Water
Introduction
Water conservation, recycling and reuse, and effective rainwater management practices are important in maintaining and protecting finite groundwater supplies. Likewise, pumping, delivering, and treating water is a major driver of energy consumption, so institutions can help reduce energy use and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy generation by conserving water. Water conservation and effective rainwater and wastewater management also reduce the need for effluent discharge into local surface water supplies, which helps improve the health of local water ecosystems.
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Visualization of energy and water consumption and GHG emissions: A case study of a Canadian University Campus
- Carleton University (ON)
Campuses, communities, and other building clusters are major users of energy and water and thus can have a significant environmental impact. Frequently, their buildings’ resource consumption is metered to various …
- Posted Dec. 22, 2017
- Publications
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Disruptive Tech: Beyond Net Zero Energy Onsite Water Reuse
- Natural Systems Utilities (NJ)
In addition to water scarcity, drivers to consider water reuse now include aging or inadequate infrastructure, resiliency, resource recovery and increasing costs for conventional water and sewer. Many communities are …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Beyond Excuses: Banning Bottled Water on Your Campus
- Eastern Washington University (WA)
Over 100 North American universities have enacted policies banning bottled water and promoting tap water as a more preferable choice. This workshop will outline the steps of banning bottled water, …
- Posted Dec. 1, 2017
- Conference Presentations
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Middlebury College Land Conservation at Bread Loaf
- Middlebury College (VT)
Middlebury's conserved lands around the Bread Loaf campus provides a scenic backdrop for numerous activities.
- Posted Oct. 20, 2017
- Photographs
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Middlebury's Bread Loaf Mountain Campus and Surrounding Conserved Lands
- Middlebury College (VT)
Middlebury College's 2100 acres of conserved land is surrounded by Green Mountain National Forest land. Middlebury's conserved lands are enjoyed by participants of its summer programs at the Bread Loaf …
- Posted Oct. 20, 2017
- Photographs
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CV Theis Groundwater Observatory
- University of Cincinnati (OH)
The University of Cincinnati has completed the construction of the Great Miami Groundwater Observatory to continuously monitor water quality for over two million Ohio residents who rely on the Great …
- Posted Oct. 14, 2017
- Photographs
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Southern Illinois University water bottle fill stations
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale (IL)
With support from the campus green fund, Southern Illinois University Carbondale recently installed 27 water bottle fill stations in various buildings around campus in efforts to reduce consumption of single-use …
- Posted Oct. 14, 2017
- Photographs
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Niagara College Sustainability Engagement
- Niagara College Canada (ON)
The following images depict various events and initiatives that take place at Niagara College that can be used towards students' Co-Curricular Records, and the LEAD Sustainability stream. These events include …
- Posted Oct. 11, 2017
- Photographs
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Loyola Chicago's Water Conservation Carnival
- Loyola University Chicago (IL)
As part of a water conservation grant, Loyola hosted a Water Conservation Carnival featuring the 97 year-old face of water conservation, Sr. Jean Schmidt. As part of the project, water …
- Posted Oct. 9, 2017
- Photographs
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Loyola's Lake Shore Campus Chapel on the shores of Lake Michigan
- Loyola University Chicago (IL)
Loyola's Lake Shore Campus Chapel on the shores of Lake Michigan.
- Posted Oct. 9, 2017
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Loyola's Lake Shore Campus on the shores of Lake Michigan
- Loyola University Chicago (IL)
LEED Silver Klarchek Information Commons. Loyola's Lake Shore Campus on the shores of Lake Michigan.
- Posted Oct. 9, 2017
- Photographs
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Community responses to the removal of bottled water on a university campus
Purpose
This paper aimed to examine the impact of the removal of bottled water on the campus community. This paper presents the findings of a survey conducted at the first …
- Posted Aug. 28, 2017
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Parks and Sustainability
- Kent State University - Stark (OH)
Picture of a student in Kent State University at Stark's Introduction to Watershed Studies. This course was created through a park and campus partnership.
- Posted Aug. 15, 2017
- Photographs
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Kauai Community College Tiny House Hydro Electric Micro Grid Project
- University of Hawaii Kauai Community College (HI)
During the Summer of 2016 a free Tiny House building course was offered free to the community of Kauai. The course ran for five days and focused on building the …
- Posted May 22, 2017
- Case Studies
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Modern Sustainability
- University of Hawaii Kauai Community College (HI)
RECENT PROJECTS:
- Beach Cleanup Caddy (complete - STEM grant award pending - awaiting field testing) - Assembled a cart system specifically designed for beach cleanups, outfitted with a detachable metal …
- Posted May 22, 2017
- Case Studies
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Funding Strategies for Non-Traditional University MS4 Stormwater Programs
- Michigan State University (MI)
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (NC)
- University of Michigan (MI)
- University of Nebraska - Lincoln (NE)
- University of Virginia (VA)
Stormwater programs have historically been stymied by lack of proper funding resources. Unlike drinking water and sanitary sewer utility services that long ago transitioned to enterprise funds, a stormwater utility …
- Posted May 19, 2017
- Publications
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Stanford University's R&DE Creatively Responds to the California Drought
- Stanford University (CA)
Sustainability is a core value to Stanford University's Residential & Dining Enterprises (R&DE). R&DE is responsible for about 1/3 of Stanford's campus, housing over 13,000 residents and serving over 18,000 …
- Posted May 19, 2017
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Reduce the Juice – Saving Energy in Halls of Residence
- AASHE (MA)
- University of London
At the University of London, in England, we have launched a behaviour change programme aimed at students living on campus in the University’s halls of residence. The aim of the …
- Posted May 18, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Watershed UGA: A living laboratory transforming campus and community through teaching, research and service
- University of Georgia (GA)
Watershed UGA created a vision and framework for using the campus as a living laboratory to advance sustainability through teaching, research, public service and outreach, and university operations. We are …
- Posted May 18, 2017
- Case Studies
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LEED® Platinum - University of Miami Frost School of Music Studios
- University of Miami (FL)
The Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music is one of the largest and best music schools located in a private university in the U.S., and one of the most …
- Posted May 11, 2017
- Case Studies
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San Francisco State University Facilities Grounds dept. & Housing Sustainability Committee
- San Francisco State University (CA)
Students learned about the role Bioswales play in storm water management . A Bioswale is a large depression in the landscape that holds rain water and allows it to slowly …
- Posted April 28, 2017
- Photographs
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University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Earth Fest 2017 celebrates Space, Energy, and Water
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (TX)
EDINBURG & BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS—APRIL 19-20, 2017-- This year’s Earth Fest theme is Space, Energy, and Water, featuring three guest speakers, an Exhibitor Expo, and a Dinner & Movie night—each on …
- Posted April 27, 2017
- Photographs
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SJSU Student Health and Wellness Center
- San Jose State University (CA)
The Student Health and Counseling facility was constructed to enhance access for students living on campus while balancing convenient care for the growing residential population through both location and features …
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Case Studies
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Boiler Feed Recycled Water Conversion Project
- San Jose State University (CA)
The Central Plant facilities at San Jose State University (SJSU) campus currently uses approximately 23,000 CCF annually of potable water at the boiler make-up water feed system. In order to …
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Case Studies
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AU's Energy Team Partners with DOEE to educate the community
- American University (DC)
- United States Department of Energy (DC)
In efforts to promote American University’s Annual Campus Beautification Day, the Energy and Engineering Team at AU partnered with the DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) to locate and …
- Posted April 26, 2017
- Photographs
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Restroom Water Reduction Potential at an Urban University
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
A water audit was conducted at a variety of University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) campus buildings to help evaluate the potential to conserve water and save the university money. …
- Posted April 20, 2017
- Publications
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SAVE Sustainable Actions Visible Effects
- Pomona College (CA)
Project Overview Pomona-College is excited to present their innovative partnership with MelRok, “The Streaming Energy Innovator”. This partnership is the foundation of Pomona’s SAVE, Sustainable Actions Visible Effects initiative to …
- Posted March 9, 2017
- Case Studies
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Immerse in Your Watershed: Problem-Based, Service Learning for Undergraduate Sustainability Education
- Maharishi University of Management (IA)
This case study describes a problem-based and service learning module in which undergraduate students participated in a community-based project. Students joined a group consisting of local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), public …
- Posted Feb. 20, 2017
- Publications
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AASHE Award Winner Webinar - Developing Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation Strategies Through Student Research
- University of Houston (TX)
- University of Michigan (MI)
- AASHE (MA)
Student groups at the University of Houston and University of Michigan have developed strategies for energy efficiency and water conservation on campus through research.
At the University of Michigan, a …
- Posted Feb. 16, 2017
- Videos & Webinars
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Case study for evaluating campus sustainability: nitrogen balance for the University of Minnesota
- Carleton College (MN)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (MN)
American ecologists recently began to address the ecology of cities. Concurrently, higher education institutions have developed sustainability education programs and instituted sustainability policies and projects. This paper draws together these …
- Posted Jan. 27, 2017
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Communicating sustainability: student perceptions of a behavior change campaign
- University of Arizona (AZ)
- University of Calgary (AB)
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the impacts of a science-based environmental communication campaign at a university dining hall. The impacts are assessed in terms of student attitudes toward sustainability, …
- Posted Jan. 13, 2017
- Publications
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Key Facilities Metrics Survey and Report
- APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities (VA)
- National Association of College & University Business Officers (NACUBO) (DC)
The Key Facilities Metrics Survey is a brief annual survey designed to encourage attention to a small number of key facilities metrics: total energy consumption per square foot, electricity consumption …
- Posted Dec. 12, 2016
- Tools
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Community Partnerships for Stormwater Management
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (WI)
- Villanova University (PA)
Hear from two universities, Villanova University and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), on example stormwater projects both on and off campus. Learn what works and what doesn't in campus stormwater management. …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Universal Designs, Part 1: Nicaragua
- Villanova University (PA)
Universal Designs' documents the decade plus long relationship the Villanova engineering and nursing schools have with the remote region of Waslala, Nicaragua by highlighting the ways the relationship has transformed …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Optimizing Effluent Water Quality in Water Reclamation and Reuse
- Emory University (GA)
- NextEra Distributed Water, Inc. (VA)
Managing water-related challenges through water reclamation and reuse is vital to all bulk water consumers. Decentralized water reclamation and reuse decreases the demand for potable water supplies, provides increased resiliency …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Net Zero Water: not a dry Topic
- Williams College (MA)
- Bruner/Cott Architects (MA)
- Integrated Eco Strategy (MA)
- Berkshire Design Group (MA)
Construction often negatively impacts the natural balance of water cycles. Even regions with historically abundant quantities of potable water are depleting aquifers, while record rainfall provides destructive amounts of storm …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Water Audit Process at the University of Illinois at Chicago
- University of Illinois Chicago (IL)
Water is increasingly on the minds of campus facilities and sustainability administrators, specifically how to use less in campus buildings. As an initial step toward developing conservation strategies and priorities, …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Beyond Excuses: Banning Bottled Water on Your Campus
- Eastern Washington University (WA)
- University of Puget Sound (WA)
Over 100 North American universities have enacted policies banning bottled water and promoting tap water as a more preferable choice. This workshop will outline the steps of banning bottled water, …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Post Occupancy Evaluation for Landscapes
- Kirksey Architecture (TX)
Landscape design has the power to address multiple sustainability issues. These include providing shade, creating habitat, managing stormwater quality and quantity, minimizing light pollution, and providing usable outdoor spaces for …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Tracking student shower usage in real-time
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (MA)
Self-reported shower durations suffer from memory inconsistency and timing accuracy as humans generally have great difficulty telling time internally. Our pre- and post-program self-report surveys also introduce errors due to …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Knowledge Flows Downstream: Partnering to Build Watershed Awareness on Campus and at Local Elementary/Middle Schools..
- Pennsylvania State University (PA)
A collaboration between Pennsylvania Sea Grant and Penn State Erie, The Behrend College provided undergraduate students with science-based information about watershed health, water quality and the impacts of excess storm …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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HydroCats: Research and Citizen Science Applications for Water Harvesting
- University of Arizona (AZ)
From its inception, University of Arizona HydroCats has been structured on community involvement and off-campus project development. This year, HydroCats interns have expanded the program's role in Tucson neighborhoods through …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Sustainable General Chemistry: Incorporating Sustainability into Both Theme and Experiment Design in the Freshman Chemistry Lab
- Concordia College (NY)
Over the past decade, the general chemistry laboratory experience at Concordia College has evolved from a traditional expository style program to an inquiry based program which incorporates a number of …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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UA Campus Garage Rain Water Harvesting Project
- University of Arizona (AZ)
The University of Arizona Community Garden was started by a group of students in 2011. As of today, the community garden is being used to its full potential. Every plot …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Beyond the Campus: Community Engagement in Sustainability and Resilience
- California State University, Northridge (CA)
In this session we will show how we engaged community partners in climate change resilience efforts and promoted energy and water conservation in the community. In 2015-16 the Institute for …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Creating a living system for treatment of greywater in a local business
- Appalachian State University (NC)
In many areas of the world clean water is in limited supply. Most water from a home or business results in waste water known as greywater which contains no sewage. …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Campus-Scale Water Reuse Solutions to Enhance Water Sustainability in Higher Ed
- NextEra Distributed Water, Inc. (VA)
Water reclamation and reuse is vital for bulk-water consumers, like college campuses, to meet water supply challenges. Campus-scale reclaimed water projects, like the WaterHub® at Emory University, are becoming increasingly …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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A Water Quality Argument for Vegetated Roofs in Charleston, South Carolina
- College of Charleston (SC)
As part of the College of Charleston's Green Roofs initiative, we investigated the potential benefits of employing vegetated roof technology, specifically on the quality of Charleston's waterways. Using data collected …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Water Conservation at the University of Houston
- University of Houston (TX)
The responsibility for ensuring a sustainable water future lies within the community as a whole. Because colleges and universities are inextricably woven into the communities in which they live, their …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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Opening Keynote - Marc Edwards
- Virginia Tech (VA)
Marc Edwards is the Charles Lunsford Professor of Civil Engineering at Virginia Tech. A renowned expert on water contamination and MacArthur 'genius' grant recipient, Dr. Edwards led the research teams …
- Posted Nov. 18, 2016
- Conference Presentations
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This tab provides access to data collected through AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS). STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. STARS enables meaningful comparisons over time and across institutions using a common set of measurements developed with broad participation from the campus sustainability community.
All responses reference content from reports under the latest version of STARS, version 2.2. AASHE membership and log-in is required.
OP 21: Water Use
- Level of Physical Risk Quantity (World Resources Institute Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas)
- Potable water use per weighted campus user, performance year
- Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline
- Potable water use per unit of floor area, performance year
- Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline
- Total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds, performance year
- Percentage reduction in total water withdrawal per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline
- Water-related behavior change initiatives
- Water recovery and reuse initiatives
- Initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives
- Website URL - Water conservation and efficiency efforts
OP 22: Rainwater Management
- Green infrastructure and LID practices
- Rainwater management policy, plan, and/or guidelines(upload)
- Rainwater management policy, plan, and/or guidelines (description)
- Website URL- Green infrastructure and LID practices
Additional analysis on scores and quantitative fields can be conducted using the STARS Benchmarking Tool.