Current Projects
Can Carrier Reuse
Can Carrier Reuse partners with local breweries and businesses to reduce plastic waste by promoting the reuse of can carriers. After receiving the Sustainable Finger Lakes mini-grant, we were able to implement a successful pilot program with the 3 Greenstar locations and Personal Best Brewery. Last semester, we continued to apply for more grants, established an Instagram, tabled at local sustainability events, and created a tracking system. Our team will continue to conduct outreach to prospective partners, develop our website, standardize our tracking system, and start advertising on Nextdoor.
We will keep updating partners and participants through our Listserv and also deepen community engagement through digital outreach, social media, and sustainability events to increase awareness and participation. Additionally, we will keep exploring funding opportunities through grants and potentially hosting a fundraiser to support the program's long-term infrastructure.
Carbon Calculators
The Carbon Calculators team is dedicated to helping businesses understand and reduce their carbon footprints. The team uses extensive data analysis and proprietary Excel-based emissions tools to project CO2-equivalent emissions from operating activities such as electricity use and heating. Multiple projection methods are evaluated against each client's data profile to identify the most accurate and reliable estimate. Providing this service pro bono allows businesses without the budget for professional environmental consulting to still make meaningful progress toward carbon neutrality.
We're currently partnering with IndieClime, a public benefit corporation founded by Cornell alum Barry Berman, to quantify emissions for small and medium-sized businesses in the pet food industry. Our evaluations inform targeted recommendations, including the purchase of renewable energy credits (RECs), to help offset emissions and move these businesses closer to their sustainability goals.
Sustainable Tourism
This semester, the Sustainable Tourism sub-team will work with the Tompkins County Tourism Program to develop data-driven strategies that balance tourism growth with environmental & economic sustainability. Our work focuses on translating local tourism data into practical tools & recommendations that Tompkins County can use to better understand & reduce the environmental impact of tourism.
Our primary goal is to build on our previous research by developing a quantitative estimated carbon footprint for a typical visitor to Tompkins County and explore translating it into a visitor-facing carbon footprint tool. As a team, we will work towards benchmarking & researching existing tourism carbon calculators, evaluating potential partnerships with local and regional organizations, & developing recommendations for how Tompkins County could better communicate carbon impacts and encourage more sustainable visitor behavior. Overall, we are hoping we can create a strong analytical foundation that can support a practical, locally tailored sustainability resource for Tompkins County tourism.
Sustainable Beverage
The Sustainable Beverage team works to improve sustainability in breweries, wineries, and cideries throughout the Finger Lakes region by providing individualized business progress strategies on best practices through industry-specific research. The team will synthesize a comprehensive report detailing best practices and current trends regarding sustainability in the applicable industry.
This semester, Sustainable Beverage will work with Abandon Brewing Co. to develop its sustainability initiatives and market to its consumers. We will take a site visit to learn more about the business, and from there, we will conduct research on the areas requested by our clients and provide actionable recommendations. These suggestions can include certifications, marketing, renewable energy, waste management, and more. At the end of the semester, we will provide one final report to be presented to the client.
Sustainable Branding
The Sustainable Branding team is dedicated to amplifying the sustainability stories of environmentally conscious companies. By developing effective marketing, branding, and outreach strategies, the team helps businesses achieve their sustainability goals.
This semester, the Sustainable Branding team is continuing its collaboration with Earth Matters to support the national expansion of their climate change-themed board game. By leveraging past market research and analyzing existing campaign performance, the team will develop a strategic marketing and outreach plan aimed at reaching key target demographics. The goal is to amplify Earth Matters’ mission of promoting climate change education through engaging, educational tools, while helping them grow their impact and visibility across the country.
Sustainable Commerce
The Sustainable Commerce Team works with companies and organizations to fulfill their environmental and economic sustainability goals. Most recently, we worked with the Ithaca Farmers Market to promote its Zero Waste Project and increase vendor and customer participation in the program.
This semester, we will continue our work from last semester with Seminary Hill Orchard & Cidery. We will assess the performance of our recommended composting system used to repurpose food waste to enrich its gardens and orchard. Part of this analysis will include deciding whether more composting stations should be added across Seminary Hill’s event space. We will do so by working closely with the CEO and Co-Founder during weekly meetings and a potential site visit. As we complete this phase of our work this semester, we will then strategize on ways for Seminary Hill to improve its economic sustainability during the off-season.
Solid Waste Environmental Excellence Performance (SWEEP)
SWEEP works to promote sustainability across Cornell’s campus by reducing waste and encouraging responsible disposal practices. Our goal is to identify opportunities to improve waste management and sustainability within the Cornell community and other universities while engaging students in meaningful environmental initiatives.
This semester, our team will conduct research to better understand current waste practices and identify areas for improvement, collaborate with campus organizations on potential sustainability initiatives, and develop strategies to increase student awareness and participation. We will also work with other campuses to evaluate the impact of our efforts and create sustainable systems that can continue to benefit the Cornell community and beyond for this semester.
Renewable Energy
Renewable Energy is a new sub-team this semester that will be partnering with Tompkins Green Energy Network (TGEN) as they enter the beginning steps of introducing a new Community Choice Aggregation energy system in Ithaca. TGEN, consisting of representatives from the Town of Ithaca, the City of Ithaca, and Local Power LLC, is now focusing on Community Outreach and Engagement in Ithaca, to properly inform residents of the new energy system, and encourage them to opt-in. This semester, CSC’s Renewable Energy Team will be taking part in this process by creating public-facing creative educational materials, designing the TGEN website, identifying and engaging with key stakeholders and organizations in the community, and conducting data analysis to measure the awareness and participation of Ithaca residents in the CCA program.