MISSION:Thegoalof Thegcapgrantis Toprovidecompetitivegrantsto

GREENCAMPUSACTION PLAN: GRANTAPPLICATION –FALL 2012

MISSION:Thegoalof theGCAPGrantis toprovidecompetitivegrantsto studentorganizationsthatproposeprojectsthatwillhelpreducethe campus’senvironmentalimpact.

I.PROJECTOVERVIEW

Title:

EarthenOutdoorClassroomattheUCRCommunityGarden

II.PROJECTDESCRIPTION

1.Whatis theoverallpurposeof theproject?

Theoverallpurposeof thisprojectistocreateahands-oneducationalspaceforthecampuscommunitygarden. Currently,thereisnoinfrastructure toconduct classes,researchorcommunity serviceprojects. Theclassroomwill alsobeaninnovativeeducational opportunity forthecampusandcommunity, asitwillshowcasetheenvironmental, socialandeconomicbenefitsofnaturalbuilding.

2.Howdoesthis projectmeettheGCAPMissionStatement?

Theoutdoorearthenclassroomwouldhelpreducethecampusesenvironmentalimpactinavarietyof ways.Theinsulating propertiesandconsciousdesignmeanthattherewillbenoneedforHVACsystems,reducingenergyusefordaily operations. Solar tubes and LED lights powered by solar panels adjacent to the structure will provide off-grid lighting bringing the carbon footprint toalmostzero. Earthenmaterialsarerenewable annuallywhereasittakes yearsforatreetogrowback. Theembodied energyofearthenmaterialsversustypicalbuildingmaterialsisincrediblylow.

3.Whatareyoursourcesof labor?

Thesourcesoflaborwillbethrough volunteersduringworkshops. Thisisanopportunityforstudents,staff,faculty,andcommunity memberstolearnaboutnaturalbuildinginahands-on way. Laborcanalsocomefromclassesacrossdisciplines. For instance,thestudent-ledseminarcalledtheUrbanGardenSeminarinwhichthiscanbeafocusofthehands-onportionofthe class.

III.BENEFITS

1.How willtheprojectbenefitUCRasawhole?

Thisprojectwillbenefitthecampusasawholeasitwillshowcasethecommitmenttosustainabilityinatangible,visiblewaywhile creatingaspacetolearnabouttheenvironmental, socialandeconomicbenefitsofnaturalbuilding. Onceit'sbuiltitwillbeaspaceto hostcampusandcommunity-wideworkshops,classes,andeventsthatpromote sustainability. Wewill alsohavepermanent educationalsignagehighlightingthosebenefits,sothatanyvisitorwillwalkawaywithadeeperunderstanding ofsustainability.

IV.MEASUREMENTOF IMPACT

1.WhatquantifiableimpactwilltheprojecthaveontheUCRCampus?(ex:howmanyUCRstudentswill attend,howstudentswillbeaffected,gallonsof watersaved,kilowattsof electricitysaved,etc.)

Duringthefirstyear,we expectthatmorethan200studentsbecomeinvolvedthrough volunteeropportunitiesaswellasworkshops. Oncebuilt,theclassroomwill beequippedtohostavarietyofprograms, workshops,classesandeventsonayearly basis,sotheoutreachpotentialisgreatandlasting,Giventhattheclassroomwillbeaimingtobenetzerointermsofenergyand water,theamountofpowerplantenergysavedwouldbenearly100%.

2.How willtheseimpactscontinueto bemeasured/recordedaftertheproject’senddate?

Theimpactswillbemeasuredthroughtheamount ofpeoplethatparticipateintheyearlyworkshops,events,researchprojects,andclassesthatareheldatthegardenclassroom. TheCoordinatorandstudentswillkeeptrackofthenumberofstudentsreached throughouttheyear.Measurementscanalsobetakenastohowmuchenergyandwaterissaved.

3.Willtherebeanyprojectcostsavingsto UCR?Pleasespecify.

Withthehelpofthisgrantmostofthematerialswillbefinanciallycoveredfortheprojectandonlyadministrative procedureswouldberequiredfortheprojecttoproceed. Volunteersandinternswillalsohelpwithcostsavingsassociatedwiththeproject,asit willhelpoffsetlaborcostwhileprovidingalearningenvironment.

4.Arethereanyexamplesof similarprojectsthatweresuccessfulon otherUCcampuses,orelsewhere?

Thereareafewdifferentexamplesintheareathathaveearthenstructures. TheclosestonetooursituationwouldbeatthePomonaFarmatPomonaCollege.Studentsalongwithfacultybuiltthestructureattheir2.5acregarden. TheyusedCal-Earth'sbuilding methods,whichisaworldrenownedearthenbuildinginstitutelocatedinHesperia,CA. CalPolySLOhasalsobuiltearthenstructures ontheir1 acreorganiccertifiededucationalfarmfacility.

V.PUBLICITY/OUTREACH

1.How will youpublicize yourprojecttothestudentbody?(Includesizeof targetedpopulation,numberof infosessions,etc.)

Wewouldpublicizetheprojecttothestudentbodythroughaseriesof workshopsandworkdaysatthegarden. Therewouldbeatleastoneeventaweekduringthewinterquarter,anddepending ontheprogressmoreorlessduringthespringquarter. Thatsaid,this issupposedtobealivinglaboratorythatwilllastyearsintothefuture,alongwithpermanent educationalsignageandonlinemedia.

ThetargetedpopulationwouldbeundergraduatesatUCRalongwithstaff,faculty andcommunitygroups.

2.Doesthis projecttargeta specificstudentpopulation?If so,specify.Itwillbeopentoall ofthecampusandcommunity.