SUS 350 Sustainable Communities: this assignment will incorporate readings from the first two weeks of the class as well as introduce the proposal project we will work on throughout the term. Please read the proposal description before you complete the homework assignment.
SUS 350 Sustainable Communities
Homework Assignment #1
Due Monday of Week 3 by 11:59pm PST
(150 points possible)
Assignment objectives:
- Use The Natural Step Primer as an introduction to sustainability concepts.
- Research and summarize a sustainable community development framework.
- Become familiar with some of the sustainability efforts at Oregon State University
- Think about current sustainability issues and choose one to focus on for the sustainability proposal project we’ll work on throughout the term
- Begin researching and outline three dimensions of this problem
- Research and assess approaches that have used in similar projects
- Use aspects of the approaches you have found to create your own project. Think about what could have been more effective in the case studies that you find and use that information to shape your project.
Part 1: Conditions and Frameworks for Sustainability
Complete Part 1 of this assignment using The Natural Step Sustainability Primer and independent research (cite your resources). SUS 350 Sustainable Communities.
- Describe the causes of ‘unsustainability’ today? (10 points)
- Explain The Natural Step System Conditions for sustainability in your own words. (10 points)
- Think about specific ecosystem services on which you depend. Where does your drinking water come from? Where does your garbage go (i.e. your local landfill)? Where does your sewage go? Are you able to access locally grown (within 200 miles) food in your community? If so, from where? Is the air you breathe clean? How is your home heated? Where does your home energy come from? (15 points)
- There are many frameworks that provide guidance for developing sustainable communities. Choose one from the list below and describe it in 200 to 300 words. Include two strengths and two weaknesses of your selected framework. Some examples of frameworks for sustainable community development are: (20 points)
- Cool Cities
- Transition Towns
- Ecodistricts
- 20 minute neighborhoods
- Smart Growth
- Leadership for Energy Efficient Design – Neighborhood Development (LEED ND)
- STAR (Sustainability Tracking, Assessing and Rating) Communities
- SCALLOPS (Sustainable Communities ALL Over Puget Sound)
SUS 350 Sustainable Communities
Part 2: Exploring Sustainability efforts at Oregon State University
Use the Oregon State University Student Sustainability Initiative website (http://sli.oregonstate.edu/ssi) to complete Part 2 of this assignment.
- Briefly describe the 3 initiatives of the SSI? (10pts)
- Describe 2 of the projects completed by or in partnership with the SSI. Why specifically are these projects interesting to you? (10pts)
SUS 350 Sustainable Communities
Part 3: Project Topic and Brief Outline (complete in 1 to 2 pages)
- Begin with a two paragraph description ofa project idea that you are most interested in. (15pts)
- How does thisproject relate to social equity? (10pts)
- How does thisproject relate to ecosystems? (10pts)
- How does thisproject relate to economics? (10pts)
- Findinformation about 2 similar projects developedelsewhere. Have they been effective? What factors have contributed to their success or failure? Be specific! (10pts)
- How does your project differ from or improve upon the approaches described above? (10pts)
- Citations you will use to support your proposal (minimum of 5) (10pts)
Sustainability Proposal Guidelines
Objectives:
To provide students with an opportunity to apply sustainability concepts discussed in class to real world problems
To practice written communication skills by concisely describing a sustainability related project To provide the opportunity for independent research and synthesis
Project Summary:
- Students, with feedback from class mates along the way, will develop a proposal that outlines a sustainability related project with the following components:
- Related to one of the focus areas of the Student Sustainability Initiative
- Incorporate specific theories or concepts discussed in class or in the readings.
- Specifically addresses how the proposed approach will benefit relevant organizations or institutions from an economic, ecological and social perspective.
- Students will submit components of the proposal throughout the term as a part of the homework assignments. Students will have the opportunity to get and give feedback on the proposals throughout the term. This feedback will be used to guide proposal revision. The final draft of the proposal will be due Wednesday of week 8.
Potential Project Topics:
The following list is meant to provide students with an idea of the type of projects acceptable for this assignment. You are not bound to this list. If you have an idea for a project that is not listed here feel free to email about it with me to see if it will work. All projects will involve development of a sustainability project or initiative for an agency, organization or business. Proposals should focus on projects that can be developed for universities or communities/neighborhoods. See the Student Sustainability Initiative website http://sli.oregonstate.edu/ssi for examples of projects that have been funded in the past. We will use a modified version of grant template that was used by the SSI for the 2015-2016 academic year for this course.
Projects may focus on (but are not limited to!):
Energy-efficiency and reduced energy consumption Renewable energy generation
Waste production (e.g. reduction strategies, composting, vermiculture, recycling) Transportation systems and commute options
Food systems (organic, locally produced, coops, markets, etc) Staff wellness and productivity
Water or other resource conservation (e.g. paper products, packaging, etc) Sustainable building and sustainable developments
Municipal sustainability initiatives and planning
Ecological footprint analysis and/or sustainability assessments Carbon reduction strategies
Ecological restoration and/or mitigation
Green consumerism and/or green economies
SUS 350 Sustainable Communities
https://www.perfectacademic.com/orders/ordernow