University of California, Santa Cruz
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

The UC Santa Cruz 2013-16 Campus Sustainability Plan (CSP), formally developed with the leadership of the Sustainability Office and vetted by the Chancellor's Executive Committee on Sustainability & Climate Change, includes targets to advance sustainability in Curriculum. The summary statement for this section within the CSP is as follows: UCSC will promote and support sustainability working groups in implementation of their education and outreach objectives while inspiring the entire campus community to learn about and engage in sustainable practices in order to make UCSC a model of sustainable behavior, living and practices.

Utilize the campus as a living laboratory in order to link the operational and academic aspects of the university. Develop a web tool to show live sustainability data. Provide assistance to develop internship positions for sustainability working groups. Develop and promote educational videos for CSP topic areas.

Sustainability Office

The UC Santa Cruz 2013-16 Campus Sustainability Plan (CSP), formally developed with the leadership of the Sustainability Office and vetted by the Chancellor's Executive Committee on Sustainability & Climate Change, includes targets to advance sustainability in Research, as follows: Promote and support sustainability research and teaching. Engage faculty to identify and implement strategies to support sustainability research and teaching. Utilize the campus as a living laboratory in order to link the operational and academic aspects of the university.

There is not a separate research plan - research is part of the over-all academic engagement

Sustainability Office

The UC Santa Cruz 2013-16 Campus Sustainability Plan (CSP), formally developed with the leadership of the Sustainability Office and vetted by the Chancellor’s Executive Committee on Sustainability & Climate Change, includes targets to advance sustainability in Campus Engagement. The summary statement for this section within the CSP is as follows: UCSC will develop sustainability leadership among students, staff and faculty through curricular and co-curricular opportunities, as well as through campus communications. This will expand knowledge of and engagement in sustainable practices on campus.

Develop a strategic communications plan to publicize campus sustainability opportunities and progress. Document and promote sustainability learning opportunities via curricular and co-curricular opportunities and through campus communications. Integrate sustainability into campus tours and orientation activities. Engage faculty to identify and implement strategies to support sustainability research and teaching.

Sustainability Office

n/a

n/a

Sustainability Office

In 2014, UCSC launched the Climate & Energy Strategy (CES), an eighteen month-long study that will helped the campus develop a roadmap for achieving carbon neutrality by 2025. The objectives for the project included: · Ensuring the process provided the level of technical detail necessary to ensure a robust analysis and recommendations, · Engaging not just with staff during the technical study, but also faculty and students, · Ensuring the deliverables were highly visual to easily communicate results and assist in helping decision makers to quickly comprehend impacts, and · Considering the life cycle and total ownership costs of potential strategies for meeting the goals. The strategies for the project included: · Conducting Level I & II energy audits for 50 of the campus’ most energy intensive buildings, which included over 2.5M SF; · Conducting a campus-wide District Systems Energy Audit to optimize the heating hot water and chilled water loops, and cogeneration plant; · Conducting a Renewable Energy Feasibility study that considers solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, fuel cells and photovoltaic-thermal hybrid technologies; · Developing a techno-economic scenario analysis tool that helps the campus to develop an optimized set of potential strategies that includes the cost and emissions impacts of projects, policies, and procurements; · Engaging faculty and students by supporting the development of a Living Lab that enables climate change mitigation research, technology development and experiential learning opportunities.

UCSC engaged a group of pioneering consultant team members to partner in developing the CES. The process resulted in a final set of recommended strategies for achieving carbon neutrality that includes specific projects, procurements and policy revisions, years of implementation, costs (labors, material, etc.) and emissions savings. The CES also included the development of 350 energy conservation measures in 50 buildings, 20 photovoltaic, solar thermal & fuel cell projects, 12 district system level energy conservation measures, and an additional 700 energy conservation measures extrapolated across all other buildings. To develop these strategies, all energy measures were input into the custom-built techno-economic scenario analysis tool, which generates metrics such as emissions savings, net present value, savings-to-investment ratio, cash flow, cost/MT CO2e, etc. through 2055. The CES Team developed 50+ scenarios, analyzed the results, formulated strategies and recommendations, and is finalizing development of a dynamic plan for implementation. This plan will be a living document that evolves as market conditions change, the campus adds/revises projects, best practices are refined. The Tool provides great flexibility and simplification to modify scenarios and metrics to explore many strategies for neutrality and regulatory mitigation, evaluating cost and emissions impacts of emphasizing different approaches such as onsite projects, procurement, lowest first-cost, emissions reductions, and cost/ton of MTCO2e reduced. The energy efficiency and renewable measures include energy savings, incentives, materials/labor costs, and financing metrics in absolute-referenced spreadsheets. The data is easily imported into the Tool and Higher Education Partnership planning documents, which significantly reduces the time involved in developing new energy projects. This enables UCSC to easily update data, revise results and adjust recommendations. All measures will be shared widely and can be used as project templates. UCSC is capturing all details in the process so it can be replicated and plans to share widely all CES resources, including providing a copy of the excel-based scenario analysis tool along with a user manual (and training for UC campuses).

Sustainability Office, Physical Planning and Construction, Planning & Budget, Capital Planning & Space Management, Physical Plant (including the Work Management & Energy Services Departments)

The UC Santa Cruz 2013-16 Campus Sustainability Plan (CSP), formally developed with the leadership of the Sustainability Office and vetted by the Chancellor’s Executive Committee on Sustainability & Climate Change, includes targets to advance sustainability in Buildings. Overall goals for 2013–16 include measures to exceed UC Sustainable Practices Policy; pursuing NetZero on major capital projects; developing sustainability policies for small projects; research and piloting of innovative technologies; and continuing UCSC’s sustainability leadership. Step by step, by 2020, the campus will be established as a model of comprehensive “greening” in planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance, and our built environment will serve as a “classroom” for sustainable living.

The timeframe for implementation of these objectives and strategies is through calendar year 2016. (The Campus Sustainability Plan will be updated in fall of the 2016 academic year, so these objectives and strategies will likely change to become more aggressive given the new directives from the University of California Office of the President.) Develop and implement internal guidelines and procedures to incorporate sustainability in renovation projects under $5 million and other capital projects that do not fall under the purview of UC Sustainable Practices Policy III-A and V-A. (In progress: Sustainability Office is contributing language to the current campus standard revisions.) In addition to the requirements of UC Sustainable Practices Policy III-E and V-E, develop and implement internal guidelines and procedures to incorporate energy savings and sustainable practices in deferred maintenance and major repair projects. (In progress: Sustainability Office is contributing language to the current campus standard revisions.) Develop and implement internal guidelines and procedures to incorporate energy savings, sustainable practices, and green materials into planned maintenance and repair practices not included in campus’s LEED EB: O&M Master Site. (In progress: the Buildings & Facilities Work Group has developed a draft green building checklist that will be reviewed at an upcoming Project Manager's meeting and then circulated for comment) Partner with research entities on and off campus to explore new technologies (e.g., Electric Power Research Institute). (In progress: the Carbon Neutrality Initiative has created a Research Committee that is facilitating many UC-wide initiatives to support climate mitigation & adaptation research. UCSC will be hosting a Carbon Slam this spring; a competition to crowd-source and accelerate the best student-initiated ideas for carbon solutions.) For each new major capital project assess the feasibility of achieving “Net Zero” energy use. (In progress: So far, each new capital project has set a design target of "net zero" energy use and UCSC will be hosting a Net Zero Design Workshop for all Project Managers on 06/04/16 to continue supporting innovative design and construction efforts.) Create a pilot web-based tool that allows users to view operations information for three types of campus buildings (e.g., classroom, administrative, residence hall). (In progress: UCSC has integrated SkySpark, a web-based energy analytics software that talks to the building management system. It has piloted two buildings and is continuing to add new buildings to the database.) Identify, share, and acknowledge established sustainability practices that occur within facilities. (In progress: the Energy Services Department is hosting monthly meetings with campus stakeholders to discuss energy efficiency projects and share best practices with various departments including Information Technology Services, Physical Planning & Construction and Campus Housing. It is also hosting quarterly meetings with the PG&E Higher Ed. Energy Efficiency Partnership Team to discuss new construction projects that will qualify for Savings by Design and the SEP partnership deep incentive program.)

Sustainability Office, Physical Planning & Construction, Physical Plant (Work Management & Energy Services Departments), Campus Housing & Educational Services

In March 2012, UCSC signed the Real Food Campus Commitment, a nationwide student-based campaign promoting food sustainability on university campuses. Due to UCSC’s innovative food sourcing, the campus has already surpassed the Real Food goal of 20%, with more than 28% sustainable food purchases. The campus has set a 36% goal for 2016 and plans to reach 40% by 2020. In addition, 25% of UCSC’s fresh produce is certified organic (2012), with more than 50 percent of all fresh produce locally sourced. More than 85% of seafood served is certified by the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch Program. All Dining Services sites are now certified green, and the campus is promoting certification by vendor-operated facilities. The campus composts 100% of potentially compostable and biodegradable materials from dining operations.

Increase and sustain 36% real food purchases by 2016 across UCSC Dining Services. Bring all contracted food locations to 20% real food by 2016. Have at least two contract service vendors green business certified by Fall 2015. Reduce overall food waste and composting tonnage by 10% of 2012 levels by 2016. Develop residential waste diversion and composting education modules for all colleges by 2016. Implement a pilot Lean Path training strategy in at least one dining hall by January 2014. Establish an agro-ecology and food justice orientation program for new and transfer students by fall 2015. Host 30 food agriculture educational events for students per year. Establish and sustain experiential learning sites co-managed by students throughout the calendar year at all colleges by fall 2016.

Dining Services, CASFS, Food Systems Working Group

Campus energy initiatives comprise projects from UCSC’s Strategic Energy Partnership with PG&E, efforts by PowerSave Green Campus, the Green Labs and Green Office Programs, and student-led projects. Per UCOP Sustainable Practices Policy, achieving carbon neutrality by 2025 and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 are the campus’s overarching goals. The primary program supporting advancement of energy efficiency in existing campus buildings is the Higher Education Energy Efficiency Partnership Program (i.e. SEP). SEP provides approximately $2M/year in low-interest financing from the UC Regents for participating campuses to borrow to implement energy efficiency projects that provide an 85% or less debt-service ratio. The 2016-2018 SEP Project Portfolio estimates 316 kW reduction, 1.9M kWh savings, and 66K therm savings. The UCOP Sustainable Practices Policy requires that all new Buildings be at least Silver LEED certified and strive for Gold. It also requires that new buildings over $5M be designed to 20% better than Title 24 code, which is a very energy efficient code to begin with. At the campus level, the Sustainability Office is developing Energy Use Intensity (EUI) targets for all building types to encourage net zero design. The two newest building design projects on campus are adopting these very aggressive EUIs; a four-story student 80K SF housing complex is designing to an EUI of 20 kbtu/SF and an administrative/classroom 40K SF building is designing to 23 kbtu/SF in an attempt to support net zero design goals. The campus is also in the early stages of developing a Request for Proposals for a Power Purchase Agreement for up to 3.6MW of solar photovoltaics on the main campus. In 2016-2018, UCSC will build on these accomplishments, further reducing the campus’s carbon footprint through training, education and behavior change programs, as well as through energy efficiency- especially targeting intensive spaces, cleaner energy supply and technology, and expanded staff and fiscal capacity to effectively implement energy initiatives.

The timeframe for implementation of these objectives and strategies is through calendar year 2016. (The Campus Sustainability Plan will be updated in fall of the 2016 academic year, so these objectives and strategies will likely change to become more aggressive given the new directives from the University of California Office of the President.) Develop and begin implementation of a prescribed curriculum for campuswide, energy-focused behavior change program, including development of educational videos, to support the execution of the 2013 Climate Action Plan. (In progress: Sustainability Office is contributing language to the current campus standard revisions.) Create consortium focused on energy research with specific goal of reducing energy use and GHG emissions through application of existing technologies. (In progress: Sustainability Office is providing funding and programmatic support for the Living Lab, which is being led by a faculty consortium.) Actively pursue funding opportunities to support four intern positions within staff departments to help accomplish energy initiatives by 2016. (Achieved) Develop strategic energy plan for 2015-20 that reduces campus energy use by at least 15%. (In progress: Climate & Energy Strategy will be completed in May 2016) Procure electricity for UCSC that has a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) 15% higher than state required minimum (25%) by 2016. Procure biogas that reduces the annual campus stationary combustion emissions to less than or equal to 20,000 metric tons by 2015. (Completed: The 2015 RPS for the campus was 22%. The campus decided not to procure biogas at this time but instead focus on onsite therm-saving reduction through development of energy conservation measures within the Climate & Energy Strategy. UCSC will evaluate biogas procurement on a yearly basis as it approaches its GHG reduction target years while prioritizing aggressive emissions reductions onsite.) Establish Green Revolving Loan Fund of at least $250,000 by Fall 2013, with first applications received in Winter 2014. (In progress: the Green Revolving Loan Fund has accumulated $70K to-date.) Actively pursue funding opportunities to hire at least one full-time dedicated staff to work on energy efficiency in auxiliary units by 2015. (No progress to-date.) Identify permanent funding source to continue to employ staff currently funded by the Strategic Energy Partnership (SEP) by 2015. (No progress to-date.)

Sustainability Office, Physical Planning & Construction, Physical Plant (Work Management & Energy Services Departments), Campus Housing & Educational Services

The UC Santa Cruz 2013-16 Campus Sustainability Plan (CSP), formally developed with the leadership of the Sustainability Office and vetted by the Chancellor’s Executive Committee on Sustainability & Climate Change, includes targets to advance sustainability in Grounds. Goals and objectives for 2013–16 include increasing student engagement, better preserving the educational value of campus natural lands, enhancing protection of sensitive habitats and species, and broadening awareness of impacts to campus lands. Additionally, UCSC will complete key habitat management plans, increase watershed-focused restoration and reporting activities, and ensure appropriate management and monitoring of sensitive resources.

Support >150 student interns and >500 volunteers actively engaged with stewardship, ecological research, and environmental education projects on the main campus each year. Engage >5,000 students in >35 formal undergraduate courses annually in educational, research, and/or stewardship activities on campus natural lands. Assess and create tracking systems for campus natural land use to set a baseline of current use. Actively pursue funding opportunities for permanent staff and operational resources to implement critical stewardship programs and initiatives that 1) support instruction and re - search; 2) support environmental compliance and protect sensitive species and habitats; and 3) enhance community safety and responsible enjoyment of campus natural areas. Create and implement a Landscape Management Plan for UCSC’s main campus that includes a Fire and Vegetation Management Plan (FVMP) and Invasive Species Management Plan (ISMP). These plans will implement effective habitat and sensitive species management and restoration and establish priorities for specific projects.

Sustainability Office, Physical Plant

The UC Santa Cruz 2013-16 Campus Sustainability Plan (CSP), formally developed with the leadership of the Sustainability Office and vetted by the Chancellor’s Executive Committee on Sustainability & Climate Change, includes targets to advance sustainability in Procurement. Goals include expanding education efforts to increase products flagged as EPP in CruzBuy, encourage use of 100% post-consumer waste (PCW) paper, expand EPP office supply purchases, and create and implement a life-cycle cost analysis tool for campus buyers. The group will identify and initiate one new ongoing communication avenue per quarter (through fiscal year 2015) and create a campuswide EPP awareness and adoption program. To better track supply chain sustainability efforts, GPWeG will develop a method for benchmarking suppliers’ sustainability profiles, incorporating performance metrics that exhibit suppliers’ progress toward more sustainable business operations. Our vision for UCSC in 2020 is a zero-waste community that incorporates life-cycle environmental impacts into product purchasing. New goods will be purchased only when necessary, with existing materials reused whenever possible.

Increase products flagged as Environmentally Preferable Products in CruzBuy by 5% from 2012 figure by end of FY 2016. Identify competitive pricing for 100% post-consumer waste 8.5x11 white multi-purpose printing and copy paper to provide an incentive for increased campuswide use. Increase EPP office supply purchases by 150% from 2012 figures by end of FY 2015. Create and implement a life-cycle cost analysis tool for campus buyers by end of FY 2016. Ensure Environmentally Preferable Product training is part of CruzBuy training and that responsibility for doing so is a stated performance objective for the CruzBuy help desk. Use the Staff Human Resources Learning Management System platform to share Environmentally Preferable Product information. Develop and utilize tool for benchmarking suppliers’ sustainability profile by spring 2015. Incorporate metrics that capture suppliers’ progress toward more sustainable business practices and operations.

Green Purchasing Working Group (GPWeG)

The UC Santa Cruz 2013-16 Campus Sustainability Plan (CSP), formally developed with the leadership of the Sustainability Office and vetted by the Chancellor’s Executive Committee on Sustainability & Climate Change, includes targets to advance sustainability in Transportation. The summary statement for this section within the CSP is as follows: The campus is committed to reducing vehicle trips and GHG emissions by expanding alternative fuel use, human-powered travel, and non-SOV commute modes. However, current funding models are inadequate to sustain campus transit services and subsidies of existing commuter access programs, and do not support major transportation infrastructure improvements. Achieving UCSC’s vision of a truly sustainable and fuel-efficient transportation system will require an effective funding model that integrates large-scale planning, public and private investments, and extensive educational outreach to promote changes in individual behavior.

Maintain average daily trips to UCSC main campus below levels defined by Comprehensive Settlement Agreement (CSA). Reduce CO2 emissions from 2009–10 levels for campus fleet vehicles by 15%, excluding emissions from vanpools and campus transit. Determine baseline for air travel emissions and set target reduction goals. Decrease person-trips to and from main campus using SOV autos from 35% to 30% by 2016. Determine baseline for on-campus travel modes by campus transportation survey and set target for future reductions. Conduct research and pilot-test development of an alternate funding model based on transportation-related GHG emissions, parking, and transportation costs. Develop internships or other educational links to academic interests related to transportation.

Transportation Working Group

The UC Santa Cruz 2013-16 Campus Sustainability Plan (CSP), formally developed with the leadership of the Sustainability Office and vetted by the Chancellor’s Executive Committee on Sustainability & Climate Change, includes targets to advance sustainability in Waste Reduction. The summary statement for this section within the CSP is as follows: UCSC aims to develop and implement campus-wide education, outreach and behavioral change initiatives to improve waste reduction practices among its community members, as well as identify and pursue opportunities for operational infrastructure improvements that will increase waste diversion.

Develop waste reduction training for campus staff utilizing the campus’ online Learning Management System. Create a centralized and comprehensive website link that clearly communicates recycling, composting, and waste disposal resources and locations across campus. Develop formalized procedures for supporting, promoting, and tracking zero waste events 1 modeled on existing Catering Services practices. Create tracking systems for all material streams and establish a centralized location for waste reduction data. Increase efficiency of current recycling, compost, and other resource recovery initiatives through the creation of a material processing facility on campus. Explore opportunities to expand the current Dining Services compost collection infrastructure to serve a greater portion of the campus, including reporting on the viability of creating an on-campus or local composting facility. Explore the viability of creating a location on campus where items can be traded and re-used among students, faculty, and staff across campus. Evaluate the current fee structure and identify sustainable sources of funding to increase staff capacity for waste reduction education and material management.

Sustainability Office, Physical Plant, Dining

UC Santa Cruz has a formal Water Action Plan, drafted in 2013, developed with input from the campus community and City of Santa Cruz. It includes goals to reduce water usage per capita over time, as well as comply with local water restrictions when they are in effect. The UC Santa Cruz 2013-16 Campus Sustainability Plan (CSP), formally developed with the leadership of the Sustainability Office and vetted by the Chancellor’s Executive Committee on Sustainability & Climate Change, includes targets to advance sustainability in Water. The summary statement for this section within the CSP is as follows: In pursuit of UCSC’s overall vision of sustainable campus water demand, the campus is developing model sustainable water systems, reducing consumption through education and outreach, and exploring non-potable sources. A key goal is to reduce average annual potable water use on the main campus. Additionally, the campus will continue research to identify and apply new technologies and improvements that reduce water consumption and/or increase efficiency. An important element of this ongoing effort will be student-directed programs that implement educational campaigns to promote behavioral change and reduce water consumption.

Initiate three pilot projects that explore and examine non-potable supply options by 2016. Increase water use efficiency by 5% through: 1) detecting leaks; 2) replacing old meters; 3) installing meters where necessary. Decrease weighted campus user demand by 5–10%. Develop and maintain a Water Action Plan that identifies the campus’s long-term strategies for achieving sustainable water systems. Develop a system to provide timely data and feedback on water use to the on- and off-campus community. Create and administer fundamental water management training for campus community utilizing Learning Management System by end of FY 2014. Incorporate water education into residential programs for new students

Sustainability Office, PPC, Physical Plant

At the March 2010 Regents' meeting, University of California systemwide President Yudof pledged to take steps to directly address campus climate issues that leave students feeling marginalized; to promote the identification and sharing of best practices that promote diversity and tolerance; to monitor progress on the campuses; and to provide effective oversight. The President appointed a systemwide Advisory Council on Campus Climate, Culture and Inclusion and asked each campus Chancellor to chair and appoint a multi-constituency Council to advise the Chancellor and, as appropriate, the campus community. Chancellor Blumenthal established the UCSC Advisory Council on Campus Climate, Culture and Inclusion in 2010. This council was renamed to the Chancellor’s Diversity Advisory Council (CDAC) in fall 2015. CDAC is an advisory body to the Chancellor that includes faculty, administrators, staff, undergraduate and graduate students, community members and alumni. The overarching responsibility for the Council is to provide campus leadership with advice and recommendations about best practices in creating a diverse and inclusive campus community. The' goals to advance campus diversity and climate are: Monitor and evaluate the progress of UCSC in creating conditions of climate, culture and inclusion that will best support the mission of the University and provide equal opportunities to all UCSC students, faculty and staff. Identify, evaluate and share “promising practices” in efforts to create a welcoming and inclusive campus climate—looking broadly at other institutions, both public and private, inside and outside higher education, across the state and the nation. Evaluate existing policies, programs, and organizational structures that promote diversity and inclusion and recommend additional programming and institutional changes to continue to ensure proactive engagement in creating a healthy campus community. Generate innovate thinking and offer solutions to assist in the resolution of campus climate issues. Partner with identified affinity groups based on campus specific needs or climate studies to foster community building and engagement through inclusion. Pursue and fulfill other diversity-related initiatives identified by the Chancellor.

Office for Diversity Equity and Inclusion

The Sustainability Office, housed within the Business and Administrative Services division, is responsible to developing and supporting implementation of the Campus Sustainability Plan.