| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 60.21 |
| Liaison | Feletia Lee |
| Submission Date | June 28, 2024 |
University of North Carolina, Wilmington
OP-21: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.09 / 6.00 |
Whitney
Formon Sustainability Assistant Office of Sustainability |
Level of ”Physical Risk Quantity” for the institution’s main campus as indicated by the World Resources Institute Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas:
Total water withdrawal (potable and non-potable combined):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal | 134,351,936.75 Gallons | 106,734,949.75 Gallons |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 134,351,936.75 Gallons | 106,734,949.75 Gallons |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Period | July 1, 2022 | June 30, 2023 |
| Baseline Period | July 1, 2017 | June 30, 2018 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
The water use baseline was adopted for Fiscal Year 2018 (2017-2018) as this was the baseline utilized for the majority of our reporting.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 4,918 | 4,326 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 16 | 10 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 16,133 | 14,814 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 2,197 | 2,072 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 4,552 | 3,032 |
| Weighted campus users | 11,567 | 11,474.50 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 11,615.11 Gallons | 9,301.93 Gallons |
Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
Gross floor area of building space:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross floor area | 5,085,579 Gross square feet | 3,987,923 Gross square feet |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 26.42 Gallons per square foot | 26.76 Gallons per square foot |
Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
Area of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Vegetated grounds | 490.89 Acres | 523.59 Acres |
Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds | 273,690.51 Gallons per acre | 203,852.15 Gallons per acre |
Percentage reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
A brief description of the institution's water-related behavior change initiatives:
In partnership with the Student Government Association, stickers were placed in bathrooms and other areas with faucets that read "Water is Precious...". These stickers were designed to alter individual and collective water behavior and serve as a reminder to students, faculty, and staff that water conservation is important in day-today activities.
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
UNCW uses several stormwater retention ponds to store irrigation water for the campus. Pump systems are tied together for water movement to different locations as needed. Oftentimes the water from the stormwater retention ponds is recycled and utilized in on-campus landscaping through the sprinkler system.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
The University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) partnered with the energy service company Ameresco to conduct an investment-grade audit of campus facilities that identified potential energy efficiency measures (EEMs). Twenty-four EEMs were selected and are under consideration to be implemented between 2012 and 2013. This project is the second performance contract for UNCW and focuses on the remaining large, general- funded buildings not included in the first contract. These government-owned buildings are funded through State appropriations. A select number of EEM's involved initiatives surrounding water use.
Additionally, several buildings at UNCW are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified, meaning that they have strides in building with water efficiency in mind. For example the Student Recreation Center is LEED BD+C Certified and was awarded 4/5 points for water effeciency (Water effecient landscaping - reduce by 50%, Water effecient landscaping - no potable water use or no irrigation, water use reduction - 20% reduction, and Water use reduction - 30% reduction).
Website URL where information about the institution’s water conservation and efficiency efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.