University of Tennessee at Knoxville
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

As a project for a class, several students investigated the carbon dioxide emissions produced from the burning of a torch held by an iconic statue on campus, which burns 24/7. The students calculated CO2 emissions, as well as investigating alternative ways to power the torch that would have a lower carbon footprint. Their findings sparked a discussion on campus about the best ways to keep the iconic statue lit up without a large carbon footprint. http://utdailybeacon.com/news/2013/feb/7/torchbearer-casts-shadow-green-initiative/

Students worked on a project looking at energy efficiency in LEED certified buildings and energy star efficiency. Their research included understanding differences between the different levels, looking at buildings around campus with different ratings, and looking at how their actual energy efficiency lines up with their rating. A groups of students also completed a detailed study of campus solar and wind potential and locations for panels and turbines

A group of students working on a semester long research project for an Environmental Ethics class investigated the pros and cons of UT signing on to the Real Food Challenge. Their research was used in the final decision to use the Real Food Calculator to start tracking UT's commitment to increase the amount of healthier, more sustainable food on campus. Additionally, the students developed a Sustainable Food Guide for campus to suggest ways to improve the sustainability of dining services. There was also the creation of the Food Recovery Network which was comprised of a group of students who organized food recovery after every football game and other large catering events to make sure any leftover food was not thrown away. The students had two hours to transfer hot catered food into aluminum containers and then into a freezer across campus. From there Second Harvest Food Bank takes the leftover food and distributes it to different soup kitchens and food pantries.

A group of students working on a semester long research project for an Environmental Ethics class looked into ways UT could better engage in the Georgetown Energy Challenge, an energy conservation competition in which the city of Knoxville is a semi-finalist. The researchers developed a brochure for students living off-campus on how to minimize energy consumption, as well as a template for an audit that can be used by a future sustainability interns to help off-campus students identify areas of weakness in their homes. As a thesis project a student also researched the energy efficiency potential of renewable energy systems in new and remodeled buildings at UTK. He then went on to specifically research whether our steam plant, recently rid of coal, could have geothermal possibilities. In the end his research unfortunately led to the conclusion that it was too costly for the university to pursue. However, he also concluded PV panels installations were well within reach for the university.

A student in the Stormwater Management Office is wokring on a GIS mapping project of invasive species in order to assist in the 2nd creek improvement project to make the creek that runs through campus a more suitable environment for local biodiversity.

For an independent study, a student did research on compostable alternatives for dining ware in on-campus dining halls. This independent study also included research into environmental purchasing policies at other campuses and the applicability here at UT.

The Biking UT research project, an independent study, is a composition of an in-depth proposal to enhance the environment for bicyclists on campus and develop a continuous conversation about safety between vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Overall, the goal of the project is to make UT a more bike friendly campus so that people will feel more encouraged to commute by bicycle instead of driving their cars.

Students interns in the Recycling Office work on waste minimization through projects on composting techniques, data collection, efficiency and planning, and education and outreach. Student interns work daily in the collection of recycling and compost as well, learning about the day-to-day needs of large recycling and compost pick-up coordination while helping the university to divert as much waste as possible from the landfill.

Four student interns in the Stormwater Management Office are working on projects inventorying all stormwater outfalls on campus, assisting with construction related stormwater inspections, the instillation of storm drain markers and stormwater awareness materials, and maintenance of information on stormwater needs on campus.

A student intern in the Stormwater Management Office is working on developing a Stormwater Best Management Practices manual for UTK that will set up sustainable practices as policy for future UTK stormwater projects. Additionally, one of the Howard Baker Public Policy Challenge, one group of students did a project looking into setting up a policy to ban stores on campus from giving out plastic bags.

As a part of the Howard Baker Public Policy Challenge a team of 5 students worked on a project looking at issues surrounding non-citizen admission to the University of Tennessee. Issues discussed include: a lack of a clear law in Tennessee on whether non-citizen students can attend public universities, the Board of Regents' system-wide policy for all non-UT public universities in Tennessee of admitting non-citizen students, and a history at University of Tennessee of denial of admission to non-citizen students. The students wished to call to attention the conflict between the policies of the Board of Regents and UT's policies and called for local or state policy makers implementing a uniform policy throughout the state.

A student completed a research paper, titled "The Correlation between Noise Pollution and Air Pollution." Some urban environments expose humans to a combination of both noise and air pollution. Exposure to high levels of CO2 or CO can produce a variety of negative health effects (e.g. Daily use of a hair dryer can cause hearing loss over time). He took sound (dB) and air quality (CO2) readings at 4 events inside Thompson Bowling Arena. He also took outdoor readings (including CO) over I-640, downtown Gay St., Gatlinburg, and the 11th St. Garage.

A student did a research project for a class looking into the feasibility of divestment campaigns at campuses across the US and specifically at UTK.

On September 16, 2014 the Howard Baker Public Policy Challenge started a competition taking real community problems to engage students from across disciples to work together ad with the community to solve issues by creating a state or local policy or a policy-related initiative. Examples of student projects in this competition include: helping TANF clients find employment, engaging students and young people in the democratic system and voting, investment in statewide comprehensive mental health care assessment and referral system, coordination of supplies deliver to urban core without disturbing vehicle and pedestrian traffic, us of a smart grid to optimize efficiency for measuring and distributing demand, using urban gardens to address food deserts, and housing for the homeless population of Knoxville.

A student intern in the Office of Sustainability, along with several students in a business class, headed a project collecting donated clothes and dorm necessities at the end of the school year and selling them at the beginning of the next school year at a large on-campus yard sale. Proceeds went to fund environmental projects on campus and excess goods were donated to local thrift stores.