Environmental Frontiers

A program that allows students to conduct research projects to advance UChicago's sustainability goals.

Environmental Frontiers supports teams of undergraduate research assistants charged with analyzing campus data, operational systems, and community behaviors to identify actionable recommendations that advance the University’s sustainability goals. All projects are aligned with the University’s sustainability plan, and are mentored by faculty and Facilities Services staff. By using UChicago’s campus as a case study, students are challenged to think deeply about what the data suggests are effective interventions to improve environmental efficiency and reduce consumption.

Meet our current team of undergraduate research assistants.

Shut the Sash
EFCampus helps run the “Shut the Sash” competition at the University of Chicago, encouraging lab users to minimize fume hood sash height to reduce energy consumption, promoting sustainability and fostering a culture of energy conservation through biannual feedback and rewards. The effort has resulted in significant reduction in energy use at campus lab buildings, which are the highest source of climate emissions on-campus.

Freezer Challenge
The goal of the Freezer Challenge is to enhance lab cold storage efficiency on campus by implementing better practices, such as regular defrosting and sample management, to significantly reduce energy consumption and promote sustainability across the campus.

Lab Standard Operating Procedure
Research laboratories at the University of Chicago consume substantial energy, leading to high costs and sustainability challenges. The aim of this project is to study and utilize sustainable frameworks like I2SL Smart Labs Toolkit and My Green Labs to enhance lab efficiency and sustainability.

Heat Mapping
The Heat Mapping project seeks to understand urban heat effects by analyzing the relationship between surface and 3-meter temperatures. Working with local high school students, the project will collect, analyze, and map temperature data to create actionable insights for better urban management.

Past Projects

EV Charging Stations
The EV Charging Station project conducted research to determine the best locations for four future charging stations and researched a plan for additional charging stations to accommodate a full EV fleet transition by 2030 at the University.

Laboratory Building Energy Analysis and Design
This Laboratory Building Energy Analysis and Design project evaluated the energy performance of University laboratory buildings and developed tools and behavioral campaigns to reduce excess energy use. Learn more from the project’s Laboratory Building Energy Analysis and Design Final Presentation.

Sustainability Dashboards Analysis and Design
This project evaluated UChicago’s sustainability dashboards on the basis of transparency, digital accessibility, and usability to develop recommendations to improve and expand sustainability dashboards and reporting to advance the University’s sustainability goals. The team collaborated in 2022-2023 with UChicago Dining and Chartwells, the dining hall food supplier, to build a UChicago Dining dashboard analysis to report on the amount of food UChicago is sourcing sustainably accounting for: cage free eggs, Fair Trade/Eco coffee, rhgh-free milk, reduced antibiotic chicken, reduced antibiotic turkey, and sustainable seafood. Learn more from the project’s Sustainability Data Dashboard Report.

Tree Ecosystem Services Analysis
The Tree Ecosystem Services Analysis evaluated methods to quantify the benefits provided by different tree species in an urban forest, and assessed opportunities to optimize ecosystem services to advance the University’s sustainability goals. Learn more from the project’s Campus Forest Analysis.

Water Conservation Assessment
The Water Conservation Assessment project benchmarked current water usage at the University of Chicago, recommending water reduction goals and conservation measures through technological improvements, behavioral methods, and cost-benefit analyses. Learn more from the project’s Water Reduction Report.