Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 45.66
Liaison Stalin Espinal
Submission Date March 2, 2023

STARS v2.2

City University of New York, Brooklyn College
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Campus Engagement

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement:
Brooklyn College is working to incorporate sustainability into various initiatives, to reduce our waste, increase our energy efficiency, and engage our campus community. These include; clothing reuse and recycle program, the Brooklyn College farm share program, annual Daylight hour, energy savings awareness, plastic free July, organics recycling to create compost, and celebrating National Bike Month and Earth month. Student interns work with Facilities, Auxiliary Services, Communications, and Environmental Health and Safety on semester-long projects which have included (1) Lighting surveys for LED energy savings; (2) Cost assessment of energy savings from replacing inefficient window ACs; (3) Waste audit pilot; (4) Campaign with administrative offices to reduce waste and improve recycling rates; (5) Videography capturing students' resiliency stories; (6) Surveying campus community on sustainable practices; and (7) Campus engagement strategies.

Public Engagement 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Public Engagement?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Public Engagement:
Outreach and education initiatives engage the wider community through public events, social media campaigns, clubs, and academic programs. Goals in progress include raising campus awareness of sustainability efforts and partnering with outside organizations.

Air & Climate 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Air & Climate?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Air & Climate:
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Buildings  

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Buildings?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Buildings:
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Energy 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Energy?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Energy:
Prof. Micha Tomkiewicz's students utilized real time energy usage data to monitor the college's energy consumption and raise awareness to encourage the campus community to conserve energy.

Food & Dining 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Food & Dining?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Food & Dining:
Brooklyn College Campus Sustainability interns partnered with food service to pick up vegetable scraps to add to the composting at the BC Garden.

Grounds 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Grounds?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Grounds:
The campus building and ground staff contribute to composting by gathering landscaping waste to be turn into mulch for use on campus.

Purchasing 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Purchasing?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Purchasing:
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Transportation 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Transportation:
The college is looking at policies and promoting a pedestrian and/or bike friendly campus and has partnered with an organization to promote transportation alternative programs, from carpooling and vanpooling to transit and bicycling.

Waste 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Waste?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Waste:
On campus waste management and recycling initiatives focuses on food composting,
recycling batteries, and printer cartridges in offices; increasing correct waste disposal, promoting community involvement and personal responsibility, and assisting custodial staff by consolidating bins

Water 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Water?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Water:
The BC IT team created an app to report issues with bathroom and other fixtures which reduces reduce water overuse, and reduce the volume of discharged effluent. The college installed Bottle Filling Stations which decrease use of bottled water and increase use of water fountains.

Coordination & Planning 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning:
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Diversity & Affordability 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability:
Brooklyn College is in a ethnically rich borough,, the campus community comprises individuals from 142 countries, speaking 94 different languages, who share in the educational home our ample campus provides and it has been mentioned as one of the best valued colleges.

Investment & Finance 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance:
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Wellbeing & Work 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work:
The college invests in the professional skills, academic knowledge, personal development, cultural proficiency, and wellbeing of all employees through to the CUNY Benefits Office and Learning & Development​ programs.

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s living laboratory program is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.