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Student capstone and applied projects from ASU's School of Sustainability.

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Exploring Opportunities for Woody Biomass Utilization in Coconino County, Arizona

Description
In northern Arizona, the removal of woody biomass from forested land has garnered a high level of interest as threats of catastrophic wildfires have increased in recent years. Although there has been a great deal of vocal support for forest restoration, efforts on the ground are often stalled by complex…

In northern Arizona, the removal of woody biomass from forested land has garnered a high level of interest as threats of catastrophic wildfires have increased in recent years. Although there has been a great deal of vocal support for forest restoration, efforts on the ground are often stalled by complex federal contracting systems, a weak logging and sawmill industry, low-quality timber, and inabilities to guarantee long-term biomass supplies to processers. These barriers are exceedingly apparent in in the Flagstaff area, where the vast majority of forested land falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government and little infrastructure exists for wood product industries. In order to address these obstacles, forest stakeholders in Coconino County are actively searching for enterprises to utilize material that urgently needs to be removed from the surrounding forests. This project aimed to assist stakeholders in this endeavor by identifying and researching a number of practical and innovative woody biomass utilization enterprises that are suited to the existing regional infrastructure. While there are a variety of ways to process biomass, this project focuses on the following four end products because of their ability to use residual materials from harvest and sawmill operations, their low-tech nature, and the end product’s proximity to potential markets: biochar, compost, wood-plastic composites, and mushroom cultivation. Each of these products, and the processes used to create them, were analyzed and evaluated using a sustainable enterprise framework, and the final results were summarized in a portfolio for stakeholders in the region to review. Although this project offered just a glimpse of what is possible, the ultimate aim was to foster collaborative conversations regarding how forest restoration residues can be used in sustainable and innovative ways.
ContributorsPaulus, Caitlin (Contributor)
Created2019-05-15

Biochar Briquettes: Alternative to Firewood and Charcoal Fuel

Description

Domestic energy is an important component of our day to day lives and is something we cannot live without. Imagine how life would be without a means to cook our food, to warm our house, life would be unbearable. As we enjoy these comforts rarely do we stop to think…

Domestic energy is an important component of our day to day lives and is something we cannot live without. Imagine how life would be without a means to cook our food, to warm our house, life would be unbearable. As we enjoy these comforts rarely do we stop to think what the opportunity cost is. For those using renewable sources, it is not a big issue, but for those who rely on wood fuel, they have to strike a delicate balance between need for fuel and the need to conserve the greatest support systems of their livelihoods, the forests. The main source of energy for households in many developing countries is biomass, mainly from forests and woodlands. The continued use of firewood and charcoal fuel puts a strain on forests, resulting in adverse effects on the environment such as prolonged droughts, loss of biodiversity, dwindling water resources, changing weather patterns among other sustainability challenges. An alternative to firewood to charcoal lies in biochar briquettes. This paper discusses the role of biochar briquettes in mitigating climate change and serves as a step by step guide on how biochar briquettes may be produced.
ContributorsNganga, Patrick M. (Author)
Created2018

A Sustainability Analysis of Workforce Housing Development Tools

Description
Arizona and the Phoenix metropolitan area are experiencing a housing crisis, both in terms of affordability and supply. While the number of affordable and available units has been shrinking, a separate trend has emerged that is also adding pressure to the housing market, particularly for renters—a demand for transit-oriented, walkable,…

Arizona and the Phoenix metropolitan area are experiencing a housing crisis, both in terms of affordability and supply. While the number of affordable and available units has been shrinking, a separate trend has emerged that is also adding pressure to the housing market, particularly for renters—a demand for transit-oriented, walkable, sustainable communities. As governments invest in projects and infrastructure falsely branded as sustainable, environmental gentrification often occurs resulting in displacement of current residents. Without new, moderately priced housing being built, displaced residents remain housing cost burdened. Workforce housing, priced to serve lower-middle to middle-income residents, offers a release from the pressure on the housing market, but innovative models for workforce housing development are necessary to navigate the regulatory and financial barriers in place. During a Solutions Round Table event facilitated by my client, a variety of potential tools for mitigating the housing crisis and removing barriers to workforce housing development were discussed. Based on conversations documented during the event, a robust list of workforce housing development tools was created. With the help of my client, the list was winnowed down to six tools for focused research—off-site construction, cohousing, land banks, missing middle infill models, community land trusts combined with limited equity cooperatives, and public-private partnerships. This project describes these tools and outlines best practices for developing and implementing them in the Valley. The best practices are organized to serve as guidance for the private sector and public sector separately, and for embedding health and social equity. Each tool is assessed using a simplified version of Gibson’s (2006) sustainability criteria, combined into four dimensions—environment, social, economic, and holistic. The findings from the assessment are embedded as guidance throughout the final product, a white paper, which will be delivered to Urban Land Institute (ULI) Arizona District Council Task Force for Health, Equity, and Housing Affordability, my client for this project.
ContributorsVan Horn, Elizabeth (Writer of accompanying material)
Created2020-05-26