As institutions, universities likely have the greatest awareness of the consequences of unsustainable human activity. Michigan State University has taken the initiative to strengthen Environmental Stewardship on its campus (Be Spartan Green), and the B-SERV team’s mission is part of this initiative. The goal of the initiative is “to improve the sustainability of the campus by reducing inputs, improving the efficiency of processes, and optimizing outputs”. The B-SERV team (with help from the Remote Environmental Assessment Laboratory) is specifically attempting to streamline the recycling material collection process, reduce the amount of paper and expense in the classroom and in meeting expenditures.

Our Projects:
  • Bin Sensors – Using remote sensor units, we will both streamline the recycling material collection process while providing an unbiased method for policy change evaluation.
  • E-Reading – Conventional textbooks are expensive and rely on paper, and the digital textbook is becoming a reality. The purpose of this project is to prepare MSU for a successful integration of digital and paper-saving textbooks in the learning environment.
  • Videoconferencing – Videoconferencing has great potential to cut down travel costs while improving communication. The B-SERV team is promoting the expansion of videoconferencing capabilities on campus using the latest web-based software.