UC officials highlighted the university’s achievements in expanding campus green projects and renewable energy use - which include lowering operating costs and forming partnerships with state energy magnates – in a presentation at the UC Board of Regents meeting this month in San Francisco.
The meeting focused primarily on efforts to expand renovation projects and sustainable operations. Last year, the UC system saved nearly $5 million in operating costs due to energy efficiency projects, according to the UC Office of the President.
In addition to the grants received for energy efficiency projects, the university has sought to obtain rebates from utility companies and to form a special partnership program with the state’s energy suppliers.
As a result, the UC system has been provided with $11 million worth of incentives to pursue energy projects and can expect $10 million more within two years, according to UCOP.
Additional highlights in 2006 include: seven of the 10 UC campuses were on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “”Best Workplaces for Commuters,”” 75 building projects followed the university’s Green Building guidelines and UC Santa Cruz now buys 100 percent renewable energy.
Both UC Santa Barbara and UC Merced were chosen by the U.S. Green Building Council to lead green building organizations across the country.
“”The University of California has established itself as a leader in sustainable practices, and UC’s policies and practices are being emulated by other universities around the country,”” UC sustainability specialist Matthew St. Clair stated in a press release. “”UC has made significant progress in green building and clean energy initiatives in 2006, and we are working to expand our efforts into additional sustainable practices in the coming year.””
According to St. Clair, UC policy calls for campuses to both reduce the energy they consume, by implementing more energy efficiency and conservation programs, and also to purchase and generate as much renewable on-site energy as possible.
Sustainable transportation was added to the university’s agenda in 2005. In 2006, the policy expanded to include sustainable transportation practices and greenhouse gas emissions. In its continuing efforts to minimize UC environmental impacts for 2007, the UC Board of Regents proposed expanding the policy into areas of purchasing, waste reduction, sustainable operations and renovation projects.
UCSD has incorporated several on-campus practices to contribute toward UC efforts. For example, UCSD saves about 45 percent on average water costs by using highly treated, filtered and disinfected reclaimed water. Last year, UCSD recycled 1,947 tons of waste, the equivalent to supplying power for 269 households for an entire year.
UCSD has also saved over 12.8 million kilowatt-hours of electricity since 2004.
“”As stewards of our campus community, we feel compelled to address environmental challenges and implement innovative sustainable solutions,”” UCSD Chancellor Marye Anne Fox stated on UCSD’s Green Campus Overview Web site. “”The 41,000 of us who populate the campus daily can create the synergy for further innovation through our personal commitment to sustainability.””
The green building project was originally implemented in June 2004 in an effort to push the UC system to take initiative in minimizing environmental impact. The university’s Green Building Design and Clean Energy Standards policy requires an annual progress report so the regents can view the university’s progress in carrying the policy out.
