Project Summary:

Initiated by the Center for Community Health and Engaged Research, this project retrofits existing plumbing infrastructure in the Applied Research and Development Building to include two touchless water bottle filling stations. In partnership with NAU Facilities Services and other building occupants, the installation replaces traditional drinking fountains that are difficult to use with reusable containers. The new stations provide faculty, staff, and students with accessible hydration options, directly decreasing the daily consumption and disposal of single-use plastic bottles. Alongside the physical infrastructure, the project features educational signage focused on waste reduction and utilizes the stations’ digital counters to track the exact number of plastic bottles avoided in real time. This campus addition lowers lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastic manufacturing and diverts waste from local landfills.

Project Lead:

Michelle Cook

Project Advisor:

Stephanie Mayer

Date:

2026-02-16

Funding Amount:

$4,300

Department:

Center for Community Health and Engaged Research

Supporting Documents