Sarah Lawrence College DigitalCommons@SarahLawrence Campus Environmental Sustainability Project Undergraduate Scholarship and Creative Works Spring 2016 A Sustainable Campus for the Future: Proposals for Sarah Lawrence College Arianna Cooper Sarah Lawrence College Iva Johnson Sarah Lawrence College Kiana Michaan Sarah Lawrence College Zoe Berg Sarah Lawrence College Leyana Dessauer Sarah Lawrence College FSeeollow next this page and for additional additional works authors at: https:/ /digitalcommons.slc.edu/undergrad_sustainproject Part of the Sustainability Commons Recommended Citation Cooper, Arianna; Johnson, Iva; Michaan, Kiana; Berg, Zoe; Dessauer, Leyana; Fuentes, Jesse; Labadie, Katherine; Zhou, Yuci; Koh, Yun Mi; Rossi, Anna; Acosta, Marisa; Brown, Victoria; Lawson, Hannah; Zorn, Jocelyn; Panton, Allyson; Sterling, Joseph; Frenette, Lily; Langland, Jackson; Sinagra, Elena; and Feldman, Zoezra, "A Sustainable Campus for the Future: Proposals for Sarah Lawrence College" (2016). Campus Environmental Sustainability Project. 10. https://digitalcommons.slc.edu/undergrad_sustainproject/10 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Undergraduate Scholarship and Creative Works at DigitalCommons@SarahLawrence. It has been accepted for inclusion in Campus Environmental Sustainability Project by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@SarahLawrence. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Authors Arianna Cooper, Iva Johnson, Kiana Michaan, Zoe Berg, Leyana Dessauer, Jesse Fuentes, Katherine Labadie, Yuci Zhou, Yun Mi Koh, Anna Rossi, Marisa Acosta, Victoria Brown, Hannah Lawson, Jocelyn Zorn, Allyson Panton, Joseph Sterling, Lily Frenette, Jackson Langland, Elena Sinagra, and Zoezra Feldman This book is available at DigitalCommons@SarahLawrence: https://digitalcommons.slc.edu/ undergrad_sustainproject/10 A Sustainable Campus for the Future: Proposals for Sarah Lawrence College Work from Economics of the Ecological Crisis & Global Change Biology Spring 2016 1 Table of Contents Abstracts………………………………………………………………………………………….3 A Brighter Future: Generating Renewable Energy on the Sarah Lawrence College Campus Arianna Cooper, Iva Johnson, and Kiana Michaan…………………………………………...6 Sustainability Proposal: Composting Initiative Zoe Berg, Leyana Dessauer, and Jesse Fuentes………………………………………………26 Environmentally Sustainable Transportation Practices on College and University Campuses: Transportation Solutions for Sarah Lawrence College Katie Labadie and Yuci Zhou.....................................................................................................36 Sprouting Roots at Sarah Lawrence College: Prospects of Adding a Green Roof or Biowall to Campus Iva Johnson, Yun Mi Koh, and Anna Rossi...............................................................................64 Reducing Sarah Lawrence’s Use of Plastics Marisa Acosta, Victoria Brown, and Hannah Lawson……………………………………….78 Sustainable Landscaping at Sarah Lawrence College Jocelyn Zorn and Allyson Panton……………………………………………………………...88 Water Sustainability at Sarah Lawrence College Joseph Sterling, Lily Frenette, and Jackson Langland……………………………………...100 Potential Energy Savings as a Result of Sustainable Lighting, Computer, and Appliance Installation Elena Sinagra, Zoezra Feldman, and Jocelyn Zorn………………………………………....110 2 Abstracts A Brighter Future: Generating Renewable Energy on the Sarah Lawrence College Campus Arianna Cooper, Iva Johnson, and Kiana Michaan In the last century, the rise of the globalized economy has come at a tremendously high ecological cost. The global economy’s dependency on the burning of fossil fuels has caused potentially cataclysmic and irreversible climate change. Renewable energy technologies have the ability to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In order to better protect the planet from impending climate chaos, it is necessary to utilize and encourage increased installation of available renewable energy technologies. Institutions of higher education have a unique opportunity to become leaders in sustainable development. This project proposes the implementation of solar technology, radiator covers, and power-producing exercise machines on the Sarah Lawrence College campus to increase energy efficiency, campus sustainability, and environmental awareness. Sustainability on college campuses is crucial to educate and prepare the future leaders of a world fraught with the effects of anthropogenic climate change. It is critical that university and college campuses are at the forefront of the transition to renewable energy sources. Sarah Lawrence College has a responsibility to its students, community members, and the planet to adopt environmentally conscious practices to address the reality of climate change in the 21st century. As SLC graduates disperse into the world, their communities will continue to be affected by the devastating impacts of the climate crisis. Thus, it is of equal importance for SLC to inspire and challenge students environmentally as it is to do so intellectually. By receiving a solid basis of environmental education and participating in widespread campus sustainability practices, graduates will have the tools needed to thrive in the world. Sustainability Proposal: Composting Initiative Zoe Berg, Leyana Dessauer, and Jesse Fuentes Our proposal describes two economically viable and efficient methods of reducing the amount of pre and post-consumer waste produced by the Sarah Lawrence community. Bates dining facility, the largest on-campus dining facility, produces roughly 35 lbs. of organic food waste every day. However, the installation of an easy-to-use composting mechanism, such as the A500 Rocket composter or the Ridan manual composter (both of which are distributed by NATH Sustainability Solutions), and/or the implementation of a larger-scale vermicomposting program, would divert at least 50% of Sarah Lawrence’s organic waste material from reaching landfills, lower campus-wide trash removal and fertilizer costs, and promote sustainability initiatives within the Sarah Lawrence community and surrounding community. Environmentally Sustainable Transportation Practices on College and University Campuses: Transportation Solutions for Sarah Lawrence College Katie Labadie and Yuci Zhou This paper discusses the importance of general sustainability practices on college and university campuses, specifically the importance of environmentally sustainable and efficient campus transportation services. The paper looks at how promoting bicycle programs, creating fixed shuttle routes and improving schedules, increasing education on campus sustainability, and investing in more sustainable vehicles can reduce emissions on college campuses. These 3 sustainability efforts are analyzed looking at Sarah Lawrence College to determine how these practices can aid the institution’s environmental efforts. Sprouting Roots at Sarah Lawrence College: Prospects of Adding a Green Roof or Biowall to Campus Iva Johnson, Yun Mi Koh, and Anna Rossi As a campus that has great concern for environmental issues, it is important to find ways in which to engage both students and faculty in working towards a greener campus. The addition of a green roof or biowall to Sarah Lawrence College would be an amazing opportunity to begin building a more eco-friendly community. Green roofs alleviate environmental stressors while a biowall will increase indoor air quality and productivity. Not only do green roofs and biowalls help curb effects of pollution both indoors and out, but either would be an opportunity for continued research into the effects of green technology. With ample flat roof space across campus as well as having the LEED certified Heimbold Visual Arts Center, building a green roof and/or biowall would both guide Sarah Lawrence into a green movement while providing an opportunity for the community to work together towards a greener goal. Reducing Sarah Lawrence’s Use of Plastics Marisa Acosta, Victoria Brown, and Hannah Lawson Plastic use is gravely detrimental for both the environment and for humans; chemicals in plastic cause poor health effects in humans and endanger wildlife. This study focuses on a major source of plastics use on Sarah Lawrence’s campus: take out containers at the Pub. It evaluates plans for a reusable take out container system on campus and provides suggestions for financing and implementing the plan on campus. Sustainable Landscaping at Sarah Lawrence College Jocelyn Zorn and Allyson Panton Sarah Lawrence College is an institution that inspires innovation within its students and teaches them how to understand and act upon the challenges that our ever-changing society raises. Currently, society is presented with some of the largest ecological crises that humans have ever faced, the consequences of which are widespread, affecting everyone on the planet. In order to address environmental devastation, all institutions must re-evaluate their current practices and implement significant changes. No college is better equipped for creating such change than Sarah Lawrence; founded on innovative educational techniques, we possess the knowledge and creativity that can be harnessed to create environmentally sustainable and economically viable policies on campus. One of the most simple and cost-effective ways to reduce the college’s ecological footprint lies within our landscaping practices. The college currently uses an unnecessary amount of water and fossil fuels on maintaining plant species and grassy areas.