| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 53.94 |
| Liaison | DeLayne Miller |
| Submission Date | Dec. 15, 2022 |
Tennessee Technological University
OP-21: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.03 / 4.00 |
DeLayne
Miller Sustainability Manager Facilities:Office of Sustainability |
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 | 125,691,100 Gallons | 123,476,500 Gallons |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 125,691,100 Gallons | 123,476,500 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, 2011 | June 30, 2012 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
The baseline of FY12 was adopted because this is the earliest there is complete utility data that is not archived.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,252 | 2,514 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 15 | 75 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 8,392 | 9,586 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 1,176.32 | 1,154 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 352.18 | 250 |
| Weighted campus users | 7,478.86 | 8,514.75 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 16,806.20 Gallons | 14,501.48 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 | 3,373,556 Gross square feet | 3,040,356 Gross square feet |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 37.26 Gallons per square foot | 40.61 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 | 1,158.04 Acres | 967.54 Acres |
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds | 108,537.79 Gallons per acre | 127,619.01 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 Office of Sustainability gives out reusable water bottles each semester to promote reduction in plastic bottle use. They have also designed and posted stickers in the bathrooms of resident halls that encourage students to turn off the faucet while brushing their teeth. Further, the Office has installed hydration stations in indoor and outdoor areas on campus which allow students to refill their water bottles as opposed to purchasing plastic bottles. There is also a Green Pledge available on the home page of the website of the Office of Sustainability, which encourages students to go green on campus, including by reducing their water consumption. During March of 2019, the Office of Sustainability hosted its first annual Water Week. During this week, over one hundred reusable water bottles were given out to students, a World Water Day was hosted, and a film screening concerning the water bottle industry was shown. Over one hundred students signed our pledge to say no to single-use plastic water bottles for at least one month in order to help keep our local watershed free of plastics. During Earth Week, another 100+ students signed our pledge to not use straws for at least one month.
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
There are numerous self-watering planters around campus that aid in water use reduction. The new intramural facility has a storm water management system. Pervious pavement allows rainwater to flow through it and deposit into a rain garden. This will protect water quality and decrease flooding by reducing the amount of storm water runoff. There is a drainage system under the sand volleyball court and the runoff from it flows into the berms and permeable pavement. Then it is captured in rain gardens and monitored by students through the monitoring station.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
All water fountains are replaced with bottle refill stations that monitor water use and plastic water bottle savings. Low flow fixtures decrease the rate of water flow and subsequently the amount of water wasted per minute. They are installed in all buildings renovated in the last five years and in all new buildings such as the LEED Certified Lab Science Commons.
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.