| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.67 |
| Liaison | Julie Newman |
| Submission Date | Sept. 30, 2021 |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
OP-21: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.67 / 4.00 |
MIT
Office of Sustainability Director Office of Sustainability |
Level of ”Physical Risk Quantity” for the institution’s main campus as indicated by the World Resources Institute Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas:
Total water withdrawal (potable and non-potable combined):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal | 384,144,900 Gallons | 376,931,434 Gallons |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 236,766,687 Gallons | 376,931,434 Gallons |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | July 1, 2019 | June 30, 2020 |
| Baseline Period | July 1, 2013 | June 30, 2014 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
A water use baseline of fiscal year 2014 is used to ensure consistency with other credits, with MIT's greenhouse gas commitment, and with MIT's previous STARS reporting.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 5,851 | 6,007 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 53 | 39 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 600 | 411 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 11,261 | 11,301 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 10,239 | 11,380 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 18,201 | 18,933.25 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 13,008.44 Gallons | 19,908.44 Gallons |
Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
Gross floor area of building space:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross floor area | 12,162,657 Gross square feet | 12,149,907 Gross square feet |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 19.47 Gallons per square foot | 31.02 Gallons per square foot |
Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
Area of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Vegetated grounds | 97 Acres | 97 Acres |
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds | 3,960,256.70 Gallons per acre | 3,885,891.07 Gallons per acre |
Percentage reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
A brief description of the institution's water-related behavior change initiatives:
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
An innovative storm water retention and management system at the Stata Center employs a bioswale to capture and filter stormwater runoff. This water is harvested, filtered, and used as flushing water in the 430,000 GSF building. MIT deploys "smart metered" irrigation systems around campus to conserve water. In the central cooling plants, water is metered and monitored to identify potential water loss in the system.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
MIT completed many water fixture retrofits throughout campus. Ultra low-flow fixtures are the installation standard for all replacements. New construction employs LEED gold design standards, which encourage water saving strategies.
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:
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.