Group Projects
Class of 2010
Introduction
• 37 proposals submitted, chose 17
o 3 from eco-entrepreneurship program, which will be
presented at the end.
• ESM 401A this spring will help develop proposals
further.
• Internship or unique deliverables noted where available
or likely.
• 2-3 minute presentation of each proposal with room for
questions.
• Proposals will be posted for your viewing pleasure
Enhancing Business Operations and Scientific Capacity of
Loreto Baykeeper in Baja California Sur, Mexico
Catrina Paez, Kristian Beadle
Client: Loreto Baykeeper
Faculty Advisor: John Melack
Summary: The Loreto Baykeeper works in conjunction with the Loreto National Park in order
to protect the local watershed and the ecosystems that it supports. Coastal development
projects are placing increasing stress on the region’s natural resources; as such increased
and more efficient environmental monitoring programs are needed
Objectives: This project will seek to improve the efficiency and strength of the Loreto
Baykeeper monitoring program, so as to improve the condition of the Loreto watershed and
provide management recommendations for this and other similar projects. This will be
accomplished by
• Identifying main sources of pollution to the local watershed and implement optimal
monitoring techniques
• Develop management and policy recommendations that will bolster the strength of the
Loreto Baykeeper program and serve as a template for other Baykeeper programs
worldwide
• Collaborate with local stakeholders to help ensure that recommended strategies are
enacted
Internships: There is the potential for unpaid internships in Loreto
Integrating Urban Green Space into Downtown Los Angeles
Kathryn Riley & Rebecca Tannebring
Client: Ashley Zarella, Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council
Faculty Advisor: Christina Tague
Summary: Green spaces are in short supply in downtown Los Angeles. With support from the
American Institute of Architects Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT), the Downtown Los
Angeles Neighborhood Council (DLANC) is developing a Toolkit that will promote the development
of a healthy urban environment; taking into account ecological, socioeconomic and long-term
community needs. The development of green space in downtown Los Angeles will create benefits
for both the local environment and populace by reducing air pollution, improve building energy
efficiency and heighten property values, aesthetic qualities and livability.
Objectives: In conjunction with the Sustainability Committee of the DLANC, this project will
develop the green space aspect of the Toolkit. This will consist of identification of optimal sites for
urban green space and evaluation of various scenarios to be enacted by the Toolkit. Project
members will:
• Drawing upon existing urban ecology data on the current state of the Los Angeles
environment
• Utilize GIS and other planning tools to model potential green space scenarios
• Quantify benefits of urban green space projects in order to identify benefits of various design
scenarios
• Assess how specific benefits impact project stakeholders
Deliverables: This project will develop visual presentations of urban green space designs to be
displayed in various downtown Los Angeles facilities. Recommendations will be incorporated into
the Toolkit
GHG Reduction Strategies for California Communities
AECOM Environment
Client: AECOM Environment & CCAR Registered Communities
Faculty Advisor: Oran Young
Summary: Increases in public awareness of climate change along with legislation such as
CEQA and AB 32 has created a need for interdisciplinary means for communities to reduce
their GHG emissions. Developing tools to measure GHG emissions, evaluate potential
mitigation options and assess management options is a critical step in reducing GHG
emissions in communities across California and the U.S.
Objectives: This project will seek to assess GHG mitigation strategies for a specific
community in California. Using data and modeling approached compiled by AECOM,
members of this project will develop a working emissions reduction strategy for the
community. This will be accomplished by:
• Developing a baseline inventory of GHG emissions within the target community
• Modeling the results of various suites emission reduction strategies such as energy
efficiency and renewable energy projects while considering relevant costs and benefits
• Conduct a feasibility assessment of model results in order to create a comprehensive
strategy for GHG reduction for the community
Internships: 1 full-time paid internship available with an AECOM office in Santa Maria,
Camarillo or other Southern California Office
Greening the Industrial Laundry Sector: Life Cycle Assessment of
Button-Down Uniform Shirts
E. Tucker Hirsch
Client: Mission Linen Supply
Faculty Advisor: Roland Geyer
Summary: Mission Linen Supply is an industrial laundry and linen supply company that
services over 30,000 customers in 5 Western states. It currently has 200,000+
poly/cotton rental shirts in service. Currently MLS stores retired shirts in warehouses with
the hope that a feasible alternative method of disposal awaits these shirts.
Objectives: To design, implement, and assess a LCA for the 65%/35% polyester/cotton
shirt.
• Assess the environmental and financial costs associated with creating the fabric for
the shirt.
• Evaluate end-of-life options for the reuse and/or disposal options of the garments.
• Recommend operational changes that emphasize a “cradle-to-cradle” rather than
“cradle-to-grave” approach.
• Perform a cost benefit analysis on proposed solutions.
• Create a metric that can be used to assess the environmental impacts of other items
in the Mission Linen Supply rental portfolio, including sheets, tablecloths, and
napkins.
Internship: 1 possible summer internship
Patagonia’s Water Footprint
Amelia Nuding
Client: Patagonia
Faculty Advisor: Tom Dunne
Summary: A water accounting method known as “water footprinting” has been developed to
assist industries in measuring their water consumption through the supply chain. Patagonia,
an outdoor apparel company with a strong environmental mission statement and a history of
product-level footprint efforts, is interested in conducting internal product water footprints,
using 6 of their current products, and establishing a methodology for future water footprint
efforts.
Objectives:
• A calculation of water used for each garment, from raw materials to end-of-life.
• A comparison of the water impacts for three pairs of garments with different emphases
(water quality; geographic source region; water quantity).
• A risk analysis for the business.
• An analysis of environmental and/or social impacts and recommendations for mitigation.
Deliverables: A final report and presentation will be delivered to Patagonia, detailing the
quantity and types of water consumed in their production processes, identifying the sources of
those waters, and assessing the water quality impacts associated with selected garments. The
results will lead to management recommendations regarding the most water efficient fabrics
and minimization of harmful impacts.
Internship: 1 possible summer internship
Environmental Risk and Emerging Regulation in the Nanomaterials
Sector: A 2009 Inventory and Survey of Industry Perceptions and
Practices
Barbara Herr Harthorn, Director, NSF Center for Nanotechnology in Society at UCSB
Client: Barbara Herr Harthorn
Faculty Advisor: Patricia Holden
Summary: Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are designed to exhibit novel or enhanced properties
that affect their physical, chemical, and optical behaviors, in effect presenting opportunities to create
new and better products. But, questions have been raised regarding the potential environmental and
health effects of ENMs. This project will serve to inform governments, citizens, and industries of best
practices in the industry for protecting health and the environment, and will reveal the possible
modes of acting preemptively in the face of new potential environmental and health threats.
Objectives:
• Assess ongoing and upcoming efforts towards discovering and summarizing industrial safety
and environmental practices in the nanotechnology industry
• Survey current practices for engineered nanomaterials (ENM) risk management in industry
• Analyze the results in order to contribute to the knowledge-base of ENM safety, closing
knowledge gaps, and developing recommendations for current practices in the nanotechnology
field
• Assess best practices for safe handling of novel materials
Deliverables: Produce and disseminate a report of the findings that will assist with development of
worldwide ENM safety standards
Internship: 2 summer internship opportunities for 3 months, PAID
Development of a Standard Tool to Measure
The Economic Footprint of Footwear
Mark Fegley
Client: Deckers Outdoor Corporation
Faculty Advisor: Sarah Anderson
Summary: Build on previous Group Project efforts to understand the carbon footprint and
environmental impacts of shoes. Create universal metrics to gauge success of eco-friendly
efforts in a way that looks ahead to predict the environmental success of products. This will
provide a construct to analyze materials,
Objectives: Use Deckers existing data on environmental impacts. Extend this research on
the impact of footwear manufacturing and distribution on the environment to do the following:
• Understand the key drivers of environmental compliance in the footwear business
• Evaluate compliance for key materials used in Decker’s shoes
• Recommend how Deckers can mitigate its impact on the environment.
Deliverables: Develop a predictive model to evaluate the environmental compliance or
“carbon footprint” of any shoe, given appropriate inputs.
Internship: Possible internship
Synergistic Commercial and Industrial
Energy and Water Conservation
Arturo Keller and Randy Turner
Client: Southern California Edison and the Association of California Water Agencies
Faculty Advisor: Arturo Keller
Summary: Examine the potential for integrated energy and water use efficiencies relating to
both water use in energy generation and energy use in water and wastewater delivery and
treatment. Evaluate the range of technologies and policies within the industrial and commercial
sector. Quantify the feasibility and implications for a unified strategy.
Objectives:
• Survey of existing literature on energy and water use efficiency technologies and policy
• Examine technical and economic feasibility, including land use change and carbon
footprints
• Address policy and economic considerations related to incentives for and barriers to
implementation
• Compare existing policies and evaluate whether new policies will be needed to achieve
goals.
Deliverables: Evaluation and recommendations for policies and methods to overcome
barriers. This includes examining incentives needed to successfully implement
recommendations.
Zero Waste Strategies for Gills OnionsSustainable Innovation and Waste Management
Nikki Rodoni
Client: Gills Onions- Oxnard, CA
Faculty Advisor: Jim Frew
Summary: Assist Gills Onions continued path of sustainable innovation and conservation by
revising and expanding recycling and waste reduction programs. Help them take full
responsibility for their goal to achieve zero waste and apply for and win the Waste Reduction
Award Program (WRAP). As the nation’s largest Fresh-Cut onion producer, Gills is a leader in
the field and positioned to be much more.
Objectives:
• Analyze current recycling/ waste management program
• Facilitate composting/ digesting program for all food and yard waste (~250,000 pounds of
waste per day!)
• Quantify financial investments and savings for waste reduction programs
• Track efforts and accomplishments
Internships: Paid summer internship available for 1 or 2 project members
Permanent River Conservation Strategies for China
Kristen McDonald, China Rivers Project
Michael Ghelata, Attorney, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Client: China Rivers Project
Faculty Advisor: Bob Wilkinson
Summary: Chinese government leaders and citizens face complex challenges in ensuring the
country’s long term freshwater health. China already has many laws and regulations governing
water pollution and river management, but additional tools may be needed. The time is ripe to
explore the feasibility of a system of permanent river protection for China.
Objectives: Participants will explore how a permanent river protection system can help China
meet its resource protection goals
• Evaluate successful models of permanent river protection
• Determine legal, policy, and institutional context for river protection in China
• Assess China’s outstanding rivers
• Determine benefits of permanent river protection
• Provide strategies and recommendations to promote permanent river conservation in
China
Deliverables: A report meeting the objectives listed above.
Internship: 1-2 possible summer internships, likely unpaid
Development of Conceptual Models and Ecological Baselines to
Support Monitoring and Adaptive Management of Tejon Ranch,
California
Michael D. White, Conservation Biology Institute
Client: The Tejon Ranch Conservancy
Faculty Advisor: Frank Davis
Summary: The 270,000 acre Tejon Ranch is the largest contiguous property under single,
private ownership in CA and harbors a stunning diversity of plant and animal species. In June
2008 the Tejon Ranch Company and a consortium of natural resource organizations signed a
historic agreement that dedicated 178,000 acres of the Ranch to permanent conservation
while allowing development on 30,000 acres. The newly created Tejon Ranch Conservancy
must create and adopt a Ranchwide Management Plan (RWMP) for the protected lands.
Objectives: Participants will formally conceptualize conservation values, restoration and
recreation opportunities and establish baseline conditions for the RWMP.
• Create a baseline conditions report that summarizes the extent, status, and trends of
resources
• Develop conceptual models that capture conservation targets, key drivers, stressors and
other indicators, as well as identifying key uncertainties in the models
• Develop a preliminary design for cost-effective monitoring and adaptive management
Internship: 2-3 summer internships for 2 months, PAID
Optimal Design and Management of a Commercial Fishing
Cooperative for the San Miguel Island Red Abalone Fishery
Kristin Bor, Dan Ovando
Client: California Abalone Association (CAA)
Faculty Advisor: Chris Costello
Summary: Red Abalone is a highly valuable species; however overfishing and poor
management left the stock severely depleted and led to a statewide moratorium in 1997 on the
commercial harvest of abalone. Since the passage of this moratorium, the red abalone
population has made a comeback at San Miguel Island, and The California Fish & Game
Commission is now considering opening a small-scale commercial abalone fishery there. The
CAA has been a key player in this process, and is attempting to develop a catch-shares
system of management to ensure that the fishery is both economically and ecologically
sustainable.
Objectives: This project will evaluate the potential for the CAA to self-manage a sustainable
fishery at San Miguel Island while maintaining a profit. This will be accomplished by
• Estimating operating costs of the proposed fishery
• Establishing necessary TAC for the fishery to be profitable and assessing the ability of the
San Miguel abalone population to sustain this level of harvest
• Utilize economic viability analysis in order to examine design scenarios provided by the
CAA to recommend an optimal catch-share management strategy for betterment of both
the commercial fishery and the local abalone population
Funding: This project has a commitment of $5,000 from the Sustainable Fisheries Group for
general expenses and potential internships for 1-2 students
Assessing Fire Regime Change in the Santa Monica Mountains
under Climate Change Scenarios: Policy and Management
Implications
Marti Witter, National Park Service Fire Ecologist & Wendy P. Su
Client: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Faculty Advisor: Bruce Kendall (Christina Tague for spring ‘09)
Summary: The Santa Monica Mountains (SMM) face a complex array of fire management
issues, due in part to the large wildland urban interface (WUI). Growing pressures from
urbanization and climate change are likely to increase the risk of fire damage to the region. As
such, it is vital that current fire policy understands and reflects the potential impacts of climate
change on wildfires in the SMM.
Objectives: This project will seek to create fire risk maps under various scenarios of climate
change, so as to assess current fire management strategies and recommend necessary
policy actions. This will be accomplished by
• Utilizing Wind Wizard in order to model the behavior of SA winds
• Analyzing existing data on changes in live fuel moisture in order to assess the impact of
climate change
• Collect other relevant environmental, economic and policy data
• Combine collected data into fire hazard maps for the SMM region
Internships: Possible summer internship for 1 or 2 students
Tracing Seafood Sources: A Pressing Technical Challenge for the
Seafood Industry
Kim Salkoe, Ph.D. Assistant Research Scientist, Marine Science Institutes & Center
Associate at NCEAS
Client: Monterey Bay Aquarium (Sustainable Seafood Initiative)
Faculty Advisor: Hunter Lenihan
Summary: Despite increasing consumer interest in purchasing sustainable seafood, little
accountability exists within the industry to ensure that seafood is in fact environmentally friendly. As
such there is a need for a comprehensive tracing system capable of tracking seafood products
from source to endpoint. Such a system would help reduce illegal fishing practices and increase
accountability of industry participants
Objectives: The objective of this project will be to establish what a successful seafood tracing
system would look like and determine what policy mechanisms could be used to encourage
widespread adoption a tracking system by the seafood industry. Possible approaches include
• Evaluating existing seafood tracing systems and their trade-offs
• Identifying gaps in current tracing systems
• Gathering information from successful tracing systems such as those in the forestry industry
• Outlining pathways for the adoption of a comprehensive tracing system within the seafood
industry
• Engaging the vast array of industry stakeholders
• Develop recommendations for US policy mandating a tracing system for US seafood
Deliverables: In addition to presentation of results, this project will submit draft language for a
Federal Seafood Traceability Bill
Internships: Paid internship for 1 student over the summer
Energy Rubik- Coupling Energy Efficiency Methodologies
and Photovoltaic Installations
Adam Rohloff, Aaron Wdowin
Clients: Solar City, Rec Solar, Borrego Solar
Faculty Advisor: Matthew Kotchen (Jim Frew in Spring ‘09)
Summary: Develop a business plan coupling energy efficient retrofits with solar installations
for residential and small commercial clients. Partner with Solar City and other solar installers to
provide strategic consulting for energy efficiency in their projects. This approach will improve
return on investment and make it easier to achieve net zero energy levels for homes.
Objectives:
• Cost benefit and feasibility analyses to determine optimal approach for combining
efficiency upgrades into clients photovoltaic projects
• Examine viability of being an independent consulting and installation company
• Research legislation, policies, and rebates
• Identify markets and pricing trends for renewables and energy efficiency projects
Internships: A summer internship at Solar City is likely
Pajaro Water Solutions LLC
Providing Innovative Water Resource Management Strategies
to the Pajaro River Watershed
Zoe Carlson
Client: Stakeholders in the Pajaro River Watershed (Santa Cruz County)
Faculty Advisor: Gary Libecap
Summary: Create Pajaro Water Solutions LLC to provide consulting services for water users
to address water supply and quality. The Pajaro River is confronted with increasing
agricultural water demands, growing populations, and degraded wildlife habitat. In addition,
the existing water management system has not been able to address the needs of current
demands and has reached an impasse. The opportunity for innovation and market based
strategies may provide incentives to conserve water and meet the needs of the basin.
Objectives:
• Assess the existing water market (customers, existing and potential supply)
• Develop a water management system using relevant government structures
• Develop science based targets to drive valuation and distribution of water rights
• Work with local stakeholders and scientists
Deliverables:
• Complete a management system of the basin and a business plan for the Business Plan
Competition in 2010.
Marketainer
Closed-Loop Packaging Solution
Hylton Edingfield, Takuma Ono, Matt Valdin
Client: Wal Mart, Isla Vista Food Co-op
Faculty Advisor: Catherine Ramus
Summary: Marketainer will create a business plan that profitably converts the current
wasteful food supply chain into a closed-loop, sustainable system. By addressing the
disposable cereal packaging market, Marketainer will offer a solution to minimize
environmental and monetary costs. calculate the life cycle costs.
Objectives:
• Quantify economic and environmental benefits of replacing disposable cereal packaging
with a reusable packaging infrastructure (LCA)
• Obtain feedback from producers, retailers, and consumers
• Design initial bulk-bin, dispenser, and personal container prototypes with the UCSB
Engineering department
• Assess costs of further R&D and mass production
Deliverables: Quantitative comparison between traditional cereal supply chains and
Marketainer system, detailed feedback reports, engineering requirements and business plan.
Voting for projects
• Each student given a ballot and 100 points to
allocate
Must rank a minimum of 3 projects
Maximum of 80 pts can be assigned to first choice
(exception for proposers)
o Minimum of 1 pt assigned to last choice
o No fractional points
o
o
• Points are plugged into a MATLAB optimization
program built by Chris Costello
• Voting deadline – Fri., March 6th @ 3pm
Example
____80____ Permanent River Conservation Strategies for China (Wilkinson)
__________ Synergistic commercial and industrial energy and water conservation strategies
(Keller)
__________ Gills Onions, LLC 2009 Group Project Proposal (Frew)
__________ Development of a Standard Tool to Measure the Economic Footprint of Footwear
(Anderson)
__________ Development of conceptual models and ecological baselines to support monitoring and
adaptive management of Tejon Ranch, California (Davis)
__________ Optimal Design and Management of a Commercial Fishing Cooperative for the San
Miguel Island Red Abalone Fishery (Costello)
____19____ Greening the Industrial Laundry Sector: Life Cycle Assessment of Button-Down
Uniform Shirts (Geyer)
__________ Assessing Fire Regime Change in the Santa Monica Mountains under Climate
Change Scenarios: Policy and Management Implications (Kendall)
__________ Patagonia’s Water Footprint (Dunne)
__________ Environmental Risk and Emerging Regulation in the Nanomaterials Sector: A 2009
Inventory and Survey of Industry Perceptions and Practices (Holden)
_____1____ Tracing seafood sources: a pressing technical challenge for the seafood industry
(Lenihan)
__________ AECOM (Young)
__________ Integrating Urban Green space into Downtown Los Angeles (Tague)
__________ Enhancing Business Operations and Scientific Capacity of Loreto Baykeeper in Baja
California Sur, Mexico (Melack)
__________ Eco-Entrepreneurship Business Plan Proposal: Marketainer, Closed-Loop Packaging
Solution (Ramus)
__________ Creation of Pajaro Water Solutions LLC to Provide Innovative Water Resource
Management Strategies to the Pajaro River Watershed (Libecap)
___________Energy Rubik - Eco-Entrepreneurship Group Project Proposal: Developing a
Business Plan for a Consulting/Brokerage Firm that couples Energy Efficiency
Methodologies
and Photovoltaic Installation (Kotchen)
Permanent River Conservation Strategies for China (Wilkinson)
__________ Synergistic commercial and industrial energy and water conservation strategies
(Keller)
__________ Gills Onions, LLC 2009 Group Project Proposal (Frew)
__________ Development of a Standard Tool to Measure the Economic Footprint of Footwear
(Anderson)
____33___ Development of conceptual models and ecological baselines to support monitoring and
adaptive management of Tejon Ranch, California (Davis)
__________ Optimal Design and Management of a Commercial Fishing Cooperative for the San
Miguel Island Red Abalone Fishery (Costello)
__________ Greening the Industrial Laundry Sector: Life Cycle Assessment of Button-Down
Uniform Shirts (Geyer)
____33____ Assessing Fire Regime Change in the Santa Monica Mountains under Climate
Change Scenarios: Policy and Management Implications (Kendall)
____33____ Patagonia’s Water Footprint (Dunne)
_____1____ Environmental Risk and Emerging Regulation in the Nanomaterials Sector: A 2009
Inventory and Survey of Industry Perceptions and Practices (Holden)
__________ Tracing seafood sources: a pressing technical challenge for the seafood industry
(Lenihan)
__________ AECOM (Young)
__________ Integrating Urban Green space into Downtown Los Angeles (Tague)
__________ Enhancing Business Operations and Scientific Capacity of Loreto Baykeeper in Baja
California Sur, Mexico (Melack)
__________ Eco-Entrepreneurship Business Plan Proposal: Marketainer, Closed-Loop Packaging
Solution (Ramus)
__________ Creation of Pajaro Water Solutions LLC to Provide Innovative Water Resource
Management Strategies to the Pajaro River Watershed (Libecap)
___________Energy Rubik - Eco-Entrepreneurship Group Project Proposal: Developing a
Business Plan for a Consulting/Brokerage Firm that couples Energy Efficiency
Methodologies
and Photovoltaic Installation (Kotchen)
__________ ____
Exceptions
• Proposers
o
Proposers allocate 100 points to their project (if they
want to be on it)
• Eco-Entrepreneurship Projects
Do NOT need to be Eco-Ent to be on these projects,
but EE students have first priority
o Deadline for EE students to choose EE project –
Noon on Wed., March 4th
o Will notify the rest of the class if spaces are left on
any EE projects by 5pm on March 4th
o
Switching projects
• Students will have the opportunity to trade places
with someone on another project
• Will have 1 week to do this
• I must get an email confirmation from both people
who plan to trade
Timeline
•
•
•
•
•
Wed., March 4th – Deadline for EE ballots
Friday, March 6th – Deadline to submit all ballots
Wed., March 11th – Results of Round 1
Tues. March 17th – Deadline to trade
Wed., March 18th – Final groups announced
Final notes
• All proposals will be posted
• PowerPoint presentation will be posted on Bren
website
• I will send out after the meeting today
o
o
o
o
Link to proposals
Link to PowerPoint
Ballots
Voting instructions