ACUPCC Reporting System

Implementation Profile for University of California, Davis

Submitted on August 31, 2008; last updated on July 13, 2009

Institution Information

Basic Carnegie Classification RU/VH: Research Universities (very high research activity)
Control Public
Location Davis, CA
Community Setting Mid-size city
USDOE Climate Zone No information provided.
Current President or Chancellor's Name Larry Vanderhoef
Current President or Chancellor's Title Chancellor
Main Web Site http://www.ucdavis.edu/index.html
Sustainability Web Site http://sustainability.ucdavis.edu/

Implementation Structure

Implementation Liaison's Name Sid England
Implementation Liaison's Title Assistanve Vice Chancellor for Environmental Stewardship and Sustainablity
Implementation Liaison's Department No information provided.
Format of Structure Advisory committee, three staff positions, and task groups
Number of Individuals in Structure 25
Stakeholder Groups Represented Faculty, Staff, Students
Description The UC Davis Sustainability Advisory Committee–composed of students, faculty, staff and members from the city and county–has lead campus sustainability efforts. One outcome was creation of an Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability group in May 2008 that will include an Assistant Vice Chancellor, a Sustainability Manager, and a Sustainability Analyst. Student Housing is hiring a Sustainability Coordinator. Task groups focus on climate action planning, green buildings, clean energy, green computing, transportation, purchasing, waste/recycling, and food systems. A Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability will be appointed in Fall 2008.

Tangible Actions

1. Establish a policy that all new campus construction will be built to at least the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Silver standard or equivalent.

No: New buildings must meet or exceed LEED Certified specifications and the campus strives for silver. Recent or upcoming project expected to be LEED Silver or Gold include the Graduate School of Management, Tercero South Student Housing Phase II, and the Student Community Center. The Tahoe Environmental Research Center received LEED Platinum certification and a 2008 Overall Sustainable Design Best Practice Award. Gladys Valley Hall won the 2005 Best Practice Award in Overall Sustainable Design from the Higher Education Energy Efficiency Partnership Program. UC Davis buildings must be at least 20 percent more efficient than California’s strict energy code.

2. Adopt an energy-efficient appliance purchasing policy requiring purchase of ENERGY STAR certified products in all areas for which such ratings exist.

No: Although not fully required, UC Davis is committed to purchasing energy efficient equipment that meets ENERGY STAR requirements including but not limited to personal computers, printers, copiers, faxes, laboratory equipment, lighting, refrigerators, and HVACs. For product categories that have ENERGY STAR rated products available, procurement efforts are focused only on products with an ENERGY STAR rating consistent with the needs of researchers. For those goods already in use across the system, available energy conservation features shall be ENERGY STAR enabled.

3. Establish a policy of offsetting all greenhouse gas emissions generated by air travel paid for by our institution.

No: No information provided.

4. Encourage use of and provide access to public transportation for all faculty, staff, students and visitors at our institution.

Yes: UC Davis and the City have a network of bicycle paths and trails and were awarded Platinum level by the League of American Bicyclists. Up to 20,000 bikes are on campus daily. The campus Bike Barn makes over 10,000 repairs per year. The student-run bus system, available to all, uses primarily compressed natural gas and provides more than 3,000,000 rides annual. Universal transits passes, bike rentals, guaranteed rides home, and carpool, vanpool and transitpool programs are available to vehicle users. Overall, 60% of the campus population arrives on campus by other than single-occupancy vehicles.

5. Within one year of signing this document, begin purchasing or producing at least 15% of our institution's electricity consumption from renewable sources.

No: No information provided.

6. Establish a policy or a committee that supports climate and sustainability shareholder proposals at companies where our institution's endowment is invested.

No: No information provided.

7. Participate in the Waste Minimization component of the national RecycleMania competition, and adopt 3 or more associated measures to reduce waste.

Yes: In 2008, UC Davis participated in Recyclemania and finished ninth overall. The UC system has set ambitious waste diversion rate goals; 50 percent by 2008, 75 percent by 2012, and zero municipal waste by 2020. For the Davis campus, the diversion rate was 56% in 2007 and has been over 50% since 2000. R4 Recycling programs include the mini-bin system for trash and the multi-bin system for e-waste. Dining services and the student-run Project Compost work together to compost over 160 tons of organic waste per month.