Sustainability Commons^™

Hrc Enews — 2010 Summer, Megan K. Svarz

Publications (HRC)

This issue contains staff accomplishments and announcements, event listings, and a "new faces" listing for new staff, affiliates, and researchers.

Hotel Guests’ Perceptions Of Sustainable Hotel Practices In A Mexican Destination, Orie Berezan, Michelle Millar, Carola Raab

Caesars Hospitality Research Summit

Hotel selection and attributes that are important to travelers has been extensively researched using a variety of methods (Dolnicar, 2002). Dolnicar & Otter (2003) confirmed, after reviewing 21studies related to hotel attributes, cleanliness as the top priority, followed by hotel location. In total, 173 attributes were identified that were related to image, price/value, the hotel itself, and service (Lockyer, 2005). None of those attributes, however, were related to environmental attributes of a hotel. For more than a decade, the hospitality industry has been under pressure by government legislation and regulations to implement environmental strategies and thereby reduce their carbon footprint …

Effects Of Restaurant Green Practices: Which Practices Are Important And Effective?, Eunha Jeong, Soocheong Jang

Caesars Hospitality Research Summit

As customers’ ecological concern is steadily increasing, demand for products and services designed to be less harmful to the environment has augmented. By executing green practices, many business owners believe the image of their companies can be improved. Furthermore, the improved image may eventually motivate the customers to use products or services offered by the green company. The restaurant industry is witnessing the green movement as well. Restaurant owners adopt green practices to their properties with the purpose of creating a distinctive image that can differentiate them from their competitors. Therefore, restaurateurs strive to get this competitive advantage by introducing …

Earthy Bride, Melissa S. Foerster

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

There are nearly 2.5 million couples getting married in the United States each year (Harrison, 2008, pg. xi). That breaks down to more than 6,300 weddings in a single day. The average wedding in the United States “produces 63 tones of CO2 and 400-600 pounds of trash” and therefore, newlyweds are creating over 3,500,000 pounds of trash in a single at their weddings (Harrison, 2009, ¶ 2)! The green movement is on the rise and wedding industry needs to implement it to meet new demands. In order to do people need to be informed of the importance, benefits and savings …

An Exploratory Study On Energy Consumption Of Energy Star And Non-Energy Star Homes, Prajakta Kulkarni

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The reduction of energy consumption is one of the economic necessities in the United States due to depleting energy sources in the world. The construction industry is stepping forward to reduce the energy consumption of buildings by efficient designs or by constructing buildings with energy efficient materials and features. In 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE) introduced the Energy Star Program to promote energy efficient products with the same or improved services. According to the EPA, Energy Star homes, which use these products, will consume 20 to 30 percent less energy than non-Energy Star …

The Integration Of Biomimicry Into A Built Environment Design Process Model: An Alternative Approach Towards Hydro-Infrastructure, Timothy Lee Albertson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Current methods and processes that support the planning, design and construction of a sustainable built environment include ambiguous principles (Roseland 2000), lack feedback loops (Van Bueren and Jong 2007) and lack a common language between disciplines (Brandon et al 1997). As a result of 3.8 billion years of "research and development" (evolution), nature provides a set of design blueprints that may be used to guide us to create elegant, sustainable, and innovative designs for human technologies (Benyus 1997). The field of biomimicry analyzes nature's best ideas and adapts them for human use (Benyus 1997). The built environment could benefit from …

The Impact Of Academic Faculty On Campus Sustainability Initiatives, Aurali Dade

Graduate Research Symposium (2010 - 2017)

The focus of this poster is the role of academic faculty on campus sustainability initiatives at Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs). The 4,000+ IHEs in the United States train future leaders and have a great deal of influence on the environment and attitude of communities in which they reside. Academic faculty has a sizable impact on governance and significant influence on students. They also may have a major role in campus sustainability initiatives, practices, and policies at IHEs. In order to address whether this is the case, a survey of academic faculty at accredited colleges and universities in the United …

Youth Initiative Hector’S Helpers: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Covering February 11, 2010 – April 15, 2011, Hector's Helpers

Anti-littering Programs

The third quarter has progressed with the Hector’s Helpers program. We took action with hands-on classroom activities and lead three clean-up field trips. Students learned how to protect public lands in Southern Nevada through our anti-litter and desert dumping initiative. West Career Technical Academy students completed various GIS projects and finished the Adopt-A-Block Handbook. The Hector’s Helpers staff also submitted a formal proposal to study pre- and post-program surveys of students participating in the Hector's Helpers program.

Take Pride In America In Southern Nevada: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Covering January 5, 2010 - April 4, 2010, Margaret N. Rees

Anti-littering Programs

• The team presented the strategic plan to the Board for review and feedback.
• The team presented their revised Charter to the Board and received approval.
• the team met with AAEQ Manufacturing, a company interested in assisting with recycling and messaging efforts.
• The team began planning a unified recycling messaging for SNAP.
• The team met with the marketing firm B&P and discussed ideas for the messaging campaign.
• The team began collaborating with the Clark County School District on a "Hector's Helpers" program using Youth Initiative funding the BLM received.
• The team assisted the City of Las Vegas Keep America Beautiful task …

The Impact Of Individual Decision Making On Campus Sustainability Initiatives, Aurali Ella Dade

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) have increasingly committed to become more sustainable in recent years. Despite this commitment, academic publications in the sustainability field assert that progress has been slower at IHEs than expected and that most IHEs have found sustainability initiatives difficult to implement. Comprehensive sustainability initiatives require cooperation from a broad set of constituents with diverse and sometimes conflicting goals. Creating a sustainable IHE also requires changes in both physical infrastructure and individual behavior. Any number of institutional factors can advance or limit progress towards these objectives.

Previous investigations have assessed individual case studies, compared IHEs in a …

Assessing The Effect Of Simulation Models On Systems Learning In An Introductory Environmental Science Course, Heather J. Skaza

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

While there is plenty of anecdotal evidence within the systems dynamics community supporting the use of systems simulations in the classroom to improve student understanding, there is little published, controlled, experimental research. This paper describes the results of a paired experiment testing the effect of using system dynamics simulations to increase systems understanding in an introductory environmental science course. We believed that the students using the systems simulations would demonstrate a greater systemic understanding of environmental issues than those who did not.

We conducted an experiment during the fall semester of 2009, with 304 students enrolled in four sections of …

Colorado College State Of The Rockies Report Card, Walter E. Hecox, Elizabeth L. Kolbe

Publications (SD)

Welcome to Colorado College’s seventh State of the Rockies Report Card. Building upon a strong start in 2004 and continuing each year since, the Rockies Project this year provides a fresh look, through thoughtful analysis, at a fundamental challenge to this beautiful but fragile region: maintaining the Rockies’ key roles in the nation’s food supply and vibrant agriculture. This Report Card and the companion series of 2009- 10 monthly State of the Rockies Food and Agriculture campus speakers are significant outreach activities of Colorado College: Vision 2010, an agenda to strengthen our college and our engagement in the region.

Hrc Enews — 2010 Spring, Megan K. Svarz

Publications (HRC)

This issue contains staff accomplishments and announcements, event listings, a "new faces" listing for new staff, affiliates, and researchers, and an "of interest" section.

Algal Biofuel, Mar. 5, 2010, Harry Reid Center, University Of Nevada, Las Vegas

Biofuels

News in Brief

1. State Renewable Portfolio Standards, and Nevada 25% by 2025, (March 5, 2010).

2. Energy & Environmental Research Center, University of North Dakota conduct algal biofuel project

3. Renewable Energy Market Update by Element Markets

4. Can Western Renewable Portfolio Standards be Met? - Black & Veatch

Las Vegas Metropolitan Area Social Survey 2010 Highlights, Robert Futrell, Christie D. Batson, Barbara G. Brents, Andrea Dassopoulos, Chrissy Nicholas, Mark J. Salvaggio, Candace Griffith

Reports (USI)

UNLV sociologists conducted the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area Social Survey (LVMASS) to identify the socio-spatial distribution of attitudes and attributes relevant to urban sustainability in the Las Vegas Valley. The project goal is to understand how Las Vegas residents think about urban sustainability issues across three dimensions: 1) natural environment; 2) community and quality of life; 3) economy.

Ensuring Success With Program Reflection, Daphne Sewing

Our Places to Tell Stories

• Present a framework for program reflection
• Share ideas and tools
• Provide an opportunity to adapt for your program

Southern Nevada Children’S Outdoor Bill Of Rights Initiative, Public Lands Institute

Our Places to Tell Stories

To encourage Southern Nevada’s children to participate in outdoor recreational activities, engage in lifelong learning adventures, and become stewards of the environment.

Algal Biofuel, Feb 5, 2010, Harry Reid Center, University Of Nevada, Las Vegas

Biofuels

News in Brief

1. UVa engineers find significant environmental impacts with algae-based biofuel (Jan-21, 2010)

2. IPCC scientist: Global cooling headed our way for the next 30 years? (Jan 11, 2010)

3. Shining a Light on Plants' Quantum Secret to Boost Photosynthesis (Feb 3, 2010)

Losing The Lake: Designing An Educational Computer Game On Water Resources In Southern Nevada, Michael Nussbaum, Gale Sinatra, Frederick C. Harris, Sergiu Dascalu, Sajjad Ahmad, Kent J. Crippen, Marissa Owens

2010 Annual Nevada NSF EPSCoR Climate Change Conference

30 PowerPoint slides Convener: Nick Lancaster, DRI Session 6: Bridging the Gap- Interdisciplinary Science to Connect Biophysical and Social Dimensions of Climate Change Abstract: To design and test an educationally useful computer game to educate middle- and high-school students, and the general public, about water and sustainability + effect of climate change on those

Local Land Use Scenario Formulation Using The Ipcc Sres Climate Change Scenarios Within Nevada, Scott Bassett

2010 Annual Nevada NSF EPSCoR Climate Change Conference

23 PowerPoint slides Convener: Darko Koracin, DRI Session 5: Climate Modeling Abstract: -Develop a methodology for downscaling SRES for use in land use drivers at a regional scale (metropolitan city scale) -Integrate land use drivers into urban growth models (UGMs) and land use change models -Link land use based demand models with river operations to assess potential future water allocations

Climate Change Education For Nevada, David M. Hassenzahl, Michael Collopy, John W. Farley, Paul Buck, Jacque Ewing-Taylor, Shama Perveen

2010 Annual Nevada NSF EPSCoR Climate Change Conference

42 PowerPoint slides Session 1: Education Convener: David Hassenzahl, UNLV Abstract: -Five Year Strategic Plan -Goal 6 - Create a scholarly environment to promote research skills and intellectual development for Nevada educators and students (K-12, undergraduate undergraduate, and graduate) -Primary Strategy - Develop educational infrastructure to train students at all levels and provide public outreach in climate change issues

Our Places To Tell Stories: Preliminary Program Springs Preserve, Public Lands Institute

Our Places to Tell Stories

Our Places Tell Stories is an innovative conference for educators and others working at public lands, schools, nature centers, museums, zoos, aquaria, and all nature and heritage rich places.

This list of presentations represents a preliminary program of sessions. A final program will be emailed to all registrants prior to the conference. Thank you for your interest, and we look forward to seeing you at the Springs!

Algal Biofuel, Jan. 29, 2010, Harry Reid Center, University Of Nevada, Las Vegas

Biofuels

News in Brief

1. Washington State University on track for $2 million algae research appropriation. (July 10, 2009)

2. $2 million for clean energy algae biofuels research at Washington State University in the fiscal year 2010 Senate Energy and Water Development appropriations bill has been included in the final version of the spending bill. (2010)

3. Department of Energy Announces Inaugural ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit. Washington DC. March 1-3 (Jan 7, 2010)

4. Department of Energy to Invest $366M in Energy Innovation Hubs (Dec. 22, 2009)

5. Catilin Contributes Key Extraction, Sequestration and Conversion Technologies to NAABB Consortium Developing Algal …

Algal Biofuel, [Jan. 21, 2010], Harry Reid Center, University Of Nevada, Las Vegas

Biofuels

News in Brief

1. UVa engineers find significant environmental impacts with algae-based biofuel (Jan-21, 2010)

Take Pride In America In Southern Nevada: Quarterly Progress Report, Period Covering October 6, 2009 – January 5, 2010, Margaret N. Rees

Anti-littering Programs

• The team completed their strategic plan and submitted it to the SNAP board for review.

• Work continued on the development of an adopt-a-block/parcel program to address the litter and desert dumping problems that exist in the urban-public land interfaces throughout Clark County.

• The team representative on the City of Las Vegas Keep America Beautiful task force is serving as the group’s chairperson.

• The Howard Hughes Corporation desert clean-up collaboration was a success.

• The working model of the GPS unit to be used by volunteers for the GIS database project was field tested.

• Phase III …

Hatched: The Capacity For Sustainable Development, Bob Frame, Richard Gordon, Claire Mortimer

Publications (SD)

Hatched: The capacity for sustainable development is edited by Landcare Research scientists Bob Frame, Richard Gordon and Claire Mortimer and is a collection of research findings, stories and tools exploring five key areas of capacity required for New Zealand’s long-term success. It covers innovative research undertaken with businesses, across policy sectors, communities and individuals and was funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology.

Clean, Green, And Not So Mean: Can Business Save The World?, Andy Spackman, Celia Ross, Christy Donaldson, Louise Feldman, Patrick Griffis, Elizabeth Stephan, Laurie Bridges, Baseema Krkoska, Tony Lin, Mark Siciliano

Library Faculty Research

No matter how you define it, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a hot topic. From community investing to business ethics to environmental sustainability and beyond, proponents of CSR view the business landscape through a lens that focuses less on profitability and more on the greater good.

“Doing well by doing good” is the business world’s new mantra. Concepts of CSR, green business, social entrepreneurship, and peace through commerce have become a focus of research and are inspiring the next generation of businesspeople. The 2010 BRASS Program gave attendees an expert’s view of certain niches within the broader realm of ethical …

Hrc Enews — 2010 Winter, Megan K. Svarz

Publications (HRC)

This issue contains staff accomplishments and announcements, event listings, a "new faces" listing for new staff, affiliates, and researchers, and an "on the move" section listing new developments.

Building America Research Benchmark Definition: Updated December 2009, R. Hendron, C. Engebrecht

Publications (SD)

To track progress toward aggressive multi-year, whole-house energy savings goals of 40%–70% and on-site power production of up to 30%, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Residential Buildings Program and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed the Building America (BA) Research Benchmark in consultation with the Building America industry teams. The Benchmark is generally consistent with mid-1990s standard practice, as reflected in the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Technical Guidelines (RESNET 2002), with additional definitions that allow the analyst to evaluate all residential end uses, an extension of the traditional HERS rating approach that focuses on space conditioning and …

Sustainability Booklet, Paul Andricopulos, Ned Thomas

Publications (SD)

An online booklet highlighting the responsible efforts being made by the City of Henderson to foster a sustainable community.