Green Mountain College
OP-22: Water Consumption

Institution has reduced its water consumption per weighted campus user compared to a 2005 baseline. 

This credit applies to all institutions. 

Institutions earn maximum points for this credit by achieving a 30 percent or larger reduction in total water consumption per weighted campus user compared to a 2005 baseline.  Incremental points are awarded for smaller reductions.  For example, an institution that reduced consumption by 15 percent would earn 3.5 points (half of the possible points for this credit). 

STARS awards only positive points; points will not be deducted if water consumption per weighted campus user increased rather than decreased during the time period. 

Points earned are calculated according to the formula below.  Please note that users do not have to calculate the number of points earned themselves; points earned will be calculated automatically when the data listed under Section 5: Reporting Fields is entered in the online reporting tool.  

Points Earned = 23 ⅓ × { [ (A/B) - (C/D) ] / (A/B) }

A = Water consumed in the 2005 baseline year

B = Weighted campus users in the 2005 baseline year

C= Water consumed, performance year (most recent year for which data are available)

D= Weighted campus users, performance year (most recent year for which data are available)

Performance Period

Report the most recent annual water consumption data available.  Institutions may choose the annual start and end dates that work best with the data they have (e.g. fiscal or calendar year) as long as data are reported from a consecutive 12-month period. 

Report population figures from the same time period as the water consumption data.  To measure population, institutions may use an average from throughout the period or fall figures reported to IPEDS. 

Baseline Year

Report data from the 2005 baseline year.  Institutions may choose the start and end dates that work best with the data they have (e.g. fiscal or calendar year), as long as data are reported from a consecutive 12-month period that includes at least one month in 2005.  

To measure population, institutions may use an average from throughout the period or fall figures reported to IPEDS. 

If an institution does not have 2005 data, it may either:

a)      Estimate 2005 data using a trend line based on at least three years worth of data,

or

b)     Estimate conservatively (i.e. estimate that performance has not changed between the baseline and performance year).  Following this approach, an institution would not be able to claim points during its first STARS submission, but would be able to use its previously estimated baseline for subsequent submissions. 

Some of the 2005 baseline figures are based on multiple components.  If an institution has data for some, but not all, of the components of the baseline figure, it may follow either of the approaches above to estimate the missing data and then combine it with the available data. 

Sampling

To the extent possible, include all water that was consumed by the institution when reporting for this credit; reporting on a sample or subset of water consumption is not allowed. 

If data on water consumption values are not available, institutions may work with their facilities department and water utility to estimate consumption figures based on billing totals.