Sustainability Solutions Lab
The Sustainability Solutions Lab (SSL) aims to provide students with an experience of professional development while working on sustainability-oriented projects throughout the Middlebury College campus and greater Middlebury community!
What is the SSL?
The Sustainability Solutions Lab was founded in January 2017 and has connected over 130 paid student interns of varied backgrounds and majors with more than 40 environmental initiatives and projects around the Middlebury campus. Students collaborate with faculty and staff through the school year and summer to plan and implement innovative solutions to challenges affecting our institution’s sustainability commitment.
Interested in a paid internship with the SSL? Applications open each spring, with occasional positions filled at the beginning of each semester.
Keep an eye on the Franklin Environmental Center at Hillcrest newsletter/Instagram for deadlines, or contact Tara Federoff, Sustainability Specialist at tfederoff@middlebury.edu for more information!
Our Projects
SSL interns have been instrumental in creating and evolving initiatives like Energy2028, Global Partnerships for Sustainability, and many others. Here is a list of past projects:
2023 Fall
- Communications
- Sustainability Abroad & Global Partnerships for Sustainability
- The Living Buildings Challenge
- EcoReps Program Development
- Food Waste Awareness & Minimization
2023 Summer
- Communications
- Sustainability Abroad
- The Living Buildings Challenge
- Knoll Collaborations
- Food Preservations
- Avian & Lepidoptera Survey
- Campus Tree Map
- Vermont Climate Observatory
- Consumption & Waste Management
2022 Summer and Fall
- Communications: Newsletter, weekly posts.
- GHGI Codebook: Greenhouse Gas Inventory Codebook at Middlebury College.
- Sustainability Abroad
- The Living Building Challenge: LBC update.
- Urban Building Energy Modeling: Modeling and surveying home energy consumption in Addison County.
- STARS: Meatless Monday, sustainability assessment with Dining Services and Facilities.
- Tackling Food Security
- Special Project: ArcGIS map, rewilding campus lawns, Planet Forward.
2022 Spring
- Communications: Weekly posts and FAQs.
- Sustainability Abroad: Schools Abroad surveys, website re-do, pre-departure materials.
- Energy2028+Admissions: Case study for Admissions.
2021 Fall
- The Living Building Challenge: Presentation slides.
- Sustainability Consultancy: Snowbowl/Rikert, MIIS IEM, Admissions Office.
2021 Summer
- Global Partnerships for Sustainability: Wildlife Conservation Society Chile, Lake Baikal Ecocenter in Irkutsk, Russia.
- Athletics (Green Panther Challenge): Green Panther Program.
- The Living Building Challenge: A Living Building Residence Hall.
- Waste + Energy: Energy feedback, Townhouse energy project, local food map, media series.
2021 Spring
- Communications: Website audit, site map.
- Waste Team: Plastics use survey, Earth Day tabling, flyers.
- Transportation/Justice & Outreach: Bike clinic, go/bikemap, tips for new bikers.
- Fun Garden: Heritage Garden, Four Sisters Gardens.
- Sustainability Consultancy: Training, resources, and guidance.
2021 J-Term
- Waste Team
2020 Fall
- Communications: Website audits.
- Continuous Energy Improvements: Campaign for Bihall laboratories.
- Energy2028: Weekly posts.
- SDGs: Midd SDGs Challenge.
- Sustainability Consultancy: Debate Society, Center for Career and Internships.
- Waste Team: Instagram posts, posters about how to dispose of waste.
2020 Summer
- Communications: Weekly posts, website audits, How To Reduce Your Carbon Print.
- SDGs: SDG campaign in Irkutsk, Russia.
- Energy2028 Communications: go/learnenergy2028, Creative Climate Art Contest.
- Hangzhou-TNCC: The Nature Conservancy of China, Restorative Oyster Aquaculture.
2020 Spring
- Waste Team: Repair Cafe, Atwater Dinner.
2020 J-Term
- Planet Forward stories, Energy2028 video.
2019 Fall
- Waste Team: ReThrift, Repair Cafe, DIY Halloween Custome.
- E2028 Outreach: Biomass tour, weekly conversations with students.
2019 Summer
- Townhouse: Townhouse Energy Monitoring Project.
- GHGI: Middlebury College Annual Greenhouse Gas Inventory (FY18).
- Energy System Animations: Biomass, RNG, Electricity.
- Recycling and WRF Waste Data
- Fume Hoods Energy Conservation
- Carbon Pricing Research
2019 Spring
2018 Fall
- Waste Team: Repair Cafe, posters.
- Transportation: MiddKidd Challenge outreach, ACTR outreach.
- Energy 2026: Posters for proper dorm-room heating, feedback on the townhouse energy project.
2018 Summer
2018 Spring
- Energy 2026: Efficient, Renewable, Responsible.
2018 J-Term
- Beyond Neutrality: Final presentation.
