| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 74.42 |
| Liaison | Mary-Lee Townsend |
| Submission Date | Feb. 1, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Western University
OP-22: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.62 / 4.00 |
Connor
Donald Sustainability Coordinator Facilities Management |
Level of ”Physical Risk QUANTITY” for the institution’s main campus as indicated by the World Resources Institute’s Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas:
Total water use (potable and non-potable combined):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water use | 923,798 Cubic Metres | 866,713 Cubic Metres |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 923,798 Cubic Metres | 866,713 Cubic Metres |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | Jan. 1, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2016 |
| Baseline Year | Jan. 1, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2010 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 5,335 | 5,575 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 8 | 810 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 377 | 377 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 32,529 | 27,410 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 6,220 | 6,000 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 875 | 822 |
| Weighted campus users | 30,118.25 | 26,414.25 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 923,798 Cubic Metres | 866,713 Cubic Metres |
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 | 830,066.83 Gross Square Metres | 721,178.03 Gross Square Metres |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 27.31 Cubic Metres / GSM | 29.50 Cubic Metres / GSM |
Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
Does the institution wish to pursue Part 3 of this credit? (reductions in total water use per acre/hectare of vegetated grounds):
Area of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Vegetated grounds | 134.63 Hectares | 135.68 Hectares |
Total water use (potable + non-potable) per unit of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water use per unit of vegetated grounds | 733,585.16 Cubic Metres / Hectare | 682,916.76 Cubic Metres / Hectare |
Percentage reduction in total water use per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
A brief description of the institution's water-related behavior change initiatives, e.g. initiatives to shift individual attitudes and practices such as signage and competitions:
Installation of water meters on 90% of the buildings, whose real-time consumption is publicly available on Western’s energy dashboard
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
Cisterns
• CMLP: Use of greywater for toilets and urinals (currently not operational)
• FIMS/Nursing: Used for stormwater management and for flushing toilets and urinals
• Ivey: Used for stormwater management and for the reflective pond. Evaporation from this pond pre-cools the air for one of the AHUs intake.
• Ontario Hall Residence: Used for stormwater management and irrigation of the courtyard.
When the cistern is empty, no irrigation takes place on the building site.
A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives (e.g. building retrofits):
Replacement of water-cooled equipment around campus:
- Desktop chillers in labs replaced by refrigerant, closed-loop units in Chemistry Building
- Process and building equipment (e.g., vaccum, pumps, etc.) has been replaced with non-water cooled or recirculating alternatives
- Urinals, toilets, flush valves and other fixtures have been replaced with water-efficient units in Western’s most transited/used buildings (i.e., UCC, WL, SSC) and most recently, in Delaware Hall (residence)
- Old, ineffective booster pumps have been replaced with more efficient and effective alternatives, controlled via VFDs
- Improvements to cooling towers have been made to improve their efficiency. Some even have their own water meters.
- Development of standards for any minor project undertaken on campus, involving water fixtures. These standards identify the maximum flows allowed for each type of fixture.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Information was provided by:
Mary Quintana, MES, MSc, BESc, CEM®, LEED Green Associate
Energy & Carbon Manager
Western University
e: mary.quintana@uwo.ca
t: (519) 661-2111, ext 89300
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.