Sustainability

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Background

The Sites focus area covers a range of topics that speak to the design and maintenance of UCR’s grounds, landscaping, and hardscape. The content for this section is based on the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program, which emphasizes a core set of site issues within the Sustainable Sites credit category. Maintaining continuity with the LEED program provides UCR with a framework for considering site topics that is consistent with a well-established and nationally-recognized program. Structuring the Sites focus area to mirror LEED should also simplify updating the Sustainability Plan to reflect new programs and practices that are adopted
during future LEED certification efforts.

Best Practices 

Landscape Design & Maintenance: In 1980 UCR installed a computer-based irrigation system to manage its water use.

Short Term Goals

1. Test organic fertilizers and reduce synthetic fertilizer purchases
2. Reduce potable water used to irrigate landscape by 10 percent
3. Research and test cordless, electric blowers
4. Finalize the Stormwater Management Plan (SMP)
5. Identify potential projects to test pervious paving materials
6. Draft and adopt “cool roof” guidelines
7. Formalize the integrated pest management (IPM) program
8. Provide IPM information via the UCR sustainability website

Intermediate Goals

1. Reduce synthetic fertilizer purchases to 20 percent of total yearly purchases
2. Reduce potable water used to irrigate landscape by 20 percent
3. Begin incremental installation of irrigation flow sensors
4. Convert unnecessary turf
5. Develop a campus greenbelt
6. Implement pervious paving materials
7. Adopt a plan for energy-efficient and night sky-friendly lighting enhancements
8. Test “cool roofs” products in both new construction and existing building applications
9. Pilot gray water technology

Long Term Goals

1. Reduce synthetic fertilizer purchases to 10 percent of total yearly purchases
2. Reduce potable water used to irrigate landscape by 50 percent on the East campus, and irrigate 100 percent of the West campus with non-potable water
3. Convert unnecessary turf
4. Carefully manage installation of turf on the West Campus
5. Expand use of gray water
6. Require “cool roofs” in all new construction projects and retrofit existing roofs