Group ProjectsClass 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 AngelesKathryn Riley & Rebecca Tannebring

Client: Ashley Zarella, Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood CouncilFaculty 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 CommunitiesAECOM Environment

Client: AECOM Environment & CCAR Registered CommunitiesFaculty 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 SupplyFaculty 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 FootprintAmelia Nuding

Client: PatagoniaFaculty 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

PracticesBarbara Herr Harthorn, Director, NSF Center for Nanotechnology in Society at UCSB

Client: Barbara Herr HarthornFaculty 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 CorporationFaculty 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 AgenciesFaculty 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 Onions-Sustainable Innovation and Waste Management

Nikki Rodoni

Client: Gills Onions- Oxnard, CAFaculty 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 ChinaKristen McDonald, China Rivers Project

Michael Ghelata, Attorney, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

Client: China Rivers ProjectFaculty 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,

CaliforniaMichael D. White, Conservation Biology Institute

Client: The Tejon Ranch ConservancyFaculty 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

ImplicationsMarti Witter, National Park Service Fire Ecologist & Wendy P. Su

Client: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation AreaFaculty 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 SolarFaculty 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 WatershedZoe 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.

MarketainerClosed-Loop Packaging SolutionHylton Edingfield, Takuma Ono, Matt Valdin

Client: Wal Mart, Isla Vista Food Co-opFaculty 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 allocateo Must rank a minimum of 3 projectso Maximum of 80 pts can be assigned to first choice

(exception for proposers)o Minimum of 1 pt assigned to last choiceo No fractional points

• 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

• Proposerso Proposers allocate 100 points to their project (if they

want to be on it)• Eco-Entrepreneurship Projects

o 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

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 Link to proposalso Link to PowerPointo Ballots o Voting instructions