| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 53.15 |
| Liaison | Paul Scanlon |
| Submission Date | Feb. 29, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Slippery Rock University
OP-26: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.12 / 2.00 |
Scott
Albert director of facilities facilities & planning department |
Level of water risk for the institution’s main campus:
Total water use (potable and non-potable combined)::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water use | 61,202,000 Gallons | 68,810,000 Gallons |
Potable water use::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 61,202,000 Gallons | 68,810,000 Gallons |
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users"::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of residential students | 2,379 | 2,881 |
| Number of residential employees | 0 | 0 |
| Number of in-patient hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Full-time equivalent enrollment | 8,687 | 7,704 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 858 | 826 |
| Full-time equivalent of distance education students | 1,158 | 141 |
Gross floor area of building space::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross floor area | 2,511,667 Square feet | 1,916,095 Square feet |
Area of vegetated grounds::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Vegetated grounds | 512 Acres | 511.60 Acres |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | Sept. 1, 2014 | Aug. 30, 2015 |
| Baseline Year | Sept. 1, 2004 | Aug. 30, 2005 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
The water use baseline was adopted to stay consistent with the base year selected for our greenhouse gas emissions inventory program.
Water recycled/reused on campus, performance year:
Recycled/reused water withdrawn from off-campus sources, performance year:
A brief description of any water recovery and reuse systems employed by the institution:
The 1,000 gallons of water recycled/reused during the performance year represents the estimated greywater system water use at the Macoskey Center's Harmony House, which recycles/reuses water from one washing machine, one kitchen sink, and one bathroom lavatory/shower. The greywater from these fixtures is recovered and reused to irrigate an outdoor aquatic planting area and meadow.
A brief description of any water metering and management systems employed by the institution:
Twelve buildings on campus have inline vortex flow meters that are tied into the campus building automation system. The data is collected and analyzed in a utility reporting database. All potable campus water is provided by the Slippery Rock Municipal water authority, with annual water usage quantified by the authority.
A brief description of any building retrofit practices employed by the institution, e.g. to install high efficiency plumbing fixtures and fittings:
An ESCO project completed several years ago included the installation of low-flow water fixtures throughout campus.
A brief description of any policies or programs employed by the institution to replace appliances, equipment and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
SRU’s Energy Conservation Policy includes “Action Step 6: Implement Water Conservation Procedures. (a) Faucets, hose bibs and other water-using equipment should never be left open and unattended. Low flow devices should be used where practical and economically justified. Also, all new construction is to be designed to LEED standards, which include water efficiency credits.” In general, exterior building hose bibbs are also locked to prevent unauthorized use of potable water.
A brief description of any water-efficient landscape design practices employed by the institution (e.g. xeriscaping):
The University’s general policy is to not use potable water for irrigation purposes, with the exception of the Kritchfield varsity baseball and Egli soccer fields. Indigenous and local plantings that do not require irrigation are used as much as practical, and water-efficient landscape designs are employed in new building/major renovation projects as part of our mandate to design new construction to LEED standards.
A brief description of any weather-informed irrigation technologies employed by the institution:
The rainwater low-flow irrigation system for plantings at the Smith Student Center have rain sensors that prevent the water pump from turning on when it is raining.
A brief description of other water conservation and efficiency strategies employed by the institution:
In addition to those described above, SRU employs the following water conservation and efficiency strategies:
- Use of a Clivus Multrum toilet/composting system (that does not require any water service) at the Macoskey Center Harmony House;
- The installation of artificial turf at the SRU football field, which avoids the need for any irrigation at all at that location.
- Incorporating water conservation principles in SRU's Energy Action Campaign "Small Steps, Big Payoff", in which we encourage students to reduce their shower time by just five minutes per day to conserve million of gallons of water per year.
The website URL where information about the institution’s water conservation and efficiency initiatives is available:
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.