| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 51.83 |
| Liaison | Leslie North |
| Submission Date | Jan. 9, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Western Kentucky University
IN-2: Innovation 2
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Title or keywords related to the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
The WKU Office of Sustainability, housed in a residence built in 1931, serves as a best practice sustainability demonstration home, providing students and community residents with well-researched, practical solutions to improving the performance of the average household. Students from a diversity of disciplines, including engineering, agriculture, environmental science, geography, and ecology, are engaged in monitoring before and after performance of the house and landscape. In October 2014, a photovoltaic array was installed on the house, with expectations that the house will be the first net zero electricity office on campus.
A brief description of any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation (if not reported above):
This project has engaged a number of students, faculty and staff that would not otherwise have been engaged with the Office of Sustainability. For example, architecture and manufacturing students built a pallet garden shed; engineering students performed thermal imaging and blower door tests for pre and post performance measurement, SGA built raised beds in the backyard where members grow vegetables, the University President has a garden plot for his salsa garden in the back yard, an Honors student did his thesis on the transformation of the house and why we made the decisions that we made.
The house is much improved in the past year complete with new windows, insulation, and solar array and is much more efficient in energy use and net zero electricity use.
A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
Which of the following STARS subcategories does the innovation most closely relate to? (Select all that apply up to a maximum of five):
| Yes or No | |
| Curriculum | Yes |
| Research | Yes |
| Campus Engagement | Yes |
| Public Engagement | Yes |
| Air & Climate | --- |
| Buildings | Yes |
| Dining Services | --- |
| Energy | --- |
| Grounds | --- |
| Purchasing | --- |
| Transportation | --- |
| Waste | --- |
| Water | --- |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | --- |
| Diversity & Affordability | --- |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | --- |
| Investment | --- |
Other topic(s) that the innovation relates to that are not listed above:
The website URL where information about the innovation 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.