University of California, Santa Barbara 2006 Campus Sustainability Achievement Award Application
Category
Four-year and graduate institutions over 10,000 student FTE
Contact
Jill Richardson
Sustainability Coordinator
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
(805) 893-8367
Jill.Richardson@vcadmin.ucsb.edu
Governance & Administration
Memberships:
UCSB is a member of the US Green Building Council (USGBC), the Alliance to Save Energy’s Green
Campus Program, and the California Climate Action Registry. In addition, many staff members belong to
professional organizations such as the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), American
Institute of Architects (AIA), the National Academy of College and University Business Officers
(NACUBO).
Sustainability Plan:
The Campus Sustainability Plan‘s purpose is to promote the sustainability of long range campus
operations. In 2005, the sustainability sub-committee of the Campus Planning Committee hired
consultants Brightworks Northwest to guide the planning process. They utilized the Natural Step
methodology of envisioning sustainability, which relies upon a scientific framework. The development of
the plan brought together 75 campus change agents: students, faculty and staff. Following a series of
workshops educating the change agents about sustainability and the possibility of a fully sustainable
campus, sub-groups were arranged by member expertise and began drafting their plan to reach
sustainability. Groups developed goals ranging from immediate and short-term to long-term and ultimate
visions of full sustainability, which included decreased energy and water consumption, assessment of
indicator data and education of more campus constituents. The groups produced a living document that
changes annually as goals are met and expanded. Aspects of this plan will be integrated into the campus
Long Range Development Plan.
UCSB Sustainability Mission Statement:
The change agent group developing the campus sustainability plan developed the following UCSB
sustainability mission statement: The University of California, Santa Barbara will become a steward for
our community and a global leader for sustainability through education, research, and action. This
mission will go before the Campus Planning Committee on the August 28, 2006, for final approval and
adoption.
UCSB Committees:
The Campus Planning Committee sub-committee on Sustainability (formed 2004) is chaired by the
Associate Vice Chancellor of Campus Planning and Design. The committee is staffed by the Campus
Sustainability Manager with the purpose of maintaining momentum towards the implementation of
sustainability goals.
UCSB also has a working group called the Sustainability Working Team (SWT) comprised of the Campus Sustainability Manager, Sustainable Procurement Coordinator, and the Sustainability Conference Coordinator, Business Officer, along with the Director of Physical Facilities, and the Associate Director of Energy and Utilities, that meets weekly to coordinate approaches to creating a sustainable campus.
All of these administrative components result in a cohesive and deliberate approach to the greening of UCSB.
Operations
Energy
- The campus has been implementing extensive energy conservation projects, saving a total of 1.4 million dollars in energy costs, 12 million kWh, or 16 million lbs of CO2 emissions.
- Housing Energy Manager and Green Campus interns developed an energy competition for the dorms which resulted in a $10,000 saving, winning an award at the 2006 UC, CSU, CC Sustainability Conference in June for their efforts.
- In April 2006, campus CO2 emissions were certified through the California Climate Action Registry, a volunteer program to a non-profit voluntary registry for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Buildings
- UCSB adopted a green building policy that mandated LEED silver certification for all buildings programmed for construction after July 1, 2004. UCSB has 4 buildings registered for certification under LEED for New Construction; two will receive certification within five months.
- In Fall 2005, Girvetz Hall was the first UC building certified silver LEED for Existing Building. UCSB has 3 buildings registered for LEED EB certification.
Food
- In the past two years, Campus Food Services has developed contracts with local and organic farmers, and now offers organic choices in campus stores, and includes ‘sustainable’ language in food vendor contracts and RFQs.
- Food Services developed an on-site composting program; composting up to 90% of pre-consumer organic waste, as well as coffee grounds.
Water
- 93% of campus landscaping is irrigated with reclaimed water, and in 2005, UCSB increased use of reclaimed water on the Southside of campus by installing reclaimed water irrigation on 3.5 acres.
- A pilot project on Bren Hall’s (LEED Platinum) first floor uses reclaimed water to flush toilets. Over the last two years UCSB has retrofitted most campus plumbing fixtures for ultra-low flow equivalents, including over 50 waterless urinals and many dual flush toilets, resulting in a combined 50,000 gallons per year of water savings.
Parking and Transportation
- Daily, 76% of students and 9% of staff/faculty bike to work.
- The Transportation Alternatives Program offers a car sharing program to all staff without annual parking permits.
- In Spring 2006, the Transportation Department developed a purchasing policy encouraging departments to purchase alternative fuel vehicles.
- Our Fleet Services department recently received the “Model Pollution Prevention Vehicle Service Certificate” from the US EPA.
Land Use
- The Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration helped restore nearly 90 acres of native plants and wetlands. Rainwater runoff from much of campus is channeled through wetlands and bioswales rather than into storm sewers.
Purchasing
- In 2005, the Business Services’ Purchasing Department hired a full-time Sustainable Procurement Coordinator, the first position its kind in the UC system. Current activities target environmental preferable procurement of interior furnishings, and office and maintenance products.
Custodial
- 80% of the products used by Custodial Services for daily cleaning operations are Green Seal Certified, and a proportioning system is in place for proper chemical dilution.
- The department uses high HEPA filter vacuums and paper products consisting of 80% or more recycled content.
Curriculum & Research
UC Santa Barbara is the home to one of the first truly interdisciplinary undergraduate environmental studies program in the country. Established in 1970 with around 50 students in its first graduating class, today the program averages 300 majors and just graduated its 4,200 alumnus in 2006. UCSB also offers a Masters in Environmental Science & Management through the Donald Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, one of the foremost programs in this area in the country. Graduates of the Bren School go on to positions in Federal, State, and Local Government environmental policy, as well as private consulting and nonprofit environmental stewardship.
Faculty Achievements: In 2006, Shuji Nakamura was awarded the second Finland's Millennium Technology Prize for his continuing efforts to make cheaper and more efficient light sources. Often described as “the world’s largest technology prize”, this award totals over $1.3 million. UCSB was also able to congratulate solar energy historian John Perlin, and Nobel laureate in chemistry Walter Kohn in the release of their new film “The Power of the Sun”, a movie on photovoltaics.
Student-led classes: The Education for Sustainable Living Program (ESLP) helped support nine studentled courses, inspiring 75 students this year in a variety of fields; from environmental studies to sociology and communication. In Spring 2006, one ESLP course designed a “Green Business Program” for the City and County of Santa Barbara and presented their plan to a coalition of city and county officials, nonprofits, and businesses. The coalition is now implementing many of the program’s recommendations.
Graduate research: In 2005, a Bren School Master’s degree Thesis Project entitled ‘Campus Climate Neutral’ investigated ways to reduce campus emissions and meet goals proposed by the State of California and the Kyoto Protocol. The study’s findings show that following a considerable upfront investment, meeting these goals would save the university millions of dollars. Campus Climate Neutral II, a new group of students building on the previous year’s findings, will investigate what types of changes in policy, finance, or otherwise would allow UCSB to aggressively pursue those goals. Recommendations coincide with current efforts of energy conservation underway within the campus’ Physical Facilities department.
Course offerings: UCSB offers several courses related to sustainability, including, "World Agriculture, Food and Population;" "American Things: Material Culture and Popular Art," an Art History course discussing way of addressing consumer culture through Art; "Natural Resources Economics;" "It's Not Easy Being Green;" "History and Aesthetics of Sustainable Architecture;" and "Films of the Natural and Human Environment."
UCSB Sustainability staff has worked diligently with professors to infuse sustainability concepts into their course material:
- Students in Professor Paul Wack's environmental planning course assisted the campus in analyzing the initial draft of the campus sustainability plan.
- Professor LeeAnne Kryder, in the writing department, included sustainability projects in her business writing courses.
- UCSB Sustainability staff is also currently working with the Geography Department to create a Bachelor's Degree in Geography with an emphasis in Global Environmental Planning and Sustainability.
Community Service and Outreach
Student Outreach program: This Sustainability program at UCSB worked with over 75 students through ESLP, opened up a dozen internship positions, and brought in countless volunteers throughout the year in support of campus sustainability goals.
Members of the program also worked extensively with the Associated Students Environmental Affairs Board in support of their “The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF)” campaign. TGIF creates a student lock-in fee of $2.60 per student/ per quarter, effective Fall 2006. This fund will bring in approximately $180,000 per year to support resource efficiency measures, renewable technologies, and sustainability education. Campus sustainability staff involvement in this process created a great opportunity to work with a large coalition of student groups.
Campus Sustainability Day: October 26th, 2005 marked the first annual Campus Sustainability Day designated by the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP). UCSB celebrated the inaugural event with a huge tabling and demonstration area in a high-traffic quad in the center of campus.
Students, staff, faculty, and campus visitors learned about reducing energy usage in UCSB residence halls from Green Campus Interns, enjoyed fresh organic food at the Environmental Affairs Board table, learned how to make bio-diesel, and rode electric bikes from Santa Barbara Electric Bicycle Company. UCSB Transportation Services sponsored a green car show featuring alternative fuel cars from our own campus fleet. Bringing out eye-catching, impressive displays to such a high-traffic part of campus caught the attention of thousands of people.
Sustainability Conference: UCSB hosted the fifth annual UC, CSU, CCC Sustainability Conference in 2006, the 3rd time this campus has been the host site. Approximately 600 participants and over 100 students registered for the conference, and 30 companies were represented in our green vendor fair. Conference attendance has averaged 50% growth each year since its beginnings. This year, the conference brought in participants and ideas from all over the world. In addition to great speakers and workshops, the conference featured 90% organic food, 100% composting of food waste and disposable dish and flatware, and all travel and energy use offset by Renewable Choice Energy.
The University of California at Santa Barbara is a leadership campus, not only within the UC system, but across the country. In the past two years, the campus has continued to solidify its commitment to long term sustainability. Progress has been remarkable. We look forward to continuing our efforts, developing new targets and successes that can be replicated by other universities within the UC system, and across the globe.