Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.58
Liaison Brad Spanbauer
Submission Date Sept. 12, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
IN-4: Innovation 4

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Brian Kermath
Sustainability Director
Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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Title or keywords related to the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Titan Gold compost program

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A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Titan Gold is a compost product that is derived from digestate solids that are the result of the anaerobic digestion (AD) process from the UW-Oshkosh Foundation Biodigester. The facility processes organic waste to produce energy and the remaining solids can be converted into a value-added product, an endeavor to which the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is committed. Production of Titan Gold started in August of 2015. Titan Gold is unique in that it is not animal waste-based compost, which is a typical product of anaerobic digestion systems that serve large animal waste facilities. Finding a solution for solids outputs from anaerobic digestion systems is a challenge nationally, and Titan Gold serves as a model for the conversion of AD solids to a value-added product. Initially, AD solids from the UW-Oshkosh Foundation Biodigester realized no market value. Through local partnerships, the AD solids have been composted after the anaerobic digestion process at a site off-campus, and then returned to campus for further processing and screening. Titan Gold is tested the Enrvironmental Research and Innovation Center (ERIC) at UW-Oshkosh. The ERIC lab is one of ten nationally-certified Seal of Testing Assurance Standards (STA) labs. The product can then be bagged, sold and distributed. Titan Gold is a registered trademark in Wisconsin, and has been submitted for a federally-registered trademark. The Titan Gold program not only employs students to work on various aspects of Titan Gold testing and production, but the program also supports a fund for student scholarship focused on sustainable technology.

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A brief description of any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation (if not reported above):
As a result of the Titan Gold program: To date, 10 students have been hired to assist with the production of Titan Gold. In 2015, the employee giveaway program resulted in 241 complimentary bags of Titan Gold and an additional 164 bags sold at a reduced rate. In 2015, Titan Gold was sold at farmer's markets in Oshkosh, Neenah, and Menasha, WI. To date, 2,250 bags and 250 yards of bulk material of Titan Gold have been sold totaling $22,066.97 of generated revenue.

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A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
TitanGold_supportletter.pdf

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Which of the following STARS subcategories does the innovation most closely relate to? (Select all that apply up to a maximum of five):
Yes or No
Curriculum ---
Research Yes
Campus Engagement ---
Public Engagement ---
Air & Climate ---
Buildings ---
Dining Services Yes
Energy ---
Grounds Yes
Purchasing ---
Transportation ---
Waste Yes
Water ---
Coordination, Planning & Governance ---
Diversity & Affordability ---
Health, Wellbeing & Work ---
Investment ---

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Other topic(s) that the innovation relates to that are not listed above:
---

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The website URL where information about the innovation is available:
http://titangold.uwosh.edu/

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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