Sustainability

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Campus Sustainability Champions

The following departments/facilities have worked hard to reduce the negative impact on our environment and at the same time protect the UCR community. Thanks to each department for contributing in the effort to be sustainable. Look at what each one has done to help!

Child Development Center

Accepts used inkjet printer cartridges and cell phones that they will recycle for you! Please contact either Celia Rivera or Leslie Bushong if you have any questions about this program, or would like to donate your used printer cartridges and cell phones via campus mail.

CE–CERT

The College of Engineering - Center for Environmental Research & Technology has an IntelliShare program where they have Honda Civic GX Natural Gas vehicles that can be used by the campus for transportation in and around UCR. This program is part of the research for new shared-use vehicle systems.

Dining Services

1. Recycles the cooking oil to be made into biodiesel.
2. Serves eggs produced by on-campus laying hens.
3. Uses citrus from campus groves in sauces and garnishes and are developing a program to serve campus grown orange juice.
4. Actively participates on the Systemwide workgroup to constantly gain new ideas for increasing their contribution to a sustainable campus.
5. Uses cooking oils from a company that recycles used oil into products including cat food, cosmetics, and biodiesel fuel.
6. Serves percentage of the eggs from on-campus hens.

Fleet Services

1. Was awarded in June 2006 for having the largest alternative fuel vehicle fleet in the University of California system. These vehicles are extremely popular with campus staff, and Fleet Services is gradually replacing the old fleet of cars with alternative fuel cars to meet the demand.
2. Was named as one of the top 100 Alternative Fueled fleets in the US.
3. Began using and testing bio fuels in the UCR bus Fleet beginning the week of February 19th, 2007.
4. Switched to water-based cleaning chemicals.
5. Partnered with C-CERT to obtain five additional electric vehicles by the end of February 2006.
6. Partnered with American Honda and will be leasing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Hondas at a reduced rate to customers to give them added incentive to use these vehicles.

Housing

1. Energy Reduction. Housing Services has for many years reviewed its operations and looked for products and systems to reduce energy consumption.
   • Upgraded appliances with energy-efficient Energy Star equipment.
   • Installed reduced flow shower heads at all facilities. We have converted to use 6 waterless urinals in our public rest rooms that save 45,000 gallons of water each, on an annual basis
   • Install compact fluorescent light bulbs and emergency saving fluorescent light fixtures at all Housing facilities.
   • Purchased wireless irrigation system to control efficient landscape watering program and maintain timely irrigation adjustments. 
   • Replaced most of our Housing’s gas vehicles with electric and alternate fuels.
2. Green Cleaning. Housing Services continues to look for products that will reduce our reliance on harsh cleaning chemicals. We currently use Green Seal Certified cleaning chemicals for general cleaning of counter and work surfaces, as well as floors, carpet and restrooms.
3. Recycling Program. Housing Services has started to implement a comprehensive recycling program for all of its facilities.
   • Housing recycles hundreds of cubic yards of cardboard and office paper annually.
   • Housing has established an office recycling program for cans, glass and plastic. This program is systematically expanding into our residential common areas at apartments and residence halls.
   • Housing is receiving a grant for recycling equipment and education for our bottles and cans recycling program.
   • Housing has a pilot program to evaluate biodegradable bags for trash and recycling liners.

Mail Services

1. Use of 100% Soy based inks, about 2,500 lb's per year.
2. Of the paper used, more than 70%, about 42,000,000 sheets per year, is recycled.
3. Uses water based solvents that are environmentally safe.
4. Recycles all trim offs from the books, about 15 tons per year. At one time these went into landfills.
5. All new copiers ordered use “energy star” power reduction that turns off the heating elements in the fuser when not in use, saving up to 40% of the energy consumed.

Earning the ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR qualified imaging equipment delivers the same performance as less efficient, conventional equipment and is, on average, 25% more efficient. Copiers that have earned the ENERGY STAR not only use less energy, but also power down when not in use, and use about half of the electricity of standard models. ENERGY STAR qualified machines print double-sided pages, reducing both copying and paper costs.Efficient designs help ENERGY STAR equipment run cooler and last longer, so businesses that use these product may also save on air conditioning and maintenance.

6. Use of FSC paper products when possible or about 80% of the time.

Products carrying the FSC label are independently certified to assure consumers that they come from forests that are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations.

Physical Plant

1. Replaced standard light fixtures with low-energy-use fixtures.
2. Uses thermal energy storage tanks to optimize UCR’s efficient use of power.
3. Uses computer controlled irrigation systems that “sense” moisture levels and irrigate only when and where needed.
4. Uses low VOC paints (minimizing the release of volatile organic compounds into our air).
5. Composts campus green wastes.
6. Uses non-toxic and low-toxicity pesticides.
7. Uses biodegradable cleaning solutions that are friendly to the environment and the user.
8. Supervises the campus recycling program (which is undergoing revision to increase efficiency and recycle rates).
9. Is working on retrofitting the largest campus heat producing boiler to significantly reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency.

Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS)

1. TAPS manages the campus Alternative Transportation program which includes Carpool, Cyclist & Walker, Public Transit, and Drop Off programs. Other services include the Campus Shuttle, Metrolink Shuttle, and Guaranteed Ride Home programs. These programs encourage our campus to walk, bus, take the train, cycle, or share a ride to work, which helps us minimize our environmental impact
2. Our Vanpooling staff are protecting the air you and I breathe! The following table shows the amount of environmental pollutants being prevented from entering our atmosphere because members of our UCR community are using vanpools. (NOTE: values are generated using an emissions calculator based on EPA standards.)
   
   

   Pollutant	Amount Prevented Daily	Amount Prevented Weekly
   Hydrocarbons	17.14 lbs	85.72 lbs
   Carbon Monoxide	127.96 lbs	639.80 lbs
   Carbon Dioxide	2,572.07 lbs	12,860.35 lbs
   Nitrous Oxide	10.48 lbs	52.42 lbs

University Extension

UCR Extension is offering an innovative new Sustainable Development and Green Design professional certificate program. The program introduces the concepts and principles of sustainability through green building design, clean technologies, and innovative approaches to achieving the "triple bottom line" — economic, environmental and social sustainability.