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Project Ideas
Project ideas in this list range in scope from class project size to large
enough for a senior thesis. Most might be undertaken by interested students,
others might require help from faculty or staff members.
Energy Efficiency
Water Efficiency
- Analyze decorative fountains for volume, water recirculation, and
timing
- Meter survey
- Research rebate options and make suggestions for appliance
replacement for improved efficiency
- Improve/expand vegan menu options
Landscaping
- Task force garden
- Garden signs
- Research on plants—uses, CO2 reduction, carbon storage, water use,
etc.
- Research on techniques—drip irrigation vs. regular, etc.
- Compare an area of spray irrigation to an area of drip irrigation
- How much lawn on campus? What’s the impact of that? Water,
fertilizer use, energy for care, etc. Suggestions?
- Compare an acre of lawn to an acre of drought tolerant material
- City Green tree and ground cover assessment of campus
- Pesticide use analysis, explore alternatives
- IPM strategies—research, outline, suggest, what’s their place on
campus?
- No-mow areas?
- Pavement removal survey and suggestions
Transportation
Recycling and Waste Reduction
- Promoting and assessing recycling program
- Composting prelim data and feasibility study
- Feasibility study for composting landscape waste
- Sample vermiculture in departments
- Composting promotion, advertising, etc. (once it’s started up)
- Where does the food used in dining hall come from (what purchased,
how much, from where, what price?)
- Locally-grown meal
- Junk-mail analysis and ways to reduce incoming, unwanted mail
- Surplus goods distribution, esp. at the end of the school year
- Identify products that can be purchased with recycled content (e.g.
napkins)
- Green contracting
Reducing Toxins
- Energy and material flows and cycles in the on-campus structure—e.g.
impact of using fertilizers, pesticides, etc. if we compost.
- Paints and solvents: what is in use, what are the alternatives?
- Purchasing organic vegetables
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