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With the publication of the College Sustainability Report Card 2010, more than 1,100 school survey responses from over 300 institutions are now available online. In total, these surveys offer more than 10,000 pages of data collected from colleges and universities during the summer of 2009. To access surveys from other schools, go to the surveys section of the website. To see grades, or to access additional surveys submitted by this school, please click the "Back to Report Card" link at the beginning or end of the survey.
Name: Lisa McNeilly
Title: Director of Sustainability
Date survey submitted: July 21, 2009
ADMINISTRATION
SUSTAINABILITY POLICIES
1) Does your school have its own formal sustainability policy?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe and provide URL, if available: In November 2007, UC Berkeley finalized our “Statement of Our Commitment to the Environment”
http://campuspol.chance.berkeley.edu/policies/environment.pdf
UC Berkeley is included in UC system's extensive sustainability policy that deals with green building, clean energy standards, climate protection practices, sustainable transportation, sustainable operation, waste reduction and recycling, and purchasing practices. URL: http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/sustainability/policy.html.
Additionally, Berkeley’s own sustainability assessment outlines the progress the campus has made, and discusses goals for the future. URL: http://sustainability.berkeley.edu/Campus_Sustainability_Assessment_2008.pdf
2) Has the president of your institution signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC)?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. If completed, please provide the date the GHG Report was submitted to the ACUPCC:
2007 report submitted September 15, 2008
3) Has your institution signed the Talloires Declaration?
[ X ] No
[ ] Yes
4) Is there a sustainability component in your institution's master plan and/or strategic plan (check all that apply)?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes, in the master plan. Please describe and provide URL, if available: In June 2009, Physical and Environmental Planning finalized amendments to the UC Berkeley Long Range Development Plan, Sustainable Campus chapter, to codify existing commitments to reduce campus contributions to climate change.
[ X ] Yes, in the strategic plan. Please describe and provide URL, if available: the Environment – “the impacts of human activity on our planet’s ecosystems, and how to manage and mitigate those impacts” – was one of ten academic themes of exceptional promise included in the 2002 UC Berkeley Strategic Academic Plan. http://opa.berkeley.edu/StratPlan/AcademicStrategicPlan.pdf
ADVISORY COUNCIL
5) Does your school have a council or committee that advises on and/or implements policies and programs related to sustainability?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes
If you answered "No" to question 5, please proceed directly to question 11.
6) Please provide the name of the committee and list the number of meetings held since August 2008.
Name: Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability
Number of meetings: 11
7) Please provide number of stakeholder representatives on the committee.
[# 1] Administrators
[# 3 ] Faculty
[# 8 ] Staff
[# 6 ] Students
[# 1 ] Other. Please describe: Alumni
8) Please provide the name of the chair(s) of the committee for the 2009-2010 academic year, and indicate which stakeholder group the chair(s) represents.
If 2009-2010 academic year information is not yet available, please provide information for 2008-2009 instead.
Name of chair(s): Prof William Collins (Professor, Earth and Planetary Sciences) and Irene Seliverstov (Undergraduate)
Position(s) (e.g., administrator, faculty, staff, student): See above
9) To whom does the committee report (e.g., president, vice president)? Chancellor
10) Please list key issues/programs that the committee has addressed or implemented since August 2008.
Key issues/programs that the group has addressed/implemented since August 2008: The Committee has held a Sustainability Summit on Earth Day, announced Sustainability Award winners, distributed 5 Green Fund Grants, and funded 9 student internships. A CACS co-sponsored report (2008 Campus Sustainability Assessment) was released in October 2008. The Committee formed two subcommittees: on Planning and on Sustainable Food. The Committee voted in January to make water use and conservation its top priority in the coming year.
Progress made on each of these issues since August 2008: A Campus Sustainability Plan will be finalized in July or August 2009. The Sustainable Food subcommittee has met twice but will be setting campus goals by December 2009.
SUSTAINABILITY STAFF
11) Does your school employ sustainability staff (excluding student employees and interns)?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please provide titles and number of sustainability staff.
[ 5 ] Number of full-time staff (in FTE). Titles: [Director of Sustainability Office, Sustainability Specialist, Green Building Assistant Director, Campus Energy Efficiency Manager, Campus Recycling Manager]
[# ] Number of part-time staff (in FTE). Titles: [ ]
12) Does the head of the sustainability staff report directly to the president or another high-level administrator (e.g., vice president, vice chancellor)?
[ ] N/A
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe: Reports directly to the Vice Chancellor of Administration
OFFICE OR DEPARTMENT
13) Does your school have an office or department specifically dedicated to furthering sustainability on campus?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe (including name of office or department and year created): The Office of Sustainability was created in January 2008. The Director of Sustainability reports to the Vice Chancellor of Administration and oversees the Sustainability Specialist and numerous student interns. The primary work of the Office of Sustainability is to continually improve the sustainability of campus operations, especially through reductions in campus greenhouse gas emissions.
WEBSITE
14) Does your school have a website detailing its sustainability initiatives?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please provide URL: Multiple: http://sustainability.berkeley.edu, http://sustainability.berkeley.edu/CACS, http://enviro.berkeley.edu, and http://sustainability.berkeley.edu/OS/
GREEN PURCHASING
15) Does your school have a formal green purchasing policy?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe policy and provide URL to full policy, if available: The UC system’s purchasing policy requires that universities buy cradle-to-cradle goods when possible, Energy Star appliances, 30% post-consumer paper, phase in Green Seal products, and request that suppliers use environmentally-friendly packaging. http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/sustainability/documents/policy_sustain_prac.pdf; See also http://sustainability.berkeley.edu/OS/projects.htm for UCB’s Sustainable Copy Paper Guidelines. We are currently drafting green purchasing policy and guideline documents.
16) Does your school purchase ENERGY STAR qualified products?
[ ] No
[ ] Some. Please describe:
[ X ] All
17) Does your school purchase environmentally preferable paper products (e.g., 100 percent post-consumer recycled content, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council)?
[ ] No
[ X ] Some. Please describe: 30% post-consumer recycled paper; Over the past year, the percentage of copy paper purchases with recycled content rose to 74% of total purchases, from 64% last year
[ ] All. Please describe:
18) Does your school purchase Green Seal, Environmental Choice certified, or biorenewable cleaning products?
[ ] No
[ X ] Some. Please describe: Since the beginning of 2007, Custodial Services has been implementing its Green Cleaning Program by using ALPHA-HP all purpose Green Clean product. Currently, a quarter of campus buildings are being cleaned with green cleaning supplies. PPCS is also continuing to expand the use of HEPA vacuums, microfiber dust mops, and a green hand soap.
[ ] All. Please describe:
19) Are your school's computer/electronics purchase decisions made in accordance with standards such as the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT)?
[ ] No
[ ] Some. Please describe:
[ X ] All
20) Does your school use only pesticides that meet the standards for organic crop production set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or Canadian Organic Standards (excluding on-campus farms)?
[ ] No
[ ] Some. Please describe:
[ ] All
CLIMATE CHANGE & ENERGY
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS INVENTORY
21) Has your school completed a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory?
Please check all that apply.
[ ] No.
[ ] In progress. Please describe status and provide estimated completion date:
[ X ] Yes. Please provide total annual GHG emissions (in metric tons of CO2e). Also, include the start date for each year as well as the URL to each inventory, if available online, or attach the document.
All inventory data presented below are for calendar years (Jan 1 – Dec 31). The changes in the reported inventories for 2006 and 2007 reflect updated numbers – see our May 2009 Report to the CalCAP Steering Committee (http://sustainability.berkeley.edu/calcap/docs/CalCAP_Steering_Committee.0509update.pdf), our 2009 Climate Action Plan (http://sustainability.berkeley.edu/calcap/docs/2009_UCB_Climate_Action_Plan.pdf), or our 2007 Feasibility Study (http://sustainability.berkeley.edu/calcap/docs/CalCAP%20Report%20FINAL%202007.pdf) for more details and for each inventory.
2008: 210,003
2007: 206,728 207,215; Start date – January 1, 2007; URL: http://acupcc.aashe.org/ghg-report.php?id=239
2006: 205,323 209,000
2005:
COMMITMENT TO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION
The purchase of carbon offsets does not count toward greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions for this indicator. They are counted in a subsequent indicator.
22) Has your school made a commitment to reducing GHG emissions by a specific amount?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please list details.
Reduction level: Achieve 1990 levels by 2014
Baseline year: 1990
Target date: 2014
If you answered only "No" or "In progress" to question 21, please now skip to question 27.
REALIZED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS
23) Has your school achieved a reduction in GHG emissions?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please list details. The preliminary results of the 2008 greenhouse gas inventory reveal an increase in total emissions of about 1.6% (or 3,300 tons) over the 2007 inventory, even though emissions per square foot dropped by 0.4% (declining to the same level as in 1990).
Percentage reduced:
Baseline year:
Date achieved:
24) Please provide the total heating and cooling degree days averaged over the past three years.
Data on total degree heating and cooling days is available at: http://www.degreedays.net/. This information will be used to help reduce bias between schools in different climates.
Cooling degree days average over the past three years:
Heating degree days average over the past three years:
25) Please provide GHG emissions figures on a per-thousand-square-foot basis for the past three years.
Per-Thousand-Square-Foot Emissions = Total CO2e in metric tons / Total maintained building space in thousands of square feet.
2008: 13.3
2007: 13.2
2006: 13.1
26) Please provide GHG emissions figures on a per-full-time-student basis for the past three years.
Per-Student Emissions = Total CO2e in metric tons / Total number of full-time enrolled students.
2008: 6.1
2007: 6.1
2006: 6.1
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
27) What programs or technologies has your school implemented to improve energy efficiency (e.g., cogeneration plant, retrocommissioning of HVAC systems, performing system tune-ups, temperature setbacks)? Lighting retrofits.
Between 2007 and 2008, the campus provided $4.1 million in funding for twenty energy efficiency projects as part of the 2006-2008 UC/IUO Energy Efficiency Partnership program. These projects are anticipated to have saved 8.5 million kWh in electricity and 111,000 therms annually, for an emissions reduction of about 3,200 tons and a cost savings of almost $1 million. The cumulative average payback for the projects is estimated to be 1.6 years.
It is estimated that about 75% of the campus incandescent lights have been converted to compact fluorescent lamps or replaced with efficient fluorescent fixtures. A few incandescent fixtures on campus have not been converted due to lights controlled by a dimming system such as in auditoriums; areas where the art, books, artifacts, and other collections displayed or stored are sensitive to fluorescent lighting; display areas where a more focal, spotlight not available in CFLs is required; and closets, storage, and mechanical rooms where the hours of operation are very low.
The campus has committed to completing approximately 200 energy efficiency projects through our Strategic Energy Plan (SEP), largely consisting of lighting, HVAC, and commissioning measures. The SEP includes additional energy efficiency projects including:
· Energy efficiency measures in new construction and renovated buildings
· Refrigerator and CRT monitor replacement program
· Use of computer power management systems for networked computers.
These 200 projects will cost $25 million in total (although the campus will receive $9 million in incentives from PG&E) and will yield cost savings of at least $3 million per year and a 23,000 ton reduction in emissions.
Facilities Services has launched an innovative training program that is open to building managers, project managers, and Physical Plant trades staff. The Campus Existing Building Commissioning training offers hands-on and detailed half-day courses designed to acquaint the attendees with the commissioning process, illustrate its power to improve performance and save resources, and connect attendees with resources to help them understand the process steps and benefits in more detail. Individual course offerings include HVAC fundamentals, pump theory and systems, and obvious indicators of commissioning opportunities. This opportunity was made possible through the award of a grant from the local green building authority and will build persistence into the energy savings expected as a result of the campus Strategic Energy Partnership projects.
Campus will continue to expand the number of building projects that achieve LEED certification. For major projects, each major building project undertakes a ‘sustainable design workshop’ or ‘eco-charette’ during the project planning or early design phase. This activity is a crucial opportunity for building users, campus staff and technical experts to articulate a sustainability program for the project and to develop an integrated approach to assuring that the project design includes appropriate best practices measures and approaches.
Facilities Services is working to identify several campus-wide credits that will be submitted for LEED™ certification as “Volume credits.” Once that occurs, subsequent building projects will not have to re-submit applications for these campus-wide credits, but will only have to confirm that the project is following the applicable campus practice. This is expected to greatly streamline the LEED certification process in terms of time and expense, resulting in more projects being certified. Physical Plant-Campus Services (PPCS) has tasked several staff and student employees to identify and document campus-wide practices for LEED™ EBOM. They are also working with the Building Sustainably at Cal service learning program to develop and implement projects that will help campus achieve both building-specific and campus wide credits in several areas including grounds maintenance, custodial services, and purchasing.
Update (8/17/09):
Partial list: Cogeneration plant was installed in 1986; steam trap replacements are on-going; centralized energy management system is being installed; we are retro-commissioning at least 10 buildings a year; we have a range of HVAC system upgrades (including variable speed motors), lighting retrofits include audits, replacements of bulbs and ballasts, the addition of better occupant controls and motion sensors, and the installation of LED exit signs, we have a policy of no comfort cooling (only adding cooling into lab buildings or other areas where the equipment or work requires it).
ENERGY CONSERVATION
28) Do you facilitate programs that encourage members of the campus community to reduce energy use (e.g., cash incentives, signs reminding individuals to turn off lights and appliances)?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe:
We have numerous energy conservation projects – too many to list. Below are a sampling.
The purpose of the energy and water conservation campaign titled “Watch Us Go Green” is to foster awareness of sustainability on campus. The outreach materials in this campaign provide a series of green tips to inform the campus audience of what they can do to conserve, and at the same time point them to more information on sustainability. The posters and postcards have been displayed in pubic areas and library carrels in most campus buildings, including California Hall.
Numerous student groups have undertaken projects to increase energy conservation and efficiency through education and behavior change. For example, from 2004 to 2008, the Green Campus Program has reduced energy usage by almost three million kWh through programs in residence halls (dorm competitions), laboratories, and other campus buildings. The on-campus projects include the Energy DeCal class, Shut the Sash campaign, Vending Miser Expansion, Haas Energy Challenge, ER 199, CRT Exchange, and Student Energy Projects. The campus housing projects include the CFL exchange, “Blackout Battles” energy competitions, Hall Staff Outreach, and the Green Room Series in collaboration with the Residential Sustainability Education Coordinators (RSECs).
Two new programs are aimed at helping departments reduce energy usage, along with other green improvements. The Green Department Certification is a new program to identify and recognize departments that have taken extra steps to have greener operations and lower their environmental footprint. The program identifies a set of conditions and actions that departments can take to be certified as a Green Department. The Office of Environment, Health & Safety and the Residential and Student Services Program (RSSP) are UC Berkeley’s first official Green Departments, with several more departments expected to achieve certification in the fall of 2009. Similarly, the Green Events program, an initiative of the Office of Sustainability and the Berkeley Events Network, identifies a set of conditions and actions that event organizers can choose to meet. Events can range from a departmental brown bag to black-tie galas, so greening options vary depending on the scope and location of the event and often include food service. Thus, the number of criteria required for Green Event certification varies both by category and by size of event. Since the program launched in April, eight events have been certified, including the Sustainability Summit (medium) and CalFest-Staff Appreciation Day (large).
RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION
29) Does your school generate renewable electricity?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please specify percentage of overall electricity generated from each of the following sources and describe details below.
[ %] B100 biodiesel
[ %] Clean biomass
[ %] Concentrating solar power (CSP)
[ %] Geothermal
[ %] Low-impact hydropower
[ <1 %] Solar photovoltaics
[ %] Wind
[ %] Other
Description: Renewable energy from photovoltaics.
30) Does your school have solar hot water systems?
[ X ] No
[ ] Yes. Please specify number of systems and total BTUs generated annually, if available:
RENEWABLE ENERGY PURCHASE
31) Has your school purchased electric energy from renewable sources or renewable energy credits (RECs)?
RECs and electricity from renewable sources must be Green-e certified or meet the requirements of the Green-e standard.
[ X ] No But utility provides electricity that is 14% from renewable sources.
[ X ] Yes. Please describe. Campus requires energy provider to purchase at least 12% of energy from renewable sources.
Date of most recent contract:
Quantity (kWh):
Percentage of your total electric energy use that it represents:
32) Has your school purchased non-electric energy from renewable sources?
[ X ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe.
Date of most recent contract:
Quantity (BTUs):
Percentage of your total non-electric energy use that it represents:
ON-SITE COMBUSTION
33) Please provide total BTUs of energy for heating and cooling from on-site combustion:
Natural gas: 189,120 MMBtu (2008) -- 100%
34) Please list each fuel source (e.g., coal, natural gas, oil) and the percent of overall BTUs derived from that source: See above.
35) Is any on-site combustion for heating and cooling derived from renewable sources?
[X ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe.
Percentage on-site combustion derived from renewable sources: [ %]
Total BTUs of energy generated from renewable sources: [# ]
Description of renewable energy sources used for on-site combustion for heating and cooling:
FOOD & RECYCLING
The food portion of this category is covered in a separate dining survey.
RECYCLING OF TRADITIONAL MATERIALS
36) Please indicate which traditional materials your institution recycles (check all that apply).
[ ] None
[ X ] Aluminum
[ X ] Cardboard
[ X ] Glass
[ X ] Paper
[ ] Plastics (all)
[ X ] Plastics (some)
[ ] Other. Please list: Construction waste, toner cartridges, cardboard, green and food waste are composted
37) Diversion rate: [ 57 %] For Academic Year 07-08
RECYCLING OF ELECTRONIC WASTE
38) Does your institution have an electronics recycling program?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. If available, please indicate the total annual weight or volume of each material collected for recycling or reuse.
[ X ] Batteries
[ ] Cell phones
[ X ] Computers
[ X ] Lightbulbs
[ X ] Printer cartridges
[ ] Other E-waste. Please list:
Tech trash (electronic devices, batteries, non-incandescent light bulbs) is a growing challenge to the campus. This waste is generally considered by regulations as “universal waste” and is less hazardous, but must be collected and managed safely. The campus efforts have resulted in collecting 36,600 pounds in 2008, up 1,000 lbs from that collected in 2007.
COMPOSTING (ASIDE FROM DINING FACILITIES)
39) What percentage of your campus's landscaping waste is composted or mulched?
[ 100 %]
40) Do you provide composting receptacles around campus in locations other than dining halls (e.g., in residence halls, offices, academic buildings)?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe: There are composting bins in the Haas Business School, the main office of our Residential and Student Services Program, and outside the Golder Bear retail food store. In the main office complex, and in dorms.
SOURCE REDUCTION
41) Do you have any source-reduction initiatives (e.g., end-of-semester furniture or clothing swaps and collections)?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe:
The campus has numerous reuse stations around campus, where office supplies and equipment can be donated and then reused by any department:
Mulford Hall: Second floor, in the CNR lounge
Minor Hall: Second floor, by the student lounge on the South side of the building
Dwinelle Hall: Main Hall, next to room 165
University Hall: Basement, at the foot of the stairs
Unit 2: Basement, by the mailroom
2000 Carleton: Second floor, in the copy room
Le Conte Hall: First Floor Mailroom, by room 156 and Second floor reading room
The Wurster Hall Energy and Waste student-initiated project was funded through a 2008 CACS Green Fund Grant. The small grant award was used to recycle usable architectural supplies, instead of discarding them at the end of the semester by students under pressure to vacate studios. Collected supplies can now be given to next semester’s incoming architectural students free of charge. This program included significant outreach to building occupants, including the creation of art from used coffee cups to demonstrate the magnitude of the waste. Another 2008 CACS grant helped the Campus Recycling and Refuse Services create 8 new mini reuse stations this year.
End-of-Semester/Year-End Clean-Out/Super Recycling Day: the University and the City work jointly to offer extensive recycling and reuse opportunities during the end of semester move-out. Targeted materials include: clothing, couches, mattresses, books, small appliances, house wares, paper, cardboard, and other materials. These are placed out at curbside on designated days for collection. Used readers and notebooks are also collected by SOURCE for redistribution or reuse. See the Spring 2000 outlines for information on how it has been conducted in the past
Excess, Surplus and Salvage: This reuse/resale arm of the university (under Materiel Management) collects or receives and sells furniture, office equipment, computer and lab equipment and other inventorial and supply items from campus departments. The items are available to the public through a yearly auction, in addition to a weekly salvage store operation. Materials that cannot be sold or donated for reuse are collected by local metal recyclers. Wood, paper and cardboard recycling services are provided by CRRS.
The LeConte Hall project was awarded a "Best Practices in Sustainability Award" from the California Energy Efficiency Partnership Program 2007 for its achievements in materials reuse. The renovation was designed with reuse as a priority. The construction diagrams specifically listed materials and building components to be reused. Architects then designed a database of parts for reuse. Components were retained whenever possible but otherwise were reserved for use elsewhere on campus, salvaged and recycled, or donated.
The campus has continued to improve and expand on its hazardous waste minimization programs. Two recent grants have funded the reuse of a campus electric vehicle, the installation of a poster that advertises the campus chemical exchange program, and the relocation of a hazardous dry waste compactor to a more convenient location. The compactor will significantly reduce the volume of hazardous waste leaving the campus.
GREEN BUILDING
GREEN BUILDING POLICY
42) Does your school have a formal green building policy?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe policy and provide URL to the full policy, if available: All new buildings must meet LEED-Silver criteria or higher; new buildings must outperform California energy codes by 20%; lab buildings must meet LABS21 environmental criteria.
GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS
43) Please indicate LEED-certified buildings.
[# 1 ] Total number of LEED-certified buildings.
[ sq ft] Certified-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ 11,068 sq ft] Silver-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names: Haste St Child Development Center
[ sq ft] Gold-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Platinum-level (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
44) Please indicate buildings that meet LEED certification criteria but are not certified.
[# 5 ] Total number of buildings that meet LEED criteria
[ 419,000 sq ft] Certified-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names: Stanley Hall, Underhill Parking Garage
[ 267,000 sq ft] Silver-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names: Units 1 & 2 Residence Halls, DOE Annex
[ sq ft] Gold-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Platinum-level criteria met, but not certified (combined gross square footage). Please list building names:
45) Please indicate buildings that are ENERGY STAR labeled.
[# ] Total number of ENERGY STAR buildings. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
RENOVATIONS AND RETROFITS
46) Please indicate LEED-EB certified buildings.
[# ] Total number of LEED-EB certified buildings. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
47) Please indicate buildings that meet LEED-EB certification criteria but are not certified.
[# ] Total number of buildings that meet LEED-EB criteria but are not certified. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
48) Please indicate renovated buildings that are ENERGY STAR labeled.
[# ] Total number of renovated buildings that are ENERGY STAR labeled. Please list building names:
[ sq ft] Combined gross square footage.
49) What energy-efficiency technologies have you installed in existing buildings (e.g., HVAC systems, motion sensors, ambient light sensors, T5 lighting, LED lighting, timers, laundry technology)?
For each technology, please indicate the number and type of fixtures installed, and the number of buildings in which those fixtures are installed. If possible, include either the percentage of the overall campus fixtures each type represents or the percentage of overall maintained building space that has been renovated with the technology (e.g., 20 buildings representing 10 percent of maintained building space have been retrofitted with motion sensors; thus, 10 percent of the total maintained building space in square feet would be the desired data).
See answer to question #27 above.
50) What water-conservation technologies have you installed in existing buildings (e.g., low-flow faucets, low-flow showerheads, waterless urinals, dual-flush toilets, gray water systems, laundry technology)?
For each technology, please indicate the number and type of fixtures installed, and the number of buildings in which those fixtures are installed. If possible, include either the percentage of the overall campus fixtures each type represents or the percentage of overall maintained building space that has been renovated with the technology (e.g., 20 buildings representing 10 percent of the maintained building space have been retrofitted with low-flow faucets; thus, 10 percent of the total maintained building space in square feet would be the desired data).
Total campus water usage dropped by 1% last year and has dropped by more than 10% since 1990, even in the absence of a water conservation target. More notably, usage per capita has dropped by over 20% since 1990, while usage per square foot has dropped by almost 30%. Much of this improvement can be attributed to the increased efficiency of irrigation, implementation of building codes related to low-flow fixtures, and improvements during building renovations. UC Berkeley does not have a detailed inventory of the number and types of efficient fixtures installed.
Facilities Services staff have continued to research new technologies that make irrigation “smarter” and have expanded the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, which automates irrigation management, to 90% of campus. Irrigation management will be further improved by a “weatherstation” that will provide the SCADA system real-time or predicted weather information so that grounds are not over watered. Physical Plant and Campus Services (PP-CS) has begun using numerous technologies to ensure that water is not wasted in irrigation. These include simple measures like replacing plastic valves, which tend to crack and leak, with brass, as well as introducing more efficient sprinklers and testing the efficacy of drip irrigation.
The Building Sustainability at Cal program completed thirteen building audits of sink aerators in public restrooms in fall 2008. They identified more than 300 faucets whose flow was greater than 1.0 gallons per minute (gpm) – either because there was not an aerator in place or because the existing aerator was flowing at a higher rate. In spring 2009, East Bay Municipal Utility District donated 0.5 gpm aerators for these faucets. The students then partnered with the campus plumbing shop, and plumber Diane Coppini installed the aerators. These efforts are estimated to save almost three million gallons per year and payback the campus investment in approximately two months.
In March 2009, the Recreational Sports Facility installed two “hydration stations,” which fill water bottles twice as fast as a regular drinking fountain, outside their weight room and martial arts area. In partnership with University Health Services (UHS), and the Office of Environment, Health &Safety (EH&S), Rec Sports added the stations to support wider use of reusable water bottles and help to eliminate the environmental impacts of plastic single-use bottles. In fact, these two stations were designed specifically for Rec Sports. An additional three hydration stations have been installed in Sproul Hall.
Of the ten proposals funded this year by The Green Initiative Fund, two will impact water use and quality on campus: “No More Down the Drain” (ASUC Art Studio) will install a sand and sediment trap to reduce and recycle clay and glazes, and “Water Metering and Sub-metering of UC Campus Buildings” (Berkeley Institute of the Environment) will update water meters on several buildings and install efficient toilets in Wurster Hall.
51) What percentage of your institution's non-hazardous construction and demolition waste is diverted from landfills?
[ %] The campus has made huge strides in salvaging demolition and construction wastes and has been able to salvage upwards of 80%-90% of such waste. Capital projects contractors have not always tracked precise metrics associated with waste in the past, but new project contracts include a requirement that waste must be tracked and that there be a 50% minimum diversion rate. It is expected, however, that contractors will divert at least 75% of waste.
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT
RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES
52) Are there any sustainability-themed residential communities or housing options at your school?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please provide details below.
Name of program: Green Room (started in 2005) was “the nation's first fully-outfitted, eco-friendly residence hall room”, Green Suites, and Green Theme House, also a Green Resident certification, a way of distinguishing those students living in the residence halls who are making the conscious effort to reduce their environmental footprint and live sustainably (http://greenresidents.blogspot.com/)
Type of community (e.g., hall, building, house): Multiple
Number of students involved: At least 50
Additional details: See: http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/green-rssp/pdf/rssp_green_news.pdf and http://www.dailycal.org/article/21429/campus_housing_offers_three_new_green_living_optio
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
53) Does a portion of your new student orientation specifically cover sustainability?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe how sustainability is incorporated (e.g., information sessions, green tour): Unit Residential Sustainability Coordinator Program (URSECs) Each year the campus hires one student Unit Residential Sustainability Education Coordinator (URSECs) for each unit, who organizes volunteer assistants (RSECs) and educates their fellow residents about waste reduction, recycling, re-use and environmentally sustainable practices. Residential Sustainability Education Coordinator Program (RSECs) is a peer-to-peer sustainable living outreach program, where residence hall students volunteer to be sustainability experts for their residence halls and act as a resource for their hall residents.
INTERNSHIPS/OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES
54) Does your school offer on-campus office-based sustainability internships or jobs for students?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please provide number of students and average number of hours worked weekly per student:
[ 4 ] Paid positions. Average hours worked weekly per student: There are numerous paid sustainability internship possibilities on campus. The Office of Sustainability has employed up to 4 students at a time, working anywhere from 5-20 hours per week. The Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability funds 5-10 internships per year, dispersed throughout campus departments. The Building Sustainability @ Cal and the Green Campus Program each hire another 5-10 interns each year. Several Facilities Services departments (including Physical Plant, Capital Projects, and Recycling) also regularly employ students for a varying number of hours.
[# ] Unpaid positions. Average hours worked weekly per student:
55) Does your school have residence hall Eco-Reps or other similar programs to promote behavioral change on campus?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please provide details below, and indicate URL if available: See above.
[# ] Paid positions. Average hours worked weekly per student:
[# ] Positions that award academic credit. Average hours worked weekly per student:
[# ] Uncompensated positions. Average hours worked weekly per student:
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
56) Does your school have active student-run organizations devoted to sustainability efforts on campus?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please provide total number of active organizations, names of organizations, a brief description of each, and URLs, if available:
There are numerous student clubs and projects. There are at least 25 student-run environmental organizations, including the student government ASUC Sustainability Team and the Building Sustainability at Cal program. Service learning opportunities are also large. The DeCal Program, a student run democratic education program, offers courses like The Joy of Garbage, Education for Sustainability Living, Energy, Sustainability, and Global Warming. More information on the majority of these clubs can be found at: http://enviro.berkeley.edu/envorgs
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND COMPETITIONS
57) Does your school organize any sustainability challenges/competitions for your campus and/or with other colleges?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please list details for all competitions.
Name of competition: Dorm Blackout Battles; Haas Energy Challenge; Shut the Sash Challenge
Year initiated:
Frequency of competition: Twice per year
Participants: Organized by Green Campus interns: all residence halls participate in the dorm challenge; all of the business school and Tan Hall compete in the other two challenges, respectively
Incentives: Ice cream or pizza
Goal of competition:
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced:
Lasting effects of competition:
Website:
Blackout Battles Energy Saving Competition in the Residence Halls (competition goes back to 2005)
- Fall Savings: 130,110 kWh energy, $13,011 saved, and 5,782 lbs CO2 avoided
- Spring Savings: 129.286 kWh energy, $12,928 saved, and 5,736 lbs CO2 avoided
Haas Energy Challenge:
- October 2008 Challenge - 5.35% saved compared to October 2007 saving $1,400.
- Spring 2009 challenge results saw an unexpected increase in energy, currently investigating possible causes.
Fume Hood Campaign:
- November 2008 – Saved 4.45% equivalent to 11,519 kWh or $1151.90, compared to 2006 baseline
- April 2009 – Saved 10%, equivalent to 30,202 kWh or $3,020 in energy compared to a 2006 baseline
TRANSPORTATION
CAMPUS MOTOR FLEET
58) How many vehicles are in your institution's fleet?
[# 585 ]
59) Please list the number of alternative-fuel vehicles in each class.
[# ] Hybrid. Please list makes and models:
[# ] Electric. Please describe type of vehicles:
[# ] Biodiesel. Please describe type of vehicles and list biodiesel blend(s) used:
[# ] Other. Please describe:
66 fleet vehicles are either hybrid, electric, biodiesel, natural gas, or other.
60) What is the average GHG emission rate per passenger mile of your institution's motorized fleet?
[# 1.9 ] pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per passenger mile traveled.
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES
61) Does your school offer incentives for carpooling?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe details of the program including the type of the incentive and eligible community members (e.g., faculty, staff, students): UC Berkeley offers carpoolers numerous incentives to team up and share the costs of driving. Benefits include:
- Waiver of annual transportation fee
- Discounts on parking permits
- Access to parking spaces reserved for carpoolers
- Shared vehicle expenses
- Less traffic congestion and reduced pollutants
- Use of carpool lanes
62) Does your school offer public transportation subsidies?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe the program including the size of the discount (as a percent of full price) and eligible community members (e.g., faculty, staff, students): The New Directions program was implemented to offer a suite of attractive alternative commute benefits to UC Berkeley faculty, staff and students. The program offers transit subsidies, parking discounts for commuters who use alternative transportation, pre-tax purchases through payroll deduction -- administered through WageWorks, and a host of other benefits and incentives.
UC Berkeley offers a comprehensive package of alternative programs to encourage the use of alternative transportation to reduce traffic and parking demand and contribute to the protection of the environment. The New Directions program was implemented to offer a suite of attractive alternative commute benefits to UC Berkeley faculty, staff and students. The program offers transit subsidies, parking discounts for commuters who use alternative transportation, pre-tax purchases through payroll deduction, and a host of other benefits and incentives, including free, emergency rides home.
100% discount - all students are eligible for a Class Pass, funded by a piece of the registration fee, that allows for unlimited rides on transit and shuttle buses. Employees are offered a similar unlimited ride pass that can be purchased pre-tax at a deeply discounted rate.
63) Does your school provide free transportation around campus?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe: Bear Transit is UC Berkeley’s shuttle system, servicing the campus and vicinity. Anyone can ride our shuttles, which provide convenient transportation between campus, Downtown Berkeley BART, parking lots, Clark Kerr campus, the Hill area, residence halls, Richmond Field Station (RFS), and north and south sides of campus.
Bear Transit is free, and goes around the campus.
64) Does your school operate a free transportation shuttle to local off-campus destinations?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe: Bear Transit also goes to surrounding locations.
BICYCLE PROGRAM
65) Does your school offer a bicycle-sharing/rental program or bicycle repair services?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please provide details below. The Green Bike Share (GBS) -- while not free -- seeks to make the quality of student life better by giving students affordable, environmentally sustainable, and increased access to bicycles; a healthy alternative form of transportation. “BicyCal” will expand the current bike-share program and create a bike station and repair services on campus.
Year created: 2008
Number of bikes available:
Fees for participation:
Repair services provided:
CAR-SHARING PROGRAM
66) Does your school partner with a car-sharing program?
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please provide details below. The university has deals with Enterprise, City Carshare, Zipcar, and U-Car Share.
Year created:
Total number of vehicles:
Number of hybrid vehicles:
Fee for membership:
PLANNING
67) Does your school have policies that support a pedestrian-friendly or bike-friendly campus (e.g., in the school's master plan, a policy prohibiting vehicles from the center of campus)?
[ ] N/A. Please explain:
[ ] No
[ X ] Yes. Please describe: Campus has bike- and pedestrian-friendly routes, as well as bike racks; the Bike Plan is an executive document that outlines strategies for making the campus more bike-friendly.
Contractors have installed nearly 500 new bicycle parking spaces at 18 locations throughout the UC Berkeley central campus and at nearby UC buildings. Over the past year the campus has seen a significant increase in ridership (student bicycle commuting is up by 3% from previous years), and bike racks have been near or over capacity on most days, prompting calls for new racks from across campus. The Campus Bicycle Committee, the Parking & Transportation department and students have been instrumental in bringing this new bike parking on line. As envisioned by the Campus Bicycle Plan, adding these new racks should ease demand and encourage more commuting to the campus by bicycle.
68) What percentage of individuals commute to campus via environmentally preferable transportation (e.g., walking, bicycling, carpooling, using public transit)?
[ %] 93% of students and 53% of campus faculty/staff commute by transportation other than a single occupant personal vehicle.
STATISTICS
69) Campus setting:
[ ] Rural
[ ] Suburban
[ X ] Urban
[ ] Other. Please describe:
70) Total number of buildings: [# ]
71) Combined gross square footage of all buildings: [# 15,986,234 ]
72) Full-time enrollment (undergraduate and graduate): [# 33,202 ]
73) Part-time enrollment (undergraduate and graduate): [# 1,751 ]
74) Part-time enrollment as a proportion to a full-time course load: [# ]
75) Percent of full-time students that live on campus: [ %] 68% of all undergraduates live within 1 mile of campus
Questions 76-87 are for informational purposes only; responses will NOT be included in the Report Card evaluation process.
OTHER AREAS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGAGEMENT
Please mark an "X" next to each item that applies to your institution.
76) Outdoors club: [ X ]
77) Disposable water bottle ban: [ ]
78) Participation in Recyclemania: [ ]
79) Student trustee position: [ X ]
80) Environmental science/studies major: [ X ]
81) Environmental science/studies minor or concentration: [ X ]
82) Graduate-level environmental program: [ X ]
83) Student green fee: [ X ]
84) Alumni green fund: [ X ]
85) Revolving loan fund for sustainability projects: [ ]
86) Campus garden or farm: [ X ]
87) Single-stream recycling: [ ]
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