| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 86.87 |
| Liaison | Carrie Metzgar |
| Submission Date | Nov. 5, 2024 |
University of California, San Diego
EN-5: Outreach Campaign
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Carrie
Metzgar Campus Sustainability Officer Utilities & Sustainability |
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?:
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?:
1st campaign
A brief description of the campaign:
The Triton Commuter Club is a transportation outreach campaign organized by Transportation Services that encourages faculty, staff, and students to use alternative modes of transportation to commute to campus. The program is built on the RideAmigos platform, which provides trip-planning, ride-matching, and trip logging features to help participants find more sustainable and convenient ways to travel. To participate, members log their trips by the last day of each month to qualify for prizes and incentives.
For more information about the Triton Commuter Club outreach campaign, please visit: https://transportation.ucsd.edu/commute/tcc.html
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign:
The Triton Commuter Club has had a significant impact on promoting sustainable transportation options and reducing the university's carbon footprint.
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Logged over 0.7 million alternative trips, reducing carbon emissions by 1,446.4 tons
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Saved over $2 million in transportation costs
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Burned over 48 million calories through alternative modes of transportation
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Reduced the total distance traveled by 5,024,030.6 miles, with a total distance of 5,783,601.3 miles logged
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Attracted over 400 new members through an Instagram campaign, with a total of 0.8 million trips logged to date
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These metrics demonstrate the effectiveness of the Triton Commuter Club in promoting sustainable transportation options and reducing the university's carbon footprint.
if reporting an additional campaign, provide:
2nd campaign
A brief description of the campaign (2nd campaign):
The Food Scrap Drop-Off Program is a student-led initiative organized by the Student Sustainability Collective that aims to reduce food waste on campus by making composting more accessible to all students. The outreach program provides students with personal food waste collection buckets and digital guides on what can be composted and sets up drop-off locations around campus where students can empty their buckets. The collected food waste is then transported to Ellie's Garden, where Eleanor Roosevelt College student gardeners then compost it. The program has also expanded to multiple locations, including Seventh Market, Canyon Vista Marketplace, and MoM's Cafe/Muir Garden.
For more information about the Food Scrap Drop-Off Program, please visit: https://studentsustainability.ucsd.edu/resources/index.html#Food-Scrap-Drop-Off-Program
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign (2nd campaign):
The Food Scrap Drop-Off Program has had a significant impact on reducing food waste on campus and promoting sustainable practices. Since its launch, the program has:
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Diverted over 456.25 pounds of food waste from the landfill in Fall 2023, increasing to 3,102.5 pounds in Winter 2024 and 5,189.5 pounds in Spring 2024
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Achieved exponential growth in food waste diversion each quarter, demonstrating the program's effectiveness and increasing demand for on-campus composting infrastructure
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Reduced the amount of organic waste sent to landfills, mitigating the environmental impacts of food waste and promoting a more circular economy
These metrics demonstrate the success of the Food Scrap Drop-Off Program in engaging students in sustainable practices and reducing waste on campus.
Optional Fields
Additional sustainability-related outreach campaign directed at students and/or employees:
BATTERY, PEN RECYCLING, AND E-WASTE PROGRAM
The Battery, Pen Recycling, and E-waste Program is an initiative by the UCSD Bookstore to collect and recycle used pens, batteries, and electronic waste from the campus population. The program aims to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and promote sustainable practices on campus. The program is advertised on the Bookstore's Instagram and newsletter, the Buzz, to encourage students, faculty, and staff to participate.
Measured Positive Impacts: The Battery, Pen Recycling, and E-waste Program has had a significant impact on reducing waste on campus and promoting sustainable practices. Since its launch, the program has:
Collected and diverted from landfill:
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Pens: 100 lbs in 2022-2023 and 80 lbs in 2023-2024
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Batteries: 3 5-gallon buckets in 2022, 4 5-gallon buckets in 2023, and 4 5-gallon buckets in 2024
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E-waste: 1 22” x 22” x 32” box full (weight not available) in 2022, 2 boxes full in 2023, and 1 box to date in 2024.
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Demonstrates a growing commitment to reducing e-waste.
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Provides a convenient and accessible way for students, faculty, and staff to recycle hard-to-recycle items, promoting a culture of sustainability on campus.
For more information about the Battery, Pen Recycling, and E-waste Program, please visit: https://www.instagram.com/p/Conpf2kv2Vt/
PRICE CENTER WASTE MANAGEMENT OUTREACH CAMPAIGN
The Price Center Waste Management Outreach Campaign is a series of initiatives aimed at reducing waste and promoting sustainability at the Price Center, a hub of student activity at UC San Diego. The campaign includes a waste audit series, which engages students and staff in sorting and categorizing waste to identify areas for improvement. Additionally, the campaign has introduced a new compost bin and collection process, and implemented a policy of making utensils and straws available upon request only. The goal of these initiatives is to educate and involve the campus community in reducing waste and promoting sustainable practices.
Measured Positive Impacts: The Price Center Waste Management Outreach Campaign has had a significant impact on reducing waste and promoting sustainable practices on campus. Measured positive impacts of the campaign include:
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25% decrease in spending on straws and utensils by one vendor, Lemongrass, since implementing the "utensils and straws upon request only" policy.
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The completion of three waste audits, which involved students and staff in the sorting and categorization process, and provided valuable insights for planning next steps to increase waste diversion rates.
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The introduction of a post-consumer composting bin, which is available to all diners at the Price Center, and has the potential to significantly reduce food waste and promote sustainability.
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The engagement and education of students and staff on the importance of waste reduction and sustainable practices, which has helped to create a culture of sustainability on campus.
For more information about the Price Center Waste Management Outreach Campaign, please visit: https://universitycenters.ucsd.edu/about-us/sustainability.html
EARTH MONTH TRAVEL WEBINARS
The Earth Month Travel Webinars is an educational campaign organized by the University of California Central Travel Office, held during the month of April 2024. The campaign consisted of 17 sessions featuring various UC partner travel suppliers, who shared their sustainability efforts, goals, programs, and projects. The webinars aimed to educate and engage the UC community on sustainable travel practices and encourage responsible business travel decisions.
Measured Positive Impacts: Although the campaign's measurable impacts may not be fully available yet, the Earth Month Travel Webinars are expected to have a positive impact on reducing carbon footprint and promoting sustainable travel practices. Expected results include:
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Reduce CO2 emissions due to eliminating non-essential business travel
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Improve business travel decisions, leading to more sustainable and responsible travel choices
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Cost savings due to increased adoption of the travel program, which may lead to more efficient and effective use of resources
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Increase awareness and engagement among the UC community on the importance of sustainable travel practices
For more information about the Earth Month Travel Webinars, please visit: https://procurement.ucop.edu/news/earth-month-flyover-webinar-series
SUSTAINABLE MOVE-IN AND MOVE-OUT CAMPAIGN
The Sustainable Move-In and Move-Out Campaign is an initiative led by Housing*Dining*Hospitality Sustainability to promote sustainable practices during the move-in and move-out periods on the UC San Diego campus. The goal of the campaign is to reduce waste, promote sustainable practices, and educate students on the importance of responsible waste management during these critical periods.
The campaign includes a range of activities and resources, such as:
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Dedicated webpages with tips and guidance on how to move in and out sustainably
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Large A-frame signs placed in strategic locations to educate and prompt proper waste sorting
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Increased donation opportunities during the move-out period to reduce waste and support the local community
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Event maps that denote dumpster and donation locations to help students navigate the process
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Social media campaigns that highlight sustainable move-in and move-out practices and encourage students to participate
Measured Positive Impacts:
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In comparison to fall 2022 move-in, three out of the seven colleges achieved higher waste diversion rates in fall 2023: ERC (66% to 76%), Marshall (68% to 69%), Seventh (58% to 69%). Warren's waste diversion remained consistent at 67% both years.
In comparison to spring 2023 move-out, five out of the seven colleges achieved higher waste diversion rates in spring 2024: Marshall (26% to 29%), Muir (30% to 33%), Sixth (30% to 33%), Seventh (23% to 24%), and Warren (25% to 29%).
For more information about the Sustainable Move In and Move Out Campaign, please visit: https://hdhsustainability.ucsd.edu/what-to-do/move-in.html
CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY TOWN HALLS
The Climate and Sustainability Town Halls are a series of virtual events organized by UC Operations Management and Capital Programs to promote awareness and engagement on various sustainability topics. The town halls are held via Zoom, making them accessible to a wide range of participants. The town hall series started during the pandemic, when virtual events became a necessary option. The purpose of the town halls is to educate and inform the campus community about the university's sustainability efforts and initiatives, as well as to provide a platform for discussion and Q&A.
The town halls have covered a range of topics, including:
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Decarbonization
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Energy efficiency and sustainability
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Sustainable landscapes and grounds management
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Green buildings and facilities management
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Zero waste and waste reduction
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Hydrogen energy and alternative fuels
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Water conservation and management
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Strategic energy planning
Measured Positive Impacts: Although specific metrics and data are not provided, the Climate and Sustainability Town Halls are expected to have a positive impact on the following:
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Increased awareness and understanding of sustainability issues and initiatives among the campus community
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Improved engagement and participation in sustainability efforts among students, faculty, and staff
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A culture shift towards sustainability and environmental responsibility among the UC San Diego community
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Informed decision-making and planning on sustainability issues, based on the information and insights shared during the town halls.
For more information about the Climate and Sustainability Town Halls, please visit: https://sustainability.ucsd.edu/about/town-halls.html
CLIMATE CONVERSATIONS
Climate Conversations is an ongoing outreach series organized by UC San Diego Utilities & Sustainability to engage the campus community in dialogue and discussion about climate change. The events are designed to be inclusive and welcoming to staff, students, and faculty with all levels of climate change understanding, from beginners to advanced. The goal of Climate Conversations is to assess and determine the needs, priorities, and areas of opportunity for creating a climate-ready UC San Diego.
The events provide a platform for sharing personal climate stories, gaining insight and inspiration from peers, learning about available resources, and guiding the goals and actions for a climate-resilient campus. The topics covered in Climate Conversations have included decarbonization, adaptation, climate anxiety, and mental well-being.
Measured Positive Impacts: The Climate Conversations series has had several positive outcomes, including:
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Increased literacy about decarbonization and climate change among the campus community
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Raised awareness about the impact of climate anxiety on mental well-being, with mental well-being being identified as the most common concern among students
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Provided a platform for sharing personal climate stories and experiences, promoting empathy and understanding among participants
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Facilitated dialogue and discussion among staff, students, and faculty, fostering a sense of community and collaboration on climate-related issues
THE BASIC RIGHTS: HUMAN RIGHT, COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY CAMPAIGN
The Basic Rights: Human Right, Collective Responsibility Campaign is a new campaign organized by Basic Needs for 2024-2025. The campaign aims to empower historically marginalized communities to recognize that access to basic needs such as food, stable housing, and financial literacy is a fundamental human right. The goal of the campaign is to educate and inform students about the services offered at the Hub Basic Needs Resource Center, which can help them thrive as students at UCSD and beyond.
The Basic Rights Campaign is expected to promote a culture of human rights and collective responsibility at UCSD, and to support the well-being and success of all students, particularly those from historically marginalized communities.
For more information about the Basic Rights Campaign, please visit: https://basicneeds.ucsd.edu/about/campaigns/index.html
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Points of contact for credit information:
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Carrie Metzgar, Campus Sustainability Officer, Utilities & Sustainability
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Curt Lutz, Assistant Director, Transportation and Activation
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Rachel Vensand, Communicators Coordinator, Transportation Services
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Andy Hattala, Sustainability Coordinator, Housing*Dining*Hospitality
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Leorah Gavidor, Customer Service Department Assistant, UC San Diego Bookstore and Staff Sustainability Network Member
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Cindy Penning, Lease Administrator, University Centers
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Xandria Romei, Sustainability Assistant, University Centers
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Kelsey Moon, Connexxus Manager, Supply Chain Services
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.