University of California, Santa Barbara
IN-1: Innovation 1

Zero Net Energy Initiative

To achieve this goal, Student Affairs has adopted a whole systems perspective that takes into account energy efficiency, on-site renewable energy, and the importance of people (building occupants). It now costs the Division of Student Affairs over one million dollars annually to purchase 4.4 million kilowatt hours of electricity and 350,000 therms of natural gas. Achieving Zero Net Energy would allow Student Affairs to save over one million dollars each year and enable UCSB to redirect those dollars into critical programs and services that are currently at risk due to reductions in funding. Given that the cost of energy is expected to increase in the future, the case for greater efficiency is clear.

Student Affairs at UCSB is a leading division on climate action and planning. They have set forth impressive commitments to certify at the LEED Platinum level all their buildings and facilities (approximately 450,000 square feet of administrative buildings and a recreational and aquatics complex) and Achieve Divisional Zero Net Energy on an annual basis. Student Affairs projects and initiatives which promote sustainable renewable energy and energy conservation are crucial to addressing campus climate change. Student Affairs anticipates exceeding its fixed energy budget cap in 2016, which may require the division to pull resources from other areas, including staff wages and funding for student services.

Many organizations attempt to solve the problems of climate change and rising energy costs through energy efficiency enhancements only. In contrast, the UCSB Student Affairs Zero Net Energy plan addresses energy efficiency enhancements coupled with onsite renewable energy generation. Energy efficiency enhancements include projects such as: dimming electronic ballasts, occupancy and daylighting controls, lighting controls network, tuning lighting with dimmable ballasts, LEDs for floodlights and display lights, ICLS retrofits, office retrofits, elevator retrofits and bi-level corridors, HVAC duct flow management, occupancy sensor thermostats, condensing boilers, variable speed pool pumps, pool covers, and Energy Star rated appliances. Additionally, the division also plans on installing one megawatt of online generation through solar power and a thermal water pre-heat array for the planned aquatics complex. By investing in energy efficiency and onsite renewable energy generation, UCSB Student Affairs will reduce its net energy costs to zero and eventually produce an energy surplus. This will result in a significant decrease in overall campus GHG emissions.

In addition to installing new hardware and software to support carbon reduction, the Student Affairs energy plan also highlights the importance of community commitment through behavioral changes. Educating students and staff about responsible energy consumption habits is an on-going divisional effort. For example, to help create an energy use feedback loop for staff, UCSB Student Affairs has partnered with the Institute for Energy Efficiency and The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) to create a desk top application for building occupants which displays energy inefficiencies at the departmental and individual office level. Further ongoing education efforts include provided information to new students on campus sustainability via the Orientation process. Divisional Managers are made aware of sustainability initiatives via quarterly meetings, and individual departments are kept informed via regular business officer meetings.

As a division, Student Affairs hopes to provide a template for other organizations who strive to reduce green house gas emissions while eliminating ongoing utility costs. Zero Net Energy will enable UCSB’s Division of Student Affairs to redirect its annual $1 million utility bill to services and programs that promote student success. As such, Zero Net Energy responds to students’ demands that today’s institutions be educationally, fiscally, and environmentally responsible. Funding for the Student Affairs Zero Net Energy plan is made possible through student fees, particularly The Renewable Energy initiative (discussed further in the Section IX Financing). Through the Renewable Energy Initiative, the campus will: 1) become a leading promoter in the use of ZNE to address significant environmental and economic challenges, 2) significantly reduce use of fossil fuels and carbon emissions, 3) gain greater energy independence, 4) help meet UCSB Climate Action Plan goals for a carbon neutral campus by 2050, and 5) direct a significant proportion of savings generated from this initiative to student services.

To further their goals, Student Affairs Grants and Development has cultivated numerous beneficial partnerships over the past two years, including:

• The student-majority Renewable Energy Initiative Governance Board, which will provide $3.2 million over the next ten years, including $2.3 million for a 504 kW solar array on Parking Structure 22 (in progress)

• The student-majority Student Resource Building Governance Board, which contributed $750,000 to the Parking Structure 22 solar project

• The UCSB Institute for Energy Efficiency, which selected the Student Resource Building as the site for their Energy Visualization research

• Southern California Edison, which designated the Recreation Center as a Demonstration Showcase for their New and Emerging Energy Efficiency Technologies

• Southern California Gas, which qualified the UCSB Recreation Center for their Partnership Program for a thermal pre-heat project at the Rec Cen aquatics complex

• The student-majority Green Initiative Fund, which provided student funded grants for Energy Visualization and commingled recycling bins

• The Public Interest Energy Research group (PIER), which has donated expertise and energy efficient lighting.

Other accomplishments include:

• Earning campus-wide acceptance and support for our Zero Net Energy initiative
• Partnering with the students on their successful Renewable Energy Initiative
• The establishment of a Renewable Energy Initiative Governance Board
• The Parking Structure 22 solar project
• Development of the Student Affairs Sustainability web site
• Development of the award winning Zero Net Energy video
• Selection to present Zero Net Energy at the first South Coast Sustainability Summit
• Collaboration on Philanthropic Power Purchase Agreements
• Incorporating sustainability into Orientation programming
• Incorporating sustainability into SA departmental practices via the Business Officer Group
• Working with Bren School interns to develop a white paper on Zero Net Energy for the National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL)