| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.46 |
| Liaison | Paul Mathisen |
| Submission Date | May 22, 2020 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
OP-22: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.57 / 4.00 |
Paul
Mathisen Dir. of Sustainability & Assoc. Prof Civil & Environmental Engineering |
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 | 42,136,089 Gallons | 34,968,252 Gallons |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 42,136,089 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, 2018 | June 30, 2019 |
| 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 | 2,230 | 1,860 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 67 | 4 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 112 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 5,872 | 4,125 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 1,251 | 916 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 306 | 134 |
| Weighted campus users | 5,799 | 4,146.25 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 7,266.10 Gallons | 8,433.71 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 | 2,728,861 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 | 15.44 Gallons per square foot | 17.96 Gallons per square foot |
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 | 97 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 | 434,392.67 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:
After having experience water shortages in the city, WPI is conservative toward water consumption. In new construction and renovated buildings, water conserving appliances - low flow toilets, showers, and faucets - have been installed. Sustainability Ambassadors have water conservation prioritized in their behavior change efforts with students, and they work diligently to raise awareness about the need to conserve water. Shorter showers and shutting off the faucets during brushing teeth are emphasized. Student and staff Sustainability Ambassadors posted signage in kitchens, restrooms, and locker rooms for consumers to be thoughtful about water usage. On WPI grounds, water is also conserved. Operationally, the Grounds Department has modified its grass cutting process so that it cut grass less frequently and to a longer length. It also puts up signage for the community to avoid walking on the grass. Any necessary watering of plants was done manually through the use of collected rainwater. A 2018 student project addressed stormwater runoff and developed proposals for best management practices, while a 2020 student project addressed water use and best approaches for reducing it (through leak detection, efficiency improvement, and behavioral change.)
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 two 25,000 gallon cisterns buried beneath the Quadrangle, where it is collected and stored for later use by groundskeepers who pump water from the cisterns into water trucks to use to irrigate grass and plantings around 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):
WPI replaces all fixtures and appliances when renovations are undertaken. To date, in all major campus renovations and all new construction, water conserving faucets, showerheads, and toilet flushometers are installed. Flow rates meet or surpass the requirements. Faucets have motion sensors and provide water only as needed.
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.