Sustainability Awareness and Action: Owners, Residents and Managers of Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (MURBs)

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Application ID: 000260
This project is available.
Project Description
Project Title
Sustainability Awareness and Action: Owners, Residents and Managers of Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (MURBs)
What is the central research question you want answered?
What are the objectives of your project?
For a given MURB (including owners, residents and managers), what is the degree of awareness, interest and action related to attaining higher levels of sustainable building operation/maintenance?

Objectives

• To explore current levels of sustainability awareness/knowledge of the opportunities (technologies, behaviors) available for attaining higher levels of sustainable building operation and maintenance;
• To determine the degree to which related initiatives have been planned or implemented; and
• To identify actual or perceived barriers to sustainability-oriented MURB-specific change
Project Type
Computer Related     
Creative     
Formal Research     
 Organizational Development     
Survey     
Other  
Size of Project (Number of pages, minutes, cm, etc.)
To be determined and dependent on building chosen (anticipate ~5-10pp excluding appendices)
Project Description (Use this space to further elaborate on the project)
The project includes:
• Development of a survey tool (questionnaire, interview protocol);
• Pilot testing
• Survey of designated MURB owners, residents and managers;
• Data compilation and reporting
How do you plan to use the results of this project?
The results will inform the development of an SSOS survey instrument that can be used to assess current readiness and possible next steps for a specific building to move towards higher levels of sustainable building operation/maintenance. The project will also help to define areas of information and educational need, and the tool itself will be part of an SSOS educational toolkit.
What larger goal is served by undertaking this project?
Our primary aim is to help maintain and extend the life of existing MURB stocks by increasing their sustainability (e.g., more energy and water efficient) and, thereby, help retain more affordable housing.
The Organization
Organization Name
SSOS: Society Serving Ourselves Sustainably (Registration as not-for-profit in process)
What community do you represent or work with?
Our primary audience(s) for the program are owners, renters, and managers of MURBs We are intending to undertake pilot studies within particular communities in the near future; as a result of expressed interest, the City of North Vancouver will be a likely first partner.
What is your organization/group's goal or mandate?
To provide informational, educational, and professional guidance and services to further the development of sustainability-consistent policy and practice.
Are you a registered not-for-profit?
No
Contact Information
Contact Person
Fiona S. Crofton.
  
Position
SSOS Founder; Project Mgr
Mailing Address
ORCAD Consulting Group Inc.
101-330 West 2nd Street North Vancouver BC V7M1E1
Telephone
604.985.8381
Fax
604.985.7385
Email
orcad@4sustainability.com
  
Alternate Telephone
 
Alternate Fax
 
Alternate Email
 
Project Plan of Action
Duration of Project
Smaller (One semester)
If you know the duration more specifically, please indicate here
 
What are the specific deliverables that you expect of the student?
Research (including internet, phone, and hardcopy resources); data compilation (spreadsheet); reporting; consultation with SSOS board and/or working group representatives
Estimated time commitment per week
~3-4 hrs (may vary by week and/or by overall student availability during the semester)
Liaison
Liaison Name
see contact
  
Liaison Position
 
Liason Contact Info (If different from above)
 
How much time per week will the
liaison be available to the project?
Approx 1-2/week. This will vary according to project/student needs. Anticipate ~ 2h for start-up; 1h/week for project initiation; less during implementation and 1-2h/week towards end of project.
How will the liaison provide direction and support to the project?
The survey tool(s) will be developed in collaboration with the SSOS team. The Liaison will provide direction regarding contacting prospects, undertaking the survey, data compilation and reporting; have ongoing (at least weekly) contact with the student via email and phone for the purpose of project tracking and providing additional guidance/direction as may be required; and will arrange for the student to meet with the SSOS Board and/or Working Group members/representatives to present the research results (depending on student interest).
Student Researcher
Student area of study/experience
Sustainability; human values & behavior; decision-making; ‘green’ buildings; resource use & efficiency (e.g., water, energy, waste); management
Student skills/attributes
Skills: basic research (esp web-based); data collecton/compilation, analysis, synthesis and reporting; strong verbal and written communication skills; organization & time management skills; familiarity with Excel; Word or Wordperfect (ideally) and Adobe (pdf), strongly desired.

Attributes: Interest/passion for sustainability-oriented ideas and approaches; attentive; diligent; well-organized; positive nature; follows-through; consultative; can take a task and run with it once direction is provided.
Student related interests
Sustainability; human values & behavior; decision-making; ‘green’ buildings; resource use & efficiency (e.g., water, energy, waste); management

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