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Access status: Open Access ,
Analysis and Recommendations for Phosphorus Management in P-limited and P-abundant Watersheds
(University of Virginia, 2020-05-04) Malabad, Anthony
This work was completed as part of the Spring 2020 Global Sustainability Capstone course under the direction of Professor Phoebe Crisman. Professor Deborah Lawrence served as advisor on the project. This paper is the result of a semester of research on soil phosphorus and provides the case for an integrated, multi-faceted approach to phosphorus management. It culminates in recommendations for phosphorus management in two watersheds, one that is phosphorus-limited and one that is phosphorus-abundant. Justification of these measures is made, based on the projected depletion of high-quality rock phosphate reserves, the widespread problem of nutrient pollution in waterways, and the call for better management of phosphorus at all parts of the cycle. Several methods of phosphorus management are discussed, including front-end solutions like intercropping, cover cropping, nutrient management plans, specific application of fertilizer, fertilizer treatment, and soil amendments; and back-end solutions such as riparian buffers and Resource Recovery Facilities.
Access status: Open Access ,
Affecting Sustainable Changes in the Individual Through Landscape Architecture: A Case Study of the University of Virginia
(University of Virginia, 2020-05-29) Manville, Annie
In the long trek towards creating a sustainable society, universities play one of the most significant roles. They serve as laboratories for defining what it means to be a sustainable institution, and as educators and moral influencers of the next generation of informed citizens. Sustainability initiatives at many universities still focus mainly on technical and economic fixes, with some minor focus on equity and social dynamics. The inner world and consciousness of the individual, as well as aesthetics and beauty, have mostly been ignored as significant factors in the creation of a sustainable society. Landscape architecture is a field that has the potential to explore both of these factors through the design of outdoor spaces on campus that inculcate sustainable values in individuals and increase the inhabitant’s own sense of well-being. This work was prepared over the course of one semester, for the capstone class of the Global Environments and Sustainability major program at the University of Virginia, and was completed with advising from Professor Phoebe Crisman, who is a member of the faculty of the University of Virginia School of Architecture as well as the Director of the Global Environments and Sustainability major.
Access status: Open Access ,
Making it Personal: The Ways in Which We Communicate Sustainability, and How to Target the Individual Using Effective Language
(University of Virginia, 2020-08-24) McPherson, Katherine
This paper will provide a detailed review of tactics that should be employed in sustainability communication with the final goal of targeting individual behavior change. Three major areas of communication are to be examined: 1) using an individual’s cultural identity as an access point to sustainability education on a values-based level, 2) navigating scientific language and the social role one must fill to understand it, and 3) the advantages of a narrative-based approach in sustainability communication. These three areas may seem divided, but through applied research I hope to make a case for their interconnectedness. Ultimately, I will prove that through a strategic synthesis of each area discussed, we can improve the language used to communicate sustainability and elicit tangible results from the individuals who listen to it. This work was completed in completion of the Global Sustainability and Environments distinguished major in Spring 2020 under the guidance of Professor Willis Jenkins.
Access status: Open Access ,
The Value of Green Building Technologies in Hotels: A Case Study on Denmark's Green Solution House
(University of Virginia, 2020-05-01) Bates, Hannah
The hospitality industry currently faces significant sustainability issues given the resource-intensive nature of the industry. Hotels require significant amounts of water, electricity, heating and cooling to operate and produce substantial amounts of waste. However, with the rise of green building technologies comes the opportunity for environmentally, socially, and economically positive changes in hotel building design and operations. Green Solutions House, a four-star hotel and conference center in Denmark, was designed to be at the forefront of green building innovation and is showing how the entire hospitality industry could use these technologies to not only be “greener,” but to become more resource and cost-efficient. This paper examines how three green building technologies are used successfully in Green Solution House—the pyrolysis plants, the integrated photovoltaic panels, and the biological water purification generators—to determine if such technologies would be beneficial for other hotels to implement. The research concludes that green building technologies can significantly decrease the environmental impact of the hospitality industry. However, the high upfront cost of these technologies is a common factor that limits their implementation. As hotels are typically operated as for-profit businesses, it is important to understand the long-term value of green building technologies. Thus, the viability of investing in green technologies must be analyzed through a financial lens. This paper concludes a Net Present Value (NPV) analysis on Green Solution House’s pyrolysis plant and integrated photovoltaic system to determine the financial value these technologies have for the hotel. Currently, not enough there is not enough publicly available on the specific components of Green Solution House’s biological water purification system, thus a useful NPV analysis on this technology was not possible. The findings show that currently neither technology is creating a positive NPV for Green Solution House; however, with some situational changes like government incentives and public-private partnerships, these technologies could be profitable for Green Solution House. This paper also discusses how the successes of these technologies could change depending on the location of the hotel property. This work was completed as a requirement of the Global Studies: Global Environments and Sustainability major under the direction of Professor Mark White and Professor Phoebe Crisman.
Access status: Open Access ,
UVA Library Digital Accessibility Strategic Plan 2026-2030
(University of Virginia, 2026-03-30) Girard, Elysé
The Digital Accessibility Strategic Plan 2026–2030 establishes the University of Virginia Library's strategic priorities, governance structures, and operational frameworks for advancing digital accessibility across its systems, collections, and services. The plan treats accessibility as an ongoing institutional responsibility, reflected in how the Library designs, evaluates, and sustains its digital ecosystem, and grounded in the participation and expertise of disabled users. Developed in response to ADA Title II requirements, the plan provides the Library's framework for compliance while building toward a durable, participation-centered approach that coordinates effort and accountability across the Library.