigated and evaluated the voluntary carbon offsets market. Their recommendations helped inform the work of the Climate Action Plan Offsets Subcommittee.
• Climate Action Plan: defining and evaluating climate action plans. This group is looking at how ACUPCC defines a Climate Action Plan and evaluates the key elements of existing climate action plans. This research will provide valuable insight into Colgate’s climate action planning work.
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.