Past Projects

Team: David Cajigas (staff), Daryn Baker (staff), Elizabeth Johanson (staff)
Summary: This project replaced the existing fluorescent fixtures in the Alumni Science hallways and stairwells with higher efficiency LED fixtures. The LED fixtures will reduce electricity consumption, provide more light, and reduce the maintenance costs of replacing the fluorescent lamps and ballasts.
Implementation: Summer 2019
Award: $55,600

Team: Chonsa Schmidt, Kim Grandi (SLURP Students)
Summary: Unlike other University-owned residence areas, the University Villas had minimal composting opportunities despite every apartment having a full-functioning kitchen. As a solution, the project team proposed providing personal compost bins for each of the units in the hopes of decreasing the amount of food waste going to landfill. An original pilot test of 60 units was approved, and with the Housing Office’s assistance the implementation has expanded to every unit in the University Villas.
Implementation: Fall 2016
Award: $1,300 with subsequent funding from SCU Housing

Team: Janice DeMonsi, Clarissa Yaw (Malley Staff)
Summary: When the building was initially constructed in 1999, the three basketball courts of the Malley Center were lit via high-intensity discharge lighting. With the development of energy-efficient LED lighting, the applicants felt it was time to renovate the courts to be more sustainable. As a result, the LED lighting is anticipated to reduce the facility’s energy consumption by 25%--amounting to $56,523 in savings over 5 years.
Implementation: Summer 2016
Award: $34,500

Team: Grace DiChristina, Cora Mitchell (SLURP Students)
Summary: The SCU chapter of the national nonprofit Food Recovery Network works with Dining Services by Bon Appetit on a twice a week basis to transport leftover food to Martha’s Kitchen -- a soup kitchen in San Jose. The approved funding is for the registered student organization to open a ZipCar business account to increase the reliability of transportation for the pick-ups, and will be a solution to one of the RSO’s largest challenges. In addition to helping feed the homeless, the increased transports will keep more food out of the landfill.
Implementation: Summer 2016
Award: $850

Team: Clinton May, Adam Murai, Alex Duncan (SLURP Students)
Summary: All too often classroom lights and media projectors are left on all night in the main academic buildings on campus. This team’s research found that 41 metric tons of carbon dioxide is wasted every year between Kenna, Vari, Lucas, and O’Connor Halls. Their solution is to install motion and ambient light sensors in the classrooms of these buildings to reduce overlighting and the chances of lights being left on throughout the night. As a pilot test, the full scope of the motion and ambient light sensors will be installed in Kenna Hall, and motion sensors will be installed in Lucas Hall.
Implementation: December 2016
Award: Up to $20,000

Team: Colleen Black, Sean Voelk (SLURP Students)
Summary: Currently, the water used for the sinks and showers in Swig Hall is heated via natural gas, which emits carbon dioxide. As a way to help with Santa Clara’s goal of climate neutrality by 2020, the project team proposed the installation of solar panels on the roof of Swig to be the power source for the building’s hot water. By connecting the solar heater to Swig's plumbing the need for natural gas will be eliminated, and CO2 emissions will decrease.
Implementation: 2017
Award: Up to $90,000

Team: Derek Duarte (faculty), Jerald Enos (faculty), Carolyn Guggemos (staff)
Summary: Currently the cyclorama sheet at the back of the Mayer Theatre stage, used for scene lighting for performances, is lit by 30 one-kilowatt and 30 750-watt incandescent bulbs. The applicants proposed replacing the 60 incandescent bulbs with 24 LED fixtures that would provide the same quality of lighting at significantly reduced energy consumption; the team estimated a 93% reduction in electrical usage. The proposal requested $31,000 for the 24 LED lights and subsequent electrical supporting materials needed for the new lights, w7/1hile labor was considered cost-free as members of the Theatre & Dance Department faculty and staff would install the fixture; the estimated ROI of the project is a savings of $5,577.98 per year (plus savings from reductions in energy used to cool the building due to less heat emitted from the new fixtures, increased efficiency due to less staff labor time to replace bulbs). The project received endorsements from Butch Coyne (Director of SCUpresents) and David Popalisky (Theatre & Dance Department Chair), with product consultation provided by Dina Myers (Musson Theatrical).
Implementation: 2016
Award: $31,000

Team: Gary Vargas (staff), James Wang (student)
Summary: The University Operations department currently uses two-cycle leaf blowers that run on gasoline and pre-mix oil, which operate for about 10 hours each week. The addition of a rechargeable electric blower would substantially limit carbon emissions, six times less CO2 than these existing blowers. Through this pilot program, University Operations will determine if additional funding should go towards electric leaf blowers.
Implementation: Spring 2018
Award: up to $1,624