| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 48.56 |
| Liaison | Alan Turnquist |
| Submission Date | July 8, 2020 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Michigan Technological University
IN-25: Innovation B
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Jay
Meldrum Executive Director of Sustainability Facilities Management |
Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:
The Sustainability Demonstration House is located at 21680 Woodland Road, within walking distance to campus and comfortably sleeps 5 students in 5 separate bedrooms. The Sustainability Demonstration House provides students with the opportunity to become involved in a demonstration of sustainable living within the community of Houghton. Residents of the house are encouraged to recycle and compost, while exercising good habits of sustainability by being mindful of power and water consumption. Residents will work side by side with the Alternative Energy Enterprise to showcase that sustainability can be extraordinarily successful, even in Houghton’s harsh climate.
The goal of the Sustainability Demonstration House team is to take an existing house in Houghton and retrofit it to be energy and water efficient, as well as demonstrate sustainable practices with the community. This year, the team has been working on plastic recycling, aquaponics, hydroponics,rain barrel irrigation of the raised bed garden, CURB power meter that monitors and records all circuits in the house, and indoor composting projects.
Each semester, students complete and archival final report documenting the improvements made to the house and the results of Open House events and workshops. In the Open House events, the students tour local residents, alumni, and other visitors showing them the sustainable practices and energy savings devices in use. Workshops are designed to engage families with younger children in making Bat Houses, Bird Houses with a green roof, and a Desktop Green House for starting plants inside to get a head start on planting in the spring.
Which of the following impact areas does the innovation most closely relate to? (select up to three):
Public Engagement
Energy
A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise or a press release or publication featuring the innovation :
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.