SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities

Student Conversations on Sustainability

Kiera Reid — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 19:43:16 +0000

Student Conversations on Sustainability Kiera Reid Thu, 09/22/2022 - 15:43

Project Background

Katherine Hayhoe, world-renowned climate scientist and communicator likes to say that “The most important thing you can do to fight climate change is to talk about it”.¹ Talking about climate change and environmental sustainability has many positive impacts: it helps to raise awareness of these issues and why they matter to students, it raises the profile of climate change and sustainability and validates these as issues of concern in our society, it can empower individuals to take meaningful actions, it can give leaders the confidence that there is support for the systemic changes that are essential to building a sustainable future, and more.

In the University setting, students are central to the purpose of the institution and therefore the issues that matter to students are of concern to those who make decisions at the University and for the University. One of the key mechanisms for showing what matters to students is the conversations that they have amongst each other, with their instructors, with university staff, with administrators and other campus members. Creating more of a buzz around sustainability and climate change is therefore important but so is amplifying that buzz and creating quantitative and qualitative indicators for how strong that buzz is. When decision-makers at all levels are hearing that an issue is important to their major stakeholders, when they see numbers and stories that demonstrate that concern for the issue is widespread, they will feel the pressure to act, and they will know that there is support for action on these issues.

The Sustainability Office is looking to learn about best practices for encouraging more students to engage in sustainability-related conversations, both formally and informally. This work ultimately supports action on the Shift:Neutral climate action plan and all of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Project Example

Conducting a literature review on the institutional impacts of conversations about sustainability and climate change. Are there compelling examples, studies that have measured impacts, or theories of change that validate the importance of these conversations in general and in businesses/institutions in particular?
Researching best practices from other Universities for promoting conversations on sustainability and climate change.
Developing recommendations for how to inspire more sustainability and climate-related conversations between
- Students,
- Students and faculty or instructors,
- Students and staff (e.g. in residences, food courts, co-op office, etc.),
- Students and administrators.
Exploring simple ways of quantifying the number of student sustainability and climate change conversations occurring on campus.
Recommending simple ways of evaluating the impact of the recommendations.
Translating recommendations into infographics to disseminate on social media

¹ https://www.ted.com/talks/katharine_hayhoe_the_most_important_thing_you_can_do_to_fight_climate_change _talk_about_it

Updating Species Planting Guide

Kiera Reid — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 19:15:30 +0000

Updating Species Planting Guide Kiera Reid Thu, 09/22/2022 - 15:15

Project Background

The University of ��ݮ��Ƶ Sustainability Office, in consultation with Grounds Services and other stakeholders, has developed a Sustainable Land Care Standard. Included in the standard is a commitment to follow the Species Planting List for all new plantings (Action 1A). By prioritizing native and resilient but non-invasive species, the University can support biodiversity, preserve local ecologies, and reduce long term maintenance requirements. The current Species Planting List was created in 1997 however and was limited to native trees and shrubs. The Sustainability Office is looking for an updated and expanded list that includes grasses, wildflowers and other plants.

This work supports the UW Sustainability Strategy Objective 09: by 2025, all University grounds will be maintained according to sustainable landscaping standards, and plans developed for remediation and preservation of specific natural areas of concern. This work also relates to UN Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 15.

Project Examples

Gathering existing species planting lists for nearby communities and institutions
Researching suitable criteria and planting considerations for a species planting list. In the report, include information on when each of these should be prioritized. Criteria and considerations might include:
- Native species (preference given to native but other species should be considered)
- Drought-tolerant
- Low invasiveness
- Low maintenance
- Low toxicity (when eaten or to nearby plants)
- Sun/shade preferences
- Soil type and moisture preferences
- Suitability for different sites (e.g. Salt tolerance for near pathways and roads)
- Ecological role (e.g. food source for birds)
- Allergen ratings
- Resilience to projected changes in climate
- Aesthetics
- Mature sizes
- Pollinator friendliness
- Pest/disease tolerance
- Production of edibles
- Maintenance requirements
- Other planting considerations
Preparing a Species Planting Guide using the chosen criteria and providing available information on the planting considerations for species in one or more of the following vegetation types:
- Trees
- Shrubs
- Grasses
- Flowers and Wildflowers
- Other plants such as vines, ground covers, etc.
Making recommendations for implementation of the Species Planting Guide

Full Cost of Driving

Kiera Reid — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 13:23:39 +0000

Full Cost of Driving Kiera Reid Thu, 09/22/2022 - 09:23

Project Background

At the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ, commuting contributes an estimated 19% of emissions associated with the University. Commuting emissions are part of the campus goal of net zero emissions by 2050. Action item 41 of the Shift:Neutral climate action plan is the development of an institutional Transportation Demand Management Plan. Part of that plan will involve finding creative ways to convince commuters to forgo the personal vehicle and choose sustainable means of getting to and from campus: by walking, biking, rolling or taking public transit.

There are many considerations that go into the decision of how to commute to and from campus: distance, travel times, climate and weather, cost, availability of sustainable transportation options, fitness levels, need to combine a commute with other trips, etc. Often if a commuter owns a personal vehicle, however, the simplest and easiest choice is to use that vehicle. Some, however, may be persuaded to leave that vehicle at home or even to give up that vehicle if they are made aware of the true cost of driving to campus.

The University of ��ݮ��Ƶ is looking for an analysis of the full economic and societal costs of using a personal vehicle to commute to and from campus and recommendations on how to use these values to promote sustainable commuting options. This work relates to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 13.

Project Examples

Reviewing data for commuting mode choices and sustainable transportation options for the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ.
Performing a literature review to identify best practices for quantifying the full cost of owning and using a personal vehicle. The full cost may include:
- The full economic cost of owning a car so that you can commute to campus. This could be measured as an overall cost over the vehicle’s lifetime or an average per km travelled and could include:
  - Upfront cost
  - Fuel costs
  - Maintenance costs
  - Insurance costs
  - Parking costs
  - Distance travelled
- Incremental economic costs (avg yearly and per km commuting) of using a personal vehicle you already own to commute to UW including:
  - Maintenance costs from wear and tear
  - Fuel costs
  - Incremental insurance costs (from occasional to commuting vehicle)
  - Campus parking costs
- Social costs - try to estimate average per vehicle financial and non-financial costs in Canada for factors such as:
  - Health impacts of emissions
  - Health impacts from sedentary lifestyles and driving stress ▪ Road accident costs
  - Climate impacts from emissions
  - Climate impacts from embodied emissions from the vehicle ▪ Urban heat island effect
  - Road infrastructure (new roads, bridges, parking lots)
  - Road maintenance (includes paving, plowing)
  - Road policing
  - Other (effects on plants, wildlife, farmland?)
  - Make recommendations on how to communicate these costs to commuters as a means of promoting sustainable alternative commutes.

Projecting EV and E-Bike Adoption

Kiera Reid — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 17:48:39 +0000

Projecting EV and E-Bike Adoption Kiera Reid Wed, 09/21/2022 - 13:48

Project Background

In 2021, over 5% of new vehicles sold in Canada were electric.¹ E-bike sales are also on the rise worldwide including in Canada.² The economic, social and policy signals are all pointing toward greater adoption of electric vehicles and e-bikes in Canada. These technologies are also important solutions to the estimated 19% of University of ��ݮ��Ƶ emissions that are attributed to commuting.³ Action item 41 of the Shift:Neutral climate action plan is the development of an institutional Transportation Demand Management Plan in which EVs and e-bikes will play a role. Furthermore, as more of our commuters adopt EVs and e-bikes, there will be increased demand for EV chargers, e-bike chargers and secure e-bike storage options, and this is something that the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ must plan for.

Currently, the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ has 18 EV chargers. Charging is free at these level 2 chargers, but vehicle owners must have a valid parking permit and are limited to 4 hours of parking in charging spots. There are no dedicated e-bike parking or charging stations.

The University of ��ݮ��Ƶ is looking for an analysis of the projected uptake for electric vehicles, e-bikes and the support infrastructure required. This work will support the Sustainability Office’s Transportation Demand Management planning and work toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals 7, 11 and 13.

Project Examples

Performing a literature review to summarize projections for EV and e-bike adoption in Canada and Ontario.
Researching best practices from other institutions on the infrastructure investments needed to support the transition to electric transportation.
Researching best practices from other institutions for how to incentivize a shift to electrified transportation while also minimizing and/or recovering some of the infrastructure costs. This might include:
- Tiered parking rates based on type of vehicle
- Higher parking rates for internal combustion vehicles than for EVs
- Fees for charging
- Rates for secure bike parking
Exploring how the University could capitalize on vehicle to grid technology and what incentives might be required to enable this.
Making recommendations for how the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ can incentivize EV and e-bike use while minimizing the costs to the University.

¹ https://electricautonomy.ca/2022/02/15/ihs-markit-zev-adoption-canada-2021/

² https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2020/12/02/e-bike-sales-to-grow-from-37-million-to-17-million-peryear-by-2030-forecast-industry-experts/?sh=53342db22876

³ /sustainability/sites/ca.sustainability/files/uploads/files/shift_neutral_final_aoda.pdf

Parking Fee Structures

Kiera Reid — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 18:57:33 +0000

Parking Fee Structures Kiera Reid Tue, 09/20/2022 - 14:57

Project Background

At the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ, commuting contributes an estimated 19% of emissions associated with the University. Action item 41 of the Shift:Neutral climate action plan is the development of an institutional Transportation Demand Management Plan to support a shift to net zero emissions by 2050. Part of that plan will involve finding creative ways to encourage commuters to choose low carbon transportation options including electric vehicles, but especially active and public transportation. Parking fees can be a tool for incentivizing these alternative commuting choices, yet a strategy of simply increasing parking fees is often highly unpopular and therefore difficult to implement.

The University of ��ݮ��Ƶ Sustainability Office is looking for an analysis of best practices from other institutions for parking fee structures and the associated communication campaigns to promote active transportation, public transportation and commutes in electric vehicles. This work relates to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 13.

Project Examples

Reviewing data for parking fees, commuting mode choices and sustainable transportation options available for the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ.
Researching best practices from other institutions to identify parking fee structures used to promote a shift to sustainable transportation. Also include information about how these fee structures were marketed to commuters and the impacts that they had on commuting choices. These fee structures could include:
- Tiered pricing based on the type of vehicle (e.g. higher rates for internal combustion vehicles than for electric vehicles)
- A shift to daily pricing so that commuters are not “locked in” to vehicle use but can still drive to work in bad weather or when other needs arise
- Pricing structure based on commuting distance or availability of sustainable alternatives
Noting that any subsidies for sustainable transportation count as a work benefit that must be reported on income tax and tends to be unpopular.
Making recommendations for parking fee structures that could be used at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ to promote alternative and sustainable commuting options.
Making recommendations for how to market these fee structures to increase buy-in from administrators and commuters.

Co-op Car Requirement Study

Kiera Reid — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 14:47:32 +0000

Co-op Car Requirement Study Kiera Reid Tue, 09/20/2022 - 10:47

Project Background

Transportation accounted for 49% of ��ݮ��Ƶ Region’s total emissions in 2015¹ and will be a major target as it enacts its plan to achieve an 80% reduction in emissions below 2005 levels by 2050. Here at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ, commuting contributes an estimated 19% of emissions associated with the University². Commuting emissions are part of the campus goal of net zero emissions by 2050. Action item 41 of the Shift:Neutral climate action plan is the development of an institutional Transportation Demand Management Plan. The development of this plan will require a better understanding of current commuting mode share and the transportation mode options that are practical and accessible to employees.

Some co-op work terms require students to have access to a vehicle for their work either because the job requires travel or because workplaces are difficult to access by other means. Between winter of 2018 and fall of 2021, 6.9% of ��ݮ��Ƶ co-op job postings explicitly required access to personal transportation. This is likely an underestimation because many jobs moved to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, and because job postings may not have explicitly made this a requirement even when it is effectively true.

There are concerns that the convenience of a personal vehicle can result in decreased use of sustainable travel choices for commuting to campus. Furthermore, car ownership is expensive, in the order of $9,000US per year¹ and access to a vehicle could be a barrier to equitable access to co-op jobs. Here at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ, where two-thirds of full-time undergraduate students are enrolled in a co-op program, the impact of requiring a vehicle for co-op work terms may be significant. It may also create a sunk cost wherein once they purchase a vehicle, students are less likely to use more sustainable modes of transportation to and from the campus going forward.

The University of ��ݮ��Ƶ would like to understand how many students feel the need to buy personal vehicles for their co-op terms and explore options for reducing the impact of this requirement on student travel to campus behaviour. This work relates to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 8, 10, 11 and 13.

Project Examples

Conducting a student survey to:
- Estimate how many own or are considering acquiring a personal vehicle as a direct consequence of co-op work terms,
- Understand whether required vehicle access is a barrier to obtaining co-op placements and if so, estimate the degree to which it acts as a barrier,
- Estimate the annual cost of vehicle ownership for students,
- Estimate the impact on commuting choices in subsequent academic semesters,
- Assess their willingness to consider other options, such as 4-month rentals.
Conducting research to profile any historical or existing programs for 4-month vehicle rentals (the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ currently has negotiated preferred rates with Enterprise for short term rentals).
Conducting research to identify other programs that could cost-effectively reduce the need for personal vehicle ownership for co-op work terms.
Performing a high-level cost-effectiveness analysis for vehicle ownership versus 4-month rentals, assuming one co-op term per year requires access to a vehicle.
Making recommendations for reducing the need for vehicle ownership for co-op terms.

¹Moody, J., Farr, E., Papagelis, M. et al. The value of car ownership and use in the United States. Nat Sustain 4, 769–774 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-021-00731-5

Visualizing UW in 2050

Kiera Reid — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 14:32:32 +0000

Visualizing UW in 2050 Kiera Reid Mon, 09/19/2022 - 10:32

Project Background

Imagine you are returning to campus in 2050, perhaps for a reunion with your fellow classmates, or even to witness your own child graduate. What will the campus look like? We don’t know a lot about what will change between now and mid-century, but we do know that our campus and our society aim to be net zero emissions. Our climate action plan, Shift:Neutral, lays out a pathway to achieving those emissions reductions: through upgrades to buildings, through electrification of our heating systems, through greater use of active and sustainable transportation, through clean energy production, etc. Green spaces may also look different as we increasingly value naturalized spaces, green roofs, the services provided by trees, and other forms of biodiversity. How will those things change the look of our campus? That is far less obvious.

The University of ��ݮ��Ƶ Sustainability Office is looking for student visions of what a sustainable and zero-emission campus might look like in 2050. This work relates to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular emphasis on SDGs 11, 13, and 15.

Project Examples

Reviewing the Shift Neutral climate action plan and Sustainable Development Goals to understand the changes needed to achieve net zero emissions and a more sustainable campus in general.
Creating images of that show how the campus as a whole or recognizable parts of it will evolve between now and 2050.

Health-based Communication Strategy

Kiera Reid — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 20:44:12 +0000

Health-based Communication Strategy Kiera Reid Fri, 09/16/2022 - 16:44

Project Background

Too often, important decisions are made based almost entirely on very narrow economic factors: upfront costs, operational costs, payback periods, etc. Yet these decisions often have social, ecological and health implications that are overlooked or under-appreciated in these analyses. Creative and compelling value propositions that showcase these other dimensions can help to drive better decisions that can also be more cost-effective in the long term when the broader and full costs of a decision are considered.

The Sustainability Office is looking to develop new communication tools for the health benefits for a variety of the programs and operations that it influences. These communication tools can help to highlight the multi-dimensional value of sustainable choices and build compelling cases for decisions that may not appear to be the best economic choice at first glance. This work relates to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, and 15.

Project Examples

Researching sustainability practices promoted by the Sustainability Office in one or more of the following areas:
- Naturalized landscaping
- Other landscaping
- Green roofs and blue roofs
- Sustainable food choices
- Commutes to work
- Water use
- New building standards
- Energy efficiency
- Greenhouse gas emissions reduction
- Other
Researching best practices for communicating health-based benefits or value for sustainable practices related to the areas above. These health benefits may be:
- Qualitative e.g., Exposure to nature can improve mental health
- Quantitative e.g., A 2.5cm diameter oak tree planted on campus will remove 25 g of PM2.5 over 20 years¹
Developing creative and compelling communication strategies for raising awareness of the health benefits of sustainable practices

¹https://mytree.itreetools.org/#/benefits/individual

Shrub Inventory and Impact Assessment

Kiera Reid — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 18:44:12 +0000

Shrub Inventory and Impact Assessment Kiera Reid Fri, 09/16/2022 - 14:44

Project Background

When it comes to the climate and broader benefits of vegetation, trees seem to get all of the attention. Yet, shrubs play an important role in our urban ecosystems and their climate impacts tend to be underestimated. Shrubs are perennial, woody plants with multiple stems. They are often hardier than trees and can sequester more carbon over shorter timeframes¹ . Shrubs also provide vital ground-level shelter for birds, flowers for pollinators, and food sources for birds and small animals.

The University of ��ݮ��Ƶ is looking for an analysis of the existing number and health of its campus shrubs, the climate and broader impacts of those shrubs and the potential to increase its use of shrubs. This work supports the campus Ecomap project that aims to assess the biodiversity and evaluate ecosystem health of our campus greenspaces.

This work also relates to UN Sustainable Development Goals 11, 13, and 15.

Project Examples

Assessing information already available for the campus on iNaturalist or other sources.
Conducting a shrub inventory of the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ main campus that includes total shrub cluster counts, species diversity assessments, health assessments and size.
Recording the geographical coordinates of each inventoried shrub in a spreadsheet for inclusion in the campus EcoMap.
Using aerial imagery (GIS lidar, NIR imagery, air photos or other) to assess the total shrub canopy coverage for the campus.
Conducting a literature review to identify and apply best practices for quantifying the annual carbon sequestered by existing shrubs now and in the future (e.g. every five years until 2050).
Conducting a literature review to identify and apply best practices for qualitatively and quantitatively assessing the non-carbon sequestering benefits of campus shrubs.
Researching innovative ways of financing the maintenance and planting of shrubs on campus.
Identifying any additional maintenance practices can support the health of the existing shrubs on campus.
Identifying areas on campus that would benefit from greater shrub coverage and make recommendations for species selection.
Making further recommendations as appropriate.

¹Götmark, F., Götmark, E., & Jensen, A. M. (2016). Why Be a Shrub? A Basic Model and Hypotheses for the Adaptive Values of a Common Growth Form. Frontiers in plant science, 7, 1095.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.01095

Tree Inventory and Impact Asessment

Kiera Reid — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 17:54:37 +0000

Tree Inventory and Impact Asessment Kiera Reid Fri, 09/16/2022 - 13:54

Project Background

Trees have an important role to play in sequestering carbon dioxide, in building resilience to the changes that climate change brings to our communities, in cleaning our air and water, in providing habitats, in supporting mental health, and in so much more. Yet planting and maintaining trees costs money and when budgets are tight, these may be among the first cut if the services that trees provide are undervalued.

The University of ��ݮ��Ƶ is looking for an analysis of the existing number and health of its campus trees, the climate and broader impacts of those trees and the potential to grow its tree canopy. This work supports the campus Ecomap project that aims to assess the biodiversity and evaluate ecosystem health of our campus greenspaces.

This work also relates to Sustainable Development Goals 11, 13, and 15.

Project Examples

Note: this project should focus on trees, not shrubs which are the subject of another living lab project.
Reviewing existing data sets on campus trees, including data found in the Ecology Lab Dataverse and UW Urban Forest tree data on iNaturalist.
Conducting a tree inventory of a portion of the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ main campus that includes total tree counts, geographical coordinates, species diversity assessments, health assessments and size (e.g. diameter at breast height –dbh).
Using GIS lidar or to assess the total tree canopy coverage for the campus.
Conducting a literature review to identify and apply best practices for quantifying the annual carbon sequestered by existing trees now and in the future (eg every five years until 2050).
Conducting a literature review to identify and apply best practices for qualitatively and quantitatively assessing the non-carbon sequestering benefits of campus trees.
Researching innovative ways of financing the maintenance of trees on campus.
Identifying any additional maintenance practices that could support the health of the existing trees on campus.
Identifying areas on campus that would benefit from greater tree coverage and make recommendations for species selection.
Making further recommendations as appropriate.