Live Green! Excellence Award Winners

Facilities Planning and Management Custodial Services

Custodial Services has long been reaching beyond their direct responsibilities to ensure that considerations of sustainability are being applied to the indoor environment at Iowa State University. 

Providing the infrastructure for the dedication of this 150-member team is a foundation of education, communication, and application of sustainable products and practices. 

Within the past year initiatives incorporated by the team showcasing an impressive consideration of custodial stewardship in sustainability include: 

First, replacing the traditional practice of annual floor stripping and waxing with two options - a 20year protectant process and an enhanced cleaning process requiring no sealant or stripper. Resulting  in life cycle cost savings of tens of thousands of dollars, as well as the enhanced consideration of environmental and human health within the campus-built environment. 

Second, the assembly of a Green Products Testing Team. Focused on ensuring cleaning products encompass staff health and safety, impact on the environment, and effectiveness in performance, the team is tasked with providing genuine feedback related to new products as well as suitable replacements for current ones. 

Third, the additionally thoughtful consideration given to engaging campus in aiding community in spearheading a winter weather gear drive with all proceeds going to The Bridge Home – offering homelessness support and shelter in Ames and throughout Iowa. A testament to the team’s ongoing consideration of “doing better” beyond just their position responsibilities. 

The collective effort and consideration of Custodial Services – inclusive of cleaning, waste reduction, and the focus toward future opportunities and impact, fully embraces dedication and commitment toward a sustainable future.

Facilities Planning and Management – Room Scheduling

Several years ago, Facilities Planning and Management Room Scheduling set a personal challenge to stop wasting paper. Through their campus responsibilities, they found themselves receiving, handling and adding tens of thousands of pages of paper forms, documents and reports each semester to the university’s waste stream.

And the challenge began.

First, related to special event room requests. To meet this challenge, Room Scheduling partnered with Facilities Planning and Management Technology Services to create a database to allow a fully online and paperless system for any special event room reservation. Second, related to academic course scheduling. To meet this challenge, Room Scheduling collaborated with the Office of the Registrar to move from a paper-dependent system to one nearly fully void of paper requirements. Functions now fully paperless include course change forms, room assignments and section course offerings (the Gray Bar report). A collaboration described by the Office of the Registrar as “Sustainability at its finest!” 

Through this dedicated commitment, Room Scheduling ensured the reduction paper demand and consumption during 2022 academic year by over 1,000 reams of paper. Congratulations to Facilities Planning and Management Room Scheduling Team Members: Kathleen Baumgarn, Alesha Magee and Elizabeth Salton

Carissa Moyna & Engineers for a Sustainable World

Meet Carissa Moyna, the force behind Iowa State's Compost Team, addressing sustainability gaps and spearheading a large-scale food waste composting initiative. As she graduates, Carissa leaves a lasting impact, creating project manuals and engaging campus leaders. Discover her journey embodying Iowa State's Live Green! Initiative.

Iowa State's Compost Team, formed in 2017, has transformed campus sustainability. From landscaping trials to empowering workshops, their impact is evident. Recently, the team's food waste composting pilot exceeded expectations, recruiting 110 students and reducing landfill waste by 20%. With plans to engage every Frederiksen Court resident and achieve a 50% food waste diversion, they're on track to make Iowa State even greener.

Facilities Planning and Management, ISU Dining & ISU Transportation Services and ISU Parking

Iowa State's Facilities Planning and Management has transformed campus aesthetics and sustainability with three unique pollinator gardens. Beyond their visual appeal, these gardens support native pollinators, manage stormwater runoff, and reduce maintenance needs by 50%. Explore how these vibrant spaces enhance both the environment and educational experiences at ISU.

ISU's Give a Swipe program, launched in 2019, allows students to donate meal resources to support peers facing food insecurity. Since its inception, contributions have nearly doubled, with 335 meals donated in 2020. ISU Dining collaborates with campus departments, actively participating in the Food Security Work Group to address student food insecurity. Discover how this initiative is fostering a supportive community at Iowa State University.

In 2019, ISU installed electric vehicle charging stations, reducing carbon emissions and attracting interest from external entities like the Iowa Department of Transportation and the State of Michigan. Learn how ISU is leading the way in sustainable campus transportation.

Dr. Chin Hui (Joan) Su

Dr. Chin Hui (Joan) Su, awarded the 2018 Live Green! Award for Excellence, pioneers sustainable event management at Iowa State University. Her innovative course and research provide students with practical applications, an international perspective, and hands-on experience in planning a sustainable-themed research conference. Learn how Dr. Su is shaping the future of sustainable event practices at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Angadbir Singh Sabherwal

Angadbir Singh Sabherwal, an Iowa State senior, is making a global impact in environmental awareness and conservation. From strengthening recycling programs to organizing food drives and global initiatives, discover how Singh's dedication to sustainability reaches far beyond the campus, making him the youngest member of both the Global Environment Concern NGO and the United Nations Climate Change Community.

ISU Extension & Outreach Human Sciences and ISU Bike Share Project

Iowa State's Extension specialists launched the Eco-Healthy Child Care online series to educate child care providers on adopting eco-friendly practices. Engaging 43 participants statewide, the program prompted providers to reevaluate their practices, with one stating it was an eye-opener to potential toxicities. Learn how this initiative is fostering a greener and safer environment for children in early care and education settings.

The ISU Bike Share Project, evolving from a capstone, engages over 90 students in cross-disciplinary efforts. Beyond designing bikes, students explore complex transportation system dynamics. The project aims to enhance sustainable transportation, reduce CyRide congestion, and provide health-oriented options. Undergraduates developed prototypes, Mechanical Engineering students created ride-tested models, and Computer Engineering and Economics Ph.D. students contribute to system software and station placement studies. The goal: manufacturing and deploying 300 bikes on campus, emphasizing real-world sustainability and innovation.

Greeks Go Green, Qiyi Li and Sustainable Agriculture Student Association

Greeks Go Green, founded in 2011, actively promotes sustainability in the Greek community and beyond. With sustainability chairs in Greek houses, collaborations like 'Recyclepalooza,' and participation in Keep Iowa State Beautiful, the organization is dedicated to fostering green practices. Stay tuned for the upcoming Greek Energy Challenge in April, highlighting their commitment to a sustainable Iowa State University campus.

Qiyi Li, a fifth-year landscape architecture student, showcased her honors capstone project, 'A Little Dreamer.' Using 634 paper airplanes made from recycled paper, the installation highlighted the environmental impact of paper production. Praised as the best project in the atrium, Qiyi's work extends beyond expectations, inspiring innovative thinking about sustainability.

SASA, the Sustainable Agriculture Student Association, is dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture and community engagement. Since 2012, SASA members have volunteered monthly for the Ames free community meal program, Food at First. Taking over a community garden in 2013, SASA grows fresh produce for the meal program and a perishable food bank. Through their efforts, SASA actively contributes to providing healthy, local food options to the community, fostering ties between the university and those in need.

BioChar Systems for Emerging Economies Team, David Correll and Research to Practice (R2P2) Team

Students, partnering with the non-profit EOS, are developing low-cost biochar reactors in Matagalpa, Nicaragua. Biochar improves soil properties, enhancing organic content, water retention, and microbial activity. The goal is to provide sustainable and productive agricultural solutions for areas with malnourished, water-deprived soil. Final prototype testing is underway, with implementation scheduled for June 2013.

David, co-founder of ISU BioBus, leads the conversion of used vegetable oil into biodiesel for CyRide buses. Producing 300 gallons annually, the project provides a locally-sourced fuel for CyRide's bus #18. Beyond sustainability, David's leadership fosters community education and outreach, offering tours and presentations for residents and students from across Iowa.

In the US Green Building Council’s Research to Practice Program, Iowa State University students aimed to enhance energy efficiency in campus research lab buildings. Their project resulted in user-friendly tools, such as an Equipment Load Training Manual and an efficiency spreadsheet, to promote awareness and assist in procurement decisions.

Nadia Anderson – The Bridge Studio and Rebecca Shivvers

The Bridge Studio, led by Nadia Anderson, connects design, education, and practice, focusing on sustainability and affordability. They've developed impactful projects, including single-family homes in Des Moines and addressing flood impact in Cedar Rapids. Their energy-efficient prototype, 'The Iowa House,' has garnered recognition, winning the National Council of Architectural Registration Board’s Grand Prize and the US Green Building Council’s Excellence in Green Building Education Award.

Rebecca Shivvers is a key advocate for sustainability at the Ames Laboratory. Her impactful initiatives, from poster recycling to display replacements, have resulted in substantial energy savings. Rebecca's enthusiasm extends beyond meeting targets, driving a cultural shift towards environmental consciousness throughout the laboratory. Her commitment to sustainability even extends to her personal life, where she became a net energy producer on the grid by installing a wind generator in 2009.

ISU Dining, GreenHouse Group and 2010 Solar Decathlon Interlock Team

Long before 'sustainability' became commonplace at Iowa State University, Dining Services has been actively reducing waste, recycling, and supporting local foods. Their commitment to sustainability includes initiatives like Farm to ISU, Trayless Dining since 2009, and Composting, which has diverted over 100 tons of materials from landfills since August 2009.

The GreenHouse Group, initially a small student initiative, has expanded its reach to establish multi-commodity recycling in 130 residence hall 'houses' and all student apartment communities at Iowa State University. Their success led to a contract with an external vendor for efficient material processing. Beyond recycling, the group focuses on involving students in broader sustainability efforts, including energy conservation and green living.

In response to a call by the US Department of Energy in 2007, the Interlock team, formed through the College of Design’s Green Design Research Collaborative, competed in a premier world event showcasing solar and sustainable technologies in residential construction. Comprising 15 faculty members and over 200 students, the team developed an 800 sq. ft., solar-powered dwelling, finishing in the top ten in four areas and 12th overall. Their efforts engaged ISU's community, fostering lifelong awareness of minimizing our impact on global climate change.