| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 47.40 |
| Liaison | Morgan Hartman |
| Submission Date | Feb. 26, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.60 / 4.00 |
Logan
Lamb Sustainability Specialist` UNL |
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 | No |
| Transportation | Yes |
| Waste | Yes |
| Water | Yes |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | --- |
| Diversity & Affordability | --- |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | No |
| Investment | --- |
| 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:
At UNL we have conducted Facilities workshops for all of the colleges and universities in the state of Nebraska about the implications of Climate Change on College Facilities and how the living lab concept can be applied to help mitigate climate change
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:
The first time class, "Building Benchmarking and Disclosure" (CNST 498), is led by Timothy Wentz, associate professor construction management. The course allows students to work with a client — in this case Kirk Conger, energy projects engineer with UNL's Facilities Management and Planning — to conduct a new type of energy audit created by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers.
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:
This Spring an environmental topics class will look on how to address food waste within UNL dining Services. At the end of the class they will provide UNL dining services with observations and recommendations on how UNL can decrease food waste.
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:
Part of a Construction Management and Architecture joint course, students are lead on a tour of the campus Central Plant where they learn about the methods and processes used to heat, cool, and power the campus.
Several student also elect to study a campus energy related topic for their thesis. Like the Mechanical Engineering student who studied methods for reducing the consumption of electrical energy in the UNL Jorgensen Hall (JH) air handling unit 2 (AHU2).
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:
A variety of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture courses are taught using the physical campus landscape,arboretum, and greenhouses. For Example, Horticulture 467 focuses on not only the business side of horticulture but provides a hands on experience for students throughout the East Campus greenhouses.
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:
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:
Students in Architecture and Community and Regional Planning have studied transportation issues on and relating campus. Those studies resulted in a guide to implementing a bike sharing program and a study on a multi-modal transit stations. UNL is now increasing the amount of bike stations and is expanding bike safety around campus.
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:
A group of students through the ELP have started working on waste audits. These waste audits are being used to promote composting legislation within UNL student government.
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:
Landscape Architecture students taking LARC 497 work to analyzing feasibility of and propose locations for the creation bioswales on campus to reduce water runoff into storm drains. Their findings were used to help create the Campus Landscape and Physical Master Plan.
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
A number of student Interns at the Center for Civic Engagement work closely with community organization to set up Alternative Spring Break Trips, Service Day program, and other volunteer opportunities for UNL Students. The Architecture 107 class encourages students to get involved with sustainability projects within the community.
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:
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.