UC pioneers green innovation with award-winning sustainability initiatives

From vibrant campus Spring Fling festivities to enlightening tours of UC's acclaimed Central Utilities Plant and Civic Garden, the university community was treated to a variety of events aimed at fostering sustainable behaviors.

A highlight was the Net Impact program's inventive blend of fitness and nutrition, where student entrepreneurs pedaled their way to smoothie bliss on stationary bikes inside UC’s Lindner College of Business lobby.

Furthering its green agenda, UC features a Bike Kitchen in Daniels Hall, empowering students with the skills to maintain their bicycles, while also offering free bike rentals through the Bike Share program for anyone with a Bearcat Card, helping to facilitate sustainable transportation across campus and beyond.

Sustainability coordinator, Alexandra Roman-Gonzalez, emphasizes the multifaceted benefits of such initiatives, also underlining UC's holistic approach to environmental stewardship. “We have recycling efforts all across campus,” adds Roman-Gonzalez. “With teams of volunteers, we come in near the end of football and basketball games to collect the recyclable cans and bottles. We successfully recycle these items while also helping to minimize the amount of landfill waste, as well as the work of stadium cleaning crews.”

As the calendar flips to May, UC's commitment to sustainability only intensifies. Professor Brian Grub of UC's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning will spearhead the creation of a new rain garden brimming with native flora — a project aimed not only at managing stormwater runoff but also at nurturing vital pollinator habitats. In addition, the organic produce from the adjacent Sustainability Garden will find its way to UC's Bearcat Pantry, addressing food insecurity among students.

As part of the earlier Climate Action Plan enacted in 2019, UC Sustainability, along with UC Utilities held a campus-wide forum earlier this year for the entire UC community to weigh in on ways to improve the plan. Participants presented plans for actions and goals which were weaved into the new plan slated to begin this June.

Meanwhile, the crown jewel of UC's environmental efforts lies within its Utilities Department, where a relentless pursuit of energy efficiency and renewable power sources has propelled the institution to the forefront of sustainability.

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of its West Campus cogeneration plant, UC Utilities Director Mike Hofmann heralds the plant as a pivotal force in slashing greenhouse gas emissions, marking a monumental shift toward cleaner energy production. Honoring the two-decade old initiative and its retirees, Utilities will hold a luncheon on May 29th in the cogeneration plant parking lot on Jefferson Avenue, open to anyone on campus who wants to help celebrate the occasion.

Under Hofmann's leadership, UC Utilities has undertaken a series of transformative initiatives, including the adoption of 100% wind power for suburban campuses, innovative wastewater recycling for use in campus heating and cooling systems and the installation of cutting-edge chillers for enhanced energy efficiency.

Looking ahead, UC's updated Climate Action Plan promises a roadmap for even greater strides in energy conservation, with a focus on expanding renewable energy sources and embracing emerging technologies like hydrogen fuel.

Embracing the campus-wide ethos of collaboration, UC Utilities aims to empower individuals to enact positive change through real-time energy monitoring and smart building controls.

These smart monitors, adorning the walls in all lobbies, tell occupants in real-time what energy is being used. In addition to providing Utilities the opportunity to monitor current usage, this system will give everyone inside buildings the ability to positively impact their environment by reducing their own water and energy use.

As Hofmann aptly summarizes, "The strength of our campus is our people." With a community united in their dedication to environmental sustainability, UC stands poised to lead the charge toward a greener, more sustainable future.

In the face of mounting environmental challenges, UC stands as a shining example of proactive stewardship, proving that with determination and innovation, a brighter, greener tomorrow is more than a goal — it's a way of life.

Featured image at top: Alexandra Roman-Gonzalex (front, left) and UC Sustainability students surround a box of hydroponically grown spinach during a recent tour of Cincinnati's 80 Acres Farm. Photo/Alexandra Roman-Gonzalez

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