Grant: Providing energy savings for low-income in Baltimore
UMBC awarded NSF grant to automate energy assement for low-income Baltimore neighborhoods
UMBC Professors Nirmalya Roy (IS), Nilanjan Banerjee (CSEE), and Ryan Robucci (CSEE) have been awarded a $500K National Science Foundation Cyber-physical Systems Grant to develop sensing systems that can automate energy consumption and wastage estimation in low income homes in Baltimore.
Electricity usage of buildings, including offices, malls and residential apartments, represents a significant portion of a nation’s energy expenditure and carbon footprint. Buildings are estimated to consume 72% of the total electricity production in the US. Unfortunately, however, 30% of this energy consumption is wasted. Energy assessment is an approach that can optimize building energy efficiency and minimize waste at a low cost with minimal expert intervention. A virtual energy assessment includes a thorough and near real time analysis of different sources of building energy usage, individualized energy footprints of load appliances and devices, and proactive identification of energy holes.
The three-year project, Low-cost Continuous Virtual Energy Audits in Cyber-Physical Building Envelope, will build a low cost solution that combines the use of non-intrusive single point energy monitoring and low cost sensors to provide continuous energy assessment reports to residential users or landlords. The system will be deployed in low-income neighborhoods in Baltimore, Maryland, where poor insulation problems are assumed to be a problem and low cost solutions to determining these issues is important for the landlords.
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UMBC awarded NSF grant to automate energy assement for low-income Baltimore neighborhoods UMBC Professors Nirmalya Roy (IS), Nilanjan Banerjee (CSEE), and Ryan Robucci (CSEE) have been awarded...
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Sustainability Matters at UMBC
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Tue, 06 Oct 2015 13:10:44 -0400
Update on Library Pond & plantings (Retriever Weekly)
Zachary Garmoe for TRW
NEWS Postlewate updates UMBC on the pond’s status
There have been subtle structural changes to the UMBC pond, including removing the water altogether. Rusty Postlewate of UMBC’s Facilities Management has been sending out updates about the pond throughout the 2014 – 2015 academic year, and the timeline of the pond’s reconstruction goes as follows:
November 24, 2014: Postlewate announces plans to add a fence surrounding the pond, which will prevent pedestrian and vehicular access to the Residential Life area.
March 13, 2015: Crews begin to build a new walkway between the Meyerhoff Chemistry Building and the Library.
May 8, 2015: The promenade in front of the Admissions and Orientation and Financial Aid Scholarships Offices will be closed so construction can begin at the North side of the pond.
Postlewate explained how the pond has been restructured over the summer, “Most of the work that has been done since last semester has been structural in nature. The concrete retaining walls on the library side and the Schwartz Hall side of the pond’s edge had to be completely removed and replaced due to structural deficiencies, and the significant water outfall structure – next to the chemistry building – has to be completely reconstructed to meet dam safety criteria.”
Postlewate also shared the whereabouts of the pond’s water: “There has not been water in the pond … the water is intercepted upstream of the pond, pumped past the pond and discharged in the storm water line downstream of the pond, so the construction work can continue.”
The water is projected to return to the pond by mid-September.
According to Postlewate, the pond will be able to support marine life after the project. “The pond will be stocked with fish,” he said. He also intends on making the pond a more “pleasant place to gather together.”
“100 or so trees and over 1,000 plantings will be installed as part of the project,” Postlewate said. These modifications should be completed by November, according to Postlewate.
The plan to revamp the pond was first announced in June of 2013 and was estimated to be completed the following October.
Having been closed since the Fall of 2013, it has been under construction for approximately two years.
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Zachary Garmoe for TRW NEWS Postlewate updates UMBC on the pond’s status BY KAILA PHILO • SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 KAILA PHILO Contributing Writer kaphilo1@umbc.edu There have been...
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Mon, 05 Oct 2015 15:13:34 -0400
Why/how I am using fewer plastic bags: reduce/reuse/recycle
Why and how I am wasting fewer plastic bags
By Sarah Douglas, UMBC Eco-Ambassador
Plastic bags are handed out all over, but I’ve learned the negative impacts of plastic bags on the environment are endless and that reusing bags is easier and better.
- Using our limited and polluting oil… to make disposible bags? Americans use and throw away 100 billion plastic bags every year, which requires 12 million barrels of oil per year to manufacture. (The Wall Street Journal).
- Our Collective impact: The average American family takes home 1,500 plastic bags a year (Natural Resources Defense Council).
- Our environment in crisis: Scientists estimate that every square mile of ocean contains approximately 46,000 pieces of plastic floating in it (United Nations Environment Programme).
- Long-lasting impacts: A single plastic bag can take up 500 years or more to degrade (Measuring biodegradability, ScienceLearn.org) hurting wildlife and and creating litter in the process.
Using less plastic is one of the ways I feel better knowing everyday I'm helping to improve UMBC's impact on the world.
This may seem like a bleak outlook, but there are several things that we, as students and inhabitants of this earth, can do to reduce our plastic bag usage. Personally, I have adopted a few simple habits to reduce the number of plastic bags I use on campus and to reuse bags when I do end up using them.
Carry reusable bags (they are sold at almost every grocery store for only a dollar or two)
- Montgomery County actually charges customers five cents for every plastic bag taken out of stores. So using reusable bags actually saves money!
- Reusable bags are much sturdier and easier to carry across campus than flimsy plastic bags.
Reduce: Skip the bag at Outtakes!
- Often I will go to Outtakes to use an extra meal from the week and only buy a few drinks or some granola bars. I really do not need a plastic bag to carry these small items back to my dorm, so I let the cashier know I don’t want one.
-
I save all of my plastic bags in a bin under my bed and reuse them as liners for my trash cans instead of using a regular trash bag and wasting even more plastic. Reuse the plastic bags you have!
Recycle:
-
When my supply of plastic bags becomes overwhelming, I take them to a local grocery store where they take and recycle plastic bags. The recycling bins are usually near the entrance to the store.
- Unfortunately plastic bags cannot go in the recycling bins on campus because they clog up the equipment that recycles bottles and cans.
Making simply changes can really have a great impact on the amount of plastic bags that enter the waste system and litter our environment and wildlife habitats. Start now and make the change! Here at UMBC we can set a better example for society at large.
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Why and how I am wasting fewer plastic bags By Sarah Douglas, UMBC Eco-Ambassador Plastic bags are handed out all over, but I’ve learned the negative impacts of plastic bags on the environment...
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Thu, 01 Oct 2015 15:08:31 -0400
Thu, 01 Oct 2015 17:04:39 -0400
10 Reasons to go to Harvest Fest & Celebrate Sustainability
1. It's adorable and right on campus in the Commons:
2. The police let you ride their segways and help you register your bikes so they can help if your bike gets lost or stolen.
3. Free local pumpkins & apples.
4. Because Earth Day ain't til April, and ain't nobody got time to wait til April to love on this here planet.
5. Learn more about campus greening and what we can do to help.
6. Meet the heros making our campus (and planet) a better place- like orgs and depts working on campus greening efforts
7. Because it's adorable and there's handmade student art and legit harvested plants everywhere.
8. Because there is a Photobooth for the Green Pledge
9. Because you know an Eco-Ambassador and want to support your friends who are pulling off this event for you.
10. Because of the free food.
JCET’s Renewed Grant Promises Nearly $50 Million Over Next Five years
The Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology (JCET) partnership, entering its 20th year at UMBC, has recently renewed its grant with NASA Goddard. The new grant will bring nearly $50 million to the JCET program and UMBC over the next five years.
JCET is an excellent example of UMBC’s commitment to strengthening the campus’s education and research efforts through national partnerships. The program’s dedication has paved the way for many other collaborations with NASA, and others.
Through this unique partnership with NASA-Goddard, UMBC will continue to emphasize both research and education as part of the core values of the institution. Over the past 20 years, JCET has brought scholars to the UMBC community who have contributed to many initiatives and programs to advance teaching and learning, including:
- First-Year Experience programs and courses
- Led seminars and talks on topics like wind energy and climate change
- Served on campus committees, including Strategic Planning
- Developed the Atmospheric Physics program
Led by a talented and dedicated faculty and staff, JCET will continue to be a model of collaboration, research and education at UMBC.
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JCET’s Renewed Grant Promises Nearly $50 Million Over Next Five years Posted on September 24, 2015 by Roland King The Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology (JCET) partnership, entering its...
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Mon, 28 Sep 2015 12:55:04 -0400
Continually Improving the Campus Recycling (student story)
By Shane Wellnitz
Environmental Science Major
Environmental Task Force President, Eco-Ambassador, Food Recovery Network Vice President
The waste problem:
Most of us at UMBC are proud of our tree filled campus and enjoy the natural environment surrounding our campus. But to continue enjoying living with a forest between our campus and the surrounding urban area, I believe we must take better care of our waste. This means using reducing waste, reusing, recycling and composting when available, and not adding trash into bins that are overflowing. Most people I know at UMBC are proud to dispose of their waste mindfully, but a small group still do things as archaic as littering. As an environmental science major and avid hiker, I know all too well this pollutes our ecosystem, waterways and wildlife habitats.
New recycling bins make it easier:
As an eco-ambassador I have worked with staff on ways to improve our waste management on campus and we have gone to great lengths to continue to improve our program to deal with waste. The Commons will be the first building on campus with new combined recycling, waste and compost bins standardized throughout the building. Facilities Management is working to standardize all academic areas’ bins so that the design is consistent throughout the campus using the three slot bins. These bins are made from recycled plastic. These bins are meant to make it easier for us to recycling by making sorting consistent and convenient. The Recycle Across America stickers used to label the bins are our new campus standard as well. You can request one at recycle@umbc.edu
Separating paper recycling:
As students we have the power to make or break the recycling program. If we just follow simple guidelines we can ensure that this program is cost effective. All dry paper goes into paper recycle bins, because keeping these separate allows us to sell the recyclable paper, earning us rebates that UMBC puts towards the cost of recycling.
What to Compost, and where:
Did you know the white pepsi cups and clear greenware cups in the Commons are compostable, and other cups go into the co-mingled recycle, which includes plastic, glass and aluminum?
Everything made from plants is compostable. Currently composting is only available in the portable event bins, the Commons, and True Grit. That means any food waste or soiled paper products like napkins can be composted!
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By Shane Wellnitz Environmental Science Major Environmental Task Force President, Eco-Ambassador, Food Recovery Network Vice President The waste problem: Most of us at UMBC are proud of our...
http://sustainability.umbc.edu/waste/
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Thu, 24 Sep 2015 15:50:25 -0400
Thu, 24 Sep 2015 15:54:33 -0400
Student leader needed: Enviro Service Spring Break
Hi all,
For the past several years, UMBC students have stepped up to organize an environmental service trip during spring break. By serving locally, students are able to contribute to local politics in Annapolis, explore environmental justice in Baltimore City, and understand the ecological challenges and opportunities in the Maryland region.
Please consider stepping up as a student leader for this year and forge connections that will launch your career and enhance your resume skills and experiences. Last year the environmental ASB did not take place, but let's revive this tradition and create an opportunity for UMBC students to learn, serve, explore, and forge new connections. Faculty and staff are available to help you to plan and organize the trip and support you in gaining this leadership experience.
Examples of recent ASB volunteer opportunities:
- Save the bay and restore wetlands, help clean and restore the health of the harbor and watersheds
- Meet with politicians and non profits in Annapolis and/or DC
- Travel to local ecosystems: mountains, beaches, forest
- Help local urban communities with environmental health concerns, such as litter
- Educate city or county school children
- Help local farms and gardens implement sustainable agriculture
- Kayak, bike, camp and do clean ups, invasive removal and trail maintenance at local parks
- Paint educational murals
The opportunities are endless and the only restraint is your imagination and dedication!
Thanks!
Tanvi
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Hi all, For the past several years, UMBC students have stepped up to organize an environmental service trip during spring break. By serving locally, students are able to contribute to local...
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Tue, 22 Sep 2015 12:17:21 -0400
Pics from UMBC's Pig Pen Pond: Science of Water (SCI 100)
Did you know that this peaceful pond is right on campus? It's called Pig Pen Pond.
Back when UMBC's land was used for farming, this was where the pigs would bathe. These Science of Water students are testing various water quality parameters of the pond such as, Nitrates, Phosphates, Dissolved Oxygen, Turbidity, and Fecal Coliform. Although I would not recommend swimming in Pig Pen Pond, it provides a wonderful wildlife habitat. Come check it out and you might get lucky and spot a few turtles!
Water quality is currently a huge concern and UMBC is working to improve our stormwater management practices. It is important that we keep our campus clean and continue sustainable practices here on campus to do our part in this larger issues. To explore trails and ways to explore nature at UMBC click here
Sustainability Matters!
- Kyndal Gehlbach, UMBC Eco-Ambassador and SCI 100 Teaching Assistant
Over the next few weeks we'll be highlighting the work and viewpoints of our student volunteers, the #UMBC Eco-Ambassadors! First we are kicking off the series with a spotlight on Kourtney Rutkowski, our eco-ambassador coordinator intern. Kourtney is majoring in Chemical Engineering on the Environmental Engineering. Here's her own words about why she decided to join the eco-ambassadors last year:
"I decided that change would not be impossible to make, as long as students were willing to put time and effort into making it. I hope to be one of these students making change which is why I hope to be an Eco-Ambassador. Making UMBC a green campus is one step on a long road of mitigation and adaptation our planet must take, but a crucial one. The students at UMBC are our future leaders, scientists, and neighbors; if we want to make change for the future, we must change the minds and actions of those in the present."
Thank you for all your hard work, Kourtney! We can't wait to share more views and stories from our student team with you all. smile emoticon
This week, the Foundations Work Group of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee will be presenting recommendations at the University Retreat. For those of you unable to participate, here is an overview of some of the conclusions and recommendations the group has devised in the past year.
The Foundations Work Group goal is to continue to build and support the five foundational elements (Investing in People; Funding; Information Technology/ Business
Processes; Facilities; and Environmental Sustainability) both
maintain current operations and enable advancement. A strong
foundation requires that all resources be used strategically,
effectively, efficiently, and sustainability
Strategic Planning Steering Committee
Foundations Work Group Recommendations- Environmental Sustainability
• Extend learning opportunities
• Reduce energy use through concerted action
• Create accountability and incentives
• Transportation alternatives
Environmental Sustainability
Opportunity: Reduce Energy Use Through Concerted Action
Recommendations: 1. Conduct life cycle analyses when making building efficiency upgrade decisions.
2. Secure funding and resources, develop policy and leadership to prioritize energy efficiency in buildings and systems at
the state, USM and campus levels.
3. Ensure high level, consistent, and vocal leadership from campus leaders.
4. Develop communications, mandates and incentives to promote a spirit of sustainability and mindfulness towards
conserving resources.
5. Write sustainability into job descriptions where appropriate, and reward individuals and departments who take
initiative to improve and optimize resources efficiency.
6. Increase support and opportunities for eco-ambassadors and green offices through integrated partnerships.
7. Invest in renewable technologies using internal or external funding sources.
How do you think UMBC can conserve and become more efficient with resources, in order to have a more beneficial impact on the planet?
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This week, the Foundations Work Group of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee will be presenting recommendations at the University Retreat. For those of you unable to participate, here is an...
http://planning.umbc.edu/strategy-groups/the-foundations-work-group/
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Sustainability Matters at UMBC
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Sustainability Matters at UMBC
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