Michigan State University
OP-21: Water Use

Part 1. Reduction in potable water use per person

Institution has reduced its annual potable water use per weighted campus user compared to a baseline.

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

Institution has reduced its annual potable water use per gross square metre or foot of floor area compared to a baseline.

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

Institution has reduced its total annual water use (potable + non-potable) per hectare or acre of vegetated grounds compared to a baseline.

This credit applies to all institutions.

Each part is scored independently.

This credit is weighted more heavily for institutions located in areas of water stress and scarcity and less heavily for institutions in areas with relative water abundance. The points available for each part of this credit are determined by the level of ”Physical Risk Quantity” for the institution’s main campus, as indicated by the World Resources Institute Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas. The number of points available is automatically calculated in the online Reporting Tool as detailed in the following table:

Points earned are calculated according to the formulas below. Please note that users do not have to calculate the number of points available and the number of points earned themselves; points will be calculated automatically when the data listed under Reporting Fields is entered in the online Reporting Tool. STARS awards only positive points; points will not be deducted if normalized water use increased rather than decreased during the time period.

Part 1

An institution earns the maximum points available for Part 1 of this credit by achieving a 30 percent or larger reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user compared to a baseline. Incremental points are awarded for smaller reductions. For example, an institution that reduced its potable water use by 15 percent would earn half of the points available for Part 1.

Points earned = [ E / 0.3 ] × { [ ( A / B ) - ( C / D ) ] / ( A / B ) }

A = Potable water use, baseline year (cubic metres or US gallons)

B = Weighted campus users, baseline year

C = Potable water use, performance year (cubic metres or US gallons)

D = Weighted campus users, performance year

E = Points available for Part 1

Part 2

An institution earns the maximum points available for Part 2 of this credit by achieving a 30 percent or larger reduction in potable water use per gross square metre or foot of floor area compared to a baseline.  Incremental points are awarded for smaller reductions. For example, an institution that reduced its potable water use by 15 percent would earn half of the points available for Part 2.

Points earned = [ E / 0.3 ] × { [ ( A / B ) - ( C / D ) ] / ( A / B ) }

A = Potable water use, baseline year (cubic metres or US gallons)

B = Gross floor area of building space, baseline year (square metres or feet)

C = Potable water use, performance year (cubic metres or US gallons)

D = Gross floor area of building space, performance year (square metres or feet)

E = Points available for Part 2

Part 3

An institution earns the maximum points available for Part 3 of this credit by achieving a 30 percent or larger reduction in total water use per hectare or acre of vegetated grounds compared to a baseline. Incremental points are awarded for smaller reductions. For example, an institution that reduced its total water use by 15 percent would earn half of the points available for Part 3.

Points earned = [ E / 0.3 ] × { [ ( A / B ) - ( C / D ) ] / ( A / B ) }

A = Total water use, baseline year (cubic metres or US gallons)

B = Area of vegetated grounds, baseline year (hectares or acres)

C = Total water use, performance year (cubic metres or US gallons)

D = Area of vegetated grounds, performance year (hectares or acres)

E = Points available for Part 3

Timeframe

Performance Year

Report the most recent data available from within the three years prior to the anticipated date of submission.  Institutions may use the most recent single year for which data is available or an average from throughout the period. 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 (or 3-year) period.  

Report building space, campus area, and population figures from the same time period as that from which water use data are drawn (e.g., the consecutive 12-month or 3-year period that most closely overlaps with the water use performance period). Institutions may report building space and campus area using an average from throughout the period or a snapshot at a single representative point during the period.

Baseline Year

Report data from the baseline year, which may be:

• Any year from 2005 to the present

• A baseline year, 1990 to 2004, that the institution has adopted as part of its sustainability plans or policies or in the context of other reporting obligations

Recommended best practices for defining a baseline include:

• Using the average of three consecutive years to reduce the impact of outliers.

• Using the same baseline year for multiple credits to reduce reporting requirements. For example, institutions using 2005 for all STARS credits that are baseline-based would only have to calculate baseline weighted campus user data once.

• Ensuring that baseline and performance year data are valid and reliable (e.g., that the data were gathered in the same manner)

Institutions without valid and reliable historical data should use performance year data for both the baseline and performance year. Following this approach, an institution would not be able to claim points for reductions during its first STARS submission, but would be able to use its newly established baseline for subsequent submissions.

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 (or 3-year) period.  

Report building space, campus area, and population figures from the same period as that from which water use data are drawn (e.g., the consecutive 12-month or 3-year period that most closely overlaps with the water use baseline period). Institutions may report building space and campus area using an average from throughout the period or a snapshot at a single representative point during the period.

Sampling and Data Standards

Total water withdrawal is the total volume of water, potable and non-potable, withdrawn by the institution regardless of source, i.e.:

• surface water
• groundwater
• rainwater harvested directly and stored by the institution for use,
• reclaimed wastewater from off-campus sources, and
• water from municipal water supplies and water utilities.

To the extent possible, include all water that was withdrawn by the institution when reporting total water withdrawal for this credit; reporting on a sample or subset of water use is not allowed. If data on water use values are not available, institutions may work with their facilities department and water utility to estimate usage figures based on billing totals.   

Water that is recycled/reused on campus should only be counted toward water use once (at initial withdrawal from its source) and excluded at subsequent uses.

Athletic fields and land dedicated to food production may be excluded from the area of vegetated grounds as long as they are excluded from both baseline year and performance year data. The footprint of buildings and other structures with green roofs may be included in the area of vegetated grounds.