Author: kakerlof

By Catherine Middleton

Interactions

Since George Mason University is widely recognized as a “commuter school,” having a variety of safe and effective transportation methods is essential to the success of the student body. E-scooters on the George Mason campus are a part of the Dockless Mobility Pilot Program initiated by the City of Fairfax on July 8th, 2019. There are several human-environment interactions at play when it comes to E-scooters (or shared mobility scooters) on the GMU campus. E-scooters as a legitimate transportation resource were introduced to increase mobility in urban areas. They are meant to provide an environmentally-friendly, affordable method of transportation (Dias et al. 2021) to those that may not otherwise have access to a car. E-scooters are also an example of incorporating media and technology into transportation alternatives, which enables human-environment interaction through the use of the e-scooter brand’s mobile app (Ratan et al. 2021).

Resource Characteristics

Typically, the public opinion regarding e-scooters tends to lean towards the thought that they are an environmentally-friendly alternative to gasoline-powered cars. In a study conducted by Kjaerup et al. 2021, the authors conducted a series of interviews to gain a better understanding of public perception towards e-scooters. The general perspective of the interviewees was that e-scooters are a green form of transportation due to their lack of emissions (Kjaerup et al. 2021). This is not necessarily incorrect, but the bigger picture would indicate that e-scooters do indeed have some negative impact on the environment due to their manufacturing, production, and transportation process (Hollingsworth et al. 2019). For example, e-scooters are distributed by gas-powered motor vehicles, which offsets the intention to provide a sustainable mode of transportation (Dias et al. 2021). Overall, though e-scooters have disadvantages when it comes to counterbalancing the transportation sectors’ global emissions, they remain a more eco-friendly option than cars.

Governance/User Characteristics

Many types of people and institutions are involved when it comes to the regulation and dispersal of e-scooters. George Mason University and the City of Fairfax are in tandem with each other due to their collaboration on the City of Fairfax’s Dockless Mobility Program (George Mason University, n.d.). E-scooters are not a purely domestic phenomenon, either. In fact, a pilot program operating out of Munich determined that it’s possible for e-scooters to cover up to 60% of daily trips pending car replacement (Dias et al. 2021). Additionally, a large part of the e-scooters’ success is dependent on whether the infrastructure framework allows for it. This is where the government comes in. If we were to maximize the benefits of e-scooter usage, the government would need to implement public policy that would ensure the safety of all individuals. An example of this is introducing policy measures to expand roads such that more room for a bike lane is provided (Kjaerup et al. 2021). It would reduce pedestrian and vehicular accidents if the infrastructure needed for e-scooters is present.

Social/Cultural/Economic/Political settings or related ecosystems

Economic development definitely plays a significant role when it comes to e-scooters. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the domestic transportation sector alone accounts for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions at 30% as of 2019 (U.S. Department of Transportation, 2022). Because of this, there is certainly a market for products that are more sustainable and eco-friendly, to the point where the U.S. government is in the process of offering tax incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles (Chen et al. 2021). Furthermore, electric scooters offer a more realistic availability to the average citizen due to their much smaller expense.

What Can We Do?

While e-scooters are generally a more eco-friendly option, there are some negative implications on the environment. As mentioned in earlier, the process of manufacturing e-scooters and transporting them is somewhat of an issue (Kjaerup et al. 2021). GMU could tackle this by having permanent hubs and charging stations, assuming the pilot program continues. Additionally, there is the issue that the scooters can only travel short distances. Once they leave the GMU campus or the city limits of Fairfax, they shut down. This is not necessarily a huge issue unless commuters don’t have an alternate means of transportation. Commuters wouldn’t have access to the e-scooters if they wanted to travel from home to campus (if they live outside of Fairfax City), only if they wanted to go from one end of campus to another. Overall, GMU could improve upon many aspects of their transportation options, especially given the amount of students who don’t live on campus.

If Relevant

GMU doesn’t seem to be taking any direct action at this point with regards to e-scooters. There are three different e-scooter company options on campus: Bird, Lime, and LINK. They are still available to use on campus until December 31st, 2022.

References

Chen, Z., Carrel, A. L., Gore, C., & Shi, W. (2021). Environmental and economic impact of electric vehicle adoption in the U.S. Environmental Research Letters, 16(4), 045011. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abe2d0

Climate Action | US Department of Transportation. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://www.transportation.gov/priorities/climate-and-sustainability/climate-action

Dias, G., Arsenio, E., & Ribeiro, P. (2021). The Role of Shared E-Scooter Systems in Urban Sustainability and Resilience during the Covid-19 Mobility Restrictions. Sustainability, 13(13), 7084. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137084

Dockless Mobility | City of Fairfax, VA. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://www.fairfaxva.gov/government/public-works/transportation-division/docklessmobility

E-scooters come to GMU campus (but they’re geofenced). (2020, February 4). WTOP News. https://wtop.com/business-finance/2020/02/e-scooters-come-to-gmu-campus-but-theyre-geofenced/

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

Kjærup, M., Skov, M. B., & van Berkel, N. (2021). E-Scooter Sustainability – A Clash of Needs, Perspectives, and Experiences. In C. Ardito, R. Lanzilotti, A. Malizia, H. Petrie, A. Piccinno, G. Desolda, & K. Inkpen (Eds.), Human-Computer Interaction – INTERACT 2021 (Vol. 12934, pp. 365–383). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85613-7_26

Kubik, A. (2022). Impact of the Use of Electric Scooters from Shared Mobility Systems on the Users. Smart Cities, 5(3), 1079. https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities5030054

Ratan, R., Earle, K., Rosenthal, S., Hua Chen, V. H., Gambino, A., Goggin, G., Stevens, H., Li, B., & Lee, K. M. (2021). The (digital) medium of mobility is the message: Examining the influence of e-scooter mobile app perceptions on e-scooter use intent. Computers in Human Behavior Reports, 3, 100076. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbr.2021.100076

Transportation Services. (n.d.). Parking and Transportation. Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://transportation.gmu.edu/transportation-services/

By Anonymous

Interactions

The human environment interactions of the George Maosn Univeristy Bus services is that the buses in campus ride many Mason students everyday from Mondays to Fridays or Mondays to Sundays according to other bus metro services. Everyday theses buses use fuel that emit into the air and some like the CUE buses are hybrid which is good for the environment. 

Resources characteristics

The environmental side is these buses are gas or diesel fuel vehicles that produce emissions but the advantage is they go fast and they need to be replaced with sustainable hybrid engines like the CUE buses. The ecological factor is harming the environment but not us because we need the ride. Since Mason has many green programs they need to use zero emission shuttles or buses driving through campus. “Electric buses support Columbia’s Sustainability Plan goals of reduced transportation emissions through greener campus fleets and commuting alternatives,” said David M. Greenberg, executive vice president of University Facilities and Operations.(Sustainable Columbia)

Governance user characteristics

The Governance system on the George Mason Buses is that it operates through routes and metro bus services that help Mason by using Mason Bus stops and final destination to be at Mason like the 29K Metro bus route. This makes it easier for Mason students to get campus cheaper with no charges. Metro is aiming to have its fleet of buses entirely electric by 2045. The transit agency would stop buying diesel-only buses soon and transition to hybrid-electric or compressed natural gas models only before switching to electric-only models in 2030.(Pascale)

 Social/cultural/economic/political settings or related ecosystems

The buses are convenient for the driver and for passengers it has many bus stops that make life easier. It is good for the environment and economy because the buses are cheaper like 2 or 4 dollars and the GMU shuttle is free ride just the students show their Mason ID card to the driver. It is good for the environment if the buses use an electric battery fuel system or hybrid. This is environmental friendly and zero emissions. This is the first public-private partnership for an autonomous public transportation demonstration project in Virginia. Dominion Energy purchased the vehicle which is manufactured by the French company EasyMile. The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and Fairfax County are providing the vehicle operating costs.(Vadakkepatt and Maribojoc)

 What can we do?

We can do a lot it is not set in stone. The GMU buses can be certified by EV experts and replaced by other alternative energy fuel system or change the buses to electric buses like the electric scooters we have in campus. George Mason University has many environmental programs and clubs. They also have robots bringing food for students so it is possible for GMU to make this change on Transportation vehicle emissions.

References

Columbia University Electric Shuttle Buses Hit the Road | Sustainable Columbia

Metro Approves Plans For Fully Electric Bus Fleet By 2045 | DCist

George Mason University Joins Research Effort of Self-Driving Shuttle Project | George Mason University (gmu.edu)

By Tim Henson

The area I chose is nearby to Mason Pond and the Mason Pond Parking Deck. It is an area currently undergoing construction as the “Necklace Phase One and Stream Restoration” project by Mason Facilities began earlier this year. This project involves human-environment interaction in the way that humans are physically changing the environment it to befit it to the way that humans on the George Mason Fairfax Campus would interact with this environment. Mason Facilities lists that “Illuminated, paved and mulched pedestrian trails will be constructed in addition to the restoration” (Construction at Mason, 2022). The characteristics of the resource system along the stream are changing, most notably in the way that land area is being cleared to build pathways. The change in area available for trees and plants to grow from the building of impervious surfaces changes the rates of biogeochemical processes taking place in the ecosystem, as impervious surfaces prevent plants and soil from sequestering carbon dioxide or removing pollutants from runoff (Clement et al., 2015). Also, sediments are disturbed during the construction process and will run off into waterways nearby to the area of construction if precautions are not taken. The runoff of excess sediment into waterways can have ecological impacts on vertebrate and invertebrate populations (Jones et al. 2012, Vargas et al. 2021).

Social setting and governance/user characteristics are also at play, as Mason Facilities, Housing and Residence Life, Athletics and Recreation, and hired contractors all play a role in governing the use of university owned land area (Gardens and Landscape FAQ, n.d.). The social setting of this area being on a college campus led to this construction project breaking ground in the first place, as it is for the use of the Mason community. So, what can we do? Well, Mason is aware of its impact on the environment and takes actions to minimize impacts wherever possible. Mason saves and transplants as many trees and plants from construction sites as funding and conditions permit (Gardens and Landscape FAQ, n.d.), and complies with state erosion and sediment control and stormwater management requirements to reduce the discharge of sediments and other pollutants associated with construction activity (Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control, n.d.). Basically, Mason takes it upon itself to conduct construction in ways that reduce its environmental impact. As the saying goes, you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet. And in this case, you have to cut down a few trees to make a scenic path through the forest.

References

Clement, M. T., Chi, G., & Ho, H. C. (2015). Urbanization and Land-Use Change: A Human Ecology of Deforestation Across the United States, 2001-2006. Sociological Inquiry, 85(4), 628–653. https://doi.org/10.1111/soin.12097

Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control (n.d.). George Mason University Facilities. https://facilities.gmu.edu/resources/land-development/ms4/mcm4-construction-site-stormwater-runoff-control/

Gardens and Landscape FAQ (n.d.). University Sustainability. https://green.gmu.edu/gardens-landscape-and-stormwater-faq/

Jones, J. I., Murphy, J. F., Collins, A. L., Sear, D. A., Naden, P. S., & Armitage, P. D. (2012). The Impact of Fine Sediment on Macro-Invertebrates. River Research and Applications, 28(8), 1055–1071. https://doi.org/10.1002/rra.1516

Stream restoration on Fairfax Campus will create scenic pathway. (2022). Construction at Mason. https://construction.gmu.edu/news/2022-08/stream-restoration-fairfax-campus-will-create-scenic-pathway

Vargas Soto, J. S., Beirne, C., Whitworth, A., Cruz Diaz, J. C., Flatt, E., Pillco-Huarcaya, R., Olson, E. R., Azofeifa, A., Saborío-R, G., Salom-Pérez, R., Espinoza-Muñoz, D., Hay, L., Whittaker, L., Roldán, C., Bedoya-Arrieta, R., Broadbent, E. N., & Molnár, P. K. (2021). Human disturbance and shifts in vertebrate community composition in a biodiversity hotspot. Conservation Biology, 36(2), 13813. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13813

By Dahye Han

Interaction

Water is one of the most important elements of human life. So, water-related pollution has a fatal effect on humans. In particular, drinking water can be divided into those who buy and drink bottled water, those who filter and drink tap water. So, if the water is contaminated, those who drink tap water will suffer the most, and those who filter, and drink water will also suffer. As there are many ways to drink water, on campus, some students carry recyclable water bottles and others carry bottled waters. However, despite the continuous environmental pollution issue these days, there are still many people who buy and drink bottled water. There are people who buy and drink bottled water because they are worried about water pollution, and plastic waste emitted by buying and eating bottled water can affect water pollution again. A quarter of the students on campus still drink bottled water more often than tap water (Qian, 2018).

Resource Characteristics

The reason why bottled water consumption should be concerned, especially in places with drinkable tap water, is that bottled water requires much more energy in terms of production and distribution (Qian, 2018). In fact, the cost of producing bottled water is much higher financially and environmentally than tap water due to the production, transportation, refrigeration and revenue-generating goals of plastic packaging (Ryan et al., 2019). Bottled water is 240 to 10,000 times more expensive than tap water (Ryan et al., 2019).  Second, bottled water has a negative environmental impact (Qian, 2018). Especially plastic waste. Plastic bottles are made of petroleum, and most bottles are not recycled. In the United States, plastic recycling was only 23% in 2007 (Qian, 2018).  However, drinking bottled water is not the same strict standard as tap water in the United States, but it is often perceived as safer than tap water. This recognition may be partly due to water pollution incidents in the United States in recent years. So, it’s not surprising that there’s a fear of drinking tap water from exposure to media and information. West Virginia’s water quality, one of the most rural states in the eastern United States, faces many challenges, such as increased cancer and mortality from water pollution, due to its history of natural resource extraction and non-existent or aging water infrastructure (Jonas and Burns, 2018).

User Characteristics

The biggest barrier to the use of reusable water bottles and tap water was the perception that tap water on campus was not filtered enough and the second common barrier was that tap water tasted bad (Ryan et al., 2019). In addition, ‘safety and hygiene’ and ‘convenience and availability’ ranked the most reasons why people prefer certain types of drinking water (Qian, 2018).

Social characteristics

Many governments around the world have succeeded in or are aiming to provide clean and safe drinking water to their citizens, and many advanced countries already provide tap water that can be drunk without filtration according to basic drinking water standards. In recent decades, however, global consumption of bottled water has been increasing, especially in developed countries where tap water can be directly consumed. In the United States, bottled water consumption doubled to an annual average of 138.17 liters per person in 2015 (Qian, 2018). According to various studies, in relation to tap water, bottled water generally contains higher concentrations of essential minerals (Qian, 2018). However, improperly storing bottled water will also harm consumers. The elevated temperature is responsible for the release of antimony from the polyethylene terephthalate plastic used in water bottles (Qian, 2018). On the other hand, drinking bottled water is advantageous if consumers choose water containing mineral ingredients that meet the recommended daily intake limit and store it properly (Qian, 2018). Nevertheless, it should be remembered that the health effects of these sources of drinking water are further distorted, given the prevalence of reverse osmosis technology in producing bottled water and/or filtered tap water (Qian, 2018).

What can we do?

Currently, more than 50 U.S. universities are trying to ban the sale of bottled water. Interestingly, however, although the ban on bottled water has increased the use of refillable water bottles and increased awareness of plastic bottle recycling, studies have shown that water consumption has decreased and sales and consumption of sugary drinks have increased (Ryan et al., 2019). To prevent potential increases in sugar-added beverage consumption, you should increase your tap water intake using reusable water bottles as a disposable bottled water alternative. Students who buy bottled water believe they can drink more safely if they filter out tap water and therefore prefer it (Ryan et al., 2019). Given these beliefs, the strategy for creating an environment conducive to desired behavior is to make filtered tap water readily available across the campus (Ryan et al., 2019). This requires the installation of a water bottle refill station designed to facilitate refilling of filtered tap water into reusable bottles. To highlight the importance of reusable bottles, the bottles must include a simple data table highlighting the health, environmental and financial impact of disposable bottled water (Ryan et al., 2019). In addition, if you plan to purchase bottled water on campus, you must install a placard on the vending machine that describes the financial and environmental costs of bottled water. These statements can then specifically highlight the amount of savings that can be made using reusable water bottles instead of purchasing bottled water.

If relevant

George Mason University, located in Fairfax County, Virginia, has water refill stations throughout campus to make it easy to refill reusable water bottles. As of June 2019, campus has over 3 million uses of the stations. Even for easy access, most stations could find themselves near toilets, and they are located throughout the building for easy access.

References

Jonas G. L., & Burns, R. C. (2018). Drinking water in West Virginia (USA): tap water or bottled water – what is. the right choice for college students? Journal of Water and Health, 16(5), 827-838. https://doi-org.mutex.gmu.edu/10.2166/wh.2018.129

Qian, N. (2018). Bottled Water or Tap Water? A Comparative Study of Drinking Water Choices on University. Campuses. Water, 10(1), 59. https://doi-org.mutex.gmu.edu/10.3390/w10010059 Ryan, C. G., Gonzalez, P. A., Abdiel Elias Laureano-Rosario, & Pradieu, G. R. (2019). Bottled water versus tap. water: Risk perceptions and drinking water choices at the University of South Florida. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 20(4), 654-674. https://doi-org.mutex.gmu.edu/10.1108/IJSHE-01-2019-0003

By Anonymous

The area I chose was the area right next to Mason Pond, it’s an area I personally pass every time I enter campus. This area is the bridge between the actual pond and where it runs off into the woods. It has now started to become a place of construction due to a new project called ‘Necklace Phase One and Stream Restoration’. Its goal is to restore the main channel that will run through it. That is the main human interaction we see with construction because you have not only people but machines tearing down the trees and giving off chemicals into the atmosphere. We also have human interactions with the students. I know as one myself that I also interact with that area by being able to sit amongst the trees and have small picnics. This will continue with the project making more human interaction because the goal is to have the clear channel and more pathways to go through.

Next thing is the characteristics of the resource system the one primarily seen is the physical changes made to achieve their plan. “It was found that ‘Transportation Resource’, ‘Noise Pollution’, and ‘Dust Generation with Construction Machinery’ are the greatest environmental impacts,(Enviromental impacts Assessment).” These were examples seen in this study in Malaysia that we are also seeing here at Mason for the construction. They have cleared out mainly the trees and any vegetation that was grown there. It was tall before as we can see in neighboring trees and will take quite a while before it returns to the same stature as before. Not only for the trees but the water and ground as well which has been disrupted will take time to correct itself from any runoff that occurs from the construction. Now, going back to human interactions that is a part of this project, it also ties in with the governance characteristics as well as the political and social to the Mason Community.

This involves the whole Mason community, specifically when talking about governance. This involved different parts of the Mason campus from talking specifically about Mason Sustainability to the contractors Mason hires to start construction of this root. This comes into play because the University owns the land and to start the project it has to go through several protocols, not just the University board but also several other approvals to make sure in a whole sense everyone agrees with the plan. This comes into common when we also see other projects being worked on, “professional bodies and private organizations have started several programs in order to enhance the awareness and knowledge of construction practitioners, and also to promote the application of sustainable principles within construction projects (Enviromental impacts Assessment).” Like mentioned previously this tie in with Mason’s political and social idealisms that they stand for. The sustainable Mason is main goal is to reach the campus to net carbon neutral. With this construction even if it is to make a spot that brings us closer to nature, the campus does have to disrupt some of the current natural growth. What that means is that many students thought and concerns were heard about when the project was first proposed and they made a goal to make sure they could disrupt as little plant life as possible. While also preventing the any excess environmental hazards from coming into the waters as well. They have already taken other actions in a general university wide interest in helping hazards from coming into our waters. “There are also ongoing efforts at the Innovation Food Forest to maintain stormwater features and reduce erosion in the walkway there. Volunteers can help clean out drainage trenches and return deposition after rainstorms (GMU Stormwaters).” There are also several other projects still working on campus to act on this issue of keeping the runoffs clean not only from the construction but also in case of things like bad weather conditions.

References

Parking. Center for the Arts. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://cfa.gmu.edu/plan-your-visit/parking

Zolfagharian, S., Nourbakhsh, M., Irizarry, J., Ressang, A., & Gheisari, M. (2012). Environmental impacts assessment on construction sites. In Construction Research Congress 2012: Construction Challenges in a Flat World (pp. 1750-1759).

Stream restoration on Fairfax Campus Will Create Scenic Pathway. George Mason University. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://www.gmu.edu/news/2022-08/stream-restoration-fairfax-campus-will-create-scenic-pathway

Communication, P. B. F. (n.d.). Stream restoration update. Facilities. Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://facilities.gmu.edu/stream-restoration-update/

Stormwater FAQ. University Sustainability. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://green.gmu.edu/stormwater-faq/

By Ariel Stater

Interaction

Mason spends between $9 to $10 million in energy costs each year between the Fairfax, SciTech and Arlington campuses, with 40% of the energy consumption going towards academic buildings, 40% towards auxiliary buildings, and the remaining 20% towards housing. From lights to computer usage to air conditioning, students are almost always engaged in human-environmental interactions while on campus. Considering the engagement between students and energy use, solar energy would be a huge step in reducing both the students’ individual carbon footprints as well as Mason’s overall carbon footprint. In fact, one hour of noontime summer sun is equal to the annual U.S. electricity demand. The installation of rooftop photovoltaic panels would help to further Mason’s goal of becoming climate neutral by 2050.

Resource Characteristics

Building energy and transportation account for 80% of Mason’s emissions combined. The consequences of using fossil fuels for electricity are, of course, pollution. Electric power generation can offset the natural balance of nitrogen in the environment. Solar energy systems, however, have minimal effects on the environment and do not produce air pollutants or carbon dioxide. Considering the amount of energy necessary to keep a university running year-round (in Mason’s case, 805,684 MMBTU was consumed in the fiscal year of 2017), a total switch to renewable energy would greatly minimize Mason’s impact on the environment and local ecosystems. Each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of solar energy produced will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Economic Settings 

Although Mason has not implemented large scale solar projects due to the current markets, it is significant to note that the average cost of construction for the generation of solar energy in the US continues to fall. The average construction costs for electricity generators fell nearly 50% between 2013 and 2018, from $3750 dollars for kilowatt to $1848 dollars for kilowatt, and the costs have continued to fall since.

Major incentives for the switch to solar energy include financial returns and less money spent on utility bills. Tax credit is also available under the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which provides a 30% tax credit for the installation of solar systems on residential property. Schools cannot typically directly take advantage of the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) fund, but they can partner with solar developers who will develop and maintain the system in exchange for payments under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) or solar lease. With PPAs, schools typically pay less for kilowatt and save, on average, 10% on their utility bills. The school then has the option to purchase the system at fair market value after 15-20 years.

What Can We Do?

Although students may take small actions to limit energy use (such as turning off lights not in use or limiting thermostat temperatures), ultimately, the best action to take is for Mason to convert to renewable energy so that students can power their lives with sustainable energy.  As such, the program ArcGIS was used to estimate the potential for solar energy on Mason’s campus. As solar energy has limitations such as time of day, season, weather conditions, terrain angle, sunlight duration, and air quality, these conditions were analyzed in order to decide on the best location, economically, for the installation of rooftop photovoltaic panels. It was determined that the best rooftop for installation is that of the Shenandoah parking deck, specifically on the side facing York River Road .

Is The University Acting?

Mason purchased renewable energy credits (RECs) as part of Mason’s 2010 Climate Action Plan, which allows for electricity to be delivered to the grid from a renewable energy source, and further RECs are purchased for new construction projects when appropriate. Although Mason has looked into large-scale renewable energy projects, only small solar installations have been implemented. Mason has set a goal of becoming climate neutral by 2050.

References

Energy and Buildings FAQ. George Mason University. Retrieved 14 October 2022, from https://green.gmu.edu/energy-and-buildings-faq/

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). US EPA. 25 February 2022. https://www.epa.gov/green-power-markets/renewable-energy-certificates-recs

The Sources and Solutions: Fossil Fuels. US EPA. 31 January 2022. https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/sources-and-solutions-fossil-fuels

Average U.S. construction costs for solar and wind generation continue to fall. US EIA. 16 September 2020. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=45136

Benefits of Residential Solar Electricity. US Department of Energy. Retrieved 18 October 2022, from https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/benefits-residential-solar-electricity

SCF News. Solar PPAs/ITC Help Universities and Schools Benefit From Solar. Sustainable Capital Finance. Retrieved 21 October 2022, from
https://scf.com/solar-news/solar-ppasitc-universities-schools-benefit-solar/

By Adrian Hagarty

Nestled between the Rappahannock Parking Deck and University Dr. is a sliver of sloping, grassy land populated by trees and shrubs reintroduced over the years since the lot was first built.  Forested zones are a crucial form of land cover due to their role in carbon sequestration and support of biodiversity (Ostrom & Cox, 2010). Though the trees present by Rappahannock are sparse, they have the potential to reduce surface runoff, recharge groundwater sources, and improve soil absorption as well as moisture (Benegas et al., 2021). Woody plants surpass herbaceous species in nutrient and water uptake, though the latter act as crucial filtration systems by soaking up particulate matter brought down the slope via storms  (Duan, 2021). Both flora are crucial for their role in maintaining slope stability and reinforcing the soil, which is especially important given the topography (Li et al., 2021). With the parking lot at the bottom of the hill and the street at the top, the land by Rappahannock is at risk of multiple forms of environmental degradation from drivers who use the area to commute or park their vehicles. Parking lots can raise the temperature for nearby residential areas through heat absorbed and released from asphalt throughout the day, and vehicles can leave oil, gasoline, and other harmful residue which threatens waterways when washed away by storms (Cotrone, 2022).  Furthermore, when the lot was initially built, the removal of vegetation and topsoil increased the zone’s vulnerability to erosion (EPA, n.d.). There are storm drains present at the site, which means flooding is unlikely – however, the water entering these drains is still at risk of carrying eroded pollutants and sediments, which are eventually destined to enter local watersheds.

The street, parking lot, and the hill in between them form a singular system which involves the people and vehicles using the area, as well as the plants in the forested strip, the latter of which serves as a buffer. Buffer zones are critical for pollution control and protection of nearby land, and are one of the most commonly used best management practices, especially for reducing nonpoint pollutants such as stormwater runoff (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2000). Small forests with low commercial value but strong community drive have been assessed as possessing major potential for management and protection (Ostrom & Cox, 2010). George Mason University has, in the past, already taken measures to restore the area. The Green Patriots Reforestation, a $21,000 initiative, was first passed in 2013/2014 to restore the area, but was only partially completed (Mason University Sustainability, n.d.). In the 2020/2021 academic year the project was picked up again, this time through two smaller initiatives that added an additional handful of trees and shrubs (Mason University Sustainability, n.d.). Continuing these efforts would be effective in involving the Mason community as well as restoring an important natural resource on campus.

One study evaluating the safety factor of sloping landscapes determined that the stability of vegetated land was ranked at 49.6%, compared to a 12.1% rating for non-vegetated counterparts (Li et al., 2021). This significant difference held true even when wind was involved as a factor, and it was found that although shrubs held better resistance to wind due to smaller canopies, trees were better at enforcing soil stability due to their root systems (Li et al., 2021). At Rappahannock, the three major current plant groups are short grasses, shrubs, and small trees. Out of all combinations tested, shrubs and trees actually had the lowest collective safety factor — grass and trees, in contrast, had the highest (Li et al., 2021). Grasses are effective due to their faster growing period, and can provide stability in the early stages while trees are being established  (Li et al., 2021). Notably, the study used Setaria viridis, a much taller grass than typical lawn species. Therefore, it is recommended that for future efforts, George Mason considers taller native species, which will not only require less maintenance but should perform better at erosion control. A diversity of plants yields the most effective result for filtering pollution (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2000). However, it is crucial to choose species which work well together.

Grasses should be a considerable focus. Though adding more trees would increase the benefits they provide, crowding them too densely may have setbacks. In fact, the optimum tree cover theory states that intermediate densities in at-risk soils are more effective at maximizing groundwater recharge (Benegas et al., 2021). It is more important to properly care for the trees already present, and deal with a problem currently putting them at risk — mulching. When done right, deposition of mulch can increase soil organic carbon, enhance organic matter storage, and encourage improved forest productivity (Sun et al., 2021). However, to reap these benefits, mulch must be integrated correctly. Several of the trees present by Rappahannock have been mulched via the “volcano” method, which places mulch in a sizable dome under the tree, overlapping the bark and causing a myriad of issues.

A tree’s bark is dead, dry tissue which serves to protect from pests and dehydration, but when mulch is piled up against the base of the tree, the bark trapped beneath is subject to damage and even rot (Boggs, 2020). Furthermore, certain mulches, such as those made of bark, become compacted over time and interfere with oxygen uptake (Boggs, 2020). To breathe, the tree grows secondary roots that extend into the mulch – these may then be dehydrated or may even strangle the tree by wrapping back around the trunk in a “stem girdling” formation  (Boggs, 2020). Mulch can even act as a water repellant as it decomposes and dries (Boggs, 2020). All of these factors may induce stress and make the tree vulnerable to pests, disease, and rot.

An example of what not to do: “volcano mulching”

In order to have an effective pollution and run-off control system, healthy trees are a must-have. Mulching properly is simple — the depth should be shallow, no more than 2-3 inches, instead of a heaping pile (Boggs, 2020). Keeping mulch away from the trunk is also crucial to avoid bark and root issues.

The reforestation of the land by Rappahannock has made progress since 2014, but continuous restoration should be pursued to maximize the benefits of the area as a means of pollution and stormwater runoff control, slope protection, and as a green site on the Fairfax campus.

References

Benegas, L., Hasselquist, N., Bargues-Tobella, A., Malmer, A., Ilstedt, U. (2021). Positive Effects of

Scattered Trees on Soil Water Dynamics in a Pasture Landscape in the Tropics. Frontiers in

Water. https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2021.736824

Boggs, J. (2020). Treemergency: Mulch Volcanos are Erupting in Landscapes! Ohio State University.

https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1494

Cotrone, V. (2022). Green Parking Lots: Mitigating Climate Change and the Urban Heat Island. Penn

State Extension. https://extension.psu.edu/green-parking-lots-mitigating-climate-change-

and-the-urban-heat-island

Duan, Y., Tang, J., Li, Z., Yang, B., Yan, Y., Yang, Y. (2021). Vegetated Buffer Zone Restoration Planning

in Small Urban Watershed. Water 13 (21), 3000; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13213000

EPA. (n.d.). Urban Runoff: Model Ordinances to Prevent and Control Nonpoint Source Pollution.

https://www.epa.gov/nps/urban-runoff-model-ordinances-prevent-and-control-nonpoint-source-po

llution

Mason University Sustainability (n.d.). PGF Recipients. George Mason University.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2000). Chapter 10: “Setbacks and Buffer

Zones” in Watershed Management for Potable Water Supply: Assessing the New York City

Strategy. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/9677.

Ostrom, E., Cox, M. (2010). Moving beyond panaceas: a multi-tiered diagnostic approach for

social-ecological analysis. Environmental Conservation, 1-13. doi:10.1017/S0376892910000834

Li, Y., Hu, C., Zhao, R., Li, C. (2021). Evaluation of the stability of vegetated slopes according to layout

and temporal changes. Journal of Mountain Science volume 18, pages 275–290,

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11629-020-6022-6

Sun, X., Wang, G., Ma, Q., Liao, J., Wang, D., Guan, Q., Jones, D. L. (2021). Organic mulching promotes

soil organic carbon accumulation to deep soil layer in an urban plantation forest. Forest

ecosystems, 8, 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40663-020-00278-5

By Anonymous

Interactions

Taylor Hall holds approximately 300 beds for freshmen residents and is the newest student dormitory on the George Mason Campus. According to the GMU Leeds Tour this is a LEEDS Silver Energy award winner, which is for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.  In Taylor Hall, students’ interaction with energy would cover areas such as laundry, heating and air conditioning, lighting, water and recreational use for computers, TV etc.  Taylor Hall used 16% less energy than the average building due to its high efficiency heating and air conditioning system.  It also has energy efficient appliances, more natural sunlight and LED lighting, and a shared community bathroom. Another unique quality is that Taylor Hall maximizes the use of the outdoors which reduces the cost of lighting by more than 75%.

Resource Characteristics

The resource characteristic of Taylor Hall was that more than 20% of the materials used in construction were all manufactured and purchased within a 500-mile radius of GMU.  This reduced GHG emissions because materials were not shipped in from far away and it used less energy to get to the campus.  50% of the lumber used was harvested from sustainable forests and no toxic paints, adhesives, flooring were used to benefit air quality.  As far as the outside environment, innovative landscaping and 50% native plants were used to decrease storm water run off by more than 25%.  This combination helped reduce GMU water and maintenance requirements thus reducing ecological impacts of the building structure. There was also an emphasis on water reduction at Taylor Hall by reducing water consumption by 35%.  This was done by using water saving fixtures, and low flow toilets.  All of these statistics are cited on the LEED Tour Document for Taylor Hall. (Buildings – University Sustainability, n.d.)

Governance/User Characteristics

The Governance side of Taylor Hall includes many stakeholders.  According to the GMU website and the University Policy of Energy Conservation, Efficiency, and Management Including the Elimination of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, there is the University Leadership and governance, the builders, the engineers, the community engagement council, the students, faculty, the state in accordance with the Commonwealth clean energy policy, the county of Fairfax, faculty. (Energy Conservation, Efficiency, and Management, Including Elimination of Greenhouse Gas Emissions – University Policy, n.d.) There are multiple political institutions involved in the planning and approval process for these types of projects.  You have city and state guidelines along with the objectives of university leadership. Submissions and approvals can be complicated due to the number of stakeholders involved. 

Social/Cultural/Economic/Political Settings or Related Ecosystems

Social pressure and current rising fuel prices will continue to drive more energy efficient building structures as well as mechanical and electrical outputs for efficiency.  Designs of new buildings moving forward as well as modifying older buildings to update the energy systems are under way but have been slow due to market conditions.  As climate change and energy efficiency continue to be in the forefront of everyone’s mind with political and social changes driving these factors, GMU needs to increase the rate of change to comply with the current social expectations.

What Can We DO?

The implications of these interactions on the human environment are that although there are many ways and initiatives to encourage and enact change for students and faculty for simple behaviors, for the for the positive, on campus. But there are many factors that have held up the process on the facility side.  The buildings are the largest GHG emitters on campus, they have changed lighting to LED, installed low flow water  fixtures and upgraded heating and air conditioning and improving automation systems to match occupancy schedules. Some of the ways students can offset heating and cooling is to set the thermostat to 70 degrees in winter and 78 in summer, dressing appropriately to stay comfortable, and take shorter and/or cooler showers, wash laundry in cold water, turning off lights when exiting and shut down electronics and appliances instead of using reserve power. (Energy – University Sustainability, n.d.)

If Relevant

The University is acting on this issue with prompting energy conservation practices and energy efficiency systems, developing renewable energy generation and storage, purchase renewable energy, sequestering carbon and or purchasing carbon offsets for unavoidable sources of emissions.

References

Buildings – University Sustainability. (n.d.). https://green.gmu.edu/campus-sustainability/green-buildings/

Energy – University Sustainability. (n.d.). https://green.gmu.edu/campus-sustainability/energy/

Energy and Buildings FAQ – University Sustainability. (n.d.). https://green.gmu.edu/energy-and-buildings-faq/

Energy Conservation, Efficiency, and Management, Including Elimination of Greenhouse Gas Emissions – University Policy. (n.d.). https://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/policies/energy-conservation-efficiency-and-management/

By Anonymous

Interaction

While George Mason University is one of the biggest commuter campuses in the state of Virginia, a complex network of sidewalks run through the area itself. Housing thousands of collegiate students from all around the world, these sidewalks are a sight of heavy traffic. Most recently, construction of multiple sidewalk and pathway projects have been completed (Construction, n.d.) to improve the aesthetic flow around the campus as well as highlight other features within the area. With an ever-growing university, sidewalk projects will only continue to occur.

Resource Characteristics

There are two environmental aspects of concern surrounding sidewalks: urban heat island impacts and stormwater runoff. With so many impervious surfaces on the campus (sidewalks, roofs, parking lots, et cetera), the albedo of the overall area is low. Absorbing more heat from the UV rays increases the campus’ general temperature (Kesikoglu and Tolga, 2021). In the warmer seasons, this urban heat island affect can injure local wildlife because of the excess heat absorbed. Alongside the same concept of impervious surfaces, the number of sidewalks on campus overshadows the natural ground that could soak up any stormwater that falls. Instead, the human waste that accumulates alongside the sidewalks (exhaust, trash, et cetera) is mixed with the rainwater that eventually drains to a reservoir. This causes pollution in the watershed.

Governance/ User Characteristics

On the human aspect of things, the construction and use of sidewalks on campus is mostly positive. Donors that fund projects at George Mason University would be more inclined to do so when the university is becoming more ecofriendly, which is socially and economically more attractive. Furthermore, getting rating from institutions that measure George Mason’s sustainability sometimes lead to receiving grant or project money to continue in that path (University Sustainability, n.d.)

Social/Cultural/Economic/Political Settings or Related Ecosystems

In general, there is a social movement throughout the United States to push to become more environmentally friendly. Because of this movement, there is social pressure and market incentives to transition George Mason University to a more efficient campus in many ways. Becoming “greener” in the sense that foot traffic methods are more encouraged than personal vehicle traffic will attract more upcoming college students who want to be involved in environmental science.

What Can We Do?

The implications of sidewalks on humans and the environment are conflicting. On one hand, adding sidewalks in comparison to more roads or parking lots is less devastating to the environment; encouraging the transition from personal vehicle to biking, walking, and scootering as the main form of transportation is more ecofriendly. On the other hand, sidewalks have their own costs for the university by contributing to the increasing urban heat island effects. One way to combat the negative effects is to use better materials for sidewalks that are more pervious or create green spaces on roofs to use untainted stormwater (Kesikoglu and Tolga, 2021).

Relevance

Several environmental classes offered at the university assess urban heat island effects for assignment credit, and that information is available for anyone to report to the Office of Sustainability.

References

Kesikoglu, M. H., Coskun, O., & Tolga, K. (2021). The impact of impervious surface,             vegetation, and soil areas on land surface temperatures in a semi-arid region using landsat   satellite images enriched with ndaisi method data. Environmental Monitoring and           Assessment, 193(3)https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-08916-3

Construction. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://construction.gmu.edu/taxonomy/term/71

University Sustainability. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2022, from https://green.gmu.edu/

By Anonymous

Air infiltration (air leakages) is one of the leading causes of building energy losses, and the building sector was reported to consume more than 40% of the primary energy use in the United States (Goubran et al. 2018). Reducing energy usage of buildings has become a key achievement for nationwide energy savings. George Mason University has stated that academic buildings account for 40% of energy usage and spend close to $10 million in energy costs per year. Air conditioning is one of the largest contributors to the building’s total power consumption and it has been observed that the entrance(s) of these buildings play a significant role in energy consumption (Wang et al 2014).

George Mason University has multiple doors to each building and high door-usage frequencies which could cause large amounts of infiltration further increasing energy consumption. The Planetary Hall Building (alike other GMU buildings) has vestibule doors built for reducing energy loss. Vestibule doors have become a requirement in climate zones 3-8, minimizing energy loss (Strongin et al. 2021). In addition, vestibule could cost anywhere from $20,000 to $60,000 (Juszczak 2020). And are ineffective when both entrance doors open simultaneously during heavy traffic periods to allow cold outdoor air to penetrate (Wang, 2014).

To reduce infiltration through building entrances, an air curtain is an ideal solution compared to vestibule doors or single doors. Air curtain consists of a fan and casement with a jet outlet, the unit is often mounted above the doorway at a typical velocity and position for creating a seal of air. The effectiveness of an air curtain is 62% of the annual total air filtration in comparison to vestibule doors reducing 23% (Wang, 2014). The costs are often less than $6,000 and uses much less material in comparison to vestibule doors.

Thus, solutions for new George Mason University academic buildings would be to forget vestibule doors and install air doors. Added benefits prevent contaminants such as bugs, dirt, and debris from entering the indoor environment.

There is a prototype for energy harvesting from hinged doors that would supply the energy consumption of the air curtain. Applying a small battery to harvest energy from the frequencies of students opening and closing the doors (Dayal et al. 2017).

References

Dayal, V., & Lee, S. (2017). Air Curtain Development: An energy harvesting solution for hinged doors. SPIE Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2260157

Energy and buildings FAQ. University Sustainability. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://green.gmu.edu/energy-and-buildings-faq/

Goubran, Qi, D., & Wang, L. (Leon). (2018). Airflow and Energy Simulations to Assess Energy Savings from Vestibules and Air Curtains. ASHRAE TRANSACTIONS 2018, VOL 124, PT 2, 124(2), 79–91.

Juszczak, K. (2020, May 15). Air Curtains save more energy. Berner. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://berner.com/news/air-curtains-save-energy/

Strongin, A. S., & Zhivov, A. M. (2021). Energy Efficient Air Curtains for industrial gates in cold climates. E3S Web of Conferences, 246, 08005. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202124608005

Wang, L. (Leon). (2018). Investigation of the Impact of Building Entrance Air Curtain on Whole Building Energy Use Executive Summary.