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.
Choose a sustainability project through GivePulse
Propose a sustainability project (opens in a new window)
Adopt a sustainability project (opens in a new window)
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
Select 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 | No | Climate, Water, Energy, Engagement | More Information (opens in a new window) | Find and quantify the impact of student laundry on campus sustainability, including the carbon footprint, and supply recommendations for reductions. |
| OHIO Carbon Offsets | Environmental Studies, Plant Biology, Geography, Restaurant, Hotel & Tourism | Semester, multi-year | Yes | No | Climate | More Information (opens in a new window) | Create a proposal for an Ohio University certified carbon offset program. |
| Hammock Stand Proposal - COMPLETE | Recreation & Sport Pedagogy, Urban Planning & Sustainability | Semester | Yes | No | Grounds, Student Life, Human Resources | 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. |
| Hocking River Channel Biodiversity | Environmental Studies, Plant Biology, Public Policy, Geography | Year, thesis | Yes | Yes | Grounds, Water, Climate | More Information (opens in a new window) | 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, Student Life, Climate | More Information (opens in a new window) | Evaluate opportunities for replacing all-beef burgers with a beef/mushroom mix |
| Surface Water Hydrocarbon Baseline Determination | Chemistry; Civil Engineering; Environmental Studies; Urban Planning | Semester | Yes | Yes | Water | More Information (opens in a new window) | 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 | Climate, Transportation | More Information (opens in a new window) | Utilize GIS data from Parking Services to determine average distance commuted by Ohio University faculty, staff and students |
| Triple bottom line cost-benefit analysis tool GUI | Computer Science | Semester | Yes | Yes | Climate, Procurement, Investments | More Information (opens in a new window) | Create GUI for an open access triple bottom line cost-benefit analysis tool. |
| People-Powered Transit Bike Bus | Civil Engineering | Semester, year | Yes | No | Climate, Transportation, Student Life | More Information (opens in a new window) | 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 | More Information (opens in a new window) | Cover rooftops and other surfaces with solar panels/other solar installments to use a better type of energy and reduce electricity consumption on campus. |
| Water Leak Detection System | Civil Engineering, Business | Semester | No | No | Water, Buildings | More Information (opens in a new window) | Determine which leak detection system is the most effective and will cost the least for the University. |
| Shop Local! | Marketing | Semester | Yes | Yes | Food, Investments, Student Life | More Information (opens in a new window) | Create a marketing plan that can be utilized to encourage Ohio University students to buy goods and services from local businesses. |
| Educational Campaign for District Recycling Drop-off Locations | Marketing, Graphic Design | Semester, year or thesis/dissertation | Yes | Yes | Waste, Climate | More Information (opens in a new window) | Create an educational campaign for the Solid Waste District to promote District Drop-Off locations to improve recycling regionally. |
| Energy Competition | Marketing | Semester | Yes | No | Energy, Climate | More Information (opens in a new window) | Develop a marketing plan for an Ohio University Energy Competition. |
| Move-out Waste | Marketing, Environmental Studies | Semester, year or thesis/dissertation | Yes | Yes | Waste | More Information (opens in a new window) | Create a proposal for the Solid Waste District for “Move Out” of dorms, college rentals, empty nesters, relocation and relatives of the deceased. |
| Crowdfunding Green Revolving Fund | Marketing, Visual Communication, Graphic Design | Semester | Yes | No | Administrative Support, Curriculum, Engagement | More Information (opens in a new window) | Create a crowdfunding campaign for a student Green Revolving Loan Fund. |
| Increase Public Transportation | Marketing, Urban Planning and Sustainability | Semester | Yes | Yes | Transportation | More Information (opens in a new window) | Develop marketing materials to promote the use of public transportation on campus. |
| Promoting Use of Reusable Bags | Marketing, Visual Communication | Semester | Yes | No | Waste | More Information (opens in a new window) | Design a graphic to be used around campus and in local businesses encouraging shoppers to opt for a reusable bag instead of plastic. |
| Encouraging Local Food Consumption | Marketing, Visual Communication, Graphic Design | Semester | Yes | Yes | Food, Student Life | More Information (opens in a new window) | Create marketing for Ohio University dining halls encouraging local food consumption. |
| Aquatic Center Energy Capture | Civil Engineering | Semester | Yes | No | Energy | More Information (opens in a new window) | Develop a method of capturing hydroelectric energy from falling water in the pool filtration system in the University Aquatic Center and generate a corresponding cost and benefits analysis. |
| Drone-Based Tree Inventory | Plant Biology, Environmental Studies, Geography, GIS | Semester, Thesis | Grounds | More Information (opens in a new window) | Determination of species, size and diversity of trees on Ohio University campuses. |
* 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. |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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. |
* Ohio University's Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (SCAP)