Overall Rating Platinum
Overall Score 86.87
Liaison Carrie Metzgar
Submission Date Nov. 5, 2024

STARS v2.2

University of California, San Diego
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Carrie Metzgar
Campus Sustainability Officer
Utilities & Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Central sustainability website 

Does the institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution’s sustainability efforts?:
Yes

Website URL for the central sustainability website:
https://sustainability.ucsd.edu/

Sustainability newsletter or social media platform

Does the institution have a sustainability newsletter or social media platform that focuses specifically on campus sustainability?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability newsletter or social media platform:

UC San Diego Sustainability Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainucsd/  

UC San Diego Sustainability has a consistent Instagram presence that focuses on relevant publications, posts, and outreach materials that foster sustainability learning and knowledge. Primary sustainability social media efforts have close to 2,000 followers with engagement often reaching the broader campus pages, resulting in a reach of over 123,000 individuals. During Earth Week, UC San Diego Sustainability collaborates with the official UC San Diego social media channels, highlighting campus sustainability progress and ongoing efforts.  

 

UC San Diego Housing, Dining, and Hospitality Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ucsdhousingdining/  

The EcoNauts at UC San Diego, a group representing sustainability in Housing, Dining, and Hospitality (HDH), consistently post reels focusing on related sustainable content. For example, topics include sustainable events and water conservation, garden volunteering, proper waste sorting, sustainable eating and meals, returning reusables, sustainable move in and move out, sustainable holidays, green spaces, sustainable behaviors, etc. Posts and reels generally garner 100+ likes and over 10,000 views, while several reels have gone viral. The Return Reusables Public Service Announcement has surpassed over 101,000 views.  


Signage

Does the institution have signage that highlights sustainability features on campus?:
Yes

A brief description of the signage that highlights sustainability features on campus:

UC San Diego emphasizes its commitment to sustainability through informative signage around campus.  

SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPES 

  • Recycled Water in Landscaping: Signage regarding the use of recycled water in landscape irrigation is strategically placed in various landscaped areas to educate the campus about sustainable practices and the like. These signs, placed in highly visible areas to maximize awareness and educational impact, typically include information on the benefits of using recycled water, such as conserving drinking water supplies, reducing the environmental impact, and supporting drought-resistant landscaping. 

  • Bioswales and Rain Gardens: Signs explaining the function and benefits of bioswales and rain gardens in managing stormwater runoff and improving water quality. 

  • Native Plant Species: Information about the use of native plants in landscaping, highlighting their role in supporting local biodiversity and reducing water and maintenance needs. 

  • Energy-Efficient Irrigation Systems: details about smart irrigation technologies and practices that enhance water efficiency and reduce waste. 

For more information about sustainable landscapes, please visit: https://facilityservices.ucsd.edu/sustainability/landscapes.html  

 

WASTE SORTING 

  • Facilities Management and Housing, Dining, and Hospitality creating new, campus-wide waste sorting signs, including pre- and post-consumer compost information. The Zero Waste Interns have also created restaurant-specific waste sorting signs for each restaurant on campus to increase related efforts.  

For more information about waste sorting, please visit: https://facilityservices.ucsd.edu/sustainability/zero-waste.html  

 

LEED BUILDINGS 
UC San Diego has decals or glass plaques for all LEED buildings. Several buildings also provide interpretive signage identifying green building features.   

 


Sustainability map or tour

Does the institution provide a sustainability walking map or tour?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability walking map or tour:

UC SAN DIEGO MAIN CAMPUS MAP 

UC San Diego offers an online, interactive sustainability map on the main campus map. The integrated sustainability map contains points of interest and information including clean energy, compost locations, donation sites, gardens, LEED buildings, and much more. The dynamic, interactive map can be found here: https://map.concept3d.com/?id=1005#!ce/20363?ct/79078,72246,70460,70457,67878,66728,66558,63891,58479,58109,52803,52750,20079,18027,79079,72348,70462,70461,67879,66730,66559,55127?s/?mc/32.877341347399,-117.23531663418?z/18?lvl/0?share  

 

UC SAN DIEGO SELF-GUIDED SUSTAINABILITY TOUR 

Campus and community members can take the virtual self-guided sustainability tour of the campus here. An accompanying script is provided here.  

 

UC SAN DIEGO TREE TOURS 

UC San Diego Tree Tours is a monthly lunchtime walk, where the campus community can learn about unique trees on campus. During these efforts, arborists share how they grow many kinds of trees and how trees make UC Sand Diego a vibrant place to work and learn, further supporting the sustainability outreach discussed herein. Further information on Tree Tours can be found here: https://blink.ucsd.edu/sponsor/ssn/programs.html  

 

SCRIPPS INSTITUTION OF OCEANOGRAPHY 

Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) at UC San Diego offers free historical tours suitable for area residents, new faculty and staff, first-time visitors to our campus, and the general public. Led by knowledgeable volunteer guides, these one-hour tours showcase the most notable features of the SIO section of campus, including the Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier. During these tours, participants can learn about sustainability research, both focused and adjacent, as well as general sustainability information related to SIO efforts.   

 

UC SAN DIEGO GREEN BUILDING TOURS 

UC San Diego offers Green Building Tours, educating campus and community members about how the campus’s LEED-certified buildings creatively employ sustainable design techniques and energy-efficient strategies. 


Green living guide 

Does the institution produce a guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience?:
Yes

A brief description of the guide for green living and/or incorporating sustainability into the residential experience:

Housing, Dining, and Hospitality (HDH) at UC San Diego maintains and disseminates a comprehensive guide that indicates related sustainability efforts and initiatives as well as highlights sustainable behaviors and opportunities available to residents. HDH Sustainability updates, publishes, and maintains this guide on their primary website, orientation modules, and shares it on their primary social media, along with other pages related to the residential experience. Similarly, UC San Diego maintains an official guide, through HDH and related groups, that concisely informs how to properly sort waste and increase waste diversion on campus. The guide distinguishes between garden composting and industrial composting, specialty recycling available on campus, and waste items often erroneously discarded on campus. 

HDH Green Living Gude: https://hdhsustainability.ucsd.edu/_files/Green-Living-Guide.pdf     

UC San Diego Waste Sorting Guide: https://hdhsustainability.ucsd.edu/_files/waste-sorting-guide.pdf  


Optional Fields

A brief description of other comprehensive sustainability outreach materials and publications not covered above:

Sustainability efforts at UC San Diego are ongoing and constantly progressing. Sustainability at UC San Diego is at the genesis of a new, exciting chapter, thus, the information presented above is current as of September 2024 and will provide the foundation for future outreach. Further information can be found on the main UC San Diego Sustainability Website:  https://sustainability.ucsd.edu/  


Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Points of contact for credit information:  

  • Carrie Metzgar, Campus Sustainability Officer, Utilities & Sustainability 

  • Mike Salisbury, Sustainability Data Analyst, Utilities & Sustainability 

  • Andy Hattala, Sustainability Coordinator, Housing*Dining*Hospitality 

  • Bryan Hooks, Assistant Director, Landscape Services 

  • David Boggs, Supervisor Campus Irrigation, Landscape Services 

  • Michael Hogan, Superintendent/Urban Forester, Landscape Services 

  • Elizabeth Lin, Waste Management, Recycling & Sustainability Manager, Landscape Services 

  • Diana Henderson, GIS Program Manager, Facilities and Space Information Management 

  • Walt Kanzler, Senior Director, Project Quality Management 


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.