| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.70 |
| Liaison | Aaron Durnbaugh |
| Submission Date | Jan. 17, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Loyola University Chicago
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Aaron
Durnbaugh Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
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 | Yes |
| Diversity & Affordability | Yes |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | Yes |
| Investment | Yes |
| 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:
Students have assisted with every Greenhouse Gas Inventory since 2011. Specific outcomes include public presentations on total emissions, athletics department tracking and an in-depth internship program with the Field Museum on campus adaptation to 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:
There are many examples of students, faculty, staff and consultants working together on campus-based projects. Some examples include a project funded by Dept. of Energy, in partnership with Argonne Labs, Elara Engineering, SCB Architects and the students of the Solutions to Environmental Problems course focused on 'Shelter'. They analyzed the energy use of 104 year old Dumbach Hall and compared to a new construction Cuneo Hall as they have similar size and use. The conducted energy audits, analyzed multiple retrofits and many of the energy efficiency projects have been or will be implemented. The most significant is a heat-recovery project from a basement level data center that uses outdoor air for cooling and provides waste heat to condition the building. Other retrofits include insulation, window retrofits and internal air sealing.
Other projects that would be eligible include classroom energy use indicators (Cuneo Hall), real-time energy use feedback (San Francisco Hall), and a passive ventilation trial with students working in a greenhouse in the Institute of Environmental Sustainability facility.
Date Revised: Feb. 10, 2014
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:
Solutions to Environmental Problems - Food course has partnered with Aramark Dining track local purchasing, explore certification for on-campus food production and organized the Loyola Farmer's Market (now in its 3rd season).
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:
Students are involved in a variety of energy projects from energy tracking, monitoring and competitions to renewable energy projects including exercise equipment and wind and wave power feasibility.
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 have mapped trees and calculated carbon sequestration, edible landscaping, and native landscaping. They have evaluated stormwater performance of the landscape and irrigation water consumption.
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:
Student projects have looked at the purchasing of sustainable certified office supplies and information technology equipment. The outcome was a green IT policy and a modified vendor RFP process.
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:
Student projects include evaluating the impacts of idling shuttle buses, starting and running the on-campus bike shop and rental program, ChainLinks, and a series of transportation workshops on safe bike commuting and public transit utilization.
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:
Students work closely with Facilities and Residence Life to support recycling and composting programs on campus. They provide presentations to student groups and conduct outreach through the dining halls. Worm composting and landscape composting programs are both run by students as is an end of year green move out program, Think Green and Give.
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 have tracked water consumption at Loyola for the last few years and suggested recommendations to facilities and residence life. A campaign regarding water access and privatization inspired the University to install over 70 water bottle refill stations, a successful campus-wide resolution to ban the sale of bottled water and the University to phase out the sale in all dining services, catering and vending services.
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:
During the 2012 sustainability planning and input gathering over 3,000 students provided ideas towards the 2013-15 Sustainability and Climate Plan. The United Student Government Association added a Chief Sustainability Officer in 2012 and a $50,000 sustainability fund (The Green Initiative Fund) was passed by the student body in 12-13 and implemented in 2013.
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:
Students have led the way in increasing diversity resources on campus including Alternative Break Immersions, Social Justice Dinners and a concerted effort around undocumented students access to education. One other outcome is the 'Unity in Diversity' Fund to support diversity and social justice initiatives.
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:
Student activities have focused on encouraging healthy living through active transportation and food choices. Other initiatives from nursing students led to walking challenges and outreach around substance abuse.
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:
The Shareholder Advocacy Committee has three student members (of 9). A current campaign led by the Student Environmental Alliance is advocating for the university to divest from fossil fuels. The university has taken a number of shareholder actions regarding issues of sustainability, namely mountaintop removal mining, coal power plants, fracking, water access and human rights.
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 graduate student compiles the monthly sustainability newsletter and weekly sustainability updates as well as handling all of the web updates. The student newspaper, The Phoenix, has a regular sustainability section highlighting projects and current issues in sustainability.
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:
Student efforts have focused on the specific intersection of building's impact on biodiversity. This has led to modified building operations reducing the number of migratory birds injuring or killing themselves by crashing into our buildings.
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.