Introduction

The Sustainability Project Laboratory is a database of sustainability-related project proposals. This resource hosts projects and project ideas that can be adopted by faculty, staff, and students for course projects, capstone or senior projects, theses, and more!

Projects are divided into two tables: "Project Database", where full projects are available, and "Project Idea Database", where the core premise and helpful or interested contacts are listed.

For projects external to the university, check the Projects that Matter website.

Check our Frequently Asked Questions for details and funding opportunities.

 

Propose a sustainability project whose outcome will be a simultaneous benefit to people, planet and prosperity.

Request a sustainability project for an Ohio University course.

 

Feel free to be creative! Contact the Office of Sustainability for assistance understanding project details or breaking large projects into smaller tasks.

Projects are updated regularly. Most projects have contact information available to learn more, additionally contact Elaine Goetz (goetze@ohio.edu) for information.

 

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Project Database

Click heading titles to sort. Click the "+" for more information.

Project Idea Title	Possible Academic Connection	Project length	Experiential Learning?	Community Engagement?	Connection to Sustainability Plan*	Word Document	Brief description
OHIO Carbon Offsets	Environmental Studies, Plant Biology, Geography, Restaurant, Hotel & Tourism	semester, multi-year	Yes	No	Climate	Download this project.	Create a proposal for an Ohio University certified carbon offset program.
Hammock Stand Proposal	Recreation & Sport Pedagogy, Urban Planning & Sustainability	semester	Yes	No	Grounds	Download this project.	Create OHIO hammock stand proposal:  determine best practices, location(s), costs and benefits.
Green Roof Project	Engineering, Communications, Public Health, Public Policy, Business, Economics	month, semester, week	Yes	Yes	Grounds, Buildings, Water, Energy	More Information.	Broad opportunities to create projects related to green roof infrastructure.  Engage students in public health, policy, business and economics while exploring benefits of green roof infrastructure.
Plant-based Burgers Taste Testing	Human & Consumer Sciences; Nutrition; Restaurant, Hotel, & Tourism	semester	Yes	No	Food	Download this project.	Evaluate opportunities for replacing all-beef burgers with a beef/mushroom mix
Increasing Active Transportation	Marketing; Psychology	semester	Yes	Yes	Energy	Download this project.	Increase healthy, active transportation (particularly commuting) among University employees and WellWorks members
Barn Renovation	Civil Engineering	multi-year	Yes	Yes	Grounds	Download this project.	Design and renovate the abandoned barn at Hebbardsville Farm using sustainably harvested wood and recycled corrugated metal roof
Surface Water Hydrocarbon Baseline Determination	Chemistry; Civil Engineering; Environmental Studies; Urban Planning	semester	Yes	Yes	Water	Download this project.	Develop sampling plan; collect and analyze surface water samples along the Ohio River for a community group
Tree Inventory or Drone-based Tree Inventory	Plant Biology; Environmental Studies; Geography, GIS	thesis	Yes	No	Grounds	Download this project.	Determination of species, size and diversity of trees on Ohio University campuses
Determining Carbon Emissions from Commuting – Average Distance	GIS, Geography, Environmental Studies	month (repeated annually)	Yes	No	Energy	Download this project.	Utilize GIS data from Parking Services to determine average distance commuted by Ohio University faculty, staff and students
Food Share System: Prevent Food Insecurity and Food Waste on Campus	Computer Science	semester	Yes	No	Food	Download this project.	Develop a food app, social media platform or texting system that allows for notification of waste food on campus.  Identify obstacles to implementation, including policy and procedural obstacles.
Triple bottom line cost-benefit analysis tool GUI	Computer Science	semester	Yes	Yes	Climate, Procurement, Investments	Download this project.	Create GUI for an open access triple bottom line cost-benefit analysis tool.

* Ohio University's Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP)

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Project Idea Database

Project Idea Title	Possible Academic Connection	Project length	Experiential Learning?	Community Engagement?	Connection to Sustainability Plan*	Brief description
Outdoor Recycling Implementation	Operations Research, Management Courses	semester	Yes	Yes	Waste	Reduce the overall number of waste locations by developing a multi-tier plan to co-locate recycling at every location.
Educating Faculty Researchers on 'Sustainability Research' Definition	Teacher Education	semester	Yes	No	Human Resources	Create a plan to educate Faculty Researchers on the definition  for sustainable research, and to encourage them to conduct research which meets the definition.
Determining Carbon Emissions from Commuting- Mode Share Determination	Civil Engineering - Transportation group	semester	Yes	No	Climate, Energy	Set up a transportation study on campus to determine mode share (% of walkers, bikers, SOV, carpoolers, bussers).
Solar PV Panels for Groundskeeper Shed near Clippinger	Energy Engineering	semester	Yes	No	Energy, Grounds	The project would be to size the PV installation needed to power the electric equipment and to estimate triple bottom line costs for the installation.
Reforming Plastics - Equipment	ETM, Mechanical Engineering	semester	Yes	No	Waste,	Build and/or optimize use of shredders, melters, extruders to create recycled plastic feedstock
Reforming Plastics - Usage	COFA, Mechanical engineering, Public Administration, Environmental Studies	semester	No	No	Waste	Determine circular economic use of recycled plastic feedstock
Energy Reduction: Increase use of Natural Light	Interior Architecture; Pyschology	semester	No	No	Buildings	Why do faculty/staff/students turn on lights in buildings with plenty of natural lighting?  Which buildings could be targets for lighting use reduction, and how could this be achieved?
Energy Competitions - Planning	Energy Engineering, Marketing	semester	No	No	Energy, Student Life	How do we best encourage energy efficiency on campus (behavior change) with Energy Competitions?  What metrics can we/should we collect; how do we group buildings for competitions; how do we market the competition; what rewards should there be for the winning building, if any?
Energy Competitions- Implementation (annual)	Energy Engineering	annual	No	No	Energy	Track progress and results from energy competitions.
Carbon Emissions from Investments	Finance, Environmental Studies	MS project	Yes	No	Climate	Determine the carbon emissions from OHIO Foundation investments.
LEED Lab	CE 4540/5540	semester	Yes	No	Buildings	Evaluate existing buildings on campus for LEED certification
LEED Lab - Energy & Atmosphere Section	Energy Engineering	semester	Yes	No	Climate	Use SAM and the TBL CBA framework to determine costs and benefits of various renewable energy systems for campus.
LEED Lab - Sustainable Sites Section	Geography	semester	Yes	No	Grounds, Buildings	Design a stormwater BMP for a building on campus, considering water retention, potable water use replacement, feasibility of cost and maintenance (only should convert already maintained grounds to BMPs that need maintenance), etc.
LEED Lab - Water Efficiency Section	Civil Engineering	semester	No	No	Buildings	Determine flow/flush rates needed in fixtures and toilets for the water line slopes found in buildings on campus.
Hebbardsville Farm: Business Plan for Sustainable Tree Harvesting	Plant Biology, Business	semester	Yes	No	Grounds	Create a business plan for sustainably harvesting mature trees at Hebbardsville Farm and reusing timber to renovate barn on site.
Video Projects:  How to recycle, compost and landfill at OHIO	Visual Communications, Journalism	semester	Yes	No	Waste	Create a short, fun video for orientations about handling waste on campus
Video Projects:  Stormwater Management at OHIO	Visual Communications, Journalism	semester	Yes	No	Water	Create a short, fun video about stormwater management at OHIO for EPA stormwater permit regulations
Storm Drain Outlet Sampling	Civil Engineering	semester	Yes	No	Water	Have students locate dry weather storm drain discharges; sample and analyze for pH, alkalinity, fluoride, E. coli, etc., and produce report.
Transportation on Campus:  What are the best routes and small mobility devices to choose to navigate campus?	Civil Engineering, Urban Planning & Sustainability	semester	Yes	No	Transportation	Create maps and recommendations for non-automobile travel on campus.  Record travel times for walking, bicycling, e-scootering, etc. from select locations to select destinations
Green bikes program	Sport & Rec Pedagogy	semester	Yes	No	Transportation	Create loaner program for used bikes, and a bike maintenance shop, both staffed by volunteers
Plastic Bricks	Civil Engineering	semester	Yes	Yes	Waste	Partner with service organizations and community groups to create plastic bricks, determine best use, and incorporate into structures
Pollution Prevention Challenge	Environmental Studies, Environmental Health & Safety	one week	Yes	Yes	Waste	Students participate in the Pollution Prevention Challenge (part of US EPA Pollution Prevention Week)
Canopy Cover	Plant Biology, Environmental Studies, Geography, GIS	semester	Yes	No	Grounds	Quantification of greenhouse gas emissions reduction potential and ecological services provided by trees on Ohio University campuses; use i-Tree
Tree planting along river path	Plant Biology, Urban Planning and Sustainability	Month	Yes	Yes	Grounds , Climate	Plant trees around campus (particulary the river path) to balance out carbon emissions.
Increased Green Roof Development	Environmental Studies, Plant Biology	Year, Multi-year	Yes	Yes if using community rooftops	Climate, Water	Increase green roof development to as many roofs as possible to better manage storm water runoff balance out carbon emissions.
Annual Climate Conference	Geography-Urban Planning & Sustainability	Annually	Yes	No	Climate	Plan an annual climate conference including students, faculty, and speakers on campus.
Local Solar Electricity Production	Energy Engineering	Multi-year	No	Yes if using community rooftops	Energy	Increase local solar electricity production, specifically on rooftops and parking lot car ports.
Use Cleaner Fuel Sources	Geography- Urban Planning& Sustainability	Multi-year	No	No if on campus	Climate	Replace lawn mowers, vehicles, and air conditioners/heaters with a cleaner fuel source to reduce emissions.
Green Wall	Plant Biology	Multi-year	Yes	No	Energy,  Water	Create a green wall to help heat inside of buildings and reduce storm water management.
Create Posters about Food Sustainability in Dining Hall	Marketing	Semester	No	No	Waste	Create posters for the dining hall that explain where food and other consumable items come from to educate the students about sustainable eating.
Buy from and Support Local Businesses	Business; Marketing	Continuously	No	Yes	Food	Buy from and support local businesses to promote sustainable foods and other items.
Increase Green Energy	Energy Engineering	Year, Multi-year	Yes	No	Energy	Install solar panels on more residence halls to increase the presence of green energy use on campus.
Recycling Education Program	Education Major	Year, Multi-year	Yes	No	Waste, Water	Create a recycling education program to prevent stream  contamination and promote a cleaner campus.
Compost Bins near Residence Halls	Environmental Studies	Semester	No	No	Waste, Water	Put compost bins near residence halls to reduce the amount of waste that goes into the landfill.
Stainless Steel Cutlery/ Straw Packs	Environmental Studies	Year, Multi-year	No	No	Student Life, Waste	Offer each incoming student a reusable, stainless steel cutlery/ straw pack to eliminate an enormous percentage of one-use plastic cutlery across campus.
Solar Installments	Energy Engineering	Multi-year	Yes	No	Energy	Cover rooftops with solar installments to use a better source of energy around campus.
Dining Hall Competitions/ Start Composting Programs	Environmental Studies	Semester	No	No	Student Life, Waste	Create dining hall competitions and programs for composting to reduce the amount of waste that goes to the landfill.
Benches Around Pond Area	Mechanical Engineering	Semester, Year	Yes	No	Grounds,  Waste  if made from recyclable plastics)	Make benches to put around the pond area to make the area more attractive to faculty/ students.
Student Employment/ Volunteer Opportunities through Campus Recycling	Community Leadership	Semester, Year	Yes	Yes	Student Life, Waste	Promote student employment and volunteer opportunities through Campus Recycling to increase student involvement and educate students about benefits of recycling.
Additional Funding for Student Sustainability Majors/Certificates/Programs	Business	Could do fundraiser multiple times per year	Yes	Yes	Investments  Procurement	Create a fundraiser to get funding for students in sustainability majors/ certificates/ programs
Create Sustainable Study Abroad Experiences	Any- see the Office of Global Opportunities for more information	Year	Yes	No	Curriculum	Create and promote sustainability study abroad experiences, such as the urban planning in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Provide a one year sustainability lesson to students	University College	Annually	No	Yes	Curriculum	Implement sustainability curriculum into the Learning Community Program to provide a one time lesson to first year students
Create a required Environmental Studies/ Sustainability Course	Environmental Studies, Environmental Science and Sustainability, University College, Education	Semester	Yes	No	Curriculum	Create a Gen-ed required Environmental Studies/ Sustainability course every undergraduate would have to take no matter their major. This would inform them of sustainable opportunities.
Make Environmental Studies program more inclusive	Environmental Studies	Semester	No	No	Curriculum	Move the Environmental Studies program out of the Honors Tutorial College to make it more inclusive.
Create a more visible crowdfunding campaign for the office	Marketing	Semester	Yes	No	Investments	Create a more visible crowdfunding campaign for the office to start that goes into a collected pool to be able to provide more student related sustainable opportunities.
Carbon Offsets	Business/ Accounting	Semester	Yes	No	Investments	Create a budget management plan for purchasing carbon offsets for older/high-emitting buildings that aren't scheduled for renovation.
Energy Usage Education	Education Major	Annually	No	No	Curriculum Energy	Educate students on how to limit their energy usage to reduce the amount of energy used in residence halls.
Student Education about negative impacts of waste	Education Major	Semester	No	No	Waste  Curriculum	Education students about negative of waste and advantages to recycling, composting and not purchasing things they don't need.
Add Vegetarian/international food options	Culinary Arts	Year	No	Yes, if using local veggies	Food	Add more vegetarian and international food options to cafeterias to promote sustainable foods.
Promote reusable bags	Marketing	Semester	No	No	Waste	Promote reusable bags to carry food items to cut down on one-use plastic bags.
Offer discounts for own reusable cutlery sets	Business, Center for Entrepreneurship	Semester	No	No	Student Life,  Investments	Offer discounts for those who show their own reusable cutlery sets at checkout to promote reusable silverware.
More food awareness signs at checkout	Marketing	Semester	No	No	Waste	Create more educational/ awareness signs to put at checkout to remind students about how much food they will actually be able to eat (to prevent food waste)
Increase natural growth by residence halls	Plant Biology	Semester, Year	Yes	Yes	Climate	Increase natural growth by residence halls: native plants and pollinator gardens that can grow free and undisturbed.
Make clear signage at naturalized/ pollinator sites	Marketing	Semester	Yes	No	Grounds	Create clear signage at naturalized/pollinator sites to help explain to students that these are significant areas, not just unmaintained spaces
Educational Campaign to encourage public transit	Marketing	Semester	Yes	No	Climate	Create an educational campaign to encourage incoming students not to bring cars into Athens and promote GoBus/ ZipCar to reduce emissions.
Add Bike Routes on Campus	Urban Planning and Sustainability, Civil Engineering, Outdoor Recreation	Year, Multi-year	Yes	No	Climate Transportation	Add bike routes to campus to promote human transportation and reduce emissions from gas vehicles
Give students a discount/extra meal swipe for healthy food choices	Business	Semester, year	No	No	Food  Student Life	Incentivized students to make healthy/ vegetarian choices by providing them with a punch card/ discount/ extra meal swipe as these choices should be less expensive, and should be reflected in how much they pay.
Reduce the amount of red meat sold	Human and Consumer Sciences, Nutrition	Year, Multi year	Yes	No	Climate  Food	Reduce the amount of red meat served ( meat industry generates 18% of annual global greenhouse gas production) to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Host farmers market	Business, Center for Entrepreneurship	Semester	No	Yes	Food  Student Life	Host farmers market with local foods and goods to promote sustainable food options.
Native Plants	Plant Biology	Year	No	No	Climate  Grounds	Require plants and trees to in university landscaping to be native to remove carbon from the air and provide food and shelter for wildlife.
Launch Campaigns for public transmit and human transportation	Marketing	Semester	Yes	No	Transportation	Launch campaigns for public transit and human transportation to encourage a healthy lifestyle for students/ faculty and reduce gas emissions.
Reduce on-campus routes open to cars	Urban Planning and Sustainability, Engineering	Multi-year	Yes	No	Transportation  Climate	Reduce the amount of routes open to cars on campus to make it more bike friendly.

* Ohio University's Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP)

 

Detailed Project Descriptions

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Green Roof Project: 

Project contact:  Kim Thompson, thompsk3@ohio.edu 

Project description: 

There are broad opportunities to create projects related to green roof infrastructure.  Currently students from many colleges are engaged in projects, even before the rooftop has been planted.  We hope to engage students in public health, policy, business and economics while exploring benefits of green roof infrastructure.  Please contact Dr. Thompson for more information about projects.

Resources available to students/faculty to complete project:

• Green roof on Schoonover Center
• Student and faculty time
• Monitoring equipment

Project alignment to OHIO Sustainability & Climate Action Plan:

• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through energy savings (Climate category)
• Increase opportunities for formal, experiential, and community-engaged sustainability learning experiences (Curriculum core)
• Offer opportunities to participate in or contribute to sustainability initiatives (Engagement core)
• Create, enhance & track transformative sustainability engagement ecosystems with University and community partners (Engagement core)
• Support and promote employee wellbeing and resilience (Human Resources category)
• Support and promote student wellbeing and resilience (Student Life category)
• Reduce impacts from storm water (Water category)
• Reduce building impacts (roof costs) by using best practices in construction, renovation and demolition (Buildings category)
• Reduce or eliminate air pollution from stationary and mobile sources (Climate category)

Plant-Based Burger Taste Testing: 

Project contact:  Theresa Moran, morant@ohio.edu 

Project description: 

Evaluate the opportunities for offering a beef/mushroom burgers in place of an all-beef burger in dining facilities on campus by conducting a survey and a taste-test.  The ultimate goal is to promote healthy food choices and to reduce red meat consumption at Ohio University.

Resources available to students/faculty to complete project:

• Faculty and staff time
• Tabling space for survey and taste test
• Kitchen facilities for food preparation

Project alignment to OHIO Sustainability & Climate Action Plan:

• Support and promote student wellbeing and resilience (Student Life category)
• Support and promote employee wellbeing and resilience (Human Resources category)
• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through reduction in red meat purchases (Climate category)

Barn Renovation

Project contact:   Dominick Brook,  brookd@ohio.edu

Project description: 

Redesign and renovate the abandoned barn at Hebbardsville Farm using sustainably harvested wood, recycled corrugated metal roof, and paint created from acid mine drainage.  A renovated barn could be used as an education and events center for community and University sustainability activities.

Resources available to students/faculty to complete project:

• Student and faculty time
• Existing structure
• Used metal roofing material
• Sustainably harvested wood for flooring

Project alignment to OHIO Sustainability & Climate Action Plan:

• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through reuse of existing building materials (Climate category)
• Increase opportunities for formal, experiential, and community-engaged sustainability learning experiences (Curriculum core)
• Offer opportunities to participate in or contribute to sustainability initiatives (Engagement core)
• Create, enhance & track transformative sustainability engagement ecosystems with University and community partners (Engagement core)
• Reduce building impacts (roof costs) by using best practices in construction, renovation and demolition (Buildings category)
• Work with communities to protect ground water quality and surface waters (Water category)
• Increase diversion from landfill to reuse, recycling and composting (Waste category)

Surface Water Hydrocarbon Baseline Determination: 

Project contact:  Leatra Harper, wewantcleanwater@gmail.com or 419-450-7042

Project description: 

We Want Clean Water has completed a project through AGU's Thriving Earth Exchange to sample for hydrocarbons in surface water in the Wills Creek Watershed in Guernsey and Noble counties. They would like to expand this program to include the Ohio River to collect baseline data which can later be used to ascertain if spills, leaks and migrations have occurred from horizontal hydraulic fracturing. They have developed and deployed the protocol through work done with Ohio Northern University and need a regional affiliate with GC-MS capabilities.  The project includes 1) developing a sampling plan (locations, timing, number of samples, supplies needed) and 2) collecting and analyzing samples.

Resources available to students/faculty to complete project:

• Sampling protocols
• Sampling equipment
• Faculty and staff consultations

Project alignment to OHIO Sustainability & Climate Action Plan:

• Work with communities to protect ground water quality and surface waters (Water category)
• Increase opportunities for formal, experiential, and community-engaged sustainability learning experiences (Curriculum core)
• Create, enhance & track transformative sustainability engagement ecosystems with University and community partners (Engagement core)

Tree Inventory or Drone-based Tree Inventory: 

Project contact:  Susan Calhoun, calhoun@ohio.edu; Matt Riley, rileym3@ohio.edu 

Project description: 

Contribute to the campus tree inventory by determining species, size and diversity of trees and adding to existing database.  This project will assist in improved management of trees on campus.

Resources available to students/faculty to complete project:

• Equipment to measure tree size
• Landscape coordinator and GIS technician assistance
• Existing database
• Drone and drone pilot

Project alignment to OHIO Sustainability & Climate Action Plan:

• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through carbon sequestration in trees (Climate category)
• Offer opportunities to participate in or contribute to sustainability initiatives (Engagement core)
• Create and maintain healthy, natural, biodiverse and beautiful landscapes that can act as the foundation for sustainability-oriented experiential learning opportunities (Grounds category)
• Support and promote employee wellbeing and resilience through tree ecosystem benefits (Human Resources category)
• Support and promote student wellbeing and resilience through tree ecosystem benefits (Student Life category)
• Reduce impacts from storm water (Water category)
• Reduce or eliminate air pollution from stationary and mobile sources (Climate category)

OHIO Carbon Offsets

Project contact:  Elaine Goetz, goetze@ohio.edu, Catherine Marshall, marshalc@ohio.edu, or Nina Adanin, ka005016@ohio.edu

Project description: 

Create a proposal for an Ohio University certified carbon offset program. Carbon offsets compensate for carbon emissions that cannot be avoided by reducing emissions elsewhere. For this project, students will investigate methods for creating certified carbon offset programs, and will write and present a proposal with recommendations and best practices. Future steps could include implementation of a certified carbon offset program (for example, tree plantings).

Resources available to students/faculty to complete project:

• UN certification of emission reductions
• Offset Network tools and resources
• Initial interview with staff member

Project alignment to OHIO Sustainability & Climate Action Plan:

• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through carbon offsets (Climate category)
• Achieve recognition for innovative and robust sustainability planning, coordination and governance (Administrative Support core)
• Offer opportunities to participate in or contribute to sustainability initiatives (Engagement core)

OHIO Hammock Stand Proposal: 

Project contact:  Susan Calhoun, calhoun@ohio.edu

Project description: 

Create OHIO hammock stand proposal:  research best practices; survey stakeholders to determine preferred hammock stand locations; outline costs and benefits for installation of stand(s).

Resources available to students/faculty to complete project:

• Initial interview with staff member

Project alignment to OHIO Sustainability & Climate Action Plan:

• Create and maintain healthy, natural, biodiverse and beautiful landscapes that can act as the foundation for sustainability-oriented experiential learning opportunities (Grounds category)
• Support and promote employee wellbeing and resilience (Human Resources category)
• Support and promote student wellbeing and resilience (Student Life category)
• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through carbon sequestration in healthy trees (Climate category)

Increasing Active Transportation

Project contact:   Annie Laurie Cadmus, cadmus@ohio.edu

Project description:

Increase healthy, active transportation (particularly commuting) among University employees and WellWorks members. Goals of project include: 

• Encourage active transportation to the campuses and fitness center.  
• Track active transportation at WellWorks check-in and/or incentivize rides
• Evaluate active transportation commuting routes for safety, timing, etc.
• Create active transportation map/resource for campuses 

Resources available to students/faculty to complete project:

• WellWorks staff time

Project alignment to OHIO Sustainability & Climate Action Plan:

• Reduction of institutional greenhouse gas emissions from transportation (Climate, Transportation categories)
• Support and promote employee wellbeing and resilience (Human Resources category)

Determining Carbon Emissions from Commuting – Average Distance

Project contact:   Elaine Goetz, goetze@ohio.edu

Project description:

Utilize GIS and address data from Transportation & Parking Services to determine average distance commuted by Ohio University faculty, staff and students.  Each year, the average commuting distance is required for our Greenhouse Gas Inventory report to Second Nature.

Resources available to students/faculty to complete project:

• Address data of commuters
• Second Nature technical manual

Project alignment to OHIO Sustainability & Climate Action Plan:

• Reduction of institutional greenhouse gas emissions from transportation (Climate, Transportation categories)
• Achieve recognition for innovative and robust sustainability planning, coordination and governance (Administrative Support category)

Triple bottom line cost-benefit analysis tool GUI

Project contact:   Elaine Goetz, goetze@ohio.edu or John Glazer, glazerj@ohio.edu 

Project description:

Create a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for a triple bottom line cost-benefit analysis tool, which is currently in an Excel spreadsheet format.  This tool is used for sustainability decision-making, and will be more accessible to external users of the tool if is has a graphical user interface.

Resources available to students/faculty to complete project:

• Excel spreadsheet cost-benefit analysis tool
• Staff consultation time

Project alignment to OHIO Sustainability & Climate Action Plan:

• Achieve recognition for innovative and robust sustainability planning, coordination and governance (Administrative Support category)

Food Share System: Prevent Food Insecurity and Food Waste on Campus

Project contact:   Elaine Goetz, goetze@ohio.edu or Theresa Moran, morant@ohio.edu

Project description:

Develop an app or other electronic method of notification to food insecure students of available food on campuses, such as University of Pittsburgh's "PittGrub" system.

Resources available to students/faculty to complete project:

• Staff consultation time

Project alignment to OHIO Sustainability & Climate Action Plan:

• Support and promote student wellbeing and resilience (Student Life category)
• Increase diversion from landfill to reuse, recycling and composting (Waste category)
• Achieve recognition for innovative and robust sustainability planning, coordination and governance (Administrative Support category)