Carbon Neutrality Action Plan Goals

• Integrate sustainability into the campus master plan
• Develop revised organizational chart and hard and soft reporting lines for CAP implementation
• Expand staff and new employee training both in person and online to build buy-in for sustainability actions
• Develop a commitment to sustainability as a criterion for hiring
• Refine SCEI research questions and key tasks for CAP implementation
• SCEI faculty staff SCEI kickoff workshop
  • Benefit: Recruit faculty to participate in SCEI from across academic programs and develop strategies, data needs, etc
• Market SCEI research and teaching opportunities
• Develop a data portal for NAU CAP-related data streams
• Develop a repository for SCEI-related products
• Creating a student liaison position that is responsible for holding a space where students can voice their concerns about the environment at NAU
  • Outcome: Students feel heard and stay invested in school; Student involvement can lead to cutting-edge solutions
• Engaging students and hearing community concerns/support
  • Outcome:  NAU has an opportunity to determine what students are engaging with in terms of sustainability
• Develop and implement a well-being campus survey that includes carbon neutrality and sustainability

The CAP has specific action intentions involving the reinforcement of the university’s culture:

• NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus will be a campus community whose academics, research, and operations collaborate to address environmental adaptation and mitigation.
• NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus will align and collaborate with the City of Flagstaff to realize shared university and city Carbon Neutrality goals and objectives.

Culture of Sustainability

• Students are starting to factor in whether or not their campus is Green since it’s one of the leading issues of our generation.
• NAU is Gold Rated as a biking campus through AASHE Stars – the industry standard for sustainability rankings
• One of the first institutions to create a Carbon Neutrality Action plan in 2010 which stated that we could be carbon neutral by 2020

Undergraduate Symposium Submission – 2020 Green Fund Approved Research Grants

Learn more here: Research Projects

Abstract:
In support of the Green Fund’s Mission Statement and goals of improving sustainability on campus, the Green Fund accepted proposals for research projects that help to reduce the university’s environmental impact and have the potential to create future Green Fund project proposals.

All applications met the following requirements:
1. Research must be primarily conducted by either an undergraduate or graduate student who is currently enrolled full-time at NAU.
2. Research must be conducted under the guidance and approval of a full-time faculty member.
3. Design and goals of the research project must focus on improving sustainability on NAU’s campus.

Congratulations to the following students for receiving funding for their research topics: Justin Case, Christina Osterink, Galen Dennis, Trong-Doan Nguyen, Miles Dunlap, Jordan Masayesva, and Sarah Pytleski.

Undergraduate Symposium Submission, 2020 – Kai Buerkle – W.A. Franke College of Business 

Title:
A Study of “Umweltbewusstsein” (Environmental Consciousness): Generation Z’s Perceptions of Environmental Sustainable Hotels

Abstract:
Despite all endeavors to make sustainability programs more attractive to guests, less than 1% of them consider these programs when booking a hotel room (Bruns-Smith, et al. 2019). There are differences in values among generations including their perceptions of environmentally sustainable practices. Younger generations (Generation Z born after 1994) who will become a third of the population may have different behaviors and beliefs (Seemiller & Grace, 2016). Thus, this study aims to explore consumer perceptions of environmentally sustainable hotels following the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen 1991). More specifically, this study plans to assess consumers’ attitudes, intentions, behaviors, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. This study plans to conduct an online survey questionnaire with 300 participants of Generation Z to determine their variance in consumer behavior in the U.S. and Germany throughout the year 2020-2021. Information collected will include the average stays per year, the type of properties stayed at, to what extent they are in favor of these programs, etc. By understanding consumer behavior this study anticipates determining the primary objectives and expectations of these programs with regard to reputation, financial aspects, economy, and the environment. This study will additionally assist lodging management to better understand these programs from the consumer’s perspective. Sustainability programs do not only aid properties in cutting costs and improving their corporate image, but it is also widely accepted among guests since about three-quarters of guests participate in green programs if offered with a slightly greater level of participation in luxury and upscale segments (Bruns-Smith, et al. 2019).

Undergraduate Symposium Submission, 2020- Samantha Conley – College of Arts and Letters, School of Art 

Title:
Zoohouse Community Living: A Sustainable and Supportive Approach to Affordable Housing

Abstract:
Affordable housing has been a topic of conversation among communities and governments for nearly a century, but a successful design solution has yet to be created for these facilities. Furthermore, the housing options that are available for low-income individuals and families are often lacking in safety, support, and inclusion. This project, “Zoohouse Community Living”, provides a design solution for affordable housing that is centered on community, sustainability, and balance. Using research, this project will examine how social responsibility, sustainable materials and practices, and prospect and refuge theory can strengthen the integrity of the building and its users. The overall goal of this project is to create an affordable, community living facility that is organic, blended, and supportive of its users. Young adults and families who cannot afford market-rate housing will still have access to a decent home that emphasizes their success, physical and mental well-being, and their contribution to the community.