Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.59
Liaison Victor Udo
Submission Date Sept. 23, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Bucknell University
OP-22: Water Use

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.31 / 5.00 Stephen Durfee
Energy Manager
Facilities
"---" 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:
Medium to High

Total water use (potable and non-potable combined):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water use --- 94,660,635 Gallons

Potable water use:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use 85,479,869 Gallons 94,660,635 Gallons

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2017 June 30, 2018
Baseline Year July 1, 2007 June 30, 2008

A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:

The baseline of fiscal year 2008 for water usage was adopted to keep the numbers consistent with Bucknell's Comprehensive Environmental Assessment conducted and completed in 2008. This comprehensive report is the most recent document that measures all aspects of Bucknell's campus with respect to sustainability. It was also adopted to keep the baseline used for all other reporting sections consistent.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 3,353 3,050
Number of employees resident on-site 17 17
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 14 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 3,781 3,563
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 1,342 1,162
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted campus users 4,698.75 4,310.50

Potable water use per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per weighted campus user 18,192.04 Gallons 21,960.48 Gallons

Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
17.16

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area 2,989,249 Gross square feet 2,500,000 Gross square feet

Potable water use per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per unit of floor area 28.60 Gallons per square foot 37.86 Gallons per square foot

Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
24.48

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 365 Acres 386 Acres

Total water use (potable + non-potable) per unit of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water use per unit of vegetated grounds 0 Gallons per acre 245,234.81 Gallons per acre

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

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:

Earth week events, class visits and Office of Campus Sustainability efforts help raise awareness. Since the last report BU has invested significant resources into water conservation and efficiency particularly through the Green Fund revolving loan fund mechanism for sustainability projects. Water consumption is down approximately 15% over the prior performance year. The development of a comprehensive water conservation and efficiency management plan is currently in the works and should be completed by the end of 2019.


A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:

Condensate from gas turbine inlet cooler and air handlers is recovered and used in cooling towers.


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):

Since the last report, BU has invested significant resources into water conservation and efficiency particularly through the Green Fund revolving loan fund mechanism for sustainability projects. Water consumption is down approximately 15% over the prior performance year. The development of a comprehensive water conservation and efficiency management plan is currently in the works and should be completed by the end of 2019.

All building renovations, construction projects, and new buildings completed since 1992 have low flow water fixtures (1.0 gpf urinals, 1.28 gpf toilets, 2.5 gpm shower-heads, and 1.5 gpm sinks). A few buildings on campus built within the last two years are LEED certified and have more efficient fixtures (0.125 gpf urinals, 1.28 gpf toilets, 1.5 gpm shower-heads, and 0.5 gpm sinks). Some other spots on campus have dual-flush toilets.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.