Welcome to the Miami University Sustainability Tour.
Western Campus Stepped Rain Garden
Western Campus Stepped Rain Garden
Starting from the Western Dining Commons and curving downhill, this extensive garden slows, cools, and cleans rainwater runoff while also preventing stream overload. The stepped walls invite visitors to explore the garden for a closer look at the water-tolerant vegetation and the habitat it provides for many species of birds, butterflies, bees, dragonflies, and other insects. Storm water moves through this area under the Western Campus bridges to Collins Creek and eventually flows to the Gulf of Mexico.
Geothermal Plant
Geothermal Plant
Miami University's Geothermal Plant produces energy from heat stored within the Earth. Geothermal is a renewable energy source that powers the heating and cooling of 8% of buildings on Miami's Oxford campus as of 2019. By 2026, 39% of buildings are projected to be heated and cooled by the plant. The $9 million geothermal plant and well field provide hot and cold water to three residence halls and a dining hall on Western Campus through 72 miles of underground piping. The geothermal infrastructure is more than 400 percent more efficient than the old system of steam boilers and cooling towers, and also conserves around 7 million gallons of water annually as it is a closed loop system. Visitors may schedule tours of the plant and can view the system of multicolored pipes organized according to the temperature of the water that flows through them, aiding understanding of how the plant functions.
Retention Ponds
Retention Ponds
Miami’s Upper Pond and Lower Pond are located on Western Campus behind the geothermal plant. They store and retain storm water runoff from surrounding buildings and Cook Field. Approximately 300 geothermal wells are situated under the ponds. The first time wells have ever been installed under ponds. Coiled heat exchangers installed under the Upper Pond provide heat transfer equivalent to 30 geothermal heat exchange wells. The ponds also capture up to 5,000 gallons of air conditioner condensate from surrounding buildings which, paired with storm water runoff, is used to irrigate Cook Field when needed.
Shideler Hall
Shideler Hall
Shideler Hall is a LEED Silver-certified academic building on Miami's Oxford Campus. Shideler is home to the departments of Geology and Environmental Earth Science and Geography, as well as the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability (IES). IES, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, includes students pursuing Master's of Environmental Science degrees; minors in Global Perspectives on Sustainability; and four co-majors: in Sustainability, Energy, Environmental Science, and Food Systems/Food Studies.
ASC Sustainability Wall
Armstrong Student Center "Sustainability Wall"
Armstrong Student Center serves as a hub for student activities on campus. The center earned LEED Silver certification after opening in 2014, incorporating water and energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and more. The “Sustainability Wall” located in the main hallway on the western side of the building, displays signage about how sustainability has been incorporated into the construction and management of the facility.
Elliott and Stoddard Halls
Elliott and Stoddard Halls
Elliott Hall (built in 1825) and Stoddard Hall (built in 1836) were the first buildings on geothermal. Elliott and Stoddard Halls, located in the center of Academic Quad, are two of the oldest buildings on Oxford's campus, and two of the oldest residence halls in Ohio. Fittingly, in 2011 they became the first two buildings at Miami to switch from coal-fired steam heat to heating and cooling powered by geothermal energy.
Farmer School of Business
Farmer School of Business
Miami's Farmer School of Business is nationally renowned for being among the top pubic business schools in the country. At Miami, it's recognized for being the first LEED certified building on the Oxford campus. Gaining a LEED Silver certification in 2009, it serves as an example of a shift toward sustainability within Miami's infrastructure.
Formal Gardens Ponds
Formal Gardens Ponds
There are several storm water retention ponds on Miami's campus, one of which includes the ponds in the Formal Gardens. These ponds collect water that would otherwise divert into sewers and streams, overloading the systems and degrading water quality as runoff incorporates oils, chemicals, salts, and other pollutants as it moves over paved areas and through fertilized lawns. Retention ponds allow a slower integration of water into natural systems, pollutants to settle out, and higher soil infiltration rates for prolonged irrigation potential. Depending on the weather, retention ponds water level may be high or low- It all depends on the rain.
Institute for Food Farm
Institute for Food Farm
The Institute for Food farm, located on the historic Austin-Magie Farm and Mill District, incorporates regenerative practices, cultivating organic crops that are sold to community members through a Community Supported Agriculture program. Produce is also sold back to the University, donated to Talawanda-Oxford Pantry & Social Services, and distributed to people in need by Gleaners of Southwest Ohio. The farm provides an opportunity for service learning, enlisting the help of students and faculty alike for daily operations, management, and research to improve best practices.
Ecology Research Center
Ecology Research Center
The Miami University Ecology Research Center (ERC) is a 69-hectare field station that supports aquatic and terrestrial research by faculty and students. It contains crop land and various terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems including experimental ponds, mesocosms, amphibian habitat, agroecosystem plots, prairies, and small mammal enclosures. A meteorological station is also located in the ERC, collecting data since2010 for Miami's Ecological Big Data Initiative.
Natural Areas
Natural Areas
Miami University Natural Areas have more than 1,000 acres of land and 17 miles of hiking trails. Envisioned as a way to conserve greenbelt areas by former Miami President Paul Pearson, Miami’s Board of Trustees officially designated the land in perpetuity in 1992. The Bachelor Reserve and Other Natural Areas Committee oversee and manages the Natural Areas, which consist of many ecosystem types, including freshwater aquatic, forested, grassland prairie, and pastureland.
Proposed site for the demonstration garden
Proposed location for the demonstration garden Neepwaantiinki, the Myaamia word meaning “learning from each other," is a rich interpretation of “partners in learning," a phrase that Miami University and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma have used for years to describe their reciprocal relationship. The Myaamia Center, created in 2001, serves as the research branch of the Miami Tribe cultural revitalization efforts. Recently, a student-driven initiative has resulted in a demonstration garden for the Miami Tribe located next to Boyd Hall on Western Campus. The purpose of the garden is to showcase native plants with their Myaamia names in an effort to further principles of Myaamia Ecological Knowledge, while also giving Myaamia students an outdoor location for their studies.
South Campus Chiller Plant
South Campus Chiller Plant
Converting campus energy systems away from fossil-fuel-powered steam to systems that are powered by electricity increases the opportunities to purchase renewable electricity off the grid, such as wind or solar power. The South Campus Chiller plant provides Heating Hot Water (HHW) to nineteen buildings on South Quad, including residence halls, the recreational sports center, Phillips Hall, and Goggin Ice Center. Other conversions include the new 1.6 million gallon thermal energy storage (TES) tank at the South Campus Chiller Plant and the heat recovery system in Goggin which recaptures up to 1.8 million Btus of heat from the ice plant and injects it back into the building's HHW loop. About 75% of the heat used from cooling the ice used to be wasted, but is now returned to the system, which will save about $300,000 in utility costs annually.