Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 61.14
Liaison Jeff Spoelstra
Submission Date Feb. 28, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Western Michigan University
OP-22: Water Use

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.62 / 6.00 Chris Caprara
Manager, Energy Administration
Facilities Management - Engineering
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Level of ”Physical Risk QUANTITY” for the institution’s main campus as indicated by the World Resources Institute’s Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas:
High

Part 1 

Total water use (potable and non-potable combined):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water use 146,015,554 Gallons 191,653,126 Gallons

Potable water use:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use 146,015,554 Gallons 191,653,126 Gallons

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2017 June 30, 2018
Baseline Year July 1, 2009 June 30, 2012

If end date of the baseline year/period is 2004 or earlier, provide:

A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
July-June was used because it is the university's fiscal year, and is the common time period that records are kept in.

Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 4,347 5,947
Number of employees resident on-site 0 15
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 18,413 21,486
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 2,845 2,850
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 2,876 650
Weighted campus users 14,873.25 19,255

Potable water use per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per weighted campus user 9,817.33 Gallons 9,953.42 Gallons

Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
1.37

Part 2 

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area 7,101,683 Gross square feet 8,000,000 Gross square feet

Potable water use per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per unit of floor area 20.56 Gallons per square foot 23.96 Gallons per square foot

Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
14.18

Part 3 

Does the institution wish to pursue Part 3 of this credit? (reductions in total water use per acre/hectare of vegetated grounds):
Yes

Area of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Vegetated grounds 327 Acres 327 Acres

Total water use (potable + non-potable) per unit of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water use per unit of vegetated grounds 446,530.75 Gallons per acre 586,095.19 Gallons per acre

Percentage reduction in total water use per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
23.81

Optional Fields 

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:
---

A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
WMU does not currently recycle/reuse water on campus.

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):
WMU has retrofitted low flow fixtures in many of its existing buildings, and is currently in the process of converting some fixtures to even lower flow. Fixtures include water closets, urinals, faucets, and showers.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives 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.