| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 61.60 |
| Liaison | Megan Curtis-Murphy |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2023 |
Northeastern University
OP-21: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.53 / 4.00 |
Jacob
Glickel Director of Sustainability Operations Climate Justice & Sustainability Hub |
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 | 166,017,912 Gallons | 171,172,948 Gallons |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 166,017,912 Gallons | 171,172,948 Gallons |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | Jan. 1, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2022 |
| Baseline Period | Jan. 1, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2011 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
2011 was chosen because it is the most recent year in which we could confirm vegetated area and data accuracy. 2022 was chosen as the performance year over 2021, as 2022 reflects fuller use of campus facilities. Water usage is captures the density of campus life more than energy.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 8,184 | 7,762 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 33 | 30 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 7 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 31,817 | 26,573 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 5,489 | 3,648 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 3,118 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 27,702.25 | 24,613.75 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 5,992.94 Gallons | 6,954.36 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 | 7,328,591 Gross square feet | 6,803,381 Gross square feet |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 22.65 Gallons per square foot | 25.16 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 | 37.42 Acres | 34.50 Acres |
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds | 4,436,609.09 Gallons per acre | 4,961,534.72 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:
The irrigation system made upgrades to bring all controller data into a single user interface to allow better irrigation control during rain events and generate alarms when repairs are needed to irrigation components.
The bioswales located in the The Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex (ISEC) plaza are designed to collect, filter, and infiltrate storm water runoff from the impervious areas of the plaza and streetscape. Various indigenous and drought resistant plantings contribute to a resilient ecosystem and reduce the need for irrigation. The bioswale plant community includes trees and herbaceous plants that can withstand moisture levels ranging from flooded to dry.
The University has installed over 250 bottled water filling stations on Boston-area campuses. The effort inflates the university water consumption statistics but reduces single-use plastic bottles on campus.
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
In our newest projects, we have incorporated rainwater capture for reuse on site. The Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex LEED Gold building captures rainwater for reuse in the building's toilets. In a public private partnership, Northeastern redesigned a Boston park and incorporated rainwater capture and storage to water the plantings surrounding the turf field.
Being constructed on filled land, the University has historically made groundwater recharge a part of all large construction projects on campus, with 16 buildings, cover over 190,000 SF of roof space, employing groundwater recharge systems for rainwater. The use of hardscape throughout the City of Boston has reduced water infiltration considerably and water tables have dropped as water is transported away from the city through the storm water drainage systems. In more recent construction projects the university has installed permeable pavement to reduce hardscape, bio swales with indigenous plants to reduce the flow of heavy storms, and rainwater collection systems to water athletic fields and flush toilets in a research building.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
The University is committed to the installation of efficient toilets, urinals, faucets, and shower heads throughout campus. Automated flush and faucet valves are located throughout campus to reduce water use through excessive flushing and faucet flow.
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.