UC Goes Green: Recycling Coffee Grounds to Perk Up Campus Landscapes, while Pursuing Other Sustainability Efforts Too

The University of Cincinnati students, faculty and staff contribute to sustainability in many forms, including recycling, water conservation, transportation, education, research on invasive species and more.

On Earth Day 2016, we take a snapshot look at some campus efforts:

AMAZON EDUCATION: UC STUDENTS RECENTLY RETURNED FROM "ON THE RIVER: EXPERIENCING THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON"

UC Honors students recently returned from a study-abroad experience that focused, in part, on sustainability and tropical ecology, including the Amazon's eco-system and researching native plants. This unusual educational experience is shared in

dynamic video, images and text. 

RECYCLING ROUND UP

In 2015, UC recycled 1,549 tons of materials

, including

• 687 tons of paper, aluminum, cans and plastics;
• 306 tons of yard waste;
  
• 100 tons of metal;
• 45 tons of cardboard;
• 15 tons of electronic scrap;
• 15 tons of books;
• 11 tons of coffee grounds;
• 6 tons of cooking oil;
• 4 tons of concrete;
• 3 tons of motor oil.
  

ELEVEN TONS OF RECYCLED CAMPUS COFFEE GROUNDS WAKE UP MORE THAN STUDENTS

UC reduces costs, reduces waste and increases sustainability, and perks up campus landscape beds by recycling its used coffee grounds into nutrient-rich compost.

Read more

on how the university

annually recycles and reuses 11 tons of coffee grounds.

WHEN BEAUTY BECOMES THE BEAST: UC RESEARCH EFFORTS SUCCESSFULLY COMBAT INVASIVE SPECIES

New UC biology research

helps to halt the spread

of non-native plants into natural wooded areas, giving native plants a fighting chance and the opportunity to re-establish themselves.

UC RESEARCHERS RECEIVE NEARLY $3.5 MILLION FROM DOE TO SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE WATER NEEDS OF POWER PLANTS

UC engineering researchers have been awarded nearly $3.5 million to develop an innovative air-cooling system for thermoelectric power generation that

eliminates the need to use local water resources

for power plant needs.

CAMPUS BUILDING PROJECTS EARN GREEN ACCOLADES

This year, UC’s Morgens Hall this year was awarded the state’s

highest prize

– the American Institute of Architects (AIA) of Ohio Award – for its design and sustainability.

Also known as UC’s

“glass house,”

Morgens Hall was awarded LEED Silver certification in 2015. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.

In addition, UC’s Nippert Stadium Pressbox Renovation

achieved LEED Silver certification

in February. The $86 million renovation of Nippert Stadium adds premium seats to college football’s fifth-oldest facility. The 115,000-square-foot addition includes a new press box, suites and club seats.

University Architect Mary Beth McGrew says renovations allowing the reuse of existing buildings like Morgens Hall and Scioto Hall – undergoing similar renovations and set to open in the fall – as well as the $37 million

renovation

planned for Joseph F. Kowalewski Hall (formerly known as the Health Professions Building) on the medical campus – save many materials from landfills.

Here’s a

roundup of UC’s LEED buildings

.

And thanks to to energy-use reduction efforts,

UC annually uses 5 percent less energy than other colleges and universities

despite the fact that UC has more labs than many comparable institutions.

The energy saved every year at UC is equivalent to the annual energy needs for about 1,250 houses in Cincinnati. In addition, this 5 percent reduction saves UC over $2 million per year.

Furthermore, according to Joe Harrell, assistant vice president of utilities, UC energy-saving efforts have earned the university nearly half a million ($475,193) in rebates from Duke Energy since last April.

SUSTAINABILITY ON THE GO

Ridership on UC’s shuttles have almost quadrupled in the last decade and is up 11 percent in the past academic year (vs. the year before).

This school year, UC’s shuttle ridership will top 1 million for the first time ever.

UC Adds New Ride Sharing Program

– Ridesharing at UC just got easier with

Zimride

. UC drivers or passengers can log in to UC’s private Zimride network to discover opportunities to share daily commutes or weekend trips. By connecting drivers and passengers, Zimride saves money while reducing the number of vehicles making trips to and from UC.

UC Plans Zipcar Expansion

– The Zipcar car-sharing service currently offers five vehicles on campus, three at McMicken Circle and two at Daniels Hall. Peter Moorhouse, UC Sustainability coordinator, says two additional Zipcar sites are now in the planning for the Academic Health Center as part of the renovations and construction around the Kettering Lab Complex and Joseph F. Kowalewski Hall (formerly known as the Health Professions Building). Zipcar maintains 24-hour access for students, faculty, and staff over 18 years of age to reserve a car by the hour or by the day.  It provides the convenience of a car without the hassle.  Membership is open to all UC faculty, staff, and students.

SUSTAINABILITY AND SUSTENANCE

Fun for Foodies

– CenterCourt and MarketPointe dining centers will be celebrating Earth Day with

sustainable menus

from

10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Friday, April 22

. The food selections will include Earth Day trivia, prizes and giveaways.

Local Sourcing

– UC Dining Services reports continued growth of its purchases from local suppliers rising to 14.7 percent of its overall food purchases in the 2014-15 school year, up from 13.69 percent in the prior academic year.

Coffee Refill Programs

–UC Food Services reports that as a result of reusable mug refill programs at campus cafés, the use of disposable cups was avoided in more than 2,000 servings of coffee in the 2014-15 school year.  Also, coffee drinkers who take advantage of the program get their cup of joe in their reusable mug at a discounted price at Java City and campus Starbucks locations.

Sustainability on the Go

– Styrofoam takeout boxes at StadiumView Café were

replaced with reusable containers

beginning in fall 2013. As a result, more than 1,500 StadiumView meals in the 2014-15 school year were served in the sustainable and environmentally friendly containers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYvGyd4Of5g

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Earth Day Plant Sale

– The University of Cincinnati Greenhouse will hold its Earth Week plant sale from

10 a.m.-3 p.m., April 20-22

, inside the sixth floor hallway of Rieveschl Hall.

Tree Planting

– UC volunteers will be planting more than 50 native trees and shrubs at UC’s Fishwick Drive location on Arbor Day, Friday, April 29, from 10 a.m.-noon. Peter Moorhouse, UC Sustainability coordinator, says the trees and shrubs will be the start of a native plant nursery. As the plants reach maturity, they’ll be transplanted onto UC’s dynamic campus. The effort supports one of UC’s partners, Taking Root, a regional campaign for reforestation.

Re*Use Market

– UC Sustainability will host its annual Re*Use Market from

noon-5 p.m., April 20-29

,  on the lawn adjacent to the old YMCA on Calhoun Street. The effort will support students moving out of the residence halls as they donated unwanted items as well as shop the Re*Use Market.

• See UC’s sustainability news, efforts and achievements from 2015.
• See UC’s sustainability news, efforts and achievements from 2014.