University of Arizona
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

The University of Arizona’s strategic plan values sustainability and interdisciplinarity as a core value that is to be pursued in all aspects of the University mission. Additionally, as a modener land grant institution, the University is committed to advancing sustainability practices on campus and out in the community. The main strategic plan can be found at www.neversettle.arizona.edu. Additional sustainability planning efforts can be located online at the University’s environment and sustainability portal (http://www.portal.environment.arizona.edu/campus-sustainability/all) and the UA sustainability website (http://sustainability.arizona.edu).

Buildings/Design Plans: The University of Arizona Manual of Design and Specification Standards (DSS) contained herein is maintained by the Planning Design & Construction Department and are to be utilized as a guideline for the execution of professional services associated with the design, construction, renovation and maintenance of all facility related projects. The DSS is also the standard of execution for all Job Order Contract work unless specified otherwise.” http://www.pdc.arizona.edu/dss Transportation Sustainability Plans: https://parking.arizona.edu/about/climate-plan-to-reduce-carbon-footprint-by-2050 https://parking.arizona.edu/bicycle/documents/UAAreaBikePedPlanFinalAugust2012.pdf Energy and Water Plans: With a new energy manager position within UA Facilities Management, quantitative energy and water goals have recently been established internally. These goals and associated plans have been communicated personally for the purposes of this submission, and are in the process of being posted online on the UA Facilities Management website. Waste Plans: The university seeks to increase waste diversion 10% annually for the next five years, which is included in the university's waste contract with Waste Management. Diversity/Inclusion Plans: Diversity Coordinating Council University Plan Inclusive Excellence vision and goals/objectives document Wellbeing and Work Plans: Campus Health Services Executive Summary https://www.health.arizona.edu/our-vision-mission-0

The University of Arizona has committed to being carbon neutral by 2050 and is currently determining achievable goals for 2025 and 2035 as interim target dates toward this objective. The primary ways the University plans to become carbon neutral is through leading by example and growing partnerships in the local community and the Southwest region. In particular the University is committed to focusing on innovative strategies, designs and policies; adopting proven technologies; and engaging all employees and students in energy efficiency initiatives. The primary area for early-stage UA reduce greenhouse gas emissions reductions are focused on energy efficiency on campus. However, large-scale shifts in electricity power purchase toward renewables, as well as other strategies for campus heat and power from renewables, biogas, geothermal, and more are being considered.

Objectives and strategies outlined in the Comprehensive Campus Plan and the Design Specification and Standards utilize an approach focused on institutionalization of sustainability into standard operating procedure. Metrics that are used for are compliance to the standards, number of certified LEED Buildings on campus as well as number of buildings the meet LEED Silver requirements. In addition, design specifications for energy and water using components of buildings, landscaping, and other elements of buildings are objectives measurable by the degree of compliance for new buildings and major renovations.

The University of Arizona has established an energy conservation goal of 25% reduction below baseline Fiscal Year 2017 consumption by the close of fiscal year 2022. The energy use reduction plan is a multi-faceted approach primarily addressing interior lighting systems, HVAC and controls systems, and end user behavior modification. Interior lighting will be subject to an aggressive re-lamping campaign maximizing use of LED technologies in both spot lighting and troffer lighting systems, as well as application of occupancy-based and dimming control strategies. Aging and failing HVAC systems and associated control systems will be targeted for retrofit and update with high efficiency replacements or innovations, including retrofitting air-handling systems with two-pass chilled water heat recovery, temperature and pressure reset strategies and start/stop optimization protocols. End user behavior management will be addressed by a program of outreach and education to university stakeholder groups to raise awareness and internalized practice of energy efficiency practices, such as use of task lighting over general lighting, ensuring shut down of lighting and plug load systems not in immediate use, and more conservative approach to temperature set point adjustments.

The University of Arizona measures progress made towards goals outlined in the Comprehensive Campus Plan, Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan, and the mission of mission of the alternative transportation division of UA Parking & Transportation Services through the adoption of alternative fuel vehicles, implementation of public transit programs, increased bicycle use on campus, increased use of infrastructure for non-motorized vehicles and pedestrians, the use of carpool/rideshare services and the use of rent-a-car services by students on campus in addition to other metrics being developed.

In addition to engaging students, employees and visitors of the University to recycle, compost, and be more efficient with resources, the Climate Action Plan has two primary goals for the University for the foreseeable future. The first goal is to Reduce Purchase/Acquisition of Non-Recyclable Materials. This will be pursued through adherence to the Green Purchasing Policy and through the development of materials and trainings for department purchases. The second goal is to increase waste diversion of materials from the waste stream. This will be met through repurposing of materials on and off campus, increasing composting efforts such as Compost Cats, investing in new recycling bins, and through increased outreach that engages students and employees through multiple channels such as a mobile app to word of mouth and traditional signage. Facilities Management is currently striving to improve waste diversion rates by 10% per year for the next five years as of 2016.

The University of Arizona has established a water conservation goal of 10% reduction below baseline Fiscal Year 2017 consumption rates by the close of fiscal year 2022. These water use reduction goals will be approached by specific attention to landscape irrigation practices, cooling tower water management and plumbing fixture retrofits. Landscape irrigation will be addressed by the extension of existing reclaimed water distribution to various high water demand landscape areas currently relying on potable water irrigation. Cooling tower management will be addressed by the expansion of the current central plant water metering schema to include cooling tower blowdown lines, which will assist in strategic water use management and leak detection. The cooling towers will also realize reduced water consumption resulting from increased central plant efficiency due to planned chilled water system energy efficiency retrofits. Plumbing fixture retrofit will include an aggressive implementation of aerators in shower heads and lavatory faucets, ongoing retrofits of water-use urinals for waterless operation, and proactive replacement of toilets for low flush high-efficiency fixtures.

The goals/objectives for the Office of Inclusive Excellence include developing diversity committee's in each university college within the next two years, among others. The Diversity Coordinating Council of the university also maintains an overall university plan for diversity and inclusive excellence, which can be obtained through the Office of Inclusive Excellence. This plan includes several goals/objectives that are measurable.

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The UA Campus Health Service (CHS) has been promoting health and wellbeing for nearly 100 years and was the first fully-accredited college health service in the nation. It scores highly, near the top in the country, in a wide variety of peer assessments and metrics. CHS's goal is to maintain this high level of service and rankings, as well as accreditation, into the future. There are wide variety of metrics associated with these various rankings, as well as its accreditation. An example of metrics CHS tracks and uses to benchmark its success is the alcohol use measures it has been collecting for multiple decades: http://www.health.arizona.edu/sites/health/files/chs_alcohol_trends_at_the_ua_final.pdf Services include medical care, counseling and psych services, and health promotion and preventive services. Patient satisfaction surveys reveal that over 99% of students who use the health service would recommend it to a friend. In addition to serving about half the student body any given year with medical and counseling services, CHS works hard to reach many more students to keep them healthy. Examples include outreach, events and programming on alcohol and other drugs, sleep and stress, mental health and suicide prevention programming, sexual health, and nutrition/cooking skills, among others. Due to this work, CHS programs have twice received model program status by the U.S. Department of Education, as well as being listed on the Substance and Mental Health Service’s (SAMHSA) National Registry for Evidence-based Programs and Practices. Currently, UA Campus Health is ranked #2 in Best Health Services by the Princeton Review – based on student feedback from 381 colleges and universities across the country. In addition, CHS has been a top 10 school for many years in the Trojan College Health Report Card (currently #6), which ranks the sexual health resources and education provided by 140 colleges and universities nationwide. CHS also chairs the Healthiest Campus Coalition, providing leadership for this grassroots initiative to improve health and wellness across the campus community for students, faculty, staff and visitors alike. Here are the published rankings in which CHS participates: http://health.arizona.edu/accreditation-awards

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The University of Arizona has a working definition of sustainability. Sustainability is the responsible management and long-term viability of environmental, social, and economic systems such that the needs of future generations can be met. The definition is not yet formally adopted but incorporates the definitions of sustainability across departments and units on campus.

Updated: Feb. 2017