Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 59.21
Liaison Elaine Durr
Submission Date Feb. 11, 2022

STARS v2.2

Elon University
OP-21: Water Use

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.84 / 4.00 Raymond Fletcher
Senior Director
Facilities 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 Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas:
Low to Medium

Part 1. Reduction in potable water use per person 

Total water withdrawal (potable and non-potable combined):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water withdrawal 72,692,592 Gallons 79,716,423 Gallons

Potable water use:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use 49,368,628 Gallons 60,628,524 Gallons

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Period June 1, 2020 May 31, 2021
Baseline Period June 1, 2014 May 31, 2015

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:
2014-2015 was selected for the baseline year for this credit because additional historical data is not available for all of the data points required for this credit.

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 3,990 3,496
Number of employees resident on-site 21 22
Number of other individuals resident on-site 23 12
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 6,973 6,334
Full-time equivalent of employees 1,487 1,304
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted campus users 7,370.75 6,620

Potable water use per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per weighted campus user 6,697.91 Gallons 9,158.39 Gallons

Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
26.87

Part 2. Reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area 3,117,394 Gross square feet 2,705,892 Gross square feet

Potable water use per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per unit of floor area 15.84 Gallons per square foot 22.41 Gallons per square foot

Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
29.32

Part 3. Reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds 

Area of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Vegetated grounds 477.45 Acres 483.50 Acres

Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds 152,251.74 Gallons per acre 164,873.68 Gallons per acre

Percentage reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
7.66

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution's water-related behavior change initiatives:
---

A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
All storm drainage water is directed (whenever topographical elevations permit) into three existing stormwater detention ponds, which are used as the primary irrigation source for the campus. This system does not address all of the university’s property.

A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
Over the last several years, the university has replaced most toilets and shower heads with low-flow models. Low-flow faucet aerators have been installed in most lavatory locations and all commercial kitchen facilities.
Construction standards for new, retrofit and renovation projects include low-flow plumbing fixtures for faucets, urinals and toilets.

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:
Some of the potable water use reduction between the baseline and performance year can likely be attributed to the summer of 2020, during which there was less than typical activity on campus due to the pandemic.

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.