| Overall Rating | Reporter - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | |
| Liaison | Alan Burr |
| Submission Date | Feb. 29, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Amy
Seeboth-Wilson Sustainability Coordinator Facilities Management |
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 | Yes |
| Transportation | Yes |
| Waste | Yes |
| Water | Yes |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | --- |
| Diversity & Affordability | --- |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | Yes |
| Investment | --- |
| Public Engagement | --- |
| 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:
Students in the Sustainable and Renewable Energy program frequently evaluate ways we can reduce our carbon footprint through improved efficiency or renewable energy. In 2014, two students enrolled in Energy 4990 helped campus document our electrical consumption per building and identify areas of inefficiency in campus buildings, ultimately recommending ways we can reduce our energy during peak hours and in so doing, reduce our carbon emissions.
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:
Students in the Sustainable and Renewable Energy program do many projects that help improve the sustainability of our campus buildings each year. A specific example is in fall of 2014 when a group of six students enrolled in ENERGY 4920 audited the work of our performance contractor to assure their calculated savings matched the retrofits actually completed. This project helped campus both confirm energy savings and also establish protocols for identifying future lighting retrofits internally (without the need for a performance contract).
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:
In Spring of 2014 a Quality Management course in the School of Business did a study on how waste streams in dining services could be reduced. They monitored recycling and tested composting behaviors for a period of time and were able to make recommendations for how dining services could reduce waste while being more socially and environmentally responsible.
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:
Each year, the Fundamentals of Energy (Energy 2340) course looks at both the renewable energy generated on campus and analyzes conventional energy used within all campus buildings by both touring campus facilities and by utilizing the Energy Dashboard on the University Website.
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:
Students in the Reclamation and Horticulture programs traditionally assist with campus land management through their coursework. In 2013, a Reclamation class helped campus develop a plan for restoring native plants on a 90-acre wilderness area managed by campus ("The Mound"). These students cleared portions of the area and planted a series of test plots to explore which plants would do best in the soil and conditions of the Mound.
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:
In 2014, two Environmental Engineering students did an independent study to identify our campus waste streams (through audits) and develop recommendations for reducing the major components of these streams. A major component of their report was identifying how we can change campus purchasing habits to reduce campus waste (both in product packaging and shipping materials, which make up a major component of our waste).
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:
The Quality Management Course in our Business Program has done several studies regarding campus transportation. Specifically, in 2013 they did a study where they surveyed students transportation habits and made recommendations for programming that can help reduce our cars on campus. Additionally, our Civil Engineering students frequently do transportation projects for campus during their senior design classes.
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:
We have had many different courses involved in waste on campus, including the Planet Earth class in Geography, Quality Management in business, and Environmental Engineering. In fall of 2015, Planet Earth helped run a waste audit in two campus buildings (Doudna and Ottensman) to evaluate a waste handling pilot program campus was implementing in one of them. The Audit was able to provide data allowing for the continuation and expansion of this pilot program.
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:
Environmental Engineering students typically do at least one stormwater management design project for campus each year during senior design. In 2014, students reviewed a detention pond on campus that had filled with sludge and analyzed three scenarios to repair the functionality of this pond. The scenarios ultimately helped Facilities Management make an informed decision on the best, most environmentally sound and cost effective method of repairing the pond.
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:
The Health and Human Performance program has regularly orchestrated public events to raise awareness about the community trail system connected to campus and how these trails can help build health. In fall of 2014, a class of 23 students hosted an event "Tour du Trail" which attracted 50 people to the community trail. In Spring of 2015, another student hosted a 10k race on the trail which attracted over 70 runners.
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 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:
We have group of students who have started a sustainable business growing, pressing, and selling local & organic sunflower oil for cooking (started in 2013). They are each enrolled in ENTRP 4070 and make up the board of directors for the business. The students are able to use university resources to engage in a highly hands-on learning opportunity that has proven a very successful model both for the student and for the faculty in the University Business program. Through excellent press, the course has raised awareness both for the University and for sustainability in the region.
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.