Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 53.85
Liaison Ruairi O'Mahony
Submission Date May 1, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Massachusetts Lowell
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.20 / 4.00 Juliette Rooney-Varga
Director & Associate Professor
Climate Change Initiative & Biological Sciences
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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 No
Purchasing No
Transportation No
Waste Yes
Water Yes
Coordination, Planning & Governance Yes
Diversity & Affordability No
Health, Wellbeing & Work No
Investment No
Public Engagement Yes
Other No

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:

85 UMass Lowell Mechanical Engineering students conducted an analysis of North Campus windows to support the facilities department goal of reducing GHG emissions.
http://www.uml.edu/Engineering/SLICE/Course-Offerings.aspx


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:

Student interns work with energy manager to assess energy efficiency in buildings.


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:

Student completed an honors thesis on composting.


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:

The facility department employs work study students and interns to analyze energy and electricity data.


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:

NA


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:

NA


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:

NA


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:

Students in courses work with City of Lowell Solid Waste & Recycling Coordinator to do trash bin audits on campus.


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:

Computer science students developed a web-based data portal, used in conjunctions with other science courses such as those that focus on water research in the Merrimack and Concord by the Inn and Conference Center.


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:

Students can take an active role on Climate Action Plan (CAP) subcommittees and Climate Change Initiative (CCI).


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:

NA


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:

NA


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:

NA


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:

Last Spring a student club managed 4 plots in the UMass Lowell Community Garden, specifically with the intention of donating all of their produce and herbs to the local Merrimack Valley Food Bank.

+ Date Revised: July 20, 2015

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:

NA


The website URL where information about the institution’s campus as a living laboratory program or projects is available:
---

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.