| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.61 |
| Liaison | Tina Woolston |
| Submission Date | Nov. 2, 2022 |
Tufts University
OP-21: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.90 / 6.00 |
Tina
Woolston Director 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 | 122,830,828 Gallons | 141,549,379 Gallons |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 120,181,228 Gallons | 141,549,379 Gallons |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | July 1, 2019 | June 30, 2020 |
| Baseline Period | July 1, 2004 | June 30, 2005 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
The baseline year is 2005.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 3,098 | 3,491 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 8 | 9 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 11,619 | 9,113 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 4,497 | 3,481 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 450 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 12,526 | 10,320.50 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 9,594.54 Gallons | 13,715.36 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 | 5,526,370 Gross square feet | 4,028,442 Gross square feet |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 21.75 Gallons per square foot | 35.14 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 | 696.71 Acres | 694 Acres |
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds | 176,301.23 Gallons per acre | 203,961.64 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:
Our education programs and outreach such as Green Office Certification and Eco-Ambassadors include water use reduction. We often give staff prompts to remind people to conserve water at the sink.
We do a lot of education around the negatives of bottled water and encourage students and employees to use reusable water bottles. For people planning events, we assist them with water pitchers rather than bottled water.
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
Tufts uses condensate from purchased steam to replenish a cooling tower water in lieu of using city water. This is for the Tufts Shared Services plant on our Boston campus.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
Any time any water fixture is replaced at Tufts we use a water efficient appliance (e.g. low-flow showerhead, faucets, and toilets). Often dual-flush toilets are used, but not in the residence halls.
Cage and rack washer at DLAM upgraded to a water-efficient washer.
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:
Much of Tufts' water conservation efforts took place prior to 2005 and therefore are not captured using this metric.
This data is accurate as of Spring 2020. The Lab Assistant went tax parcel by tax parcel and compared it to current imagery and update building structures that have changed. So it is slightly more accurate than methods used by other schools with impervious surface (since that is usually 30m by 30m average).
Much of Tufts' water conservation efforts took place prior to 2005 and therefore are not captured using this metric.
This data is accurate as of Spring 2020. The Lab Assistant went tax parcel by tax parcel and compared it to current imagery and update building structures that have changed. So it is slightly more accurate than methods used by other schools with impervious surface (since that is usually 30m by 30m average).
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.