MIT Climate Mitigation Solutions 2016

How can MIT demonstrate innovative climate mitigation solutions on campus?

In October 2015, MIT announced a goal to reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions by 32 percent by 2030, and currently plans to explore reaching the scientifically necessary goal of carbon neutrality. The Plan for Action on Climate Change challenges the MIT community and partners to invent solutions that would help realize this goal, and harness the demonstration capacity of MIT to model, scale, and deploy innovative mitigation solutions. As MIT creates a path to reducing emissions over the next 15 years and beyond, we must consider not only what actions are necessary and feasible, but which will best harness the strengths of the MIT campus and community as a test bed for climate solutions.

This contest seeks ideas which successfully help MIT meet the 32% reduction goal or beyond, and harness the unique capacity of a research institution to demonstrate climate solutions. As a research-intensive institution in a dense urban environment, planning for a low-carbon future at MIT presents unique challenges and opportunities to demonstrate climate-savvy planning, building, and engineering – as well as human engagement and innovation.

What:

Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Mitigation)

Where:

Anywhere

Who:

Educational/research organizations, Schools/universities

How:

Physical actions, Cultural actions

Advisors

Judges

Fellows

19 Proposals

100% Net Zero Carbon Plan, 60% NZ Effectively Free, Expert Team Ready! / Net Zero Foundation

100% Net Zero Carbon for all Buildings. MIT 60-80% NZ for free! #DivestTheCampus -- Join the #NetZeroMovement to save the Planet!

Building Cooling and Heating, with Solar Robotic Concentrated Thermal Collectors / Lighthouse Group

267

It is economically and practically feasible, to substitute 60% of the energy we use for cooling and heating our buildings with solar energy.

Minimizing HVAC Energy Use Through Low-cost Software-based Airflow Optimization / Michael Gevelber and 2 others

132

Student project to identify campus wide HVAC efficiency opportunities and demonstration of new HVAC control architecture: 20-40% reductions

From engagement to implementation: SaveOhno focuses all of MIT on climate action / SaveOhno

169

SaveOhno's proven gamification model will engage thousands of MIT students & alumni to leverage MIT’s technology and reduce campus emissions

Campus carbon neutrality / Naresh Bhatt

Action of organizations, businesses and individuals taking action to remove as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as each put in to it.

Solar Energy Technologies on Campus / Hira Pant

Solar energy is the cleanest, most abundant renewable energy source available.

Green Building / Naresh Bhatt

A green building is an environmentally sustainable building, designed, constructed and operated to minimise the total environmental impacts.

Bonzer is a one way trip car sharing focusing on last-mile trips using mini EVs / Bonzer

Bonzer provides a clean mobility alternative to support a reduction of 80% GHG emissions target by 2050 because of urban population growth

Energy activity monitoring & benchmarking at MIT on Internet of Things platform / Asif Raza, IIM-A

Integrating energy use activities on the Internet of Things platform to monitor energy activity and benchmarking at MIT for decision making.

Sustainable MIT @ online www.earthcarboninternational.com climate change portal / Amitsinh Vaghela

@ Earthcarbon, Mitigate your carbon footprint by adopting a CDM program in your life, instead of third party certification.

MIT University should develop a new housing unit. / Aurora Nguyen

Do It in the Dark: Save the Climate by Going to Bed Early and Having Sex / Perry Grossman

Going to bed early and having more sex can help address climate change by reducing electricity use, stress, and carbon footprint.

Zero Budget Save Electricity Project / Praksh Sukdev Kolhe

To save electricity with the help of students, teachers and parents.

Proactive ways to recycle CO2 for climate control / Michael Minor

CO2 is swept away to space by the solar wind and flares. By coordinating lasers & microwaves we amplify these natural events so CO2 escapes.

MIT Implements Swami Vivekananda Fruit-Trees Expansion Mission for environment, / Hemant Wagh

Collect fruit seeds with students help, grow fruit trees everywhere, distribute fruits free, request to save seeds & use next year

Software for simulating people's activity and weather in the campus / Deivis Bluznevi?ius

Create software wich simulates how activity of each person and building in campus affects the weather on the planet.

Making MIT Self Sufficient / Nishit Sangomla

Decentralization of Power and Self Sufficiency in every aspect is the way to move forward in this World.

Campus Sustainability Best Practices / Naresh Bhatt

MIT should implement campus sustainability best practices plan for reducing campus greenhouse gases.

MIT Should go net zero along with the rest of Cambridge / Team MITACAL

MIT should implement its part in the 25 year Net Zero Action Plan for Cambridge to get to net zero emissions.