| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.58 |
| Liaison | Jim Walker |
| Submission Date | March 2, 2020 |
University of Texas at Austin
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
In 2019, UT-Austin’s Carl J. Eckhardt Combined Heating and Power Complex achieved record setting efficiency of 85%. UT-Austin also achieved PEER (Performance Excellence in Electricity Renewal) recertification in 2019. UT-Austin was first certified by PEER in 2014, becoming the first PEER certified campus in the world. Modeled after the USGBC LEED green building rating system, PEER is a certification program that measures and improves power system performance and electricity delivery systems. The PEER rating system includes four credit categories: reliability & resiliency; energy efficiency & environment; operational effectiveness; and customer contribution.
Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Buildings
Energy
Website URL where more information about the accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Name of a second highlighted sustainability program/initiative/accomplishment:
A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
In 2017, the landscape for 16.2-acre Dell Medical School health district —an area that includes Waller Creek—received the first Sustainable SITES Gold designation in Texas. This effort included removing invasive plants and restoring native species along Waller Creek, improving storm water drainage, and minimizing outdoor irrigation.
Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Water
Website URL where more information about the second program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the second program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Name of a third highlighted program/initiative/accomplishment:
A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Planet Texas 2050, part of UT-Austin’s Bridging Barriers program, is an eight-year sprint to find solutions that will make our communities more resilient and better prepared in the face of climate change. To do that, UT is bringing together architects, archaeologists, city planners, public health experts, geologists, engineers, computer scientists, artists — and more. Just as important, what we discover will have applications that extend far beyond our region. We’ll share our findings, tools, and processes with researchers across the U.S. and the world who are facing similar challenges in the 21st century.
The UT-Austin Energy Institute launched a new UT-wide research effort which will support UT researchers in cross-campus, interdisciplinary projects under an overarching focus on Fueling a Sustainable Energy Transition. Catalyzing impactful research and collaborative approaches at UT is central to our mission, and this is a unique opportunity for the UT campus community to build teams around innovative and emerging 'energy themes' which are critical to Fueling a Sustainable Energy Transition. The selected teams include 53 faculty members and researchers from nine schools across the university — from the Moody College of Communication and the Jackson School of Geosciences to the School of Architecture and the Cockrell School of Engineering.
Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Research
Air & Climate
Website URL where more information about the third program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the third program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
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.