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Greenhouse

In 2019, the ERGS Capstone developed a plan for an off-grid greenhouse for LaFarm that will help LaFarm to grow its own seedlings, while also integrating the development of small-scale green technologies into 纸飞机外国软件叫什么 coursework through hands-on projects at our living laboratory.

Electric tractor

In 2019, mechanical engineering students laid out plans and budget for a tractor conversion project, in which a tractor will be converted to run on electric. After over a year of securing funding, planning, ordering parts, and getting designs approved and reapproved—not to mention doing most of the legwork off campus—the tractor conversion is expected to be ready in 2021. The gas-to-electric conversion also will allow the machine to run off Tesla batteries.

High Tunnel

Thanks to a generous donation, 纸飞机外国软件叫什么 ’s LaFarm became home to a high tunnel, a 30-by-100-foot growing environment that enables the farm to extend its season and protect its crops. Another benefit is that the high tunnel will protect crops from excessive rain, which can increase disease pressure on crops and decrease production. Construction of the high tunnel started in early 2020 and was put on pause when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down campus. Students played critical roles in the construction and assembly of the high tunnel.

Thrive

In 2019 and 2020, LaFarm partnered with the College’s Counseling Center to host Thrive, a well-being event that promotes positive emotional health and personal growth for students. Students were able to access programming three different ways: in person on the Quad, in person at LaFarm, or virtually from any location. Thrive focused on eight different domains centered on promoting students’ emotional health and well-being: gratitude, mindfulness, self-compassion, growth mindset, connection, digital detox, sleep, and exercise.

Pop-up Thrift Shops

The Office of Sustainability, in collaboration with Gateway Career Center, hosted its annual pop-up thrift shop on campus in 2019 and 2020 in an effort to encourage students to trade in items for something that’s “new to you.” Students, faculty, and staff donate clothing and housewares they no longer need to other members of the campus community who “shop” for free. More than 800 items were donated to the 2020 event. “By doing this on campus, we can simultaneously raise awareness about practical sustainable habits that students can use in their daily lives, and also make it convenient for students to engage in green activities,” says Julianna Carpeneitti ’21, an EcoRep who organized the 2020 event. Gateway Career Center co-sponsored the event and donated professional attire to help students in need of workplace apparel. “Supporting campus sustainability efforts by donating clothing helps to keep these textiles out of landfills,” says Alana Klass, senior associate director and coordinator for access, equity, and inclusion initiatives at Gateway. “In today’s economy, it’s so important for students to be able to showcase their talents both verbally and visually.  I’m thrilled that we have been able to support students with their career endeavors and now have enough inventory that students can keep the clothing, rather than having to return them as they have in the past.”

Green Move-Out

At the end of each spring semester, students are encouraged to recycle their unused or gently used household items by donating them to local organizations. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, this campus-wide sustainability and community service effort continued in 2020.

Program Outcomes:

• Advance environmental sustainability by decreasing the campus contribution to landfills
• Advance community sustainability by distributing usable goods to agencies that will redistribute items to local communities

Student Outcomes:

• Increase campus engagement and civic responsibility
• Students will demonstrate a commitment to reducing their own carbon footprint through donating their own used goods or volunteering.
  • Here is what was collected in spring 2020:
    • Shirts: 400
    • Pants: 200 pairs
    • Shoes: 30 pairs
    • Rugs: 3
    • Mirrors: 3
    • Pajamas: 10 pairs
    • Socks: 40 pairs
    • Jackets: 15
    • Pillows: 20
    • Comforters: 5
    • Sheet sets: 10
    • Towels: 20
    • Bags: 20
    • Water bottles: 40
    • Laundry bags: 10
    • Books: 50
    • Mattress pads: 10
    • Storage containers: 5
    • Kitchen supplies (plates, cups, silverware, etc): 200
    • Cleaning supplies: 50
    • Misc: 50

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Installation of solar panels began June 1, 2021 on the sun-soaked roof of Kirby Sports Center. The solar installation is expected to generate around 540 megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean, renewable energy annually. Over its lifetime, the solar array will offset 9,625 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO 2), or the equivalent of taking more than 2,000 cars off the road. Increasing renewable energy on campus will not only help the College in its goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2035, but it also will provide experiential learning opportunities for students. Faculty will integrate the project into courses, providing students a deeper understanding and a real-world example of solar at work. Learn more and see a time-lapse video of the construction.

Diverting Food Waste

The College’s student-run composting program puts nutrients from the dining halls back into the soils of LaFarm. In 2019, the College’s student compost management team collected and composted 14,491 pounds of campus food waste. By diverting this nutrient-rich resource from the landfill, they generated compost to increase the organic matter in LaFarm’s soil, which increases the soil’s carbon sequestering capacities.

Bird Anti-Collision Film

Up to 990 million birds die annually in the U.S. from window collisions. 纸飞机外国软件叫什么 is doing its part to reduce on-campus bird collisions by at least 90% by installing anti-collision film on windows of buildings such as Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center, Skillman Library, and Acopian Engineering Center.

Fritted glass on Rockwell Integrated Sciences Center windows prevents bird strikes.

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Construction of the approximately 470-kilowatt (kW) solar array began on the roof of Kirby Sports Center in June 2021 and was completed in early September 2021. The solar installation is expected to generate around 540 megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean, renewable energy annually and will power operations at Kirby. Over its lifetime, the solar array will offset 9,625 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO 2), or the equivalent of taking more than 2,000 cars off the road.

Increasing renewable energy on campus will not only help the College in its goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2035, but it will also provide experiential learning opportunities for students. Faculty will integrate the project into courses, providing students a deeper understanding and a real-world example of solar at work.

“This project is intended to visually articulate to the 纸飞机外国软件叫什么 community and visitors the College’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality and use the campus as a living laboratory,” says Delicia Nahman, director of sustainability. 

Watch a video about the project:

There are plans to add an educational viewing station near Markle parking deck, which will provide visitors to the College information about the project and how it supports the College’s commitment to sustainability.

The College engaged CustomerFirst Renewables for preliminary development and contracted with Pfister Energy, a top commercial solar developer and EPC based in Hawthorne, New Jersey, and Greenskies Clean Energy, a leader in commercial renewable energy solutions. Pfister Energy will be responsible for engineering and construction, and Greenskies will finance and manage the solar operations. Together, Greenskies and Pfister Energy are providing internship positions to 纸飞机外国软件叫什么 students for a five-year duration.

Emily Ross ’22, a chemical engineering major with a minor in environmental science, worked as a project intern during spring 2021 for the design and engineering phase. “I’m hoping to pursue a career in renewable energy after graduation, so getting a close-up look at this process is an exciting and informative opportunity,” Ross says. 

“Greenskies is pleased to partner with Pfister to help 纸飞机外国软件叫什么 achieve their sustainability goals and provide valuable internship opportunities to the student body,” says Stanley Chin, president and CEO of Greenskies. “Investing in solar energy is the easiest and single most cost-effective way for large institutions to reduce their carbon emissions.”

“Pfister Energy is excited to be a part of this project and proud of the benefits it will produce for the 纸飞机外国软件叫什么 College community,” says Wayne Pfisterer, president of Pfister Energy.

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1. Pick up one of your two reusable clamshell containers from the check-in counter at Marquis or Upper.
2. Use your clamshell at any all-you-care-to-eat facility by filling it with your favorite food as you take it to-go.
3. Return dirty clamshell in exchange for a clean clamshell the next time you enter an all-you-care-to-eat dining location.*
4. At end of each semester, you are asked to return the clamshell to Upper or Marquis so we can redistribute the clamshells again next year. Let’s keep the zero waste cycle going!

*If you do not have your first clamshell at hand, you can still take a new clean one out from Upper or Marquis dining halls. You may receive up to two clamshells total. When you take the second clamshell, the dining staff will mark that you have taken both of your assigned clamshells. In this case, you will need to bring back one of your clamshells to be able to use another. You may track how many clamshells you have taken out by logging into the eAccount portal through this link.

Questions? Email [email protected]

Clamshells User guide

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