Environmental Stewardship Program

In January 2002, Chancellor Tomlinson-Keasey set the stage for Environmental Leadership at UC Merced in her opening letter adopting the Long Range Development Plan for the campus. Noting the major goals for UC Merced, she stated that the University should “set the standards for sustainable use of energy and other scarce resources and to be a model of development in the great San Joaquin Valley.” The Environmental Stewardship Program is developing specific goals and policies to fulfill Chancellor Tomlinson-Keasey’s vision.

Sustainability refers to the physical development and institutional operating practices that meet the needs of present users without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, particularly with regard to use and waste of natural resources. Sustainable practices support ecological, human and economic health and vitality. Sustainability presumes that resources are finite and should be used conservatively and wisely with a view to long-term priorities and consequences of the ways in which resources are used.

The UC Merced Capital Development Department already incorporates many aspects of these sustainable practices and has adopted specific and comprehensive policy actions to:

• Promote principles of energy efficiency and sustainability in the planning, financing, design, construction, renewal, maintenance, operation, space management, facilities utilization, and decommissioning of facilities and infrastructure to the fullest extent possible, consistent with budgetary constraints, attainment of regulatory changes, and programmatic requirements; and

• Future policies under development will implement programs to reduce consumption of non-renewable energy by creating a portfolio approach to energy use, including energy efficiency, local renewable power, and green power purchases from the electrical grid, with the intent of minimizing increased use of non-renewable energy for the University's built environment during this next decade of growth.

The UC Merced Planning, Design and Construction Department utilizes appropriate techniques to create buildings and systems that are environmentally friendly and that help provide for a sustainable environmental relationship. The campus currently uses the Silver level of the LEED certification program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council to help set goals and track the sustainability efforts of all new development on the campus and in several categories is exceeding the LEED requirements. Some of the goals that we are achieving include:

• Recycling - In construction, the new campus is maximizing use of recycled materials and construction waste recycling. In operation, UC Merced will emphasize the best available practices in recycling and reducing solid waste generation.

• Energy Efficiency –Smart design of campus facilities provides the extensive services needed by a research university while minimizing energy needs. Campus energy planning calls for progressively more stringent standards for the efficiency as the campus is built. Our first buildings far exceed our early targets. Shading and window systems reduce building cooling loads as do state-of-the-art mechanical and electrical systems. The remaining cooling load is shifted off-peak through on-site thermal energy storage to provide relief for the regional energy infrastructure. Solar cells are likely to be used to augment the local power grid. Buildings will also be designed to use thermal mass as a way to minimize energy consumption.

• Water Conservation – The campus landscaping uses high–efficiency irrigation technology and drought-resistant planting. All buildings achieve a 20% reduction in water use from state-mandated requirements, and some buildings are able to achieve 30% reductions. In the future, rainwater-capturing systems will be employed as will gray-water recycling for irrigation. The newest methods available for sewage treatment will be employed.

• Smart Buildings – The latest technology utilizing sensors and computerized heating, cooling and lighting systems will be employed to reduce power needs and to monitor and track valuable data related to building management and reducing building utility consumption.

• Indoor Environmental Quality – Reduction of indoor air quality pollutants is incorporated into construction practices and material considerations on all buildings. The buildings are designed to provide good ventilation and comfortable conditions, maintain quality lighting, incorporate daylight and views, and use low-emitting paint, carpets and sealants.

• Local Air Quality – Materials are purchased with consideration to distances from manufacturing and extraction locations to reduce transportation impacts and emissions. Campus layout and construction will emphasize pedestrian traffic and non-polluting circulation methods for campus traffic as well as campus-community traffic.

• Site Development – Campus hardscape and lighting design minimizes light pollution to reduce impact on adjacent neighborhoods and nocturnal species.

• Partnerships for Environmental Stewardship – As a “Laboratories for the 21st Century” Pilot Partner, the campus is collaborating with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department Of Energy in pioneering high-performance, low-energy laboratory design. The campus is also participating in the California statewide “Savings by Design” energy efficiency incentive program administered by Pacific Gas &Electric.

Campus Facilities, Business Management and Academic Programs are all finding ways to incorporate the principles of sustainability into the campus’ physical development and also into the daily operations of the campus. Some efforts pursued by UC Merced include:

• Assessment and Tracking – A comprehensive list of sustainability indicators is being developed. These indicators will provide measurements of the campus’ impact on its surroundings that can be tracked over time, helping the campus understand its achievements and focus its efforts on areas that need improvement. Ongoing assessment will also provide teaching and research opportunities for students and faculty who are interested in environmental science, engineering and other disciplines.

• Transportation – The overarching goal of the campus’ circulation planning is to ensure that the campus transportation system allows safe and efficient travel by the full variety of modes and promotes the use of alternatives to the automobile. Bicycling represents an important transportation opportunity for UC Merced, with the extensive system of existing and planned bicycle facilities, the nature of university-related travel, and the opportunity to develop a bicycle-friendly community adjacent to the campus. Generally, the academic core will be accessible by no more than a 10-minute walk from anywhere on the main campus and will be made even more accessible by the addition of a campus transit service.

• Purchasing – From paper and office supplies to computers and lab equipment, the university will purchase and dispose of a wide range of materials. UC Merced is developing policies to ensure environmental considerations are taken into account when those purchasing decisions are made. Policy will promote purchases that include recycled content, reduced packaging and other means of promoting environmental stewardship while making sure the campus operates smoothly.

• Food – Considering its location in the San Joaquin Valley, UC Merced has the opportunity to access many foods locally, avoiding the environmental impacts of long-distance shipping while promoting the local economy. Products that are fresh, locally grown and produced, and environmentally friendly will be included in the campus’ food offerings. Composting of food wastes will be explored as well.

• Education and Research – The Sierra Nevada Research Institute will be a cornerstone of research and education at UC Merced and a special research focus of the Institute will be sustainability. With the anticipated significant growth in the population of the San Joaquin Valley, natural resources already under pressure will be stretched even further. Thus, the Valley represents an ideal laboratory to study the constituent natural resources and the phenomenon of growth, while conducting research on the means of sustaining natural resources. The campus and supporting community will constitute an immediately available laboratory for testing new approaches to sustainability. With Environmental Engineering and Environmental Systems Science as two of the undergraduate majors planned for opening day, an attention to sustainability clearly infuses the teaching and research mission of the campus and the co-curricular program for students.

Resources

View the UC Systemwide Green Building Policy at:
http://www.ucop.edu/facil/greenbldgs/

View a presentation on UC Merced to the UC Green Building Policy Committee at:
http://www.ucop.edu/facil/greenbldgs/ucmerced.pdf

View the U. S. Green Building Council Web site at:
http://www.usgbc.org/

View the Society of College and University Planners – Sustainability Web site at:
http://www.scup.org/knowledge/sustainability/

UC Merced planners participated in the 39th Annual International Conference for the Society for College and University Planners (SCUP) in Toronto, Canada. See the presentation titled, "Defining a New Campus through Sustainability".