| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.08 |
| Liaison | Aaron Klemm |
| Submission Date | March 6, 2020 |
San Jose State University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Debbie
Andres Utilities & Sustainability Analyst FD&O |
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
San Jose State University laid out a plan in January 2020 to address the housing crisis that affects its students, faculty, and staff.
The plans include more than $3 million in grants from the California State University system chancellor's office for student housing insecurity and basic needs support. Students with the least financial resources also will be able to qualify for a new housing grant program.
San José State is developing another housing dormitory aimed at undergraduate and transfer students and will offer nine- and 12-month leases as well as per-night commuter housing.
The State of California transferred a surplus, obsolete building to SJSU that will be used to construct 800 to 1,200 units of housing that will be intended primarily for university faculty members, staff, graduate students and student with families. Most of the units in the building, which will be one block from campus, would be available below market value.
Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Diversity & Affordability
Wellbeing & Work
Website URL where more information about the accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Name of a second highlighted sustainability program/initiative/accomplishment:
A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
San Jose State University has a central plant that provides utilities (electricity, steam, and chilled water) to its main campus. It has been a customer of South Bay Water Recyclers since 2000 by being one of the first customers to convert cooling towers from domestic water usage to recycled water. Since then, SJSU has converted all its irrigation to recycled water, mandated all new buildings to install dual plumbing and converted all decorative fountains.
In 2016, SJSU converted domestic water usage for the boilers used to supply steam to the campus to recycled water and began installing a main recycled water pipeline through our campus to expand RW usage. Use of reclaimed water in the various applications on campus has reduced consumption of potable water by 43% to date. By the end of 2018, SJSU now uses more recycled water (61%) than potable water (39%), far exceeding expectations. Operational savings are in excess of $1.6 million per year.
Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Coordination & Planning
Website URL where more information about the second program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the second program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Name of a third highlighted program/initiative/accomplishment:
A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
SJSU is in the design stages for a solar project comprised of rooftop solar on 10 main campus roofs and a covered carport solar systems at South Campus. South Campus includes most of SJSU Athletic facilities and this project will make South Campus Net-Zero.
Savings are estimated at $4.6M through the warranty period of the panels, while lowering our carbon footprint by 511 metric tonnes CO2-eq. Installation to occur over the 2019/2020 fiscal year.
Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Buildings
Energy
Website URL where more information about the third program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the third program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
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.