| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 80.73 |
| Liaison | Austin Eriksson |
| Submission Date | Oct. 3, 2024 |
California State University, Northridge
EN-11: Inter-Campus Collaboration
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 3.00 |
Sarah
Johnson Sustainability Program Analyst Institute for Sustainability |
Is the institution currently a member of a national or international higher education sustainability network?:
The name of the national or international sustainability network(s):
CSUN is a member of AASHE STARS and has also signed the Second Nature Climate Commitment.
Does the institution actively participate in a regional, state/provincial, or local higher education sustainability network?:
The name of the regional, state/provincial or local sustainability network(s):
CSUN sustainability staff actively participate in the CSU Sustainability Officer working group and SoCal Sustainabilily Officers.
We are also members of the California Resource Recovery Association CRRA, a waste related association of California.
Has the institution presented at a higher education sustainability conference during the previous year?:
A list or brief description of the conference(s) and presentation(s):
In 2023, CSUN Sustainability staff presented at six sustainability-related conferences. Energy & Sustainability Energy Analyst Rachel Singleton and Institute for Sustainability Specialist Sarah Johnson presented at AASHE in Boston. Rachel also presented at CRRA in Burlingame, CA. Energy and Sustainability Director ,Austin Eriksson presented at IDEA International District Energy Association conference in San Francisco. Austin and Sarah presented at SCUP Society for College and University Planning in Seattle, WA. Rachel and Aspen, the Sustainability and Zero Waste Coordinator, presented at the CSU Water conference. Sarah, Aspen, and Rachel presented at Green California Schools & Higher Education Summit and Exposition in Pasadena, CA.
Has the institution submitted a case study during the previous year to an external higher education sustainability resource center or awards program?:
A list or brief description of the sustainability resource center or awards program and submission(s):
We submitted and received an award during the 2023-2024 year for CRRA Next Generation Recycler, which we will receive in August 2024. We also submitted for the Outstanding Edible Food Recovery Program which we did not receive.
We also submitted a Case Study for our May 2024 Sustainable Move Out program to Campus Race to Zero Waste. We will find out if we are awarded a Case Study in August 2024.
We submitted and received an award for Energy Efficiency Leadership through the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
We submitted an award for Focus on Efficiency through the CHEC California Higher Education Conference.
We submitted and received awards for 2 buildings that are now Energy Star certified through the EPA.
Has the institution had employees or students serving on a board or committee of a sustainability network or conference during the previous three years?:
A list or brief description of the board or committee appointment(s):
Aspen Coty, Sustainability and Zero Waste Coordinator is on the Board of Directors for CURC the College and University Recycling Coalition.
LA 100: LA City plan for 100% renewable energy, Austin is the CSUN rep. Loraine Lundquist is the CSUN representative for the LA 100 working group. LA 100 is a study conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to determine the feasibility of achieving 100% renewable electricity for the City of Los Angeles by 2045. This working group meets regularly with members of NREL to review continued planning and modeling which will guide the city's energy sourcing decisions moving forward.
Does the institution have an ongoing mentoring relationship with another institution through which it assists the institution with its sustainability reporting and/or the development of its sustainability program?:
A brief description of the mentoring relationship and activities:
Through the Sustainability networks, there are many ongoing mentoring activities, there are lunch and learns, and open office hours where sustainability professionals can ask questions and bring up topics to figure out with the group. Through the CSU network, there is also a STARs working group where professionals can pose questions and help each other talk through challenges or similar issues while supporting each other in developing their next STARs report.
Aspen Coty CSUN's Sustainability and Zero Waste Coordinator, has an ongoing mentoring relationship with her counterpart at CSU San Marcos, they often connect to bounce ideas off each other and learn from different projects and programs. Aspen mentored Marissa Acosta on their Zero Waste Services hauling contract several times over the last year.
Has the institution had employees or students serving as peer reviewers of another institution’s sustainability data and/or STARS submission during the previous three years?:
A brief description of the peer review activities:
Sarah Johnson (Lead Sustainability Specialist), Austin Eriksson (Director, Energy and Sustainability), and Lorely Guzman (CA Climate Action Corps Fellow) reviewed CSU Long Beach's STARS report in 2024.
Optional Fields
Website URL where information about the institution’s inter-campus collaborations is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.