SUSTAINABILITY AND THE STUDENT Sustainable project opportunities at the Pennsylvania State University and their encouragement of student involvement Audience: Nicholas P. Jones and the PSU Board of Directors Prepared by: S V R The Pennsylvania State University | English 202C | April 28, 2016 Abstract The feasibility of implementing energy sustainable projects that engage students on the Penn State University Park Campus was investigated in this report. Solar panels, wind generators, vegetative roofs, and kinetic energy panels were studied to determine which would be the most effective on the University Park campus based on area available, funding, available maintenance support, and current student interest. It also looked at how to increase public awareness of sustainability by involving the students, faculty, and staff of Penn State in the implementation of such a project.
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SUSTAINABILITY AND THE STUDENT
Sustainable project opportunities at the Pennsylvania State University and their
encouragement of student involvement
Audience: Nicholas P. Jones and the PSU Board of Directors
Prepared by: S V R
The Pennsylvania State University | English 202C | April 28, 2016
Abstract
The feasibility of implementing energy sustainable projects that engage students on the Penn State
University Park Campus was investigated in this report. Solar panels, wind generators, vegetative
roofs, and kinetic energy panels were studied to determine which would be the most effective on
the University Park campus based on area available, funding, available maintenance support, and
current student interest. It also looked at how to increase public awareness of sustainability by
involving the students, faculty, and staff of Penn State in the implementation of such a project.
The Greenerizers ii April 28, 2016
A Scoring Matrix was used to determine the most feasible project. Each of the aforementioned
criteria was rated on a scale of -3 to 3 based on our research. Weighting factors were assigned
to each of the criteria based on perceived importance. The product of the rating and weighting
factor were taken for each criteria and summed to yield a final score. According to this method
vegetative roofs were the most feasible followed by solar panels, kinetic energy panels, and wind
energy turbines.
Based on these results a list of recommended courses of action for Penn State was created. Each
action is necessary for the University Park campus to continue actively improving the energy us-
age on campus and directly involve the undergraduate and graduate students in this. The actions
directly related to vegetative roof implementation should be completed first, as it was determined
to be the most feasible for the university. This includes instituting a course or research project,
tied to a project advisor, to design and construct green roofs at the University Park campus. Other
action should be taken to promote student involvement and interest in developing solar panel and
Feasible Yes No Yes YesAlternate — Alternate Primary
As shown in Table 2, the Vegetative Roof project is the highest ranked based on the criteria eval-
uated in this paper. It is most able to solve the university’s problem of investing in students to be
sustainable leaders while being feasible due to funding, space, faculty, and staffing support con-
The Greenerizers 14 April 28, 2016
straints. Solar panels and kinetic energy panels are also feasible and meet the research problem, but
will require more investment of time and staff to be successfully implemented. Wind Energy Tur-
bines, based on a lack of economic sustainability and staffing support to implement and maintain
the turbines, are not seen as feasible as a project at Penn State.
6 RECOMMENDATIONS
The Pennsylvania State University at University Park should engage students in energy sustainable
projects through the recommendations listed below.
• Implement a course or project club in the Horticulture Department focused on the design
and creation of green roofs
• Connect students to staffing groups such as OPP to help design vegetative roofs and learn
how to maintain them
• Set-up competitions in colleges such as the College of Engineering to design the solar panel
and kinetic energy panel arrays. This should include the location, orientation, and number
of panels
• Promote projects like the kinetic energy panels as project ideas for the Class Gift Campaign
• Use the Department of Energy and other groups for sustainability to find research grants to
fund vegetative roof research or implement more solar panels around campus
• Discourage the dismantle of energy sustainable projects connected to courses that are dis-
continued. Fund student groups to continue the projects tied to these classes without a direct
course adviser
The Greenerizers 15 April 28, 2016
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