126855-Thumbnail Image.png

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

Displaying 1 - 2 of 2
Filtering by

Clear all filters

Beneath the Streets: New Tools for Managing Degrading Sewer Infrastructure

Description
Infrastructure degradation is a chronic problem for fats, oils, and grease (FOG) pretreatment programs at wastewater utilities, which can lead to harmful bypass and high loss of a renewable energy feedstock. Not only does this exacerbate the potential for environmental harm, but not taking advantage of this resource leaves most…

Infrastructure degradation is a chronic problem for fats, oils, and grease (FOG) pretreatment programs at wastewater utilities, which can lead to harmful bypass and high loss of a renewable energy feedstock. Not only does this exacerbate the potential for environmental harm, but not taking advantage of this resource leaves most FOG anaerobic digestion programs non-resilient and non-scalable. It is vital that there are strategies utilizing a sustainability perspective and integration of hard and soft infrastructure management principles to address this infrastructure degradation issue before there can be fully implemented zero-waste, FOG resource recovery initiatives. This applied project sought to answer the question, “How can municipalities sustainability manage the issue of degrading FOG pretreatment infrastructure?” with an emphasis on providing an applied example where a sustainability approach can mitigate complex, infrastructure problems. In partnership with the City of Tempe’s Environmental Services Section, this project addressed the issue of degrading infrastructure by crafting and implementing a comprehensive Infrastructure Assistance Program (IAP). Designed to assist food service establishments (FSEs) and wastewater utilities, the IAP provides pathways for preventing FOG infrastructure degradation through initiatives that bolster hard and soft infrastructure to support a more efficient means of achieving compliance and local goals for resource recovery and renewable energy.
ContributorsPhillips, Katie (Author) / Mac, Cassandra (Contributor) / McNeil, David (Contributor) / Dalton, Richard (Contributor)
Created2018-04-27
126679-Thumbnail Image.png

Girl Scout Green

Description
Girl Scouts – Arizona Cactus-Pine Council is a mission driven organization that aims to help build the leaders of tomorrow. Girls in Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-pine are served through mission building programs that aim to build girls of courage confidence and character who make the world a better place (Girl Scouts,…

Girl Scouts – Arizona Cactus-Pine Council is a mission driven organization that aims to help build the leaders of tomorrow. Girls in Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-pine are served through mission building programs that aim to build girls of courage confidence and character who make the world a better place (Girl Scouts, 2017). The intention of my sustainability engagement initiative was to ask staff to take part in a three-phased program that encouraged them to think differently. The initiative asked them to look at how, as an organization they can work to improve their sustainability habits. Tasking them to be just as impactful as the girl members that are served through Girl Scouting. However, as planning progressed towards implementation, plans were put on hold as the organization restructured due to a major culture shift outside the organization. Sustainability still remains a focus, and the engagement plan will be put into effect at a later time.
ContributorsPontius, Cristi (Author)
Created2018-04-13