Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 67.20
Liaison Jessica Thompson
Submission Date June 20, 2024

STARS v2.2

Northern Michigan University
OP-21: Water Use

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.72 / 4.00 Brandon Sager
Sustainability Coordinator
Facilities
"---" 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

Total water withdrawal (potable and non-potable combined):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water withdrawal 49,435,000 Gallons 77,449,416 Gallons

Potable water use:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use 49,435,000 Gallons 77,449,416 Gallons

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Period July 1, 2021 June 30, 2022
Baseline Period July 1, 2010 June 30, 2011

A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
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Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 2,995 3,230
Number of employees resident on-site 0 0
Number of other individuals resident on-site 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 6,254 9,273
Full-time equivalent of employees 972 1,191
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 782 16
Weighted campus users 5,581.75 8,643.50

Potable water use per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per weighted campus user 8,856.54 Gallons 8,960.42 Gallons

Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
1.16

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area 3,534,000 Gross square feet 3,456,292 Gross square feet

Potable water use per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per unit of floor area 13.99 Gallons per square foot 22.41 Gallons per square foot

Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
37.57

Area of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Vegetated grounds 204 Acres 204 Acres

Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds 242,328.43 Gallons per acre 379,654 Gallons per acre

Percentage reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
36.17

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

The performance year for this data was 2022 (for the 2023 submission), data in this category was not updated for the 2024 submission, but after STARS review, the 2024 submission was updated using the population numbers in the 2024 PRE-4 & PRE-5 (not 2022-2023). 

NMU has historically monitored all building water consumption on a monthly basis. This data is utilized to identify potential plumbing system issues as well as notify building occupants of any deviation from normal usage averages. Beginning 2019 old water meters are being strategically replaced with BAS compatible hardware in order to provide instantaneous feedback for water usage. This change will allow NMU’s energy management team to immediately identify potential plumbing system issues and increases in user usage. In addition plans are in place to tie new compatible water and electric meters into a centralized system in which housing residents can compare their usage to adjacent wings. The pilot program is expected to be completed in 2020. EcoReps conduct workshops during Sustainability Week. Facilities send email blasts to campus providing


A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
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A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:

Any systems that are scheduled for repair or replacement (whether by age or in new construction) are reviewed for the potential of increased efficiency. NMU designs to LEED standards on all new construction as part of the push towards a more sustainable campus.


Website URL where information about the institution’s water conservation and efficiency efforts is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.