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

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A Business Accelerator Model for Advancing Sustainability Transformations

Description
Multi-scalar, integrated and transformational solutions are necessary to address the complex problems of climate change and sustainable development. Cities are using urban living labs to develop and test such solutions; however, the pace of transformation does not yet match the urgency of the problems at hand. In business, accelerators are…

Multi-scalar, integrated and transformational solutions are necessary to address the complex problems of climate change and sustainable development. Cities are using urban living labs to develop and test such solutions; however, the pace of transformation does not yet match the urgency of the problems at hand. In business, accelerators are used to advance new and potentially transformational enterprises, giving fresh ideas an advantage over more established competition, thereby accelerating the pace of change. This article examines the accelerator model and considers its adaptation to urban living labs. From the literature, a multi-scalar business accelerator model is proposed that addresses both individual and system interventions to advance sustainability transformations. Also proposed is a formative-evaluation framework to guide effective implementation of the accelerator model. This article concludes with recommendations for scholars and practitioners working on urban living labs to utilize business accelerators to advance sustainability transformations.
ContributorsMack, Ashley (Author) / Whithycombe Keeler, Lauren (Contributor, Contributor) / Wiek, Arnim (Contributor) / von Wehrden, Henrik (Contributor)
Created2019-04-24

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
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Perceived Barriers and Benefits to Using Recycling Drop-Off Points in Asunción, Paraguay

Description

For waste management in Asunción, Paraguay to improve, so too must the rate of public recycling participation. However, due to minimal public waste management infrastructure, it is up to individual citizens and the private sector to develop recycling solutions in the city. One social enterprise called Soluciones Ecológicas (SE) has…

For waste management in Asunción, Paraguay to improve, so too must the rate of public recycling participation. However, due to minimal public waste management infrastructure, it is up to individual citizens and the private sector to develop recycling solutions in the city. One social enterprise called Soluciones Ecológicas (SE) has deployed a system of drop-off recycling stations called ecopuntos, which allow residents to deposit their paper and cardboard, plastic, and aluminum. For SE to maximize the use of its ecopuntos, it must understand the perceived barriers to, and benefits of, their use. To identify these barriers and benefits, a doer on-doer survey based on the behavioral determinants outlined in the Designing for Behavior Change Framework was distributed among Asunción residents. Results showed that perceived self-efficacy, perceived social norms, and perceived positive consequences – as well as age – were influential in shaping ecopunto use. Other determinants such as perceived negative consequences, access, and universal motivators were significant predictors of gender and age. SE and other institutions looking to improve recycling can use these results to design effective behavior change interventions.
ContributorsLoPrete, Eric (Author) / Klinsky, Sonja (Contributor) / Fischer, Daniel (Contributor) / Wiek, Arnim (Contributor)
Created2020-04-24