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Sustainability

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You may not know it, but UCSB is one of a handful of universities leading the way on campus sustainability, not only in the UC system but also nationwide. Below is a partial list of things we are doing to make the campus a more sustainable, healthy, and productive place for you to learn.

Energy Conservation

• Many buildings around campus have been "delamped"--excess light bulbs have been removed, which does not affect vision but saves the campus money in energy costs.


• Older models of appliances and electronics are being replaced with ENERGY STAR(tm) models that are much more energy efficient.


• From 2002-2006, UCSB's Energy Team implemented energy conservation projects that saved $1.4 million; that equates to 12 million kWh and 10 million pounds of CO2 per year.

Energy Creation

• Currently, Bren Hall (42 kWh) and the Carrillo Dining Commons (5kWh) have photovoltaic arrays on their roofs that collect solar energy and provide a portion of the electricity for the buildings.


• The San Nicholas and Anacapa Residence Halls have solar water heating, which provides 75% of the hot water for the buildings' occupants.


• Soon the Recreation Center (Rec Cen) will install the largest photovoltaic array (133 kWh) on campus, which will provide 70% of the building's energy.

Water Conservation

• In Bren Hall, Girvetz Hall, North Hall, and Campbell Hall, traditional urinals have been replaced by waterless urinals. Each waterless urinal saves 40,000 gallons of water per year per urinal.


• Around the campus regular toilets have been retrofitted to dual flush, saving 80% of the water in regular 1.6 gallon flush toilets.


• In new landscapes, the campus uses drought-tolerant landscaping to reduce the need for water. The grasses between Bren Hall and the Marine Science Research Building are a good example.


• 85% of the campus is irrigated with reclaimed water. Reclaimed water is about 1/5 the cost of potable water.

Transportation Policies

• UCSB encourages walking, biking, and/or carpooling to campus.


• Your student ID card can be used as a free bus pass for the MTD bus system.


• Students who do not purchase parking permits are eligible for the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), which provides 57 hours of free campus parking per quarter.


• The ZipCar program allows students who do not have a car to rent a car on campus for a subsidized per hour fee.

Chemical Reduction

• 90% of the cleaning products used by custodians on campus are Green Seal Certified, and thus, less or non-toxic to humans.


• Groundskeepers use Integrated Pest Management as an alternative to pesticide/herbicide use.


• The new LabRATS Green Chemical program hopes to swap toxic chemicals for less toxic alternatives in all the laboratories on campus.

Green Building Certification

• UCSB was the first university in the nation to receive a LEED(tm) for New Construction Platinum rating for a laboratory building (Bren Hall), and the first campus in the UC system with a LEED for Existing Building silver rating (Girvetz Hall).


• All new construction on campus must meet the LEED(tm) NC Silver level and surpass Title 24 (California energy code) by 20%.


• UCSB is one of three campuses nationwide asked to participate in the LEED(tm) Portfolio Program, in which we will certify 25 existing buildings on campus in 5 years.


• Also, UCSB was one of about 90 campuses nationwide asked to participate in the STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System) program by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

What can YOU do to make UCSB more sustainable?

• Turn off lights, monitors, and other electronics when not in use.


• Do not leave the water running while you brush your teeth or wash your hands/face.


• Use the coolest water temperature possible when washing clothes, dishes, hands, etc.


• Use alternative forms of transportation when traveling to campus.


• Use non-toxic forms of cleaning supplies (i.e. vinegar or baking soda).


• Reduce waste: use reusable shopping/lunch bags, cups, utensils, napkins, etc.


• What cannot be reused should be recycled...there are beige bins (Berthas) all over campus.


• GET INVOLVED!
  1. ¡ Campus Sustainability: sustainability.ucsb.edu/students/
  
  
  2. ¡ Campus Energy: energy.ucsb.edu/
  
  
  3. ¡ Campus Recycling: facilities.ucsb.edu/departments/recycling/default.asp
  
  
  4. ¡ Associated Students: as.ucsb.edu
  
  
  5. ¡ Office of Student Life: www.sa.ucsb.edu/osl
  
  
  6. ¡ Design & Construction
     Services: facilities.ucsb.edu/departments/sustainability