Overall Rating Reporter - expired
Overall Score
Liaison Carrie Metzgar
Submission Date March 2, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of California, San Diego
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete Reporter Dave Weil
Director of Building Commissioning and Sustainability
Facilities Management
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have a published strategic plan or equivalent guiding document that includes sustainability at a high level? :
Yes

A brief description of how the institution’s strategic plan or equivalent guiding document addresses sustainability:

UC San Diego’s first-ever Strategic Plan establishes a shared mission and vision for our campus and future. The plan’s five transformational goals, 13 strategies and four grand research themes were collectively developed through a comprehensive, inclusive and bottom-up process that engaged more than 10,000 campus and community members.

Page 2 of the Plan reads: Public service, sustainability, integrity, and ethics are core principles guiding our activities.

Goal 1: Delivering an educational and overall experience that develops students who are capable of solving problems, leading, and innovating in a diverse and interconnected world

Goal 2: Cultivating a diverse and inclusive university community that encourages respectful open dialogue, and challenges itself to take bold actions that will ensure learning is accessible and affordable for all

Goal 3: Nurturing and supporting a collaborative and interdisciplinary research culture that advances the frontiers of knowledge, shapes new fields, and disseminates discoveries that transform lives

Goal 4: Supporting and promoting just and sustainable forms of economic development, shared prosperity, and social and cultural enrichment regionally and globally

Goal 5: Creating an agile, sustainable, and supportive infrastructure by ensuring a dedication to service, people, and financial stewardship.

UC San Diego also has 3 (out of 4) research themes that all tie to sustainability:

Understanding and Protecting the Planet
Explaining and effectively communicating environmental change, engineering economically viable solutions that will enhance the resilience of society, and recommending necessary policy changes and assessing their economic impact

Enriching Human Life and Society
Improving health and alleviating ailments, and mitigating social disparities through education, resources, historic perspectives, technologies, and communication

Understanding Cultures and Addressing Disparities in Society
Revealing the full richness and breadth of human experience: build an appreciation of diverse cultures, perspectives, value systems, historical contexts, governance, and organizational structures; and foster the creation of new means of expression, analyses, and social organizations that will be important intellectual tools for the next generation

See also https://scripps.ucsd.edu/research/upp


A copy of the strategic plan:
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The website URL where the strategic plan is publicly available:
Does the institution have a published sustainability plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
No

A copy of the sustainability plan:
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The website URL where the sustainability plan is publicly available:
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Does the institution have a published climate action plan (apart from what is reported above)? :
Yes

A copy of the climate action plan:
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The website URL where the climate action plan is publicly available:
Does the institution have other published plans that address sustainability or include measurable sustainability objectives (e.g. campus master plan, physical campus plan, diversity plan, human resources plan)? :
Yes

A list of other published plans that address sustainability, including public website URLs (if available):

UC San Diego has a long range development plan with associated environmental impact report (now being updated), an open space plan, a bicycle and pedestrian master study and design guidelines, an urban forestry plan (2011), a waste diversion plan (2012, now being updated), a water plan (updated in 2017), a diversity and inclusive excellence plan (now being updated), and a stormwater management plan.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Curriculum and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Research?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Research and the published plans in which each objective is included:
Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Campus Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:

By the end of 2018 we will have certified 30 new labs under our Green Labs program, bringing our total to over 50.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Public Engagement and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Air & Climate and the published plans in which each objective is included:

•1990 greenhouse gas levels by 2020;
• Climate neutral in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2025 and in Scopes 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 2050.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Buildings and the published plans in which each objective is included:

All new construction and major renovation must be at least LEED Silver, preferable LEED Gold, and at least 20% better than Title 24 Energy Code.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Energy and the published plans in which each objective is included:

The University of California is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy use and switching to clean energy supplies.

1. Energy Efficiency
Each location will implement energy efficiency actions in buildings and infrastructure systems to reduce the location's energy use intensity by at least 2 percent year over year.

2. On-campus Renewable Electricity
Locations will install additional on-site renewable electricity supplies and energy storage systems whenever cost-effective and/or supportive of the location's Climate Action Plan or other goals. Already met: The University will provide up to 10 megawatts of on-site renewable power as of 2014.

3. Off-campus Clean Electricity
By 2025, each location will obtain 100% clean electricity. By 2018, the University's Wholesale Power Program will provide 100% clean electricity to participating locations.

4. On-campus Combustion
By 2025, at least 40% of the natural gas combusted on-site at each location will be biogas.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Food & Dining and the published plans in which each objective is included:

UC San Diego already surpassed the UC-wide goal of 20% sustainable food by 2016. Systemwide we are now discussing new goals. UC San Diego will also be food secure by 2025 under the UC Global Food Initiative.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Grounds and the published plans in which each objective is included:

UC San Diego currently uses recycled water for more than 25% of campus irrigation and is continuing to expand the number of areas irrigated with recycled water rather than potable water.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Purchasing and the published plans in which each objective is included:

NOTE: This UC-wide policy on environmentally preferable purchasing is now being updated into a sustainable procurement policy.

The University will use its purchasing power to target environmentally preferable
products and services for volume-discounted pricing to make them costcompetitive
with conventional products and services.

For products and services without available environmentally preferable
alternatives, the University will work with its existing and potential suppliers and
leverage the University’s purchasing power and market presence to develop
sustainable choices.

The University will integrate sustainability requirements into its practices for
competitive bidding in materiel and services procurement, allowing for suppliers
that meet these requirements to earn additional evaluation points.

Packaging for all products procured by the University should be designed,
produced, and managed in an environmentally sustainable manner. The University
shall seek products that have take-back programs, as appropriate. No EPS is allowed on campus except for medical and lab supply and equipment purposes, and we are looking into phasing that out.

6. When requested, suppliers citing environmentally preferable purchasing claims
shall provide proper certification or detailed information on environmental claims,
including benefits, durability, and take-back, reuse, and recyclable properties.
Additionally, suppliers are responsible for providing proof of University of
California-accepted third-party certification based upon the requirements of the
University’s Procurement Services Department located in the Office of the President.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Transportation and the published plans in which each objective is included:

At a minimum, reduce per-capita emissions from air travel by the following:
• 11% reduction each year from 2009-2010, based on the previous year’s emissions
• 7% reduction each year from 2011-2020, based on the previous year’s emissions
• 5% reduction each year from 2021-2050, based on the previous year’s emissions.

At a minimum, reduce the GHG emissions from commuting by 2% per year, based on the previous year’s emissions, from 2009 to 2050.

At a minimum, reduce the percentage of commuters using single occupancy vehicles from 49% to 39% by 2018. (This goal includes commuters at the Main Campus and the Hillcrest campus.)

Reduce campus fleet emissions by at least 4.7% per year, based on the previous year’s emissions, until 2020.

Reduce campus fleet emissions by at least 4.0% per year, based on the previous year’s emissions, from 2021-2050.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Waste and the published plans in which each objective is included:

Reduce total municipal solid waste generation:
- To 2015/2016 levels per capita by 2020
- 25% per capita from 2015/2016 levels by 2025
- 50% per capita from 2015/2016 levels by 2030

Achieve “zero waste” by 2020 (at least 90% diversion rate)
- End the sale, procurement or distribution of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS):
- 2018: no EPS cups or clamshells in foodservice
- 2020: no EPS packaging for products that are not temperature sensitive (office supplies, electronics, furniture, etc.)
- Reduce, reuse and find alternatives for EPS in lab and medical packaging

Estimate greenhouse gas emissions from waste management

Med Centers following Practice Green Health metrics and reporting. UC San Diego will set goals by Jan 2020.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Water?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Water and the published plans in which each objective is included:

1. Reduce the use of potable water by 20%, by the year 2020.

2. Using a baseline of potable water usage (using data from the years 2005-2008), reduce potable water use from that baseline by 36% by 2025.

2. Sub-meter 100% of buildings for water usage. Buildings with potential for behavior change will be prioritized, such as dorms.

3. Sub-meter 100% of water used for landscaping.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Diversity & Affordability and the published plans in which each objective is included:

• Retention rate of underrepresented minorities (URM) faculty, staff, and students
• URM graduation rates at all degree levels
• URM admissions yield and matriculation
• University community diversity profile
• Effectiveness of outreach to the global community
• Faculty, staff, and student life cycle and experience at UC San Diego

http://diversity.ucsd.edu/reports-and-data/index.html#Dashboards-

http://diversity.ucsd.edu/_files/edi-unit-plan%203.pdf


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Investment & Finance and the published plans in which each objective is included:

http://www.ucop.edu/investment-office/sustainable-investment/index.html

- Establish and Implement a framework on sustainable investment
- Integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors as a core component of portfolio optimization and risk management and will evaluate all strategies for achieving ESG goals as soon as practical, including whether to use divestment.
- Allocate $1 billion over a 5-year period to solutions-oriented investments such as renewable power and fuels, energy efficiency, and /or sustainable food and agriculture.

This strategy builds on pre-2014 investment policy that addresses negative screens for ESG factors.


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work?:
Yes

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address Wellbeing & Work and the published plans in which each objective is included:

* NOTE: UC-wide we are all implementing UCLA's Healthy Campus Network model, so these goals may be updated *

-Annual growth of 20% in the number of students who participate in at least one wellness program annually;
-Number of students adopting wellness behaviors annually at UC San Diego is in top 10% of universities nationwide;
-UC San Diego scores on ACHA measures meet or exceed national goals for
health & wellbeing
-Students recognize the symptoms of distress in themselves and others and
initiate action to address their concerns
-UC San Diego’s clinical services are accessible, interdisciplinary, & of the highest quality


Taken together, do the plan(s) reported above include measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas (e.g. arts and culture or technology)?:
No

A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives that address other areas and the published plans in which each objective is included:
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Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body (e.g. a mission statement that specifically includes sustainability and is endorsed by the Board of Trustees)? :
Yes

The formal statement in support of sustainability:
The institution’s definition of sustainability (e.g. as included in a published statement or plan):

UC San Diego Principles of Sustainability: http://sustain.ucsd.edu/about/principles.html

UC San Diego strives to practice and promote the principle of sustainability, defined by the Brundtland Commission as meeting today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. The ultimate success of the university, the well-being of its constituents and the surrounding community, depend on our ability to achieve our research, education, and service missions while promoting sustainable behaviors and practices. UC San Diego therefore, establishes and acknowledges the following Principles of Sustainability in order to establish sustainability as a foundational value of the university.

• We are committed to the creation of a sustainable relationship between human societies and the natural environment upon which we all depend.

• We recognize that sustainability is a key part of our mission, and that sustainability encompasses social, economic, and cultural interactions set within a supporting ecosystem.

• We recognize that UC San Diego can make vital contributions to sustainability solutions through its research, teaching, and operations.

• We encourage the development of academic programs to create sustainability solutions through research and experiential learning.

• We encourage the discussion of sustainability concepts in appropriate academic disciplines and across all levels of education.
• We encourage the incorporation of sustainability concepts in education, research, and campus operations.

• We commit to conduct open, periodic assessments of UCSD’s progress toward sustainability to guide campus policy and decision making, and to openly communicate assessment results to the university community.

• We are committed to the development and enactment of policies that promote the fulfillment of these principles.


Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
Yes or No
The Earth Charter No
The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) No
ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter Yes
Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment Yes
The Talloires Declaration (TD) Yes
UN Global Compact No
Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) No

A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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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.