Maria Saxton and Armin Yeganeh were awarded a combined $13,500 in funding support to support their sustainability initiatives.
Maria Saxton was involved in leading interdisciplinary riparian habitat restoration projects conducted by undergraduate and graduate students.
The restoration sites are in previously disturbed riparian areas that are experiencing a rapid influx of non-native, invasive vegetation which threatens biodiversity, hamper natural processes, and do not effectively filter out pollutants from surrounding land uses or absorb stormwater runoff as a native riparian forest would do. By planting native seedlings we can ensure the healthiest and most resilient riparian habitat which will provide the greatest benefits to humans and wildlife for years to come. Last spring, the livestock exclusion fence was completed along Stroubles Creek near Plantation Road. This fence will keep livestock away from the water and opens over 1 acre of prime riparian habitat to restoration. We began planting this area in the fall of 2017 and are continuing these efforts this spring. To date, we have planted 2,640 trees in this general area. "Like" our page on Facebook to stay up-to-date on projects: https://www.facebook.com/savestroubles/
Armin Yeganeh proposed an upgrade to existing lamps at the Scene Construction Shop at Virginia Tech.
The purpose of the second proposal was an upgrade to existing lamps at the Scene Shop. There were 26 metal halide lamps (MH) in the scene shop, each 175 watts, which converted %75 of electricity to heat and created more heat, greenhouse gases and light pollution than contemporary fixtures. In addition, MH lamps maintain less than %50 of their lumen before 10,000 hours of operation. The upgrade reduced energy costs, cooling load, light pollution, and external costs (such as co2 production). The new LEDs produce 80% more light than a traditional MH lamp using less than half the wattage. In terms of light quality, LEDs maintain more than 90% of their lumen until 40000 hours of operation. The new LEDs will save $2000+ annually in VT electricity fees and pay back the investment in ~3 years. Other benefits include enhanced control (dimming), durability, and light quality. The new lamps are expected to operate more than 30 years without replacement.
The purpose of the second proposal was an upgrade to existing lamps at the Scene Shop. There were 26 metal halide lamps (MH) in the scene shop, each 175 watts, which converted %75 of electricity to heat and created more heat, greenhouse gases and light pollution than contemporary fixtures. In addition, MH lamps maintain less than %50 of their lumen before 10,000 hours of operation. The upgrade reduced energy costs, cooling load, light pollution, and external costs (such as co2 production). The new LEDs produce 80% more light than a traditional MH lamp using less than half the wattage. In terms of light quality, LEDs maintain more than 90% of their lumen until 40000 hours of operation. The new LEDs will save $2000+ annually in VT electricity fees and pay back the investment in ~3 years. Other benefits include enhanced control (dimming), durability, and light quality. The new lamps are expected to operate more than 30 years without replacement.
Both students expressed their gratitude VT Office of Sustainability and the VT Department of Site & Infrastructure Development for funding these projects. For more information about other initiatives visit: https://www.facilities.vt.edu/sustainability/sustainability-programs/gre...
