Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 75.86
Liaison Tess Esposito
Submission Date March 2, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Dayton
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Air & Climate 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Air & Climate?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Air & Climate:
2015-2016: The SEE 401 design class completed an analysis of an on-campus parking lot solar canopy system. With a cost/benefit analysis and case studies of parking lot solar canopy systems, students assessed the possibility of implementing a solar array as a parking canopy on campus and quantified additional benefits beyond the production of electricity.

Buildings  

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Buildings?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Buildings:
2016-2017: Green Roof Installation. Following a student assessment and presentation on the feasibility and benefits of installing green roofs on the Kennedy Union and VWK patios for the SEE 401 design class, a student-led team managed the installation of the green roof and patio. GEO 404 proposed a sensor network that was installed with the green roof with on-line access to real-time temperatures, and courses are accessing the data for laboratory exercises.

Energy 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Energy?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Energy:
The Hanley Sustainability Institute's Campus Energy Team, made up of undergraduate and graduate students, facilities managements staff, and faculty, conduct energy audits of campus buildings and recommends clean energy projects to reduce energy, emissions, and costs. For graduate level students on the team, this provides an opportunity to use data they gather as the basis for research project in RCL 595 (RCL Project). In Fall 2017 semester, four large academic buildings were audited with potential to save 3.32 GWh of electricity and 9,044 mmBTU of natural gas per year, equal to 3,414 MTCO2, with a 5 year simple payback and $508,000 NPV. The Building Energy Informatics class, RCL 557, in the School of Engineering uses real energy and building performance data provided through a partnership with Facilities Management and the Hanley Sustainability Institute. Students use this data in classroom lectures and class projects that analyze building energy performance. Classes share this information with facilities for better management and analysis of building use.

Food & Dining 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Food & Dining?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Food & Dining:
Following on the successful installation of the slow-grind system for food waste in the dining facilities, students worked with Facilities Management and Dining Services to complete an audit of dining facility food waste and implement on-campus composting trials utilizing dining and landscape waste material.

Grounds 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Grounds?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Grounds:
The SEE 401 design class researched and completed an implementation plan for native prairie plantings and management on campus. In partnership with the Marianist Environmental Education Center, Grounds and Facilities have agreed to implement this plan within the 2018 school year.

Purchasing 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Purchasing?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Purchasing:
A current honors student is creating a tool to assess the carbon footprint of University food purchasing for her honors thesis research (2017 - 2019). It is designed to be implemented in the dining halls as an easy-to-understand labelling systems for students to make more-informed food choices and purchases.

Transportation 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Transportation:
Students gathered employee and student commuting data. From this data, working with the Hanley Sustainability Institute, the students analyzed current commuting and travel information and developed strategies for carbon footprint reduction related to travel. This information provides both the methods for how to collect transportation date on campus and the baseline for comparison for future years as we implement transportation initiatives for reduced carbon emissions.

Waste 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Waste?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Waste:
Zero Waste Arena -- In 2017, students in the SEE 401 course worked with Hanley Sustainability Institute, Facilities Management and Athletics to propose a strategy for implementing a Zero Waste program at the University basketball arena. The plan will be begin to be implemented during the current renovations, and will be fully implemented by the 2019-2020 basketball season.

Water 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Water?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Water:
2015-2016: (SEE 401) Our Place in the Watershed project: In collaboration with the Miami Conservancy District, students measured and evaluated the impact of the University of Dayton’s water run-off on the health of the Great Miami River. Students mapped campus impervious surfaces, followed by mapping all campus land cover and land use. This mapping effort continues to contribute to our ability to quantify and improve grounds management such as designating areas for native plantings and more accurately quantifying our impervious surfaces.

Coordination & Planning 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Coordination & Planning?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Coordination & Planning:
For MPA 599 capstone course, a student project assessed the impact of a campus-based, student-led National Issues Forum on Climate Choices to build dialogue, trust, and capacity for action on climate solutions. This project contributed to a greater understanding of the role of deliberative dialogues on campus to build campus community interest and engagement in climate solutions.

Diversity & Affordability 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:
No

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Diversity & Affordability:
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Investment & Finance 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Investment & Finance?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Investment & Finance:
Fall 2016, SEE 401 Sustainability Research course, a student project evaluated and assessed processes that encourage student engagement in the Green Revolving Fund, created a lighting calculator, and a way to streamline the GRF application process. This student project provided a gateway itself for additional student engagement in campus financing of "greening" projects.

Public Engagement 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Public Engagement?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Public Engagement:
SEE 490 and MEE 490/590: Experiential Study in SEE (Spring 2017). Students worked with community partners to design innovative sustainability projects as an approach to job creation in urban downtown Dayton. An outcome of these projects was student engagement in assessing sustainability-based solutions to economic challenges of the Dayton area.

Wellbeing & Work 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Wellbeing & Work:
2016-2017: Green Roof Installation. Following a student assessment and presentation on the feasibility and benefits of installing green roofs on the Kennedy Union and VWK patios for SEE 401, a student-led team managed the installation of the green roof and patio. GEO 404 proposed a sensor network that was installed with the green roof with on-line access to real-time temperatures, and courses are accessing the data for laboratory exercises. The green roof provides an outdoor recreation, class, and meeting space for all campus members to enjoy.

Other Impact Areas 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to other areas (e.g. arts & culture or technology)?:
No

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to other areas:
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Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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