{"id":3439,"date":"2023-06-30T21:36:11","date_gmt":"2023-06-30T21:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/green-nau\/?page_id=3439"},"modified":"2025-02-25T17:58:31","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T17:58:31","slug":"living-lab","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/green-nau\/climate-action-plan\/living-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating a national model of a living laboratory"},"content":{"rendered":"

Carbon Neutrality Action Plan Goals<\/div><\/div><\/h1>\n
Creating a National Model of a Living Laboratory<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Crosscutting: Culture, engagement, learning, and Organization<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Summary of Actions: <\/strong>Reaching our carbon neutrality and sustainability goals requires cross-institutional mobilization and engagement. NAU needs to develop a strategic organizational chart with hard and soft reporting lines for CAP implementation, develop a commitment to sustainability as criteria for hiring, launching, funding, and marketing Sustainable Campus Ecosystem Initiative (SCEI), outline SCEI research questions and key tasks for CAP implementation, develop data portal for NAU CAP related data streams, maintain a repository for SCEI related projects, create a student liaison position which is responsible for holding a space where students can voice their concerns about sustainability action and sustainability at NAU and engage with the NAU Advancement to identify additional potential sustainability and Carbon Neutrality action funding.<\/p>\n\n\n
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\n Strategic Goals and Visions Tab Open<\/span>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n
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\n Barriers and Efforts Needed Tab Closed<\/span>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n
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\n Benefits Tab Closed<\/span>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n
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\n Outcomes Tab Closed<\/span>\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/li>\n <\/ul>\n \n
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Strategic Goals and Visions Accordion Open<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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As a strategic vision, this initiative will simultaneously:<\/p>\n
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Generate innovative solutions to sustainability challenges and raise NAU’s status as an environmental leader.<\/li>\n
Advance NAU’s environmental research and teaching missions in coordination with a powerful public service commitment.<\/li>\n
Engage students with global issues at the local level through research-driven learning.<\/li>\n
Attract future students and donors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n <\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n \n
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Barriers and Efforts Needed Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Barriers<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Lack of student involvement<\/li>\n
Lack of inter-departmental coordination<\/li>\n
Funding for efforts<\/li>\n
Marketing<\/li>\n
Transparency of work efforts<\/li>\n
Operational knowledge is limited<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Efforts Needed<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Elevate the Environmental Caucus<\/li>\n
Organizational collaboration and communication<\/li>\n
Increase funding to the Green Fund<\/li>\n
Develop a centralized Sustainability Office<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n <\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n \n
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Benefits Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Benefits: <\/strong>Increased student learning and training outcomes, cost savings due to reduced need for external consultants, fostering of a long-lasting culture of sustainability, increasing buy-in for our goals, reduced emissions, and energy consumption due to employees engaging in conservation behaviors as the perceived norm at NAU, and showcasing NAU as an innovative leader in carbon neutrality and education.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n \n
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Outcomes Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Intended Outcomes: <\/strong>A campus-wide mobilization to aid with our carbon neutrality and sustainability goals. Increased student engagement and research opportunities, increased opportunities for faculty engagement, and bridging of operations and academics around carbon neutrality and sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
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Dedication<\/p>\n
Interdepartmental collaboration and mobilization while incorporating student involvement will be necessary to successfully implement the Carbon Neutrality Action Plan.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
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Future Action Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Integrate sustainability into the campus master plan<\/li>\n
Develop revised organizational chart and hard and soft reporting lines for CAP implementation<\/li>\n
Expand staff and new employee training both in person and online to build buy-in for sustainability actions<\/li>\n
Develop a commitment to sustainability as a criterion for hiring<\/li>\n
Refine SCEI research questions and key tasks for CAP implementation<\/li>\n
SCEI faculty staff SCEI kickoff workshop\n
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Benefit: Recruit faculty to participate in SCEI from across academic programs and develop strategies, data needs, etc <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Market SCEI research and teaching opportunities<\/li>\n
Develop a data portal for NAU CAP-related data streams<\/li>\n
Develop a repository for SCEI-related products<\/li>\n
Creating a student liaison position that is responsible for holding a space where students can voice their concerns about the environment at NAU\n
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Outcome: Students feel heard and stay invested in school; Student involvement can lead to cutting-edge solutions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Engaging students and hearing community concerns\/support\n
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Outcome: NAU has an opportunity to determine what students are engaging with in terms of sustainability<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Develop and implement a well-being campus survey that includes carbon neutrality and sustainability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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NAU\u2019s Culture of Sustainability Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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The CAP has specific action intentions involving the reinforcement of the university’s culture:<\/p>\n
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NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus will be a campus community whose academics, research, and operations collaborate to address environmental adaptation and mitigation.<\/li>\n
NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus will align and collaborate with the City of Flagstaff to realize shared university and city Carbon Neutrality goals and objectives.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Culture of Sustainability<\/p>\n
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Students are starting to factor in whether or not their campus is Green since it’s one of the leading issues of our generation.<\/li>\n
NAU is Gold Rated as a biking campus through AASHE Stars – the industry standard for sustainability rankings<\/li>\n
One of the first institutions to create a Carbon Neutrality Action plan in 2010 which stated that we could be carbon neutral by 2020<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Student Projects Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Undergraduate Symposium Submission – 2020 Green Fund Approved Research Grants<\/span><\/p>\n
Learn more here: Research Projects<\/a><\/p>\n
Abstract:<\/strong>
\nIn 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.<\/p>\n
All applications met the following requirements:
\n1. Research must be primarily conducted by either an undergraduate or graduate student who is currently enrolled full-time at NAU.
\n2. Research must be conducted under the guidance and approval of a full-time faculty member.
\n3. Design and goals of the research project must focus on improving sustainability on NAU’s campus.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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Undergraduate Symposium Submission, 2020 – Kai Buerkle – W.A. Franke College of Business <\/span><\/p>\n
Title:<\/strong>
\nA Study of “Umweltbewusstsein” (Environmental Consciousness): Generation Z’s Perceptions of Environmental Sustainable Hotels<\/p>\n
Abstract:<\/strong>
\nDespite 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).<\/p>\n
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Undergraduate Symposium Submission, 2020- Samantha Conley – College of Arts and Letters, School of Art <\/span><\/p>\n
Title:<\/strong>
\nZoohouse Community Living: A Sustainable and Supportive Approach to Affordable Housing<\/p>\n
Abstract:<\/strong>
\nAffordable 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.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\n \n When NAU endorses a mission such as realizing carbon neutrality, it stimulates an evolution of its stewardship practices. It triggers the drafting of new and revisiting existing policies and practices to deliberately anchor them to carbon neutrality. <\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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