| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.54 |
| Liaison | Tavey Capps |
| Submission Date | Oct. 18, 2013 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Duke University
IN-2: Innovation 2
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Tavey
Capps Environmental Sustainability Director Office of the Executive Vice President |
A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
Water Reclamation Pond Initiative
Duke has sustained a 30% decrease in potable water consumption since 2006, during which the campus grew by 1M GSF or 5%.
Duke plans to continue prioritizing water conservation as it grows. Current efforts are underway in new construction, landscaping, storm water and utility plants to maximize reductions and efficiencies. One of the most innovative of the aforementioned efforts is the Water Reclamation Pond Initiative.
The centralized chiller plants at the University serve over seven million gross square feet of facilities. The chiller plants are the single largest user of water on campus. Facilities Maintenance is working to both reduce consumption and to shift water sources from potable to alternative. After over a year in concept planning and design the Board of Trustees approved the construction of a water reclamation pond which will save and estimated 100 million gallons of potable water a year.
The water will be pumped to the chiller plant and used in the cooling towers. The pond will also act as a cleaning device for 22% of campus storm water runoff. This helps Duke meet the standards for water quality.
In addition the pond and adjacent site will serve as a research zone for wetland plant species and a campus amenity with walking trails and small amphitheater. The design is complete and the project is in permitting phase with an estimated start date of spring 2013.
A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
The website URL where information about the innovation is available:
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.