Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 57.66
Liaison Michael Kensler
Submission Date Jan. 23, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Auburn University
OP-22: Water Use

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.67 / 4.00 Scott McClure
Energy Engineer
Energy Management
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Level of ”Physical Risk QUANTITY” for the institution’s main campus as indicated by the World Resources Institute’s Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas:
Low to Medium

Part 1 

Total water use (potable and non-potable combined):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water use --- 1,520,697.62 Cubic meters

Potable water use:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use 1,160,417.44 Cubic meters 1,520,697.62 Cubic meters

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Oct. 1, 2016 Sept. 30, 2017
Baseline Year Oct. 1, 2009 Sept. 30, 2010

If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:

A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
Fiscal year 2010 serves as the baseline for the university's formally adopted water reduction goals.

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 4,561 3,825
Number of employees resident on-site 0 0
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 24,849 22,556
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 5,105 4,841
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 519 341
Weighted campus users 23,216.50 21,248.25

Potable water use per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per weighted campus user 49.98 Cubic meters 71.57 Cubic meters

Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
30.16

Part 2 

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area 1,100,565.82 Gross square meters 886,201.72 Gross square meters

Potable water use per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per unit of floor area 1.05 Cubic meters per square meter 1.72 Cubic meters per square meter

Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
38.55

Part 3 

Does the institution wish to pursue Part 3 of this credit? (reductions in total water use per acre/hectare of vegetated grounds):
No

Area of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Vegetated grounds --- ---

Total water use (potable + non-potable) per unit of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water use per unit of vegetated grounds --- ---

Percentage reduction in total water use per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
---

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution's water-related behavior change initiatives, e.g. initiatives to shift individual attitudes and practices such as signage and competitions:
The Office of Sustainability conducts a variety of outreach efforts through its student intern program and its employee Peers Network program. Typical yearly efforts tied to water conservation include social media messaging, No Impact Week activities, office strategy checklists, posters, and messaging shared through tabling at events around campus. The office also features water management information on its new employee education material and on its website for both Living at AU and Working at AU.

A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
One 500-gallon and 3 connected 55-gallon cisterns that harvest rainwater from a building roof are currently in place at the Davis Arboretum. The rainwater captured is used to refill the Little Cahaba exhibit or to water plants. In a bog at the arboretum are an underground 1400 gallon tank and a 1700 gallon above ground tank installed in early 2011. Both use water captured from the shed/outdoor classroom roof to operate the water feature and keep the bog hydrated. The underground tank has a pump that is powered by a solar panel; the above ground tank uses gravity. Other cisterns are installed at the AU Raptor Center, and the Architecture Shop Building.

A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives (e.g. building retrofits):
Current design standards call for high-efficiency faucets, low-flow showerheads, and where feasible, high-efficiency toilets/urinals.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
http://www.auburn.edu/administration/facilities/organization/operations/utilities-energy/energy-management/Energy%20Reduction%20Strategy%20August%202017.pdf

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Additional information related to historical and current utility usage, including water, can be accessed through our the Utilities & Energy Department of Facilities Management at: http://www.auburn.edu/administration/facilities/organization/operations/utilities-energy/energy-analysis.html

The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.