Brown and Green

The Office of Sustainability and Resiliency Newsletter

AVP's Message

As the season turns colder, things are “heating up” at the Office of Sustainability and Resiliency (OSR). This fall we explored the feasibility of geothermal energy around campus and while results are still being analyzed, this is just one more exciting possibility for Brown to transform our carbon-dependent campus heating systems with climate solutions. You can read more about this project in the newsletter below.

OSR is also delighted to announce a significant uptick in environmentally conscious initiatives being proposed by other members of the Brown community. Last semester we received a total of 11 submissions to our Sustainability Seed Grant program; our largest application pool to date. We are very excited to fund this work and to see what new innovations, research, and initiatives come about as a result of these thoughtful projects.  Please consider applying to the next round of grants in the spring of 2024.

As we usher in the new year, we look forward to seeing our team grow in new and resilient ways. The addition of our new Assistant Director, Resiliency and Adaptation, will enhance Brown’s ability to cope with climate uncertainty and collaborate with the wider Providence community. Whether through a Sustainability Seed Grant or a personal initiative, we hope you will join us in seeking new and innovative approaches to sustainable and resilient solutions in 2024.

Best wishes to all in the new year.

- Jessica Berry, AVP, Office of Sustainability and Resiliency

NEWS@BROWN

Geothermal Testing

Brown University is addressing the challenge of eliminating emissions from its campus by focusing on replacing gas combustion in furnaces and heating buildings with renewable electricity. The solution involves using heat pumps, which are more efficient than combustion, to move heat from one place to another. Brown plans to switch to heat pumps for heating its campus, similar to how refrigerators and air conditioners work, running them off electricity. To provide emissions-free electricity for these heat pumps, the university is committed to purchasing 100% renewable-generated electricity. For larger buildings, Brown is exploring a geothermal approach, capturing waste heat from summer and storing it underground in rocks. In winter, this stored heat will be extracted from the warm rocks to heat the campus, acting as a thermal battery. Test wells are being used to assess the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of this geothermal solution as part of the university's efforts to create an emissions-free campus powered entirely by renewable, emissions-free electricity.

Turning Exercise into Electricity for a Sustainable Future

Brown University's Nelson Fitness Center has incorporated six new pieces of exercise equipment – two treadmills, two stair climbers, and two rowing machines – strategically placed across the gym to convert human exertion into usable electricity, thus offsetting energy consumption. This innovative initiative originated from a Climate Solutions course at Brown in Fall 2022. Elina Pipa, a junior student, was inspired to combine her academic pursuits in economics and international affairs with her passion for climate change mitigation.

Pipa's project involved meticulous research, including a survey of 100 students to gauge interest in the new equipment, which received overwhelmingly positive responses. The machines are expected to offset around 2% of emissions from the entire building, including the pool. Collaborating with an engineer to quantify the impact on carbon emissions reduction, Pipa presented her findings to university officials, who embraced the proposal enthusiastically.

The installation was realized after several months of collaboration, feasibility studies, budgeting, and logistics. The equipment is currently undergoing a six-week pilot program to evaluate durability and gather student feedback. Pipa hopes the initiative not only contributes to sustainability efforts but also raises awareness and inspires students to make more environmentally conscious choices. If successful, Pipa envisions community-building events centered around the equipment to promote values of sustainability and climate action, demonstrating the impact of individual energy use in a tangible way.

EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES

Green Move-In

The Office of Sustainability and Resiliency was supported by a team of 25 dedicated Green Move-In volunteers this fall. Their goal was to not only facilitate a smooth transition for first-year students into their residence halls but also to impart valuable lessons on sustainability. These efforts included educating incoming students on proper waste sorting and composting procedures.

As part of Beyond the Bottle, OSR, in collaboration with Dining Services, distributed 1,800 reusable water bottles to first-year students during the move-in process. This not only encouraged responsible water usage but also reduced single-use plastic waste.

Furthermore, at the University Resource Fair, OSR distributed over 1,000 energy-saving power strips to students. These power strips were designed to help students reduce energy consumption from their various dormitory appliances, thereby contributing to both cost and energy savings.

Sustainability Themed Housing

The Office of Sustainability & Resiliency is delighted to collaborate with Associate Provost for Sustainability, Stephen Porder, to create enriching programs for the new Sustainability Themed House. Together, we aim to empower residents within our community, guiding them to explore the fundamental principles and practices of sustainability. In this vibrant learning environment, residents will actively engage in the pursuit of knowledge, embracing eco-conscious living, and cultivating a profound understanding of sustainability. Through immersive experiences, workshops, and discussions, they will learn to make mindful choices that contribute to an ecologically balanced, socially just, and economically stable society. This collaboration signifies our collective commitment to fostering a sustainable future, where residents will not only gain valuable insights but also inspire others, catalyzing positive change within our community and beyond.

BEYOND BROWN

R.I. News:

R.I.'s Effort to Attract Offshore Wind Project

In October of this year, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on attracting offshore wind developers for larger, more efficient projects. This marks the first-ever agreement of its kind in the U.S. The states aim to solicit bids for multi-state offshore wind proposals, totaling 6,000 megawatts (MW) in 2024. Massachusetts is seeking 3,600 MW, while Rhode Island and Connecticut are each seeking 1,200 MW. The selection process will be based on individual assessments of proposals' costs, benefits, and other criteria. The collaboration aims to foster regional economic development, create high-paying jobs, and promote environmental justice and equity.

“Offshore wind is an important resource in meeting our Act on Climate and renewable energy goals,” McKee said. “Regional collaboration through this three states MOU will not only help in advancing offshore wind projects of large scale by securing cost-effective energy prices for ratepayers – but it also provides a significant opportunity for long-term economic development that the offshore wind industry will bring to the three states.”

U.S. News:

Depleting Groundwater Threatens Agriculture, Communities, and the Future

Global warming has raised concerns about the impact on land and air, intensifying natural disasters like hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires. However, there is another hidden climate crisis unfolding beneath our feet.

Many of the aquifers that supply 90% of the nation's water and have turned vast areas of America into fertile farmland are being severely depleted. This depletion poses a significant threat to the American economy and society at large.

The New York Times conducted an extensive investigation, speaking with over 100 experts and analyzing millions of data points from monitoring sites across the country. The findings reveal that America's crucial groundwater resource is rapidly depleting, with some areas facing irreversible damage. Large industrial farms and expanding cities are draining aquifers that may take centuries or even millennia to replenish, if they recover at all. This over-extraction is already taking a toll on states and communities.

States like Kansas, once a breadbasket state, are experiencing a sharp decline in their major aquifers, leading to plummeting crop yields. New York State is witnessing overpumping threatening drinking-water wells. Phoenix, one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., is facing a severe crisis, preventing new houses from being built due to water scarcity. In various regions such as Utah, California, and Texas, excessive pumping is causing infrastructure damage and diminishing water sources. Rivers that used to rely on groundwater are dwindling into streams or disappearing altogether.

The problem lies in the lack of regulation for this essential natural resource. The federal government has minimal involvement, and individual states have implemented weak and inconsistent rules. Some states, like Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado, allow groundwater to be pumped until it's depleted. This unregulated over-pumping is exacerbated by climate change, which reduces surface water, increases the reliance on groundwater, and causes more water to evaporate.

This crisis threatens America's agricultural industry, impacting crops like corn, soybeans, and rice, as well as communities that depend on groundwater for their drinking water. Moreover, overpumping can lead to contamination of aquifers, making the remaining water unsafe.

Efforts to address the crisis are hindered by the absence of comprehensive federal regulations. Despite technological solutions like filtering out contaminants, these methods come with costs, particularly affecting low-income families who may not afford clean water. Subsidence, the sinking of land due to groundwater depletion, is another consequence, damaging infrastructure and causing land fissures.

In the face of rapid urbanization and agricultural demands, the U.S. must find sustainable solutions to manage its groundwater resources. Federal intervention, combined with technological innovations and water conservation efforts, is crucial to securing this vital resource for future generations.

World News: 

NASA Announces 2023 as the Hottest Year

During the summer of 2023, Earth experienced its hottest temperatures since global records began in 1880, according to scientists at NASA's Goddard Institute of Space Studies (GISS) in New York. The months of June, July, and August were 0.41 degrees Fahrenheit (0.23 degrees Celsius) warmer than any previous summer in NASA’s records, and 2.1 degrees F (1.2 C) warmer than the average summer between 1951 and 1980. August alone was 2.2 F (1.2 C) warmer than the average. This record-setting summer was marked by exceptionally high sea surface temperatures, partly due to the return of El Niño, a natural climate phenomenon. These elevated temperatures contributed to severe heat waves, deadly wildfires in Canada and Hawaii, and heavy rainfall in Italy, Greece, and Central Europe. The increasing heat is part of a long-term trend of global warming driven primarily by human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

• Decades of redlining, a discriminatory banking practice that denied people of color mortgages, continues to perpetuate racial and socioeconomic inequality in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, according to ongoing research from UC Berkeley School of Public Health. Despite being illegal since 1968, the legacy of redlining has left non-white communities struggling with air pollution, reproductive health disorders, and fewer urban amenities. Historically redlined neighborhoods are vulnerable to air, water, and noise pollutants, leading to various health problems. These areas have less access to green spaces and are more prone to noise pollution and poorer air quality. Discriminatory lending practices have lasting consequences, affecting public health and demanding considerable intervention to address racial inequities.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

This summer, Brown University senior Eliza Atwood conducted field research in Yellowstone National Park. Working alongside a research team, she collected bison fecal samples and gathered plant samples to study the food web for bison and other large mammalian herbivores. This research contributed to understanding the nutrition of these animals and how their diets sustain their migrations across the ecosystem. Atwood's hands-on experience was part of a collaboration between Brown University researchers and the National Park Service. She gained valuable insights into fieldwork, DNA metabarcoding technology, and plant identification processes. Atwood's work at Yellowstone has deepened her interest in studying the impact of climate change, fertilizers, and drought on vegetation.

LOCAL VENDOR SPOTLIGHT

Narragansett Creamery

Narragansett Creamery in Providence, Rhode Island is committed to bringing fresh local dairy products to Brown University students through their partnership with Brown Dining Services. With Henry P. Kendall Foundation awards over $1 million in New England Food Vision Prize funds each year to projects that increase the amount of local and regional food served on New England college and university campuses, Brown Dining Services and the Narragansett Creamery were able to collaborate and supply fresh dairy products to students. The Narragansett Creamery started in 2007 when Mark and Pattie Federico decided to launch an artisan brand under their umbrella company, Providence Specialty Products.

Sustainability Seed Grant

Repurposing of Expended Print-plastic for Sustainability in the Technology and Innovation Community [RE-PLASTIC] Program

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, the rapid advancement of 3D printing has ushered in a new era of innovation and creativity. However, with this progress comes the challenge of managing the resulting waste streams effectively. As we witness the proliferation of 3D printing technology, there is a pressing need to address the environmental impact of the waste it generates. The RE-PLASTIC program, initiated by Brown University, stands at the forefront of this challenge, proposing an ingenious solution that not only tackles the issue of 3D print waste but also harnesses it for sustainable purposes.

This pioneering initiative aims to explore the collection and processing of 3D print waste, transforming it into repurposed 3D print filament material. The primary objective is clear: to establish a comprehensive waste re-purposing pipeline, encompassing collection, sorting, cleaning, shredding, granulating, and extruding 3D print filament. Beyond waste management, RE-PLASTIC has ambitious academic and community-oriented goals. By integrating student monitors into the process, the program seeks to provide interactive learning experiences within a "living" campus laboratory space. This approach not only enhances academic exposure but also fosters a deeper understanding of sustainability through hands-on engagement.

Moreover, RE-PLASTIC is dedicated to increasing community engagement and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) opportunities. By forging partnerships with local and regional community members, the program aims to share expertise, experiences, and products, creating a collaborative network focused on waste recycling and repurposing. The anticipated outcomes of this endeavor are both quantifiable and impactful – from successfully implementing the re-purposing pipeline to training a cohort of monitors and establishing collaboration pathways with academic and community-based 3D print laboratories.

In essence, the RE-PLASTIC program embodies the spirit of innovation, education, and community collaboration. By transforming 3D print waste into a valuable resource, this initiative not only addresses an environmental concern but also cultivates a sustainable mindset among students and community members alike. Through the fusion of technology and education, RE-PLASTIC is poised to make a lasting difference, setting a precedent for responsible waste management and inspiring future initiatives in the realm of sustainable technology.

SUSTAINABILITY TIPS

Suggested Reading