Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.01
Liaison Paul Mathisen
Submission Date May 23, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Worcester Polytechnic Institute
OP-22: Water Use

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.00 / 4.00 Liz Tomaszewski
Facilities Systems Manager/Sustainability Coordinator
Facilities Department
"---" 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:
Low to Medium

Total water use (potable and non-potable combined):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water use --- 34,968,252 Gallons

Potable water use:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use 45,251,756 Gallons 34,968,252 Gallons

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2015 June 30, 2016
Baseline Year July 1, 2013 June 30, 2014

A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:

FY 2014 was adopted as the baseline for our Sustainability plan.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 2,060 1,860
Number of employees resident on-site 4 4
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 5,718 4,125
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 950 916
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 238 134
Weighted campus users 5,338.50 4,146.25

Potable water use per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per weighted campus user 8,476.49 Gallons 8,433.71 Gallons

Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
0

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area 2,394,471 Gross square feet 1,946,938 Gross square feet

Potable water use per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per unit of floor area 18.90 Gallons per square foot 17.96 Gallons per square foot

Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
0

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 35 Acres 35 Acres

Total water use (potable + non-potable) per unit of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water use per unit of vegetated grounds 0 Gallons per acre 999,092.91 Gallons per acre

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:
---

A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:

WPI has a water drainage system at the Sports and Recreation Center that is designed to collect drainage water from the rooftop and perimeter of the building, channel it to one of two 25,000 gallon cisterns buried beneath the Quadrangle, and then pump it to the rooftop to resupply make-up water for the cooling tower.


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):

Waterless urinals were installed in the Sports & Recreation Center. Low-flow faucets and showers were installed in the Sports & Recreation Center, East Hall, and Faraday Hall. Toilet flushometers were installed in the Sports & Recreation Center and Faraday Hall. In building renovations, priority is placed on water conservation appliances.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.