University of Pittsburgh
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Two goals in the “Research” section of the 2018 Pitt Sustainability Plan help guide all answers to this credit. They are:
1) Use the Pitt campus as a living laboratory for faculty and students to implement new ideas and study outcomes over time.
2) Provide more opportunities and incentives for interdisciplinary research as well as the bridging of academics and operations – promoting an environment of informing and working together.

Specific progress on these goals is detailed in the 2018-2022 Progress Report on the Pitt Sustainability Plan, which identifies both goals as having significant advancement.
>> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/progress-report/research-2018-22/

A few examples of how these efforts have helped advance Campus Engagement are:

SUSTAINABILITY ACADEMIC COMMUNITY
Organized for first year students, Pitt’s Academic Communities are an unmatched opportunity to meet like-minded students right away and explore interests and possible majors with others who share passion for the subject. Students take up to 3 classes (including Academic Foundations) with the same small group of students. These classes focus on a specific area of study that speaks to students’ unique interests and goals. In 2019, Pitt launched a Sustainability Academic Community dubbed "Nature/Cities/Humans.” Offered every year since, the Academic Community description is: “How do humans live in harmony with each other and nature in urban areas? Explore how sustainability plays out in natural and built environments. Examine the tradeoffs, challenges, and opportunities of balancing equity, environment, and economics at the campus and city scale.” This community provides 7 credits to students in their first-term schedule through classes including:
- GEOL 0840—Environmental Science (3 Credits)
- GEOL 0840—Environmental Science Recitation (0 Credits)
- URBNST 0010—Introduction to Urban Studies (3 Credits)
- FP 0002—Academic Foundations: Academic Community (1 Credit)
Learn more: https://www.asundergrad.pitt.edu/academic-foundations/academic-communities

PITT ECOREPS
Since 2019, Pitt’s Office of Business, Hospitality, and Auxiliary Services (which includes Housing) has been hiring student “EcoReps” to be sustainability ambassadors in residence halls on campus. Pitt EcoReps host workshops, provide information sessions, and work closely with RAs to ensure proper signage and disposal of waste, recyclables, and compostables. They also educate their peers by managing the Pitt Green Resident program and designing educational social media campaigns.

>> Pitt EcoReps: https://www.instagram.com/pittecoreps/?hl=en
>> Pitt Green Resident Program: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/get-involved/students/pitt-green-residents-floors/

STUDENT COURSE SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS

A number of the University’s sustainability-focused and -related courses regularly originate student projects focused on campus sustainability. Core courses annually generate projects, including ENGR 1907: Sustainability Capstone and GEOL 1333: Sustainability. From 2018 to present, student sustainability research projects also originated in courses whose home departments included Biology, Business, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science, English, Environmental Studies, Industrial Engineering, Law, Policy, and Urban Studies. Topics in recent years include, but are not limited to: carbon offsets, environmental justice, on-campus renewable electricity generation, reusable to-go containers, pollinator gardens, stormwater management, student basic needs, and zero waste.

>> ENGR 1907: Sustainability Capstone, https://catalog.upp.pitt.edu/preview_course_nopop.php?catoid=213&coid=1141731

>> GEOL 1333: Sustainability, https://www.geology.pitt.edu/course/geol-1333-sustainability

>> Student Initiated Project Archive: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/get-involved/student-projects/

ON-CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY INTERNSHIPS

Students are imperative contributors to sustainability at the University of Pittsburgh. From 2018 through 2023, over 91 students have interned in Sustainability roles across campus, gaining hands-on and co-curricular skills and knowledge that help prepare them for high-impact careers focused on and/or incorporating sustainability concepts.

FIRST YEAR PRESENTATIONS ON SUSTAINABILITY

Pitt’s Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation annually delivers First-Year Presentations on Sustainability that reached 1,555 students across 9 different core course departments in 2023. These presentations are delivered by trained students who have important campus sustainability roles; a total of 37 classes across a variety of departments learned about sustainable opportunities both in and outside the classroom at Pitt.
>> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/request-a-first-year-sustainability-presentation/

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CENTERS

Pitt’s Neighborhood Commitments build stronger communities and a stronger University with long-term, place-based partnerships. In partnership with local communities, the University of Pittsburgh has made a minimum 15-year commitment of investment, infrastructure, programming, and dedicated staff in Pittsburgh neighborhoods including Homewood and the Hill District. Presently, 2 Pitt Community Engagement Centers offer programs that contribute to understanding and advancement of sustainability-related topics. Programs include engineering outreach to enhance STEM education; community-based participatory health research; data literacy and skills training; wellness pavilions; Pitt-assisted communities; K-12 and other volunteer opportunities, and more. A third Pitt Community Engagement Center is in the planning process for Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood, with a focus on life sciences education adjacent to Pitt’s emerging BioForge project. Pitt’s Neighborhood Commitments program is part of the Office of Engagement and Community Affairs.
>> https://cec.pitt.edu/

OASIS FARM & FISHERY

Oasis Farm & Fishery is an urban farm located in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The farm’s mission is to grow food, community, and people -- and a long-standing partnership exists between Oasis and Pitt’s Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation (MCSI). Oasis Farm & Fishery works to combat the food access issue in the Homewood community while also providing education and after school programming form local youth and families. Dr. David Sanchez (Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation) has helped address climate control issues in Oasis’s aquaponic growing space (aka “bioshelter”) so it can continue to operate effectively and contribute to the farm’s total production while offering a unique exposure to sustainable agriculture technology that benefits fish, plants, and people. Student volunteers and Pitt Hydroponics Club members also engage in educational workshops led by Oasis farm staff to learn more about the need for urban farms and best practices for growing. Pitt students also gain hands-on experience in the community through many farm service projects. These efforts have also led to a new Pitt post-doctoral research project investigating the benefits of biochar for vegetable production.

>> Pitt Oasis Farm & Fishery Partnership - https://www.sustainabilityinstitute.pitt.edu/about/signature-programs/external-partners/service
>> Oasis Farm & Fishery - https://www.oasisfarmandfishery.org/about

PITT HYDROPONICS CLUB

The Pitt Hydroponics Club is advised by Dr. David Sanchez (Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation). The club develops hydroponics systems to support production of produce at a local farm in the Homewood neighborhood. Club members participate in urban agriculture workshops at the farm to learn how to best support needs through the proper procedures. Additionally, club members engage with the farm through various service days to help with seasonal transition and general maintenance of raised garden beds and seed transplanting. Students from the Pitt Hydroponics Club and sustainability-related classes participated in an Urban Food Tour that included visiting to Oasis Farm and four other urban farms where students had opportunities to connect with farm leaders and engage in meaningful discussion surrounding food equity.

>> https://pitt2.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/PittHydro

SUSTAINABILITY CAPSTONE - NURDLE PATROL
Each semester, a team of students from Pitt’s Sustainability Capstone course work on a project focused on gathering baseline data from riverbanks up- and downstream from the newly operating Shell Plastics Plant in Beaver County. The “cracker” plant produces small plastic pellets (known as nurdles), which serve as the raw material for many plastic goods. Students connect with area residents, citizen scientists, and high school environmental science students to learn about local perceptions about the plant. Student teams also perform several site visits to collect nurdles from various locations for bio-analysis and plastic-analysis, following established Nurdle Patrol guidelines.

>> More about Nurdle Patrol - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoIxIkvrlHs

CERAMIC WATER FILTERS

The Ceramic Filter Project is focused on improving the manufacturing of low-cost ceramic water filters in marginalized communities through service-learning experiences and research performed at the University of Pittsburgh. Safe drinking water is essential to human health, survival, growth, and development. According to UNICEF, 1,300 children die every day from preventable waterborne diarrheal diseases because they don't have access to clean drinking water and sanitation. Ceramic water filters made from locally sourced clay and sawdust are among a small number of appropriate point-of-use water treatment techniques that are recognized as being effective and accessible technologies for removing bacteria from drinking water in marginalized communities. The activities of the Ceramic Filter Project are supervised and coordinated by Dr. Ian Nettleship (Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science). Dr. Nettleship is also the President of Ceramic Water Filter Solutions (CWFS), a Pittsburgh based nonprofit organization that establishes new ceramic water filter factories and promotes the use of ceramic water filters around the world. CWFS currently works with partner factories in Nepal, Nigeria, Mexico and Honduras. This direct experience of establishing and sustaining small-scale manufacturing facilities in marginalized communities informs the "hands-on" service-learning experiences for student participants in the Ceramic Filter Project. Dr. Nettleship also teaches Humanitarian Engineering at the undergraduate level; he also chairs the Engineering for Humanity Certificate program.

>> https://www.engineering.pitt.edu/subsites/projects/ceramic-filter/ceramic-filter-project/

STUDENT COURSE PROJECTS FROM GEOL 1333: SUSTAINABILITY

As mentioned in the Engagement section above, a number of the University’s sustainability-focused and -related courses regularly originate student projects focused on campus sustainability. Campus-focused student course projects in recent years relating to Public Engagement have included (but not limited to) community gardens and neighborhood pest concerns.

>> GEOL 1333: Sustainability, https://www.geology.pitt.edu/course/geol-1333-sustainability

>> Student Initiated Project Archive: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/get-involved/student-projects/

GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY (ANNUAL)

Specific to GHG emissions, the University has been actively tracking its carbon footprint since 2008, with eight GHG inventories currently completed for the Pittsburgh campus (and Fiscal Year 2023 in process). Each of these greenhouse gas emissions has been guided by Dr. Melissa Bilec (Civil and Environmental Engineering + Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation) – and completed by a graduate student. Dr. Aurora Sharrard (Assistant Vice Chancellor of Sustainability) joined this collaboration for the first time in FY19 (due to her position being new) and has advanced GHG inventories to an annual cadence. Data is provided from offices and departments across the University. Though not published in time for submission of this report, Pitt students from the Pittsburgh campus have also led composition of a FY19 and FY22 GHG Inventory for Pitt’s Bradford campus.

>> All Pitt GHG Inventories - https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/commitments-reports/
>> Pitt FY22 GHG Inventory - https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/pitt-ghg-inventory-fy-2022/

INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Dating back a number of years, the University’s Office of Facilities Management installed Aircuity systems in collaboration with the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation (MCSI). Now installed in several buildings across campus, Pitt’s Aircuity systems monitor indoor air quality (IAQ). Pitt faculty use the IAQ data from both the MCSI space and other Pitt buildings for educational and research purposes. In the past, Dr. Melissa Bilec (CEE & MCSI) also combined internal IAQ efforts with related external efforts of the Pittsburgh 2030 District (the only international 2030 District implementing an IAQ measure). Currently, Pitt’s Aircuity data is used by graduate students for research on modeling sustainable built environments. Faculty collaborations and national research grants are also supporting integration of Aircuity data into Digital Twin research.

>> https://news.engineering.pitt.edu/predicting-how-climate-change-affects-infrastructure-without-damaging-the-subject/

PITT SUSTAINABILITY DASHBOARD

In Summer 2019, Pitt’s Office of Sustainability, Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, and University Center for Social and Urban Research collaborated via a summer undergraduate research project to create the first Pitt Sustainability Dashboards. The project was advertised as including “investigations, recommendations, and analyses across equity, environment, and economic facets related to the University of Pittsburgh’s Oakland campus (at both the building and campus scales) and considering communications and behavior change opportunities.” Today, that dashboard exists, currently showcasing greenhouse gas emissions, compostable diversion, food recovery, food audit tallies, real food utilization, building energy intensity, building water use intensity, and bike share utilization. Many of these dashboards were created by Pitt students; the data informing all Pitt Sustainability dashboards are available for Pitt community members to download and analyze, opening up campus and building data, systems, and performance as opportunities for teaching, research, and improvement.
>> Learn more - https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/dashboard
>> Dashboard announcement highlighting student involvement - https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/new-dashboards-for-building-energy-water-use-intensity-2014-2019/

PITT CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

In February 2020, the University strengthened its operational carbon commitment, committing to becoming carbon neutral by 2037 (the University’s 250th anniversary) for the Pittsburgh campus. As a result, Pitt developed and published its first Pitt Climate Action Plan (PittCAP) in March 2022. Development of the PittCAP was guided by the Carbon Commitment Committee, which includes faculty, students, and operational staff from across the University. This group is also responsible for annually evaluating progress towards carbon neutral goal, submitting progress evaluations, and sharing progress. PittCAP has already inspired a number of student and course projects, educational initiatives, and more focused on campus carbon emissions.

>> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/team-member/carbon-commitment-committee/
>> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/commitments-reports/pitt-climate-action-plan/

STUDENT COURSE PROJECTS FROM GEOL 1333: SUSTAINABILITY

As mentioned in the Engagement section above, a number of the University’s sustainability-focused and -related courses regularly originate student projects focused on campus sustainability. Air and Climate-focused student course projects in recent years have included, but are not limited to carbon offsets, kinetic tiles, plug loads, solar flowers, and solar picnic tables.

>> GEOL 1333: Sustainability, https://www.geology.pitt.edu/course/geol-1333-sustainability

>> Student Initiated Project Archive: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/get-involved/student-projects/

PITT SUSTAINABILITY DASHBOARD

To provide an interactive view of progress on specific Pitt Sustainability Plan‘s goals, the University created the Pitt Sustainability Dashboard, which further strengthens transparency, advances future analytics capabilities, and helps quantify the University’s impact as a global sustainability leader. The Pitt Sustainability Dashboard currently showcases greenhouse gas emissions, compostable diversion (by building), food recovery, food audit tallies (by location), Real Food utilization (by location and campus-wide), energy use intensity (by building & campus-wide), water use intensity (by building & campus-wide), and bike share utilization (past; update in development).

For the compost, building energy use intensity, and building water use intensity dashboards, interactive features allow users to view results at both building and campus scales for the Pittsburgh campus, while simultaneously selecting variable timeframes through which to review data and results.

Many of these dashboards were created by Pitt students; the data informing all Pitt Sustainability dashboards are available for Pitt community members to download and analyze, opening up campus and building data, systems, and performance as opportunities for teaching, research, and improvement.

>> Learn more - https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/dashboard
>> Dashboard announcement highlighting student involvement - https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/new-dashboards-for-building-energy-water-use-intensity-2014-2019/

ENERGY METERING & LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT

The Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation (MCSI) has worked with Pitt Facilities Management to install additional energy metering and obtain operational data for energy modeling and life cycle assessment research in MCSI facilities within Benedum Hall. Indoor environmental quality was also assessed as well as it's associated impact on occupant productivity. Also, past student interns in Facilities Management evaluated building occupancy schedules within the building automation system and recommended areas for fine-tuning these schedules, resulting in significant energy savings. Similar to indoor air quality, the metering will also be used for a unique data stream for the digital twin.

STUDENT COURSE PROJECTS FROM GEOL 1333: SUSTAINABILITY

As mentioned in the Engagement section above, a number of the University’s sustainability-focused and -related courses regularly originate student projects focused on campus sustainability. Building-focused student course projects in recent years have included, but are not limited to: carbon offsets, renewable electricity generation, plug loads, and zero waste.

>> GEOL 1333: Sustainability, https://www.geology.pitt.edu/course/geol-1333-sustainability

>> Student Initiated Project Archive: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/get-involved/student-projects/

ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEMS LAB

Pitt’s Electric Power Systems Lab and related programs of the University’s Center for Energy have been developed in collaboration with industry, government, and other constituents to provide innovative education and collaborative research programs for students in the areas of Electric Power and Energy Engineering. Working together with industry partners, strong government sponsorship, and other constituency support, Pitt is contributing to the advancement of modern electric power technology and infrastructure at all levels, from the development of novel power electronics converters to micro and macro grid modeling and control. Pitt is also committed to the development of solutions to address an aging workforce in the electric power and energy sectors via modernized educational programs. Through advancements in both technology and education, the initiative establishes a model program for the resurgence and sustainability of university based electric power engineering programs in the U.S.

>> https://www.engineering.pitt.edu/Sub-Sites/Labs/Electric-Power-Systems/_Content/Lab-Capabilities/Electric-Power-Systems-Lab/

STUDENT COURSE PROJECTS FROM GEOL 1333: SUSTAINABILITY

As mentioned in the Engagement section above, a number of the University’s sustainability-focused and -related courses regularly originate student projects focused on campus sustainability. Energy-focused student course projects in recent years have included, but are not limited to: anaerobic digestion, carbon offsets, energy audits of office spaces (to identify behavior change opportunities), kinetic tiles, renewable electricity education and generation, plug loads, solar flowers, and solar picnic tables.

>> GEOL 1333: Sustainability, https://www.geology.pitt.edu/course/geol-1333-sustainability

>> Student Initiated Project Archive: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/get-involved/student-projects/

PITT SUSTAINABILITY DASHBOARD

The Pitt Sustainability Dashboard includes a campus-wide and building-specific annual energy use intensity dashboard that includes data from 2014 to present. This energy use intensity dashboard was created by students and launched in 2021. The data is available for faculty and student research.

>> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/dashboard
>> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/new-dashboards-for-building-energy-water-use-intensity-2014-2019/

PITT DINING

The University of Pittsburgh’s Dining Services is an excellent partner for students and faculty living laboratory projects. Over the past 3 years, sample student class projects in this vein have included Environmental Studies students working towards reducing food waste in dining halls through an educational campaign; tabling in The Eatery (primary residential dining hall) with a relevant craft, presenting virtually on habits that reduce food waste, and creating educational signage. Spring 2023 projects also included exploration of the viability of using a food dehydrator (to aid composting logistics on campus) and the possibilities of bringing local produce directly to dorms.

In addition, Pitt Dining regularly employs student interns to help document Real Food Challenge and Coolfood efforts. Overall, Pitt Dining employs 2 finance interns, 1 marketing intern, 3 sustainability interns, and 2 human resources interns throughout the school year to assist in its operations.

Pitt Dining also supports 2 Pitt student organizations: Food Recovery Heroes and Oakland Cares.

PITT SUSTAINABILITY DASHBOARD
The Pitt Sustainability dashboard showcases the University's Real Food, food audit, and food recovery data for transparency and research utilization by faculty and students.
>> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/dashboard/

POLLINATORS

Pitt’s pollinator-focused are driven by sustained student interest and action in partnership with Pitt Facilities Management and the Department of Biological Sciences. To date, the University has 6 pollinator gardens, with more awaiting student design.

BEE HOUSES - In 2019, a Pitt student project helped install solitary bee houses across campus. These houses are now supported in collaboration with Pitt Grounds and the Pitt Conservation Club student organization (launched in 2023). The Conservation Club is planning to build more bee houses in 2024.
>> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/student-organizations/conservation-club/

BEE CAMPUS USA – In June 2020, Pitt received its first Bee Campus USA designation from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Bee Campus affiliates commit to supporting pollinators by establishing native-plant habitats, providing nesting sites, reducing the use of pesticides, and providing pollinator educational opportunities through service, campus signage, and online content. Pitt is proud to have been among the first 5 affiliates in Pennsylvania to receive a Bee Campus USA designation. Students, faculty, and operational staff sit on our Pollinator Habitat Advisory Committee: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/pollinator-habitat-advisory-committee/. In 2022 & 2023 Pollinator Week celebrations graduate students were also invited to present on their research pertaining to pollinators.
>> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/pollinator-week-2022/
>> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/pollinator-week-2023/

STUDENT COURSE PROJECTS FROM GEOL 1333: SUSTAINABILITY

As mentioned in the Engagement section above, a number of the University’s sustainability-focused and -related courses regularly originate student projects focused on campus sustainability. There have been Grounds-focused student course projects in the past 3 years in partnership with the Pitt Grounds team to benefit pollinators. In Fall 2023, a group designed and replanted the Posvar Pollinator garden on Schenley Drive.
>> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/posvar-pollinator-garden-on-schenley/

In Spring 2022, a group designed and planted the “Relearn Our Land Garden” to showcase plants that hold cultural significance for Indigenous peoples. In June 2021, a student group also planted the Pollinator Garden on Clemente with all native species.

>> GEOL 1333: Sustainability, https://www.geology.pitt.edu/course/geol-1333-sustainability

>> Student Initiated Project Archive: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/get-involved/student-projects/

>> Pitt Pollinator Garden Context - https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/campus-culture/facilities/landscape-ecology/?tab=Pollinators

TREES

In 2019, Pitt’s tree inventory was completed by 2 Pitt students. Used in collaboration with a professionally created tree inventory, this student inventory was very accurate relating to species identification over thousands of trees.
>> https://www.pittwire.pitt.edu/news/duos-mission-count-each-tree-campus

In Fall 2020, Pitt’s Urban Ecology class in Biological Sciences updated the campus tree inventory by accessing the health and beneficial impacts of trees on the Cathedral’s lawns. This information was shared with the Campus Tree Advisory Committee to inform future projects that impact the campus community. There are also undergraduate and graduate student representatives on this committee that help Pitt move towards achieving Tree Campus USA designation.
>> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/team-member/campus-tree-advisory-committee/

In 2022, the Pitt Tree Tender program was launched, offering students the opportunity to learn from local experts about tree biology and care. This certification helps students activate their knowledge by assisting with community projects like street tree plantings and pruning workshops.

PLANT2PLATE STUDENT GARDEN

The Plant2Plate student organization at the University of Pittsburgh incorporates 3 elements: the farm, the kitchen, and the community. Plant2Plate manages an on-campus urban garden that provides produce for students and a local food pantry, while engaging the campus community around issues related to food and sustainability.
>> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/student-projects/plant-2-plate/

In 2023, Pitt Purchasing helped advise a student group project to create a proposal for a Generation Conscious cost zero waste laundry sheet dispenser in Lothrop Hall– at no costs to students, helping address hygiene security. Students will evaluate pilot in 2024 and propose potential expansion across residence halls. Laundry sheets are hypoallergenic, package-free, plastic-free, and require 97% less water & 95% less carbon to produce and distribute.

In 2021, Pitt students also engaged in the University’s Pouring Rights contract process, which included sustainability and single-use plastics considerations. A resulting Sustainability Capstone student course project in 2022 focused on beverage packaging.

PITT BIKE CAVE

In 2017 and 2018, student group Pitt Bicycle Collective worked with Facilities Management; Parking & Transportation and Services; Athletics; Recreation; and Student Affairs to envision and implement an on-campus bicycle co-op. The Pitt Bike Cave opened in August 2017 in Posvar Hall’s exterior, with ongoing cross-campus collaborations between Students Affairs, Sustainability, Facilities, and Parking & Transportation to ensure its effective operations and engagement. Student employees staff the Pitt Bike Cave and assist the Pitt bicycle community with bicycle repairs, including access to minor parts and tools, with the goal of teaching bike owners to perform their own repairs. The Cave also offers educational and social activities to promote bicycle safety, group rides, etc.

STUDENT MOBILITY INTERN PROJECTS

Pitt Mobility annually funds and supports a student intern to create projects to advance Pitt’s transportation and mobility goals. Recent projects have included:

2023 - POGOH bike share promotion and support. Intern helped create communication and engagement campaigns to promote POGOH and help students and employees activate their POGOH benefit.

Spring 2022- Intern helped with strategic planning for Bike to Campus week, organized carpool participants for improved matching opportunities, and researched EV charging policies at other U.S. universities to recommend best practices to be implemented at Pitt.

Fall 2022- Student intern conducted research on mobility hubs and explored how and where Pitt could create one. They also explored creative bike parking ideas (e.g., shipping container bike storage) and drafted possible new shuttle routes for improved efficiency around campus.

PITT ECOREPS

Since 2019, Pitt’s Office of Business, Hospitality, and Auxiliary Services (which includes Housing) has been hiring student “EcoReps” to be sustainability ambassadors in residence halls on campus. Pitt EcoReps host workshops, provide information sessions, and work closely with RAs to ensure proper signage and disposal of waste, recyclables, and compostables. They also educate their peers by managing the Pitt Green Resident program, which includes helping students examine how they generate waste in their day-to-day practice and how they can reduce their carbon footprint.

>> Pitt EcoReps: https://www.instagram.com/pittecoreps/?hl=en
>> Pitt Green Resident Program: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/get-involved/students/pitt-green-residents-floors/

STUDENT COURSE PROJECTS FROM GEOL 1333: SUSTAINABILITY

Pitt’s Sustainability course in Geology and Environmental Studies is offered every semester – and a source of copious student-led projects relating to campus sustainability.

From 2021 to present, there have been numerous student projects focused on materials waste, including the following projects

FALL 2023 – Students identified mattress toppers as a source of landfill waste during Clutter for a Cause (annual Pitt campus move-out zero waste effort). The students researched diversion options, including reuse at animals shelters and remanufacturing as carpet underlay. Their final proposal included a pilot to mattress recycling of 200 mattress toppers in with A Bedder World. In 2024, the students will collect real data on volumetric diversion potential of mattress toppers at Clutter for a Cause.

SPRING 2023 – Students worked toward the Pitt Sustainability Plan goal of expanding food waste composting on campus to compost 50% of food waste by 2025; they created a case study examining the viability of using a food dehydrator to support campus composting logistics.

FALL 2022 – A group project created an educational campaign focused on how students could reduce waste by switching from liquid detergent to detergent sheets. Another student group focused on reducing e-waste by holding an on-campus e-waste collection event that collected 20 pounds of electronics for recycling. A third group focused on reducing menstrual waste by conducting an educational campaign and promoting reusable products.

SPRING 2022- Students worked towards reducing food waste in dining halls through an educational campaign including tabling in The Eatery (primary dining hall) with a craft, virtual presentation on habits that reduce food waste, and creating educational signage.

FALL 2021 – One student project focused on creating a proposal for a campus recycling hub. Another student-led project worked on reducing on-campus medical waste by collaborating with Pitt Clean & Swap to collect items no longer in use to be donated to local nonprofit Global Links. This project was later highlighted in a 2023 Campus Race to Zero Waste CR2ZW case study. https://campusracetozerowaste.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CR2ZW-2023-Case-Study-University-of-Pittsburgh-final.pdf

SPRING 2021 – The first student project focused campus waste bin standardization to help inform a cohesive campus design for waste bins. A second student project focused on anaerobic digester research and applicability to campus. A third student project created a plogging group that combined outdoor running with litter pickup.

GEOL 1904: SUSTAINABILITY FLASH LAB

Offered once a year, the Sustainability Flash Lab course in Geology and Environmental Studies incorporates a home lab assignment focused on measuring personal waste/recycling/composting while creating personal conservation plans. Many other labs in this course include waste as a component (e.g., wasted water, energy, resources, etc.). An additional assignment focuses students on raising awareness about sustainability in all categories, including waste.

CAMPUS RAINWORKS CHALLENGE

Pitt annually has student groups participated in the U.S. EPA’s Campus RainWorks Challenge. In 2021, a cross-disciplinary group of Pitt undergraduate students won 2nd in the U.S. EPA’s RainWorks Challenge, Master Plan Category. >> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/pitt-student-project-places-second-in-epas-9th-annual-campus-rainworks-challenge/

PITT SUSTAINABILITY DASHBOARD

A student helped create a campus-wide and building-specific annual energy and water intensity dashboard that was published in 2021. The data is available for faculty and student research.
>> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/new-dashboards-for-building-energy-water-use-intensity-2014-2019/
>> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/dashboard

WATER COLLABORATORY

The Pittsburgh Water Collaboratory at the University of Pittsburgh bridges efforts in water research, governance, and action. By connecting universities, local governments, nonprofits, and community groups, the Pittsburgh Water Collaboratory aims to align efforts across the region. We work to ensure that data and expertise are accessible to those who need it, that research responds to real needs, and that students are prepared to solve real challenges, today and tomorrow. Our clean water future can be found where science and community meet. The Collaboratory offers annual student research opportunities with a focus on water sustainability and often explores collaboration opportunities on campus.
>>https://www.water.pitt.edu/

GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY

As described in the “Air & Climate” section, since 2008, graduate students have completed the University’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory for the Pittsburgh campus. The most recent GHG inventory is for Fiscal Year 2022, which was completed by graduate student Federica Geremicca.
>> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/pitt-ghg-inventory-fy-2022/

PITT SUSTAINABILITY DASHBOARD
Beginning in 2019, student researcher Jonathan Coles helped develop the Pitt Sustainability Dashboard, which is utilized today to provide an interactive look at progress toward the 68 goals of the Pitt Sustainability Plan. Several other students have since worked on expanding the Pitt Sustainability Dashboards that now focus on multiple key performance indicators, including greenhouse gas emissions, compostable diversion, food recovery, food audit tallies, real food utilization, building energy use intensity, building water use intensity, and bike share utilization.
>>https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/dashboard

AASHE STARS CREDIT REPORTING
Pitt’s Sustainability team is incredibly thankful for the undergraduate student contributors to this AASHE STARS documentation, who include Martina Frederick, Federica Geremicca, Maggie Lincoln, and Chiamaka Okpara. Students are involved in the AASHE STARS documentation process every time the University submits a report.

COMMITTEE PARTICPATION

Students are involved in numerous Pitt Sustainability governing bodies at the University, including the Chancellor’s Advisory Council on Sustainability, Active Mobility Committee, Campus Basic Needs Committee, Campus Tree Advisory Committee, Carbon Commitment Committee, and Pollinator Habitat Advisory Committee.
>> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/team/council-committees/

2018-2022 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE PITT SUSTAINABILITY PLAN

Multiple student Pitt Sustainability interns helped compile data and design the 2018-2022 Progress Report on the Pitt Sustainability Plan. This comprehensive report details the progress made on all 68 sustainability goals set forth by the University -- and helps identify strategic priorities for the future to meet all targets. The project started in 2021 and ran through 2023 (including post-publication social media!).
>> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/progress-report/

STUDENT CAPSTONE PROJECTS ON PITT CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

In 2023, 3 Pitt graduate students (Isabella Cicco, Federica Geremicca, and Jessica Moriah Vaden) analyzed all historical Pitt greenhouse gas inventories covering 14 years of data. They then identified the Pitt Climate Action Plan (PittCAP) goals for building-related emissions -- and how Pitt’s greenhouse gas inventories can be used to assess the achievement of those goal at both a campus-wide and individual building scale. After defining the 2037 carbon emissions target for each individual building, an emissions target was created for every year from 2019 to 2037. This yearly target indicates whether the University is on track to achieve carbon neutrality by 2037. The analysis of 95 buildings in the GHG inventory boundary showed that on average, each building needs to decrease energy use by ~14% between 2019 and 2037 to meet the University’s carbon neutrality target with an efficiency first strategy.

BASIC NEEDS RESOURCE GUIDE

In 2017, student leaders of Pitt Pantry created a 2-page basic needs resource guide to be distributed physically at Pitt’s various student service centers and virtually via social media and newsletters. The original guides included both Pitt and community-based resources for food, housing, employment, financial security, assistance with academic-related expenses, and more. Pitt’s Basic Needs Resource Guide was updated by students again in 2019 and 2020, including researching existing resources to ensure accuracy and gathering data from the annual Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice Reports to identify gaps between student needs and resource availability. In 2022, student sustainability interns created an online Basic Needs webpage that is now included in the Pitt Student Green Guide. This page is updated annually with new programs.
>> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/campus-culture/basic-needs/

STUDENT OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY MENSTRUAL EQUITY

Beginning in 2019, Pitt Planned Parenthood and the Student Office of Sustainability (SOOS) partnered to purchase and distribute 400 reusable menstrual cups and 46 menstrual pads. In addition to avoiding waste, the effort helped make reusable menstrual products more visible and financially accessible to students. Continuing to make menstrual products more accessible on-campus, 44 dispensers providing free, single-use period products have been installed across campus from 2019 to present in 17 buildings, including in men’s restrooms in Barco, Litchfield Towers, and Sutherland Hall. Today, campus-wide education about menstrual equity is a collaborative effort supported by many student organizations. In 2022, a SOOS-led case study took first place in the 2022 Campus Race to Zero Waste “Education & Awareness” category for student-led menstrual health equity efforts partnered with Pitt EcoReps, Pitt Planned Parenthood, and Free the Planet. The case study describes a Spring 2022 Pitt Zero Waste Period program addressing the short- and long-term environmental and health impacts of disposable and reusable products, menstrual health, period poverty, and equity – and distributing reusable products to students on campus. 
>> https://www.nwf.org/Latest-News/Press-Releases/2022/9-22-22-Campus-Race-Zero-Waste

SOOS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COLLECTIVE

Created in 2022 by the Student Office of Sustainability, Pitt’s Environmental Justice Collective to empowers students to work on elevating black, indigenous, and people of color voices while removing actual and perceived participation barriers in environmental organizations, clubs, and majors. The SOOS EJ Collective is helping raise awareness in the Pitt community about environmental justice issues through partnership with local organizations and educational campaigns.
>> https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/student-organizations/eco-justice-collective/

BOARD OF TRUSTEES’ INVESTMENT COMMITTEE - There are two students on the Board of Trustees Investment Committee, which oversees management of the University’s Endowment and implementation of the Environmental, Social, and Governance Policy.

SOCIALLY RESPONSBIBLE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO
The Socially Responsible Investment Portfolio was created by students and faculty at the University of Pittsburgh in association with the David Berg Center for Ethics and Leadership and the Certificate in Leadership and Ethics Program in Pitt’s Business school. The student organization’s goal is to give members the opportunity to apply social responsibility along with sound knowledge of finance in order to invest in a real-world investment portfolio. The experience teaches students applicable skills that prepare them as business and finance professionals.
>> https://sriatpitt.com/

CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS (CSB)
The Center for Sustainable Business at the University of Pittsburgh works to promote the adoption of more sustainable business practices. Through innovative research, specialized education and training, and critical thought leadership, the CSB helps companies learn how to leverage their investments in sustainability across all functions of the organization to generate better business and societal outcomes. Via regular research fellowships, undergraduate and graduate students work to evaluate Investment & Finance-related projects, including at least one specific to the University in 2024.
>> https://www.sustainablebusiness.pitt.edu/

GREEN WALLS

Multiple student groups from the GEOL 1333: Sustainability course have researched and proposed green wall projects around campus during this reporting period. There are currently 2 free-standing green walls on campus that students help care for (and another permanent installation in the University Bookstore). Student care of 2 free standing green walls includes watering, pruning, organic pest management, and replanting events. The green wall in the Office of Sustainability is managed by student interns, while the green wall in the William Pitt Union is overseen by student leaders partnered with the Student Office of Sustainability. Students from GEOL 1333 also created a green wall manual to help empower other campus departments to implement free-standing green walls in their workspaces and study areas.

THE YEAR OF EMOTIONAL WELLBEING

The University of Pittsburgh’s “Year of” funding opportunity allows students to gain experience in writing proposals and implementing programs. Calendar year 2022 was the Year of Emotional Wellbeing and many students created University-wide projects to promote emotional wellbeing. Some examples of funded projects include, but are not limited to:

BCAP YOUTH ARTS PROGRAM by Michelle Khattri (Student, David C. Frederick Honors College)
This is an opportunity for Pitt students and the Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh (BCAP)community partner to instill emotional well-being practices through art therapy. This program includes general arts, theater, and music topics that integrate well-being practices to build confidence, express emotions, reduce stress, and foster mindfulness. Pitt students actively participate in learning emotional well-being techniques for themselves and have the chance to pay it forward to the future generation.

STAY READY MEDICAL EDUCATION by Marrissa Muchnock (Student, David C. Frederick Honors College)
This project produced a series following a diverse night class for Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training. The first episode focuses on the mental health of health care workers and patients. In addition to providing insight into health provider experiences and training, this project educates the public on mental health resources. Characters’ storylines are woven into health information, allowing other organizations, such as hospitals or ambulance companies, to use clips for internal continuing education.

INWARD: WELLNESS RETREAT by Sarah Arend (Graduate Student) and Jamie Kulzer (Graduate Student) SHRS-Rehab Science and Technology
This one-day retreat for 10 graduate students in the Health Sciences focused on reducing burnout and increasing psychological wellbeing. Facilitated by experts in the community (and with support from a community partner and multiple University entities) this retreat incorporated holistic practices of yoga and meditation paired with application opportunities that provide psychoeducation and moments for reflection. This project was designed to restore and enhance the emotional well-being of students—specifically, graduate students at an increased risk of developing mental health issues. This retreat assisted these students in managing stress and reversing burnout, offering an opportunity for students to enhance their psychological functioning by participating in curated wellness activities.

Full list of student projects funded by the Year of Emotional Wellbeing >> https://www.yearofemotionalwellbeing.pitt.edu/funded-projects

• Center for Sustainable Business: https://www.sustainablebusiness.pitt.edu/
• Ceramic Filters: https://www.engineering.pitt.edu/subsites/projects/ceramic-filter/research--activities/
• Community Engagement Centers (Public Engagement): https://cec.pitt.edu/
• Pitt EcoReps: https://www.bhas.pitt.edu/ecoreps
• Pitt Hydroponics Club (Public Engagement): https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/student-organizations/pitt-hydroponics/
• Pitt’s Greenhouse Gas Inventories: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/commitments-reports/, with FY22 showcasing process: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/pitt-ghg-inventory-fy-2022/
• Pitt Sustainability Dashboard: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/dashboard/
• Socially Responsible Investment Portfolio at Pitt (SRI Pitt): https://sriatpitt.com/
• Year of Emotional Well-Being: https://www.yearofemotionalwellbeing.pitt.edu/