Sustainability Project Laboratory
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 raw ideas, often from public comments, are stored until they are developed into full projects.
For projects external to the university, please 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.
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 |
|
Create a proposal for an Ohio University certified carbon offset program. | |
|
COMPLETE - Hammock Stand Proposal |
Recreation & Sport Pedagogy, Urban Planning & Sustainability | Semester | Yes | No | Grounds |
|
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 |
|
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. | |
| Hocking River Channel Biodiversity | Environmental Studies, Plant Biology, Public Policy, Geography | Year, thesis | Yes | Yes | Grounds,Water, | Download this project | Investigate process for updating the Hocking Conservancy District's charter to allow for less mowing and greater biodiversity. | |
|
Plant-based Burgers Taste Testing |
Human & Consumer Sciences; Nutrition; Restaurant, Hotel, & Tourism | Semester | Yes | No | Food |
|
Evaluate opportunities for replacing all-beef burgers with a beef/mushroom mix | |
| Barn Renovation | Civil Engineering | Multi-year | Yes | Yes | Grounds |
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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 |
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Develop sampling plan; collect and analyze surface water samples along the Ohio River for a community group | |
| Determining Carbon Emissions from Commuting – Average Distance | GIS, Geography, Environmental Studies | Month (repeated annually) | Yes | No | Energy |
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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 |
|
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 |
|
Create GUI for an open access triple bottom line cost-benefit analysis tool. | |
| Pipette Tip Sterilization and Reuse | Biochemistry, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry | Semester or thesis/dissertation | Yes | No | Waste | Download this project | Generate a cost-benefit analysis and grant proposal for the purchase of pipette tip sterilization equipment to reduce plastic usage in Ohio University labs. | |
| People-Powered Transit Bike Bus | Civil Engineering | Semester, year | Yes | No | Climate, Transportation, Student Life | Download this project | Create a human-powered bike bus (bike with 8-12 seats) to increase healthy active transportation among students on campus. | |
| Solar Installments | Civil Engineering | Multi-year | Yes | No | Energy, Climate | Download this project | Cover rooftops and other surfaces with solar panels/other solar installments to use a better type of energy and reduce electricity consumption on campus. | |
| Invasive Species Goat Grazing | Environmental & Plant Biology | Thesis/dissertation | Yes | Yes | Grounds, Climate | Download this project | Investigate goat grazing as a method of invasive species control. | |
| Water Leak Detection System | Civil Engineering, Business | Semester | No | No | Grounds, Buildings | Download this project | Determine which leak detection system is the most effective and will cost the least for the University. |
* Ohio University's Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP)
Project Idea Database
| Project Idea Title | Possible Academic Connection | Project length | Connection to Sustainability Plan* | Brief description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor Recycling Implementation | Operations Research, Management Courses | semester | Waste | Reduce the overall number of waste locations by developing a multi-tier plan to co-locate recycling at every location. | |
| Pollinator Habitat Development and Increased Natural Growth Nearby Residence Halls with Signage | Plant Biology, Biology | semester | Grounds | Create a plan to increase pollinator habitat development, maintenance, and natural plant growth by residence halls. Include clear signage at naturalized/pollinator sites to explain to students that these are significant areas, not just unmaintained spaces | |
| Educating Faculty Researchers on 'Sustainability Research' Definition | Teacher Education | semester | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | Waste | Determine circular economic use of recycled plastic feedstock | |
| Energy Reduction: Increase use of Natural Light | Interior Architecture; Psychology | semester | 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 | 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 | Energy | Track progress and results from energy competitions. | |
| Carbon Emissions from Investments | Finance, Environmental Studies | MS project | Climate | Determine the carbon emissions from OHIO Foundation investments. | |
| LEED Lab | CE 4540/5540 | thesis or dissertation | Buildings | Evaluate existing buildings on campus for LEED certification | |
| Renewable Energy Cost Benefit Analysis | Energy Engineering | semester | Climate | Use SAM and the TBL CBA framework to determine costs and benefits of various renewable energy systems for campus. | |
| Storm Water Best Management Practices | Geography, Civil Engineering | semester | Grounds, Buildings | Design a stormwater BMP for a building or parking lot 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. | |
| Analysis of Low Flow Fixtures | Civil Engineering | semester | 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 | 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 | Waste | Create a short, fun video for orientations about handling waste on campus | |
| Video Projects: Stormwater Management at OHIO | Visual Communications, Journalism | semester | Water | Create a short, fun video about stormwater management at OHIO for EPA stormwater permit regulations | |
| Storm Drain Outlet Sampling | Civil Engineering | semester | 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 | 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 | Transportation | Create loaner program for used bikes, and a bike maintenance shop, both staffed by volunteers | |
| Plastic Bricks | Civil Engineering, Construction Management | semester | 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 | Waste | Create and implement plan to market and encourage participation in the Pollution Prevention Challenge (part of US EPA Pollution Prevention Week) | |
| Canopy Cover | Plant Biology, Environmental Studies, Geography, GIS | semester | Grounds |
Quantification of greenhouse gas emissions reduction potential and ecological services provided by trees on Ohio University campuses; use i-Tree. |
|
| Riparian Zone/Flood Protection Project Plant Maintenance | Plant Biology, Urban Planning and Sustainability | Month | Grounds , Climate | Work with Hocking Conservancy District and local governments to create updated flood protection project maintenance plan that allows for pollinator habitat | |
| Increased Green Roof Development | Environmental Studies, Plant Biology | Year, Multi-year | Climate, Water | Develop green roofs on campus to better manage storm water runoff balance out carbon emissions. | |
| Annual Climate Conference | Geography-Urban Planning & Sustainability | Annually | Climate | Plan an annual climate conference including students, faculty, and speakers on campus. | |
| Local Solar Electricity Production | Energy Engineering | Multi-year | Energy | Increase local solar electricity production, specifically on rooftops and parking lot car ports. | |
| Use Cleaner Fuel Sources | Geography- Urban Planning& Sustainability | Multi-year | Climate | Replace lawn mowers, vehicles, and air conditioners/heaters with a cleaner fuel source to reduce emissions. | |
| Green Wall | Plant Biology | Multi-year | 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 | 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 | Food | Buy from and support local businesses to promote sustainable foods and other items. | |
| Recycling Education Program | Education Major | Year, Multi-year | Waste, Water | Create a recycling education program to prevent stream contamination and promote a cleaner campus. | |
| Compost Bins near Residence Halls | Environmental Studies | Semester | 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 | 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. | |
| Dining Hall Competitions/ Start Composting Programs | Environmental Studies | Semester | 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 | Grounds, Waste (if made from recyclable plastics) | Make benches from recycled polystryene to put around pond areas to make the area more attractive to faculty/ students. | |
| Student Employment/ Volunteer Opportunities through Campus Recycling | Community Leadership | Semester, Year | 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 | Create a fundraiser to get scholarship funding for students in sustainability majors/ certificates/ programs | ||
| Create Sustainable Study Abroad Experiences | Any- see the Office of Global Opportunities for more information | Year | Curriculum | Create and promote sustainability study abroad experiences, such as the urban planning in Edinburgh, Scotland. | |
| Create a required Environmental Studies/ Sustainability Course | Environmental Studies, Environmental Science and Sustainability, University College, Education | Semester, Annually | Curriculum | Create a Gen-ed required Environmental Studies/Sustainability course every undergraduate would have to take regardless of major. Implement sustainability curriculum into the Learning Community Program to provide a one-time lesson to first year students. | |
| Create a more visible crowdfunding campaign for the office | Marketing | Semester | 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 | 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 |
Curriculum |
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 |
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 | Food | Add more vegetarian and international food options to cafeterias to promote sustainable foods. | |
| Promote reusable bags | Marketing | Semester | 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 | 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 | 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) | |
| Add Bike Routes on Campus and Reduce Routes Open to Cars | Urban Planning and Sustainability, Civil Engineering, Outdoor Recreation | Year, Multi-year | Add bike routes and reduce the amount of routes open to cars on campus to make it more bike-friendly, promote human transportation, and reduce emissions from gas vehicles. | ||
| Launch Campaigns for public transit and human transportation | Marketing | Semester | Transportation, Climate | Launch campaigns for public transit and human transportation to encourage a healthy lifestyle for students/ faculty and reduce gas emissions. Encourage incoming students not to bring cars into Athens and promote use of GoBus and ZipCar to reduce emissions. | |
| Give students a discount/extra meal swipe for healthy food choices | Business | Semester, year | 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 | 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 |
|
Host farmers market with local foods and goods to promote sustainable food options. | |
| Drone-Based Tree Inventory | Plant Biology, Environmental Studies, Geography, GIS | Thesis | Grounds |
Determination of species, size and diversity of trees on Ohio University campuses. |
* Ohio University's Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP)