| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 54.63 |
| Liaison | Kelly Wellman |
| Submission Date | Jan. 23, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Texas A&M University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Ben
Kalscheur Sustainability Assistant Manager 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 | --- |
| Energy | Yes |
| Grounds | Yes |
| Purchasing | --- |
| Transportation | Yes |
| Waste | Yes |
| Water | Yes |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | Yes |
| Diversity & Affordability | --- |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | --- |
| Investment | --- |
| 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:
Utilities & Energy Services (UES) holds tours of the operating plants to give students first- hand experience on how the facilities operate. We have a number of students working side by side with UES staff evaluating building, distribution system, and plant operating performance. These students are usually with UES for 2 or more years and have the opportunity to gain real world experience while pursuing their academic degrees.
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 participated in a Smart Dorm Pilot project where a phone app controlled room temperatures and allowed temperatures to vary when a room was unoccupied. Final results showed dorm rooms in unoccupied mode 22% in April.
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:
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 collected and analyzed building usage data to create schedules to turn heating and cooling systems off when not in use. Schedules typically reduce building energy consumption by more than 15% annually.
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:
SSC Grounds Management participates annually in two capstone Agricultural Engineering classes that focus on Water consumption. SSC Grounds utilizes the data collected by the students for making adjustments to the irrigation system.
SSC Grounds Management cooperates with student working on related projects. This past spring a student applied for and received a sustainability grant to complete a irrigation water audit at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library. SSC Grounds Management is making the identified adjustments from that audit.
SSC Grounds Management actively recruits interns to work within our operation.
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:
The alternative transportation unit often partners with various academic departments to better transportation on campus. We did several studies with the urban planning department about bike share before we implemented the program based on their recommendations.
We also partner with other departments and student groups to educate and enable the student population to know more and utilize alternative transportation modes. We have a bike maintenance shop that teaches bike maintenance to students and allows them to use the station and tools to repair their bikes.
We also use League Cycling Instructors to teach bike safety classes to build confidence in cycling so the mode is used more often and appropriately.
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:
The Howdy Farm promotes recycling and reduces green waste through composting practices. The farm composts all green waste generated from the gardens and creates compost that is used to fertilize and build healthy soils.
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:
The Howdy Farm, works to teach students about water conservation in sustainable agriculture by using drip irrigation, organic mulches, and by planting seasonal crops that conserve water. The Howdy Farm also utilizes rainwater harvesting in an effort to use less municipal water.
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:
The Office of Sustainability utilizes our Internship Team to assist with reporting requirements for our Sustainability Master Plan (SMP) and this STARS report. Interns prepare information and meet with stakeholders to coordinate data collection. Thanks to their help, we completed our 2nd Biennial SMP Report in 2014.
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:
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:
The Office of Sustainability Internship Program focuses on educating the public in regards to the University's sustainability initiatives and encourages participants to make more sustainable decisions in their daily lives. Public outreach occurs at the community-wide Brazos Valley Earth Day, and at various school/after school programs in the community.
Positive outcomes associated with the work include interacting with ~200 people at Earth Day and sharing our sustainability message, presenting about living more sustainably to a group of over 100 5-12 grade students at a local private school, and developing interactive educational activities for K-5 children in the local community.
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 Winnie Carter Wildlife Center is a 12-acre facility located on the TAMU College Station campus. Native Texas wildlife species, including white-tailed deer and Texas tortoises, are some of the animals housed at the facility.
Undergraduate, graduate and veterinary students come to the Winnie Carter Wildlife Center to learn about the husbandry, management, research and medicine of these animals. Experiential learning is the method by which courses are taught at the center. Students participate in the care of the animals and the facilities. The center is a unique campus living laboratory.
In addition, students participate in composting and recycling and reuse efforts, energy conservation, and are taught about sustainability.
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.