University of California, Santa Barbara
EN-11: Inter-Campus Collaboration

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), US Green Building Council (USGBC), and The American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).

Santa Barbara County Food Action Plan Higher Education Impact Group

CHESC: Title: Creating a Climate for Change: From Engagement to Behavior Modification Description: With competing messages and priorities, engaging the campus community in climate change mitigation, and inspiring behavior change, is challenging. this panel charts three unique approaches. “Engagement by Design” discusses the outcomes of a collaborative, UC-wide research project on effectively engaging students to inform a strategy for the uC’s Carbon neutrality Initiative. “Motivating and Quantifying...” highlights the process and outcomes of a campus-wide behavior change pilot program implemented at Stanford, incorporating real-time data feedback. “lessons learned” reflects on an effort by UCSB to develop a campus-level, grassroots stakeholder engagement strategy around the Carbon neutrality Initiative that aligns with existing initiatives and campus priorities. Title: UCSB Waste Tour: Getting to Zero Waste Description: This tour highlighted the programs and practices that are in place to get UCSB to Zero Waste. Attendees learned how various departments throughout the campus, such as custodial, groundskeeping, and Associated Students’ A.S. recycling and the Department of Public Worms work in conjunction with one another to achieve the university’s goals. Highlighted programs included, indoor composting pilot project, resigning exterior waste receptacles, and utilizing a student workforce to service recycling and composting on the campus. Title: Sustainability in the Kitchen Description: UC Santa Barbara shared best practices on how to program and organize around sustainable food using campus demonstration kitchens to engage students, staff, and faculty in workshop settings. With a focus on linking healthy cooking with those that are food insecure, the UCSB University Center Dining discussed how to plan, budget, cook, and teach the community about affordable, convenient, and sustainable meals. Title: UCSB's Biking Utopia: A Campus Bicycle System Unlike Any Other Description: UCSB’s bicycle system, rated gold by the league of American Bicyclists, includes over 7 miles of dedicated bike paths and nearly 20,000 bicycle parking spaces. this impressive infrastructure supports the many students and community members that collectively make around 30,000 bicycle trips every day and keep cycling secure as the priory method of transportation at UCSB. As the campus population grows, the demand for bicycle parking and pathways increases, especially near major lecture halls and student housing. This tour explored some of the major features of the bicycle system, how UCSB accommodates and encourages bicycling, and how adjustments are made for growing needs. Central Coast Sustainability Summit: Title: Food Scraps Panel Description: Mark Rousseau, Asst. Director, Energy & Environmental Services, Residential, Residential Operations, & Auxiliary Enterprises, UCSB; co-paneled a session with City of Santa Barbara's Environmental Specialist Dan Rowell to discuss food waste in the community. Food waste is a huge challenge in the United States caused by logistical problems in the food industry and consumer behavior. There are multiple methods of food recovery but Source Reduction and Reus is the most preferred method. The Santa Barbara County Food Action Plan has a long term goal to establish a food recovery network designed to match businesses with excess food with charatible organizations serving food insecure individuals in the Santa Barbara community. Title: Coastal Resiliency in Santa Barbara: Do we have a plan yet? During this session, Lisa Stratton, Ecosystem Restoration Manager, Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration, UC Santa Barbara; presented the North Campus Open Space Restoration Project. This is a multi-benefit project that is designed to be adaptive to climate change. The project would seek to restore rare coastal communities and habitats, provide habitats for endangered species, create local jobs, and sequest carbon through wetland and upland plant communities.

In 2017, UCSB won a Best Practice Award for the Student Affairs and Administrative Services Building Advanced Lighting and Control Project. The project reduced energy costs by over 60% compared to previous usage by implementing wirelessly control LED retrofit kits. The retrofit was completed at the Student Affairs and Administrative Services Building (SAASB), which houses numerous administrative offices including financial aid, accounting, human resources, and campus IT departments. The building consists primarily of open-plan offices with some enclosed perimeter offices. The advanced control system was initially designed with support from UC Davis' California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC).The CLTC provided technical support from design and scoping to installation and commissioning of the project. A significant amount of thought went into the scheduling, programming and tuning of the controls.

Katie Maynard, Sustainability Coordinator: Katie Maynard is the Executive Director for the CA Higher Education Sustainability Conference (CHESC), a member of the Santa Barbara County Action Plan Advisory Board, co-chair for the UC Green Operations Working Group,Facilitator for UC Gardens and Farms, a member of the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group, member of the UC Global Food Initiative Leadership Group, member of UC Healthy Campus Network Leadership Group, and a member of the UC STARS Working Group Amorette Getty, LabRATS Program co-director: Dr. Getty is a member of the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL), Green Labs Planning, The University Alliance Group, Matt O’Carroll, Refuse, Recycling, & Water Efficiency Manager: Co-chair of the University of California Zero Waste Committee Danielle Kemp, Dining Services Dietitian: Kemp is an active member of The National Association of College & University Foodservice (NACUFS), member of UCSB’s sustainable procurement subcommittee

Through the Santa Barbara County Food Action Plan Higher Education Impact Group, UCSB co-wrote two grants. One for local foundation and one to the USDA for developing Food Security Programs regionally. UCSB is also developing a bike share program in conjunction with local cities, non-profit organizations and our county. It is expected to launch in Fall 2018 but collaborative resource sharing is currently in progress.