Overall Rating Platinum
Overall Score 85.50
Liaison Breeana Sylvas
Submission Date Feb. 28, 2022

STARS v2.2

University of California, Merced
EN-5: Outreach Campaign

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Allajah Wheatley
Zero Waste Coordinator
Sustainability Department
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Has the institution held a sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at students and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
Yes

Has the institution held a sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at employees and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
Yes

Name of the campaign:
Energy Water Battle

A brief description of the campaign:

Energy Water Battle is a competition between all dorm buildings on campus to see which building can decrease their energy and water usage the most within the month of March! Through social media and information given to dorm residents. Each week flyers were posted to show ways to reduce water and energy. Office hours were also include on the flyers to provide an avenue for students to ask questions about water and energy consumption.


A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign:

Campus participants had to shift their lifestyles to reduce energy and water consumption within the dorms. The dorms have many built-in sustainable measures, so students became aware of how water is saved through fixtures in their buildings. Students were also taught that individual actions matter, residents were able to reduce energy consumption. Awareness of energy and water practices were provided to students including information on vampire loads and how energy and water reduction is measured. During the month there was a 10% reduction in water and a 12% reduction in energy.


Name of the campaign (2nd campaign):
Cool Campus Challenge

A brief description of the campaign (2nd campaign):

From April 1 through April 26, the 10 campuses across the University of California system participated in a competition to see which UC location can do the most to reduce its carbon footprint. Building awareness about the impact that everyday decisions can have on our environment is essential if UC is to reach its target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2025. The Cool Campus Challenge is one of many initiatives that have help UC students, staff, and faculty understand and take personal action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.

Small individual steps to save energy and reduce carbon emissions quickly add up to help combat climate change in California. UC Merced finished fourth overall and received an award for the largest percentage of participation relative to its campus population size.


A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign (2nd campaign):

UC Merced community reduced and made pledges that equated to 2.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions through the sustainable actions promoted by the competition. Participants reduced computer power usage and utilized public transportation, among other efforts. Student organizations and campus departments also created more than 35 teams, and the university had the largest carbon-emissions savings per participant.


A brief description of other sustainability-related outreach campaigns:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.