| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 64.13 |
| Liaison | Michael Kensler |
| Submission Date | Feb. 4, 2022 |
Auburn University
OP-21: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.36 / 4.00 |
Scott
McClure Energy Engineer Energy Management |
Level of ”Physical Risk Quantity” for the institution’s main campus as indicated by the World Resources Institute Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas:
Total water withdrawal (potable and non-potable combined):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal | 334,597,000 Gallons | 404,023,000 Gallons |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 334,597,000 Gallons | 404,023,000 Gallons |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | Oct. 1, 2019 | Sept. 30, 2020 |
| Baseline Period | Oct. 1, 2009 | Sept. 30, 2010 |
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 and was adopted in 2017 when the Facilities Management Energy Reduction strategy was updated and republished.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 4,621 | 3,825 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 26,701 | 22,556 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 5,343 | 4,841 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 811 | 341 |
| Weighted campus users | 24,580 | 21,248.25 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 13,612.57 Gallons | 19,014.41 Gallons |
Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
Gross floor area of building space:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross floor area | 12,720,168 Gross square feet | 9,539,000 Gross square feet |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 26.30 Gallons per square foot | 42.35 Gallons per square foot |
Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
Area of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Vegetated grounds | 1,356 Acres | 1,356 Acres |
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds | 246,752.95 Gallons per acre | 297,952.06 Gallons per acre |
Percentage reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
A brief description of the institution's water-related behavior change initiatives:
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, Earth Month activities, office strategy checklists, posters, and messages 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. In addition, the university has a utility dashboard available for nearly all buildings on campus, which includes water usage for each building.
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. In addition, we have implemented rainwater capture for irrigation at the Central Dining Facility and for greywater flushing at the Advanced Structural Engineering Laboratory.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
Current design standards call for all new and major renovation projects to utilize low fixtures and flush valves. In addition, when a repair is performed low flow fixtures are utilized.
Website URL where information about the institution’s water conservation and efficiency efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
In addition to the strategies outlined above, the university has also invested in automated monitoring/alarm systems to help detect leaks in almost real-time, improved district energy plant operations, and upgraded irrigation systems, which taken together have generated a large amount of the water savings reported.
Additional information related to historical and current utility usage, including water, can be accessed through the Utilities & Energy Department of Facilities Management at: http://www.auburn.edu/administration/facilities/organization/operations/utilities-energy/energy-analysis.html
In addition to the strategies outlined above, the university has also invested in automated monitoring/alarm systems to help detect leaks in almost real-time, improved district energy plant operations, and upgraded irrigation systems, which taken together have generated a large amount of the water savings reported.
Additional information related to historical and current utility usage, including water, can be accessed through 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.