Patriot Green Fund

This campus greenhouse is powered by the sun—and student innovation

Lauren Reuscher — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 17:11:48 +0000

This campus greenhouse is powered by the sun—and student innovation Lauren Reuscher Wed, 04/23/2025 - 13:11

Gardening season is here, and those with green thumbs are preparing their planting strategy for the season. In any garden, plants need basic essentials to grow: sunlight, soil or nutrients, air, and water.

Through a new solar array at ��’s Fairfax ��, the sun will play double duty in the successful growth of plants. Solar energy will power the Presidents Park Greenhouse with the electricity it needs to support the plants growing inside.

The Presidents Park Greenhouse uses hydroponics and aquaponics to grow produce on campus. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

Designed by student researchers and partially funded by a research grant, the solar array will help offset the energy consumption for the equipment and temperature controls in the greenhouse, which uses hydroponics and aquaponics to grow produce on campus.

A team of 10 George Mason student researchers applied for support from the Patriot Green Fund, an annual sustainability fund provided by Facilities and �� Operations to make George Mason’s campuses more sustainable through infrastructure improvements. The Patriot Green Fund covers $20,000 of the total $185,000 project cost. The remainder of the budget is provided by Facilities and �� Operations.

“This student-led project is designed to reduce electricity costs, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and provide educational and volunteer opportunities for the George Mason community,” said Demin Zhu, Patriot Green Fund program manager with University Sustainability.

The Presidents Park Greenhouse operates year-round and produces approximately 1,000 pounds of fresh lettuce and salad greens annually, which are served on campus at Ike's dining hall. Other fruits, vegetables, and herbs are donated to the George Mason community through free produce pickups.

Students are a driving force behind greenhouse operations, working inside for service hours, internships, and experiential learning. They have the opportunity to learn about the greenhouse’s hydroponic and aquaponic food production systems.

“The electricity from the solar panels will feed into the greenhouse to power our fans, pumps, cooling system, and grow lights,” said Doni Nolan, greenhouse and gardens program manager with University Sustainability. “The electrical equipment helps us grow lettuce, baby greens, tomatoes and more in the greenhouse to provide local sustainable ingredients to our dining halls.”

The ground-mounted solar panels will be installed outside the greenhouse and are expected to offset more than 80% of the electricity it requires. The solar array is estimated to produce more than 22,000 kWh per year. The panels will reduce the building’s annual greenhouse gas impact by 13.8 metric tons of CO₂, which is about equal to the carbon footprint of 2.2 typical single-family homes.

The concrete pad under construction will accommodate the new solar array for the Presidents Park Greenhouse. Photo provided

The students developed the project under the guidance of several George Mason faculty and staff, including Nolan, Christy Hogan, who is senior director of university asset management in Facilities and �� Operations, and Colin Reagle, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

George Mason currently has one other on-campus solar array, at Mason Square. Vertical solar panels on the face of Fuse demonstrate how a solar array can be integrated into a building’s design in an urban setting. A vertical solar array requires less space and captures sunlight from multiple directions throughout the day. The array produces about 1% of the electricity used by the building and is part of a range of sustainable features that help Fuse meet LEED Platinum standards.

The installation at President’s Park expected to be complete by early June.

Crystal Bowers, BS Mechanical Engineering ’23, was one of the students who led the solar array project during her time at George Mason.

“Working on the Solar Greenhouse Project was one of the most impactful experiences of my time at ��,” said Bowers. “It not only deepened my understanding of sustainable infrastructure and project management, but also demonstrated the power of collaboration in transforming ideas into tangible, lasting change on campus.”

Learn more about the Greenhouse and Gardens

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Mason as a Living Lab

George Mason earns solid gold in sustainability

Lauren Reuscher — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 13:56:18 +0000

George Mason earns solid gold in sustainability Lauren Reuscher Thu, 06/06/2024 - 09:56

For its commitment to campus sustainability, �� has earned a Gold rating in the STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System) Assessment. STARS is a self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance and is offered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). George Mason has received four consecutive STARS Gold ratings and was the first Virginia university to earn that rating in 2014.

George Mason earned a Gold rating in the STARS assessment for the fourth consecutive time, Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

STARS was administered by staff from University Sustainability and University Business Consulting. This year, George Mason demonstrated improvements in several performance categories, earning a total of 73.66 points. The university’s score increased 13% since the last assessment in 2021. The threshold for earning a Gold rating is 65 points, and George Mason is only 11.34 points away from earning the highest honor, STARS Platinum. Rankings are valid for three years.

Amber Saxton, program manager in University Sustainability, co-led the university-wide assessment with Minh Le, senior consultant in University Business Consulting.

“STARS recognizes what we are doing well, puts our sustainability planning and execution in context with peers nationwide, and helps us create a roadmap for continued improvement,” Saxton said. “Mason’s Gold rating reflects a comprehensive effort from stakeholders across the university, from research to operations.”

Sustainable purchasing is part of George Mason's STARS Gold rating. Locker room renovations for the men's soccer team included sustainable upgrades like lockers made from recycled content and responsibly sourced materials and energy-efficient lights. This project was supported by the Patriot Green Fund. Photo by Shelby Burgess/Office of University Branding

Consistent success in campus sustainability

George Mason has consistently earned high scores in the STARS categories for sustainable transportation programs, stormwater management, and academics and research. George Mason also scored highly in the innovation category for its on-campus gardens, food bank (the Student Support and Advocacy Center's Patriot Pantry), and sustainability project grant funds (Facilities’ Patriot Green Fund and the Institute for a Sustainable Earth’s new Mason as a Living Lab fund).

The on-campus gardens help Mason score consistently high in the innovation category on STARS. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

High marks in these categories reflect the commitment of stakeholders across the university.

“Mason departments and colleges have prioritized sustainability as a strategic part of their performance criteria and benchmarks for progress,” said Greg Farley, director of University Sustainability. “Mason has set a goal to be the highest-scoring AASHE STARS school in Virginia by 2030, so University Sustainability and its partners will need to keep pushing forward.”

Measuring the culture of sustainability

This year, George Mason earned new points in the sustainability literacy and culture category for launching a survey to measure students' sustainability literacy, culture, and behavior. Recent graduate Nikita Lad, PhD Environmental Science and Policy ’24, and K.L. Akerlof, associate professor of science communication, administered the survey to a representative sample of undergraduates in fall 2022 and spring 2023.

“The survey measured what factors affect students' sustainability behaviors and whether their knowledge and behaviors changed through formal or informal programming during their college careers,” said Lad.

The theoretically informed survey model found that time spent on campus and informal program participation influenced students’ nature connectedness and norms, which in turn affected sustainability behaviors. Lad shared the research study through a webinar with other members of AASHE and hopes to collaborate with other universities on future iterations of the survey.

Through Bioblitz, the Mason Nation crowdsources the identification of species across campus. Photo by Cristian Torres/Office of University Branding

Bioblitz made an impact

George Mason earned new points in biodiversity this year thanks to Bioblitz, a crowdsourced assessment of plant and animal species on campus. Through an app, the Mason Nation helped identify and monitor endangered and vulnerable species around the university. In spring 2024, more than 500 biodiversity observations were entered into the Bioblitz app by 107 observers, documenting 273 species.

Bigbelly solar waste stations were recently installed across George Mason's campuses. Photo by Facilities

Moving toward zero waste

New efforts to improve waste diversion boosted George Mason’s score in that category. Facilities Management, University Sustainability, Auxiliary Services and Operations, and other campus partners worked to expand composting, reduce single-use plastics, and promote the use of certified compostable and aluminum products.

George Mason is expected to improve further in this category in the future, with the installation of new Bigbelly solar waste stations across its campuses, the development and implementation of new design standards for “zero waste” bins, the addition of glass recycling, and the future launch of a reusable food container pilot and paper towel composting.

Mason earned one of the highest STARS ratings among Virginia universities. As of April 2024, the University of Virginia earned 74.85 points, �� earned 73.66 points, and Virginia Commonwealth University earned 66.4 points. Participating institutions can earn points toward a STARS Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum Rating, or earn the STARS Reporter designation.

Sustainability at George Mason

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Don’t trash it, compost it: Mason Facilities adds 23 Bigbelly zero waste stations to campuses

Lauren Reuscher — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 18:38:11 +0000

Don’t trash it, compost it: Mason Facilities adds 23 Bigbelly zero waste stations to campuses Lauren Reuscher Thu, 02/15/2024 - 13:38

�� Facilities has installed 23 Bigbelly zero waste stations on the Fairfax and Mason Square campuses. These solar-powered stations support Mason’s recycling and composting goals through their user-friendly design, technology upgrades, and capacity-based alerts.

Five of the new Bigbelly stations on the Fairfax �� include solar-powered, waste compacting compost bins at outdoor patio sites. Expanded composting access is part of a long-term strategy to improve Mason’s waste diversion rate—the amount of waste composted, recycled, repurposed, or otherwise diverted away from trash.

Bigbelly zero waste stations support Mason's recycling and composting goals. Photo by Mason Facilities

The Bigbelly zero waste stations expand the waste collection benefits achieved through Mason’s industrial composting pilot. Launched in August 2022, the composting pilot included the installation of Mason’s first indoor zero waste station in the Starbucks located in Northern Neck on the Fairfax ��. The project was funded by University Sustainability's Patriot Green Fund (PGF). A previous PGF grant supported the installation of Bigbelly’s smart-waste management system at the patio outside the Starbucks.

Capacity alerts from Bigbelly solar zero waste stations increase the efficiency of operations for recycling and housekeeping staff, who are automatically alerted when the stations need to be emptied.

“Thanks to the daily efforts of Mason Dining and Facilities recycling staff, Mason’s first sitewide composting pilot was able to consistently divert clean compost away from trash while informing best practices for adding composting access at future campus locations,” said Colleen Regan, zero waste specialist with University Sustainability.

The solar powered stations send real-time alerts to Facilities and housekeeping staff when the bins need to be emptied. Photo by Mason Facilities

To successfully divert food scraps and other compostable items, the university must maintain a clean compost stream. Design changes were installed at waste stations to help reduce waste contamination. The Max-R zero waste station inside the on-campus Starbucks offers helpful design features like waste stream co-location, restrictive lid openings, and color-coded messaging. The station is made of more than 1,600 reclaimed milk jugs, supporting Mason’s post-consumer recycled purchasing goals and guidance.

The involvement of Mason Dining was crucial for the success of the industrial composting pilot. Mason Dining staff identified difficult-to-sort items, inventoried common contaminants during weekly audits, and piloted behavioral and educational interventions to support appropriate waste disposal.

"Bigbelly has a huge impact on our daily operations” said Kevin Brim, recycling and waste management supervisor with Facilities. “The stations' technology makes us more efficient in performing our duties. We’ve seen an immediate impact with environmental challenges like wildlife—[fewer] yellowjackets at the bin, [less] wind-blown litter—and the operational challenge of keeping up with Mason's growth and overall population day to day.”

Learn the best ways to sort your compost, recycling, and trash. Check out the Zero Waste Mason page and see the complete list of zero waste locations.

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Revamping Recycling at the Center for the Arts

Lauren Reuscher — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 13:40:36 +0000

Revamping Recycling at the Center for the Arts Lauren Reuscher Wed, 09/13/2023 - 09:40

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The Center for the Arts on ��’s Fairfax �� has revamped its zero-waste infrastructure, thanks to the support of University Sustainability's Patriot Green Fund.

Sleek new waste and recycling stations at the performing arts venue will improve Mason’s waste diversion rate, helping to reach Mason's goal of diverting at least 90% of waste from the trash.

Digital event programs are readily available for patrons at the Center for the Arts (CFA), but the need for paper programs and their subsequent recycling still exists. Maura Glascock, CFA production coordinator, recognized the potential for increased waste diversion and spearheaded the effort to enhance the zero-waste infrastructure.

Photo by Mason Facilities

Glascock applied for funding through the Patriot Green Fund and awarded $17,500 in May 2023 toward the acquisition of new waste stations.

The Patriot Green Fund is a $100,000-per-year sustainability fund provided by Mason Facilities to make Mason’s campuses more sustainable through infrastructure improvements and student research projects. Funding decisions are made by the Patriot Green Fund Committee, which includes students, faculty, and staff.

The Center for the Arts team collaborated with staff from University Sustainability—Colleen Regan, zero waste specialist, and Amber Saxton, program manager for campus efficiency—to ensure the project was a success. They also sought the expertise of Kevin Brim, supervisor for recycling and waste management with Facilities Management.

The group identified the most effective layout for recycling and trash stations, ensuring proper lid openings and other design standards were included to discourage contamination. The team also prioritized the aesthetics of the design and selected stainless steel bins, ensuring their recyclability at the end of their long lifespan, which is estimated to be 20+ years.

“CFA’s installation aligns with current efforts to improve zero-waste design standards and guidelines across the university,” Regan said. “Co-locating waste streams and standardizing the appearance of bins through consistent labeling and color coding are all key design improvements for increasing access to recycling.”

Learn how to dispose of waste appropriately to make Mason even more sustainable.

Individuals with innovative ideas to further enhance sustainability at Mason are encouraged to apply for funding through the Patriot Green Fund.

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Art studio introduces environmentally friendly printing

Colleen Rich — Fri, 06 May 2022 16:11:27 +0000

Art studio introduces environmentally friendly printing Colleen Rich Fri, 05/06/2022 - 12:11

The new Risograph printer uses 95% less energy than a photocopier. Photo provided

��’s Print and Book Arts Studio is repositioning its practices and curriculum toward an environmentally friendly and sustainable future.

Christopher Kardambikis, assistant professor and director of printmaking and book arts in Mason’s School of Art, was determined to pivot and focus his operations and curriculum on printmaking processes that are nontoxic, energy efficient, and supportive of the repurposing of paper scraps into new usable sheets.

In Fall 2022, Kardambikis was awarded $20,000 from the Office of Sustainability’s Patriot Green Fund—a grant program in Mason Facilities that allows the campus community to contribute to solutions that reduce Mason’s environmental impact—to purchase of a new Risograph printer to help fulfill his sustainability mission. This machine uses a stencil-based and single-color printing process, which prepares students for commercial printing applications. It is ENERGY STAR certified and uses 95% less energy than photocopiers. It also does not produce greenhouse gases or any air pollutants.

New papermaking tools are helping students recycle all paper used in the class. Photo provided

"The Sustainable Print Studio has been working to bring student publications to the center of our work and our curriculum,” said Kardambikis. “It's exciting to provide the Risograph machine as a tool for our students to print and distribute their own comics, zines, books, and prints. It's even better to know that they are using a process that is environmentally clean and responsible.”

In addition, the Patriot Green Fund also purchased new moulds and deckles for the studio, which are used for papermaking. This allows students to learn about the processes of creating new sheets of paper from a blended pulp of leftover paper scraps in a hands-on environment. The Print Studio holds weekly papermaking sessions to recycle old prints and previously used paper into fresh new sheets to be used during class.

“Our studio is building a full life cycle of materials—with students participating in every step of production to transform refuse materials into finely crafted books and comics,” said Kardambikis.

By making their own paper, the studio can recycle all paper used in the class to keep a constant supply of new hand-formed paper available for fine art printing. The class-made paper also reduces the cost of printmaking for students, which can be a large expense in screen printing and wood block printing.

Flyer cartoon by Mason student Sylvia Rossi

Kardambikis also said that enabling the students to be directly involved in the production of materials that can be used by the entire class helps build a sense of community.

These tools have been promptly used this semester in a new course, AVT 496 Dynamic Publishing: Comics Production. This class provides opportunities for students to learn from D.C.-based cartoonist Adam Griffiths.

The Risograph will support the production of Griffiths’ new graphic novel, which will be designed, printed, and distributed by the students in the course. In addition, students have the chance to get feedback from Griffiths on their own comics.

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Mechanical engineering student seeks ways to make an impact

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 12:46:50 +0000

Mechanical engineering student seeks ways to make an impact Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 10/19/2021 - 08:46

Mechanical engineering major Chigozie Erondu may have always been passionate about robotics, but in his time at Mason, he’s developed a new passion for helping the Mason community stay sustainable.

Erondu spent his junior year on the Patriot Green Fund (PGF) committee, a $100,000 a year fund within Mason’s Office of Sustainability that enables students to conduct research, reduce Mason’s environmental impact, and improve awareness and support of building a sustainable campus culture.

“I applied to be a part of the board because I felt it could give me a new perspective,” says Erondu, who is a leader in other Mason supported student organizations like the National Society for Black Engineers and the Society of American Military Engineers that have sought funding or support from Mason before. He knew that joining the PGF would show him how stakeholders made these decisions.

“I enjoyed the thought process of starting with X amount of money and making hard decisions on where that money should go, what will make the most impact,” says Erondu.

Current students, faculty, staff members, and student groups with research or infrastructure projects can apply for funds from the PGF, and Erondu says he saw many great projects but not all of them could be approved.

“As a committee, we saw a lot of great ideas, but we had to make some tough decisions on what could be funded,” he says.

One project Erondu oversaw was called the “Mason Pond Bathymetry” project. This team was seeking funding to build a robot designed to collect surface floor data from the Mason Pond for their senior design project.

The committee was made up of students and faculty members from different disciplines, which gave a diverse perspective to the decision-making process. “After going through each proposal, we had a discussion together about the impact of the project. Sometimes, we go back to the people who submitted the proposal and asked more questions to get an in-depth look at the project so we can make an informed decision,” says Erondu.

“Being a part of the PGF taught me to think long-term, not just for these projects, but for the impact I will make on the world,” says Erondu.