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.

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Feel free to be creative! Contact the Office of Sustainability (sustainability@ohio.edu) for assistance understanding project details or breaking large projects into smaller tasks or for more information.

Project Database

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

Project Title

Possible Academic Connection

Project length

Experiential Learning?

Community Engagement?

Connection to Sustainability Plan*

Project Information Sheet

Brief description

Impacts of Laundry

Chemistry, Energy Engineering, Environmental Science and Sustainability, Environmental Science, Business

Semester

Yes

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.
Pipette Tip Sterilization and Reuse	Biochemistry, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry	Semester or thesis/dissertation	Waste	Generate a cost-benefit analysis and grant proposal for the purchase of pipette tip sterilization equipment to reduce plastic usage in Ohio University labs.
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- 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.
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.
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	Investments Procurement	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.
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 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	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	Food	Add more vegetarian and international food options to cafeterias to promote sustainable foods.
Offer discounts for own reusable cutlery sets	Business, Center for Entrepreneurship	Semester	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	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	Climate Transportation	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.
Give students a discount/extra meal swipe for healthy food choices	Business	Semester, year	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	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	Food Student Life	Host farmers market with local foods and goods to promote sustainable food options.

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Project Idea Database