Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 53.64
Liaison William Cocke
Submission Date May 14, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of North Texas
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Todd Spinks
Director
UNT Sustainability
"---" 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 Yes
Investment No
Public Engagement Yes
Other Yes

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:

Indoor Air Quality student assessment
http://www.teo.unt.edu/ret/pdf2013/IAQ-presentation.pdf


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 Zero Energy Research Lab is a laboratory in which students can become acquainted with different renewable energy technologies and research opportunities which can be a future model of sustainable building design.


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:

Under the MacNair Scholars program, a student is conducting a study on how North Texan agriculturalists are practicing sustainability.


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 Zero Energy Research Lab is a laboratory in which students can become acquainted with different renewable energy technologies and research opportunities which can be a future model of sustainable building design.


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:
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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:
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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:
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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:

The Trash for Fashion show encourages creative re-use and student participation in creating pieces to display.


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:

Students enrolled in the Philosophy of Water course offered at UNT are encouraged to design their own research papers on water issues, next to the assigned final paper prompt, "The River as Bridge."


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:

UNT's Division of Community Engagement encourages students to participate in community and public engagement activities and long-term projects. Community Engagement serves as the University’s ambassador promoting community/university partnerships designed to:

Support student recruitment and retention (volunteerism, service learning);
Enhance lifelong learning and professional and workforce development;
Stimulate community-based research and creative activities;
Engage and endear alumni, retirees, and friends to UNT;
Celebrate and foster diversity and support for UNT.


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:
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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 MacNair Scholars student's research project for 2012 is based on how alcohol and drinking affects students performance and behavior.


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:
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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:

Yong Tao Tao received $652,846 as part of the National Science Foundation's Research Coordination Networks – Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability program.

The project, titled "Predictive Modeling Network for Sustainable Human-Building Ecosystems," will bring together about a dozen researchers who focus on sustainability from engineering, construction, computer science, environmental science, business, architecture and social science backgrounds. The researchers have experience and access to data from various sustainable building projects, and will work together to identify and fill in knowledge gaps.


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:

Sustainability focused art in student galleries, such as the Trash for Fashion show.


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:
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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.