Express Market, located in the Johnson Center, acts as a limited grocery store for off campus students and residential students. This is home to many snacks, food for meals, drinks, and homeware like dish soap, laundry detergent, and toilet paper; However, it is also home to many single use plastics, as most of these name brand items being sold come wrapped in soft and hard plastics. Due to its proximity to residential students, it is possible that express market acts as their main grocery provider for housewares, meaning when they buy their groceries, they get their items and leave with all single use plastics that they are contributing to the problem of plastic waste. Plastic like this along with other packaging waste account for about 30% of total annual waste, contributing to the 34.5 million tons of plastic waste generated annually (EPA 2017), and in this case, George Mason is at the root of it.
George Mason University has many different initiatives dedicated to combatting single use plastic like creating opportunities for reusable containers and using recycled materials for to go dinnerware (PGF Recipients, nd.) Although their use of environmentally friendly techniques has reduced plastic usage, at the express market they are promoting the consumption of plastic encased food with no given alternatives. The intention of the selling of plastic is unclear in a social context, although the impact of covid may have resulted in the emphasis on “more safe packaging”.
The promotion of buying these plastic encased groceries can be very problematic due to the environmental promotion at GMU, so the implementation of environmentally friendly alternatives would be of benefit to all sides of the community. The addition of a zero-waste grocery store in place of the express market can dramatically decrease the amount of plastic being sold to the students. Studies show that zero-waste stores can result in less carbon emissions than a conventional grocery store and results in less waste (Jin et. al, 2021). The use of this type of market can provide sustainable alternatives to plastic usage and raise awareness for other environmental initiatives around campus.
My Mapping Mason project focuses on the interactions between the waste system of textiles and the environment of George Mason University. The human-environment interaction at the Fairfax campus includes recycling old clothes and encouraging thrifting while putting an end to fast fashion. I chose the Hub as the area of human-environmental interaction because of a thrift sale which was occurring. I partnered with Alpha Kappa Chi, the co-ed environmental fraternity on campus, to host this event to recycle old clothes and put an end to fast fashion on campus. We asked students from George Mason to donate clothing, shoes, jewelry that they didn’t want anymore and resold the items at the Hub. Profits went to various charities such as Patriot Pantry and Valley View Farm Adopt-A-Beehive.
The resource I chose was textiles because it is a big cause of pollution. In 2018, the EPA reported that 11.3 billion tons of textiles were sent to landfills and 3.2 million tons were incarcerated (Marsh, 2022). Additionally, students at Mason often throw away clothes that are out of style or no longer fit. To keep up with trends and have access to cheap clothing, students rely on fast fashion. Fast fashion is a term used to describe cheap and low-quality clothing that is rapidly produced and is cycled in and out of the market quickly to meet new trends. However, the environmental impacts of fast fashion are devastating. There is a significant amount of waste during the large-scale production of clothing, leading to an increasingly large amount of pollution. Textile waste, demand for synthetic fibers, and large consumption of energy are ways that fast fashion harms the environment. Ecological factors tie climate and pollution patterns directly to the fast fashion industry.
The social context of “keeping up with the trends” is what drives fast fashion. Old clothes are “out of style” and new clothes are in style. Each season there is a new style or trend of clothing. Fast fashion makes it possible to generate clothes at a faster pace than the regular industry of sowing or hand stitching. The media glorifies fast fashion and markets it as affordable and trendy hence the gravitation to buy clothes for fast fashion stores like Shein, Forever 21, and more. This way people can keep up with the trends with low prices which brings into play an economic factor of affordability.
Political factors arise when taking into consideration the ethical labor concerns of fast fashion because large scale production requires cheap labor which can be found in developing countries. Textile companies often take advantage of this as developing countries have fewer environmental regulations. Big companies can then pollute natural waterways and release greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere without consequences. According to the IPCC, the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions each year because greenhouse gasses are produced during the creation of clothes (Marsh, 2022). Consumers who support these fast fashion companies are indirectly fueling capital to damage the environment of developing countries.
The implications of this interaction on humans and the environment is that consumers must shop cautiously. There are companies who are transparent about their production and strive to create sustainable clothing (Marsh, 2022). Shoppers must avoid fast fashion companies and try to purchase clothing sustainably from companies who are candid. Additionally, students should donate unwanted clothing to organizations on campus which are hosting thrift events or donate to their local Goodwill. “Shopping second hand is another way that consumers can avoid fast fashion and the harm that it brings to the Earth’s climate” (Marsh, 2022). Students should also try to buy from Mason or local thrift shops to recycle clothing. As more consumers work towards changing their behavior, the more pressure there will be for “change in the fashion industry to reduce its negative impact on the environment” (Marsh, 2022).
The university is actively working on recycling clothing. The Patriot Packout is an event hosted by University Sustainability where George Mason students come to donate items such as unwanted clothing, shoes, jewelry, and more. According to Mr. Benjamin Auger from University Sustainability, Patriot Packout receives hundreds of pounds of donated clothes each year. From the data that he collected in 2019 the Patriot Packout collected 6,035 lbs and in the spring of 2022, they collected 804 lbs of donated clothes. Patriot Packout will continue to occur at the end of every semester. Additionally student organizations also host thrift events where they collect donations from students and resell them for a better cause. Alpha Kappa Chi has hosted a thrift sale every semester and we plan to host multiple events in the future.
The founders of Bigbelly saw that public spaces were wasting fuel and labor while emitting excess CO2 and unable to keep up with overflowing trash cans. These waste stations consist of trash and recycling bins with solar panels on the top and sensors and compactors integrated within the bins. The outside of the Bigbelly stations are wrapped with visual elements on Mason’s zero waste efforts and messages to educate students and staff about recycling and zero-waste. The sensors provide employees with data and alerts such as the exact capacity of the bins, optimal time of usage and the quantity of times these stations are being emptied. Students pull the handle to throw in their trash or recycle, and when the bin inside the stations are filled, it triggers the compacter to press the items down. The compactors hold eight times more waste than the traditional trash or recycling bins. The batteries that power the compacter is through energy from solar panels.
Resource Characteristics
Overflowing waste bins can lead to bacteria, insects, and vermin, and decomposing and liquid waste items pollute toxic substances such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane into the air (Rapid Disposal, 2020). It is also seen that littering from trash cans and improper disposal can cause the trash and liquids to end up in bodies of water. People also avoid using trash cans with lids due to the fear of getting germs or touching filth when opening lids, and open trash cans attract flies and are a source of foul odor (Arora, n.d.). The design and composition of Bigbelly waste stations eliminate any exposed waste and litter that could blow away and end up in stormwater drains, prevent human and animal access to the waste, and the handle on these stations eliminates the chances of touching the waste. These waste stations also save time and energy since fewer garbage bags are being used and less CO2 is produced during trash pickups (Hanumanthu, J., & Srinivas, A., 2015). Bigbelly stations can also eliminate GHG emissions by up to 80% and have a 40% greater impact on reducing GHG emissions than BEV trucks (Bigbelly, 2021). While most traditional trash cans require plastic liners or bags, BigBelly stations do not require any such things and can reduce plastic bags/liner use by 80%. A large number of bees often visit trash sites and recycling centers as bees are attracted to the sugar content found in discarded soft drinks (Abramson et al., 1997). However, BigBelly stations are closed, making no trash or recyclable item visible and preventing any access to the items inside the stations. This will help aid in preventing bees to swarm around trash cans and redirecting them to pollinator gardens. The Bigbelly stations also include a recycling station. Recycling can reduce waste reaching landfills, help conserve natural resources, reduce energy consumption, save habitats and forests, reduce global warming, and reduce air pollution by 78% (Lamma, 2021).
Governance/User Characteristics
Mason students, the Sustainability Office, and Mason faculty worked together with the installation of the Bigbelly stations with the help of the Patriot Green Fund. Schools that offer green revolving funds have seen reductions in pollution levels, resource use, and waste generation, an increase in sustainability data on campus, collaborations between offices of sustainability, facilities, faculty, and students, and opportunities for research on sustainability (Weisbord, 2011). Instead of waiting for off-campus initiatives, college administrators should provide opportunities and incentives to students and staff to partake in sustainability efforts on campus, and universities have a far-reaching impact when opportunities and awareness are provided (Emanuel & Adams, 2011). The installation of the Bigbelly stations also is an active response to Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s March 2021 Executive Order 77, which plans to reduce plastic pollution and solid waste (Rudolf, 2021). These stations have sensors altering when the stations are full, thus making it easier for staff to empty them, and the compressor functions cuts the time spent on clearing out the trash or recycling.
Social/Cultural/Economic/Political Settings or Related Ecosystems
Cultural and social norms play a huge role in waste and recycling. When one sees someone not utilizing proper disposal methods, then they typically tend to do the same. In terms of sustainability practices, it seems that there is minimal or no knowledge gap when it comes to sustainability on campus, but many students have issues with a commitment to sustainability (Emanuel & Adams, 2011). The inability as a society to work together with waste disposal has failed to reduce waste and environmental safety, leading to dirty environments that impact aesthetics and quality of life (Lamma, 2021). Using improper waste and disposal methods can cause there to be hazards. When we look at overflowing trash cans, people pile trash, or litter since the trash can is full. Studies show that 94% of Americans support recycling, but only 35% recycle (Morgan, 2022). When deciding if an item goes in the trash or recycle, many people still tend to throw the item into the trash due to a lack of awareness or education. On average, a college student produces 640 pounds of trash which can be attributed to throwing away reusable or recyclable items in the trash, thus even with the Bigbelly stations, students might not utilize the recycling station.
What Can We Do/Relevance
Bigbelly zero waste stations were installed outside the Starbucks at Northern Neck on the Fairfax campus. The installation of these stations allowed 10-12 trash cans and recycling bins to be removed from the outside areas of the Starbucks. The Project Green Fund team plans to assess how these stations will streamline waste collection and future plans include the addition of a composting station. Bigbelly stations can be wrapped with images and messages, thus visual aids on the waste and recycling stations can be implanted. It is seen that there is an increase in correct recycling when visual prompts are placed near disposal facilities (Hemstreet, 2021). Also, visual aids on correct disposal of waste will encourage people to start adapting correct methods to prevent littering and overflowing from traditional trash cans. There should be increased awareness on these stations, as well as increase in the number of stations on campus. The Johnson Center is a place where there is a lot of student traffic and where food waste, trash, and recycle opportunities are at large. Placing more Bigbelly stations will eliminate traditional trash cans that contribute to littering and detrimental impacts on the environment. Education on recycling also increases participation but limited direct economic incentives or absence of visible centers/station limits participation (Wilcox, 2014) These Bigbelly station can also be used as Wi-Fi hotspots, so when outside people have easy access to the Wi-Fi.
Northern Neck (outside Starbucks)
Citations
Abramson, C. I., Aquino, I. S., Azeredo, G. A., Filho, J. R. M., & Price, J. M. (1997). The attraction of Africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) to soft drinks and perfumes. The Journal of General Psychology, 124(2), 166-181. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221309709595515
Arora, S., Dhingra, K., Babbar, A., & Mishra, U. (n.d.). Solar Trash Can: Hygienic and Inexpensive Solution to Open Bigger Trash Cans. DU Journal of Undergraduate Research and Innovation, 4(1), 110-117.
Bigbelly. (2021, August 26). Along for the ride – Bigbelly smart waste for transit systems! Along for the Ride – Bigbelly Smart Waste for Transit Systems! Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://blog.bigbelly.com/along-for-the-ride-bigbelly-smart-waste-for-transit-systems
Emanuel, R., & Adams, J. N. (2011). College students’ perceptions of campus sustainability. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 12(1), 79-92. https://doi.org/ 10.1108/14676371111098320
Hanumanthu, J., & Srinivas, A. (2015). Smart Grama’s with Internet of Things (IoT). Int. J. Res. Eng. Sci. Technol, 1.
Hemstreet, R. (2021). Effectiveness of Visual Prompts on Correct Disposal of Trash and Recyclable Materials. Thesis Projects. 26. https://scholarship.rollins.edu/mabacs_thesis/26
Lamma, O. A. (2021). The impact of recycling in preserving the environment. International Journal of Applied Research, 7(11), 297-302. https://dx.doi.org/10.22271/allresearch
Morgan, B. (2022, October 12). Why is it so hard to recycle? Forbes. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2021/04/21/why-is-it-so-hard-to-recycle/?sh=5048297e3b77
Rapid Disposal. (2020, February 27). Overflowing garbage cans: A health risk and threat to the environment. Rapid Disposal. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://rapiddisposal.co/overflowing-garbage-cans-a-health-risk-and-threat-to-the-environment/
Rudolf, M. (2021, August 4). Bigbelly solar-powered waste solution added to Fairfax Campus. George Mason University. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.gmu.edu/news/2021-08/bigbelly-solar-powered-waste-solution-added-fairfax-campus
Solar Bins Australia. (n.d.). FAQ. Solar Bins Australia. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.solarbins.com.au/our-customers/faqs/
Weisbord, D. (2011). Greening the Bottom Line: The Trend toward Green Revolving Funds on Campus. Sustainable Endowments Institute (NJ1), 1-50.
Wilcox, M. A. (2014). A study of college student attitudes and behaviors related to recycling. UNI ScholarWorks. https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/2
Pictures are from online, I’m not on campus very often.
Interactions
For my mapping project I chose to do the Innovation Food Forest and to focus on the interaction between students and faculty with the forest. Humans and animals have interactions with Innovation Food Forest in several ways, from walking through the forest on their way to class, snagging a piece of fruit on a study break, or stopping to watch bees visiting the flowers. Interactions are also through the maintenance of the forest – planting, watering, pruning, and harvesting.
Resource Characteristics
Growing and maintaining a food forest is beneficial for the ecosystem and humans, it also provides residents, or visitors, of the area with food security. (Coffey et al, 2021) In addition to providing food security food forests provide services such as carbon sequestration, fertility enhancement, biodiversity protection, and goods such as wood, produce, herbs, and medicinal plants. (Allen & Mason, 2021)
Governance/User Characteristics
Innovation Food Forest was funded in 2012 and 2013, by the Patriot Green Fund and led by E. Torrens with the goal of creating an edible permaculture garden and infrastructure. (PGF Recipients, n.d.) The Office of Sustainability along with the Mason Green Fund oversee the food forest and since its creation the food forest has been cared for primarily by students, volunteers, and staff. (Innovation Food Forest, n.d.)
Social/Cultural/Economic/Settings and Related Ecosystem
Having a food forest on campus can provide economic benefits, through the selling of goods or providing income to students and faculty; the range of support can range from administrative to manual labor. (Totiyapungprasert, 2022) A food forest can also provide food security to people in need – be it student, faculty, or members of the local community and can reduce produce purchased by supplying the desired products. (Coffey et al., 2021) Food forests can promote healthier eating through fruits, vegetables, and herbs; it also provides environmental protection for the ecosystem while also connecting humans to nature. (Atin et al., 2022)
What can we do?
Support the forest through volunteering at Innovation Food Forest and working to expand the forest or create additional food forests throughout the campus and within the community. By selling a selection of the harvest it can also raise funds for more produce to be grown and supplied throughout the community and campus. The university is acting on this issue, they have done so by funding the Innovation Food Forest and allowing for it to continue. The university and the Office of Sustainability are also acting on this issue by creating composting plots, gardens, and greenhouses.
Location of the Human-Environment interaction
References
Allen, J. A., & Mason, A. C. (2021). Urban food forests in the American Southwest. Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/uar2.20018
Coffey, S. E., Munsell, J. F., Hübner, R., & Friedel, C. R. (2021). Public Food Forest Opportunities and challenges in small municipalities. Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/uar2.20011
PGF recipients. University Sustainability. (n.d.). Retrieved October 22, 2022, from https://green.gmu.edu/patriot-green-fund/pgf-recipients/
Totiyapungprasert, P. (2022, May 11). The food forest co-op: Wants to make good food accessible to all. Arizona Republic http://mutex.gmu.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/food-forest-co-op/docview/2661783384/se-2
Atin, V., Ibrahim, A. L., & Lintangah, W. J. (2022). Food Security and Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) implementation at the Forest Management Unit (FMU) level: A case study in salarom Taka, Nabawan, Sabah. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1053(1), 012015. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1053/1/012015
For my area of focus, I chose to look at the hydroponic food production in the President’s Park Greenhouse. This is a student lead space, where food and plants are grown for sale and consumption. Students here have the opportunity to volunteer their time tending the plants, propagating, testing water chemical balances, and many other jobs. In 2014, this greenhouse became a site on campus for year-round food production. Lettuce, tomatoes, herbs and microgreens are the main produce grown.
Resource Characteristics
Hydroponics is one of the main mediums for growing here, which is a technique that does not use soil to grow its plants, but rather vertical columns with water flow and trellises. By using the absence of soil, growth can take place more efficiently, and because the same water is recycled and recirculated, the total amount is less than if soil was being utilized. By recirculating the same water through the pipe system, fertilizer is kept out of the watershed. (University Sustainability, 2022). (Sardare, 2013).
Governance/user characteristics
This Greenhouse was built in 2009, and was made possible by grants from Auxiliary Enterprise Management Council, Facilities Administration and the Patriot Green Fund. Profits made from selling the goods produced are used to buy equipment, seeds, and anything else the Greenhouse might need to keep up and running. (University Sustainability, 2022), (Jensen, 1997).
Social/cultural/economic/political settings or related ecosystems
Being on such a progressive campus with such close proximity to D.C. I can see why students would be so inclined to want to actively help sustainability efforts on campus. Not only are there many environmental students who look for ways to contribute to their on campus community, but students with many different majors come to volunteer their time at the on campus green sites. It is in students best interest to spend their time doing things they are passionate about, because not only is it helping them gain helpful experience within their field, but it’s helping these on-campus sustainability hotspots stay active and able to provide to their Mason community.
What can we do
Volunteering your free time at this Mason Greenhouse helps keep their promise of sustainability alive. With volunteer help, this wonderful opportunity is able to provide fresh options to Mason dining (Ikes), keep an on-site composting center, and be able to grow plants that are then sold to students. In terms of things that could be done differently, I think more ecology classes at Mason should require at least 1 or 2 volunteer expeditions at this location. The things you are able to learn just by walking around are worth the experience, and for any future environmentalist, getting experience with different kinds of sustainability projects is crucial to staying informed.
If relevant
Currently, the University is extremely conscious of its carbon footprint, and knows its students/ faculty are as well. It states on their Green Campus mission statement “The university is actively taking steps to reduce its environmental impact, primarily the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with the university’s operations, to achieve climate neutrality.” By holding them accountable, we can keep Mason a beacon of sustainable hope to other Universities, and show them what is possible with the right funding, attitude, and student involvement.
Location of the Human-Environment interaction
Citations
Jensen, M. H. (1997). Hydroponics. HortScience, 32(6), 1018-1021. https://journals.ashs.org/downloadpdf/journals/hortsci/32/6/article-p1018.pd
Hydroponic Food Production. University Sustainability. (2022). https://green.gmu.edu/campus-sustainability/campus-gardens/presidents-park-greenhouse/hydroponic-food-production/
Sardare, M. D., & Admane, S. V. (2013). A review on plants without soil-hydroponics. International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology, 2(3), 299-304. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Shraddha-Admane/publication/331731460_A_REVIEW_ON_PLANT_WITHOUT_SOIL_-HYDROPONICS/links/5c89f19aa6fdcc38175277e9/A-REVIEW-ON-PLANT-WITHOUT-SOIL-HYDROPONICS.pdf
I will be looking at the Patriot Pantry, which is located in SUB 1 in room 3011. The Patriot Pantry is a program that provides GMU students non-perishable food and hygiene items who experience food-insecurity. This program not only lowers the issues of food-insecurity on students, but it also brings awareness to food issues on campus, showing that it is a positive interaction. This program is supported by donations (Patriot Pantry).
Social reasons
Although GMU is located outside D.C. and is in a wealthy area, half of the student population struggles getting affordable access to food (Milani, 2022). Many different students of different backgrounds and demographics have the opportunity to use this resource and do. This is a very helpful program to go to but a lot of students do not even know about this resource. As someone in the environmental studies field, this is the only reason why I personally know about the Patriot Pantry. If more people knew about this, it would be very beneficial for the student body and create more knowledge and methods of using our resources available to us that can make us more sustainable as a community.
Location of the Human-Environment interaction
Resources
Patriot Pantry Access. Student Support and Advocacy Center. (2022, September 22). Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://ssac.gmu.edu/patriot-pantry/
Samantha Milani (2022). Student data on George Mason University Fairfax Campus. Sustainability in Action: Action Research (EVPP 480).
Samantha Milani (2022). Faculty data on George Mason University Fairfax Campus. Sustainability in Action: Action Research (EVPP 480).
George Mason University has high rates of commuting students, which creates high levels of emissions and increased parking installments. George Mason should increase incentivized carpooling and publicize the rideshare program. What good is all of this if these attributes are not advertised? The shuttles are often late and unreliable which prompts students to drive themselves. The campus does require parking passes at an unreasonably high price so the shuttles are a second resort, but they are very unreliable. Due to the small success rate of the shuttles in punctuality, most students buy the parking pass anyway, which increases the need for parking lots and destruction of land to build more. Thus, carpooling should be publicized and advertised through incentives that are apparently offered.
Resource characteristics
Air pollution caused by fossil fuel emissions is one of the greatest resource characteristic, environmental aspects involved. Air pollution is significantly high at George Mason due to the heavy commuting traffic. George Mason has placed a shuttle system throughout the campus and Fairfax area, but the buses do not really make a difference. Since the buses are behind and unreliable the majority of students purchase car permits and increase the use of individual fuel emissions. Commuting alone contributes “20,927 Metric Tons of CO2 equivalent” according to the STARS data in 2017 (STARS 2017). The carbon emissions of commuters was only “15,343” according to a study done in 2016, which shows the increase in carbon emissions over only one year (Emissions FY14 to FY16, 2016). Not only are student emissions increasing, but so are the shuttle buses despite less students utilizing their services due to delays and unreliable schedules unless they need to. Overall, the bus/shuttle issues cascade down into an increased amount of students commuting on and to campus, which greatly increases carbon emissions and calls for change in the carpool realm.
Governance/User characteristics
George Mason has rented vehicles from Reston Limousine for shuttle and bus purposes to and from different points on campus or off. The implementation of the bus transportation option is beneficial to the campus environment, but the option of carpooling proves to be stronger and more sustainable. The implementation of “carpool zone[s]” allows the comfort of utilizing guaranteed transportation that tends to be more reliable, while reducing emissions. Students may even receive incentives for the use of carpool programs and rideshares. Carpooling saves students “up to 40%” rebates on permits, which is more affordable and accommodating to a large commuter school that needs reliable but sustainable transportation (Walker, J., 2022.
Social/cultural/economic/political settings or related ecosystems
Economic factors play a very large role in the emissions of the buses and commuting students as you must be a mason student to utilize these options. Mason IDs are necessary to ride the bus/shuttle, and to join the student rideshare service. As it is required to be a Mason student to ride the bus/shuttle, the demographic is set through students’ use of the transportation services on campus. Though transportation is offered in many ways, the irregular schedule and lack of punctuality decrease student use and increase pollution patterns as seen on campus. Overall, economic factors greatly control the social and environmental factors of the transportation system at Mason.
What can we do?
The university must make changes to the shuttle transportation system as the system makes few irregular stops, is not consistent in punctuality, and creates a very large amount of emissions for the amount of advertisement and lack of student use. Since carpooling is incentivized, as mentioned on the transportation website as follows, “Students and employees may qualify for a 20- to 40-percent rebate on reserved parking permits by carpooling”, advertisement is crucial and more carpool areas/spots should be available to students (Walker, J. 2022). The university also mentions that an attendant supervises spaces in particular areas, but only from “7:00 am- 11:00 am” (Carpool Programs, 2022). The university must implement constant supervisors and provide more carpool spaces for this to be a feasible sustainable shift on campus.
University Action
As mentioned above, the university has incentivized carpooling for commuting students, but with the lack of publication or advertisements, this program is not helping to reduce carbon emissions to the extent it could if more students knew about it (Walker, J. 2022). So yes, the university is doing the bare minimum, but they need to do more!
Location of the Human-Environment interaction
Citations
Carpool programs. Parking and Transportation. (2022, September 21). Retrieved November 4, 2022, from https://transportation.gmu.edu/transportation-services/carpool-programs/
Emissions FY14 to FY16. (2016) storage.googleapis . Retrieved 2022, from https://storage.googleapis.com/stars-static/secure/319/7/650/4844/Emissions%20FY14%20to%20FY16.jpg
STARS. (2017). George Mason University OP-1: Greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse Gas Emissions | George Mason University | Scorecard | Institutions | STARS Reports. Retrieved November 4, 2022, from https://reports.aashe.org/institutions/george-mason-university-va/report/2017-09-01/OP/air-climate/OP-1/
Walker, J. (2022), August 19). Parking and traffic advisory: Transportation updates for the Fall Semester. Parking and Transportation. Retrieved November 4, 2022, from https://transportation.gmu.edu/parking-and-traffic-advisory-transportation-updates-for-the-fall-semester/
Parking areas around campus in general. Specifically, Rappahannock deck, where I typically am and can observe.
Interaction
The human-environment interaction that I chose to focus on is the commuter culture of George Mason. Many George Mason students are commuters from surrounding areas in NOVA. This means that many students are driving to campus or taking the CUE every day for classes and events. Thus, increasing the emissions given off as students drive to campus, sometimes multiple times a day.
Resource characteristics
The environmental impact of this interaction is the resulting air pollution from emissions. According to the Federal Transit Administration about 29% of greenhouse gas emissions are from transportation, out doing all other sectors (Freudberg, 2010). In the case of commuters, these passenger vehicles are responsible for emitting around 0.96 pounds of Carbon dioxide per mile (FTA). When cars are driven, the combustion of fuel releases, Nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, VOCs, Carbon dioxide and Methane (Freudberg, 2021). This combustion increases the concentration of ozone, according to the EPA 55% of Nitrogen oxide emission is from transportation (Freudberg, 2010).
Governance/user characteristics
Everyday numerous students and teachers drive to campus everyday for classes. As of 2021, 74% of George Mason University students live off campus, with students living between 5 mins to 40 minutes away (George). Additionally, some students sit in their cars idling while waiting for their next classes or for their friends they are picking up from their dorms.
Social/cultural/economic/political settings or related ecosystems
Socially, many students have probably had limited experiences with public transportation and thus may feel uncomfortable using it and additionally wanting to have the freedom to come and go from campus on their own schedule and not based on the bus’s schedule. I believe that independence is a large social factor when students choose to drive to campus. For others they may not be able to afford living on campus and thus opt to stay home if its close enough for them to commute. The price of a parking pass on campus is significantly less than the cost to live on campus.
What can we do and what has been done
One suggestion to limit passenger vehicle car emissions on campus is to offer more hybrid and online options to allow commuters to limit the number of times they drive to campus in a week. The campus does have other options for commuter students, through use of the VRE, Lime scooters if they are close enough and carpooling. Currently, Mason is incentivizing the use of carpooling by offering discounted parking passes for students who carpool. Unfortunately, even with potential laws passing to aide in the accessibility of electric vehicles through tax credits and other incentives, the majority of students being able to afford EV’s is certainty a lofty goal.
Freudberg, J. (2021, February). How your commute affects air pollution and climate change. Outdoors. https://www.outdoors.org/resources/amc-outdoors/conservation-and-climate/how-your-commute-affects-air-pollution-and-climate-change/
George Mason University Student Life. n.a https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/gmu-3749/student-life
The human environment interaction I focused on was the e-scooters all around Mason
Resource Characteristics
The use of e-scooters on campus are used for short-distance travel across campus. The environmental impact that e-scooters bring is much lower than emitting fossil fuels through gas powered vehicles, “We find that environmental burdens associated with charging the e-scooter are small relative to materials and manufacturing burdens of the e-scooters and the impacts associated with transporting the scooters to overnight charging stations” (Hollingsworth et al., 2019).
Governance characteristics
Many students are interacting with these e-scooters on a daily basis. According to GMU website, they do not recommend leaving the scooter on a sidewalk or anywhere that is a tripping hazard, yield to pedestrians, and do not ride on the sidewalks. With that being said, I see these rules being violated daily, “Data on 248 patients were reviewed. Twenty-three (9%) were under 18 years old. Loss of balance was the most common cause of injury accounting for nearly half, while tripping over a scooter 14 (6%) affected the elderly disproportionately. Eight (3%) riders wore helmets” (Bloom et al., 2021).
Social/Cultural/Economic/Political settings or related ecosystems
Economically, this is not a viable solution because it is a small portion of transportation for shorter commute times, perfect for getting around a college campus, though. George Mason is a large community school as well, so socially this would not be a long distance solution for commuters to use.
What can we do?
I think incorporating more e-scooters or electric modes of transportation should be incorporated. For electric vehicles, incorporating more plug in chargers around campus. By bringing more electric modes of transportation we can lessen our carbon footprint, could bring significant changes for society in terms of not only the technologies we use for personal transportation, but also moving our economies away from petroleum” (Brown et al., 2010). Also, in regards to the e -scooters, to make more aware the safety measures that go along with driving them, so that there are less injuries/accidents.
Location of the Human-Environment interaction
References
Bloom, M. B., Noorzad, A., Lin, C., Little, M., Lee, E. Y., Margulies, D. R., & Torbati, S. S. (2021). Standing electric scooter injuries: Impact on a community. The American Journal of Surgery, 221(1), 227–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2020.07.020
Brown, S., Pyke, D., & Steenhof, P. (2010). Electric vehicles: The role and importance of standards in an emerging market. Energy Policy, 38(7), 3797–3806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2010.02.059
Hollingsworth, J., Copeland, B., & Johnson, J. X. (2019). Are e-scooters polluters? The environmental impacts of shared dockless electric scooters. Environmental Research Letters, 14(8), 084031. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab2da8
Zipcar is available at the Rappahannock Parking Deck which is visible in the picture above and also at the Mason Pond Drive lot across from Buchanon Hall. These cars are not available in every single lot, however, they are featured in a major lot as in the picture.
Resource Characteristics
Zipcar is a form of alternative transportation where people can create an account with the company’s app, prove and validate their license and form of payment, and then rent a car to be able to use for however long they want. This modern format of transportation is basically a quick and convenient car rental system. The resource within this transaction program is the cars that you have to pay for in order to utilize and drive around. These car-sharing techniques are aimed at reducing household emissions and the accessibility of automobiles. “Carsharing reduces between 110,000 to 155,000 metric tons of GHGs per year, when strictly evaluating observable emission changes. When considering the full impact, carsharing prevents between 160,000 to 225,000 metric tons of GHG emissions per year. T” (Martin & Shaheen, 2011). This article details carsharing as a whole and its impact on the environment as well as households. The massive amounts of carbon dioxide that could be saved by rise sharing is encouraging for the expansion of this sector of the automobile and transportation industry.
Governance/User Characteristics
“As a subsidiary of the larger Avis Budget Group, Zipcar provides vehicles for hourly or daily use in over thirty major metro markets and at over 500 college campuses worldwide. Zipcar now reports having more than 10,000 vehicles in its worldwide fleet” (Schwieterman, 2017). With this gross growth within the market and avid advertisement, Zipcar is taking universities by storm. This program has a worldwide fleet of 10,000 vehicles and many of which are used at college campuses. George Mason and Zipcar have partnered to have this resource available on campus, and since it is a university, there is a discount for students. Zipcar runs and governs these cars through their hub and has thoroughly implemented safeguards against theft.
Social/cultural/economic/political setting or related ecosystems
“Predictability of system dynamics (RS7). Systems dynamics need to be sufficiently predictable that users can estimate what would happen if they were to establish particular harvesting rules or noentry territories” (Ostrom, 2009). This concept is a large part of the entire Zipcar concept. The predictability relies on an app that will show you which Zipcars are available. However, these Zipcars are only available at two lots on campus and thus must be expanded into other lots. In addition, anyone can reserve a zip car thus taking this stock out of play when it has been used up across all lots, however, it is more accessible to the college student because of the lower age requirement of 18 and the lower membership fee.
College campuses have limited parking spaces as well as outrageous fees to park your car in these lots. With college students being unable or unwilling to pay the sky-high fee to rent a single space in the parking lot, they must look to alternatives. The alternative to owning a car is car sharing or taking public transit. George Mason has implemented a few Zipcars in two of its lots which are slightly inconvenient for students who live near neither the Rappahannock Parking Deck or the Mason Pond Parking lot. In addition, the collaborative culture of colleges and universities is another critical driving factor for the importance and implementation of carsharing because it saves money and creates memories.
What can we do?
Saving money is vital to the college student and “the sharing economy is a modern technology-based method of whether collaboration or business management that enables the peers to allocate the already existing tangible and intangible resources free of charge or for a fee” (Šiuškaitė, Pilinkienė, Žvirdauskas, 2019) which fully encapsulates the Zipcar idea. If we increase the amount of Zipcars and Zipcar parking spaces on campus, we will see an increase in student mobility and a decrease in overspending through the parking space fees.
Location of the Human-Environment interaction
Works Cited
Martin, E. W., & Shaheen, S. A. (2011). Greenhouse gas emission impacts of carsharing in North America. IEEE Transactions on intelligent transportation systems, 12(4), 1074-1086.
Ostrom. (2009). General Framework for Analyzing Sustainability of Social-Ecological Systems. Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), 325(5939), 419–422. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1172133
Schwieterman, J. P., & Pelon, M. (2017). First Zipcar, Now Uber: Legal and Policy Issues Facing the Expanding” Shared Mobility” Sector in US Cities. Belmont L. Rev., 4, 109.
Šiuškaitė, D., Pilinkienė, V., & Žvirdauskas, D. (2019). The conceptualization of the sharing economy as a business model. Engineering Economics, 30(3), 373-381.
