| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 62.11 |
| Liaison | Natalie Sobrinski |
| Submission Date | June 16, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Muhlenberg College
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Kalyna
Procyk Sustainability Coordinator Office of Campus 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 | No |
| Transportation | Yes |
| Waste | Yes |
| Water | Yes |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | Yes |
| Diversity & Affordability | No |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | Yes |
| Investment | --- |
| Public Engagement | Yes |
| Other | No |
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:
A student intern has worked on assessing scope 3 carbon inventory 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:
There are multiple student interns who have worked on energy audits of buildings, and there is also a class that worked on dorm and MILE house energy audits. Muhlenberg’s Tree House can also be considered a learning experiment. The Tree House is meant to educate students on how to live sustainably, and is located in front of the Community and Permaculture gardens, currently has a rainwater capture system and a solar hot water heater. As of now, a group in a Sustainable Solutions class worked on getting a compost system installed, complete with signage. More information can be found at its website:
• http://bergtreehouse.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/hello-world/
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:
There is a sustainability dining services intern, and there are multiple classes involved with working with the Community Garden, including “Sustainable Solutions”. Students developed a plan for a hydroponic herb garden as a class in Sustainable solutions.
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 were involved in developing and installing a solar hot water heater on the Tree House through the Sustainable Solutions class. There are multiple interns working on energy audits of dorms and independent houses.
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:
Several student interns have worked on creating a tree inventory, doing tree engagement events, and completing the process to become an accredited Tree Campus. Students are working on taking soil and water samples on campus as part of an Environmental Science course. Students worked on researching and installing equipment and materials for the Green roof as part of the Sustainable Solutions class. Students also developed and installed a community garden and permaculture forest garden.
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:
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:
There was a Local Sustainability class that developed suggestions for utilizing public/group transportation.
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:
A Local Sustainability class years later looked into waste and recycling outcomes among various buildings and areas around campus. Numerous waste audits have been completed. Students researched suggestions for minimizing waste on campus.
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 developed a system for rainwater harvesting for the tree house as part of a Sustainable Solutions class.
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:
There is a student intern, the Sustainability Metrics Intern, who is planning and analyzing solutions for the future.
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:
Students in the Sustainable Solutions class have researched the possibilities of linking the Bike Share program with athletics programs.
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:
There is social media and marketing sustainability intern.
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:
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.