Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies
Encyclopedia
The John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies, informally called LCRS, is a research facility at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
(Cal Poly Pomona) in Pomona, California
, United States
. Based on regenerative principles of sustainable design
and sustainable agriculture
the center offers both a minor and a Master of Science
in Regenerative Studies. Masters theses generally consist of students researching and implementing an element or elements of sustainability through Regenerative (also known as Cradle to Cradle) principles.
"The mission of the Lyle Center is to advance the principles of environmentally sustainable living through education, research, demonstration and community outreach. The term "regenerative" describes processes that restore, renew or revitalize their own sources of energy and materials, creating sustainable systems that integrate the needs of society with the integrity of nature.
Located on 16 acres (6.5 ha) within the Cal Poly Pomona campus, the Center researches and demonstrates a wide array of regenerative strategies, including low-energy architecture, energy production technology, water treatment
, organic agriculture, ecological restoration and sustainable community
development.
The Center is administered by the College of Environmental Design, and offers a Master of Science in regenerative studies as well as a minor program at the undergraduate level. Faculty are drawn from departments across campus, creating a unique interdisciplinary learning space."
, professor of landscape architecture from the university's College of Environmental Design
. In 1992 the facility was built, and by 1994 the center housed 20 students for the first time.
Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Center was designed by Dougherty + Dougherty Architects, LLP in conjunction with a team of University Staff from an array of interdisciplinary Colleges and Programs on the campus. Other portions of the Center were designed by a local architecture and landscape firm, the Claremont Environmental Design Group (CEDG).
The center conducts numerous sustainable and agricultural practices, including photovoltaic cells, solar hot water cells, student community gardens, wind turbines, permaculture practices. Rooms are designed to moderate temperature and humidity with passive solar building design
techniques, rather than unnecessary air conditioning. The buildings are primarily made of concrete, farmed cedar wood panels and metal roof
s of copper.
In 2010, with the installation of a 210,000 kW hours CPV
system by Amonix
, the center became the first carbon neutral
facility in the California State University
system
The Center is currently managed by the Director, Kyle D. Brown, agroecologist Juan Araya, and staff that operate its demonstration and outreach programs.
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, or Cal Poly Pomona, is a public university located in Pomona, California, United States...
(Cal Poly Pomona) in Pomona, California
Pomona, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Pomona had a population of 149,058, a slight decline from the 2000 census population. The population density was 6,491.2 people per square mile...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Based on regenerative principles of sustainable design
Sustainable design
Sustainable design is the philosophy of designing physical objects, the built environment, and services to comply with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability.-Intentions:The intention of sustainable design is to "eliminate negative environmental...
and sustainable agriculture
Sustainable agriculture
Sustainable agriculture is the practice of farming using principles of ecology, the study of relationships between organisms and their environment...
the center offers both a minor and a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Regenerative Studies. Masters theses generally consist of students researching and implementing an element or elements of sustainability through Regenerative (also known as Cradle to Cradle) principles.
Mission statement
Taken from LCRS website"The mission of the Lyle Center is to advance the principles of environmentally sustainable living through education, research, demonstration and community outreach. The term "regenerative" describes processes that restore, renew or revitalize their own sources of energy and materials, creating sustainable systems that integrate the needs of society with the integrity of nature.
Located on 16 acres (6.5 ha) within the Cal Poly Pomona campus, the Center researches and demonstrates a wide array of regenerative strategies, including low-energy architecture, energy production technology, water treatment
Water treatment
Water treatment describes those processes used to make water more acceptable for a desired end-use. These can include use as drinking water, industrial processes, medical and many other uses. The goal of all water treatment process is to remove existing contaminants in the water, or reduce the...
, organic agriculture, ecological restoration and sustainable community
Sustainable community
Sustainable communities are communities planned, built, or modified to promote sustainable living. This may include sustainability aspects relating to reproduction...
development.
The Center is administered by the College of Environmental Design, and offers a Master of Science in regenerative studies as well as a minor program at the undergraduate level. Faculty are drawn from departments across campus, creating a unique interdisciplinary learning space."
History
LCRS was conceptualized in the late 1970s by John T. LyleJohn T. Lyle
John T. Lyle was a professor of landscape architecture at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona ; the Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies at Cal Poly Pomona and the Lyle plaza at the entrance to Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies at Oberlin College are named after...
, professor of landscape architecture from the university's College of Environmental Design
Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design
The California State Polytechnic University, Pomona College Environmental Design also known as the Cal Poly Pomona College of Environmental Design is one of Cal Poly Pomona's seven colleges. The college houses over 1,600 students; making it one of largest environmental design programs in the...
. In 1992 the facility was built, and by 1994 the center housed 20 students for the first time.
Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Center was designed by Dougherty + Dougherty Architects, LLP in conjunction with a team of University Staff from an array of interdisciplinary Colleges and Programs on the campus. Other portions of the Center were designed by a local architecture and landscape firm, the Claremont Environmental Design Group (CEDG).
The center conducts numerous sustainable and agricultural practices, including photovoltaic cells, solar hot water cells, student community gardens, wind turbines, permaculture practices. Rooms are designed to moderate temperature and humidity with passive solar building design
Passive solar building design
In passive solar building design, windows, walls, and floors are made to collect, store, and distribute solar energy in the form of heat in the winter and reject solar heat in the summer...
techniques, rather than unnecessary air conditioning. The buildings are primarily made of concrete, farmed cedar wood panels and metal roof
Metal roof
A metal roof, often referred to as a tin roof, is a roofing system made from metal pieces or tiles. It is a component of the building envelope.-History:...
s of copper.
In 2010, with the installation of a 210,000 kW hours CPV
Concentrated photovoltaics
Concentrated photovoltaic technology uses optics such as lenses to concentrate a large amount of sunlight onto a small area of solar photovoltaic materials to generate electricity...
system by Amonix
Amonix
Amonix, Inc. is a solar power system developer based in Seal Beach, California. The company manufactures concentrated photovoltaic commercial solar power systems designed for installation in sunny and dry climates...
, the center became the first carbon neutral
Carbon neutral
Carbon neutrality, or having a net zero carbon footprint, refers to achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset, or buying enough carbon credits to make up the difference...
facility in the California State University
California State University
The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the...
system
The Center is currently managed by the Director, Kyle D. Brown, agroecologist Juan Araya, and staff that operate its demonstration and outreach programs.
Wildlife
The Center for Regenerative studies serves as a home to much wildlife. The Center is located along the pacific flyway, providing a temporary home to many migrating birds, particularly waterfowl such as egrets and hooded mergansers. There are a number of small to medium sized mammals including squirrels, rabbits, and coyote that call this place home. It is not uncommon to see a coyote in the middle of the day due to the abundance of food and the philosophy of the welcoming of wildlife. Reptiles are encouraged as snakes keep gardens free of burrowing mammals. Lizards often utilize some of the natural heating elements employed at the center. The ponds at the center also are home to frogs as well as turtles. In recent years, though it is unclear where they had come from, many crawfish have found a home in the many ponds at the center. It is not uncommon to see crawfish walking around amidst the center away from ponds.See also
- Appropriate technologyAppropriate technologyAppropriate technology is an ideological movement originally articulated as "intermediate technology" by the economist Dr...
- Cradle to CradleCradle to CradleCradle-to-cradle design is a biomimetic approach to the design of systems. It models human industry on nature's processes in which materials are viewed as nutrients circulating in healthy, safe metabolisms...
- Regenerative DesignRegenerative DesignRegenerative design is a process-oriented systems theory based approach to design. The term "regenerative" describes processes that restore, renew or revitalize their own sources of energy and materials, creating sustainable systems that integrate the needs of society with the integrity of nature...
- Sustainable developmentSustainable developmentSustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
- SustainabilitySustainabilitySustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...