Annual Report 2006-2007

Sustainability at UCSB has evolved tremendously over the years. With a history of conservation and preservation ingrained in the ethic of university and community, our commitment to sustainability dates back to the 1970s with the advent of the environmental studies department and early energy and water conservation practices. Today, UCSB has expanded its focus to include areas like academics, research, food, procurement and comprehensive campus planning.
Part of these efforts include a green building policy which states that all buildings programmed after July 2004 must meet LEED Silver status and surpass Title 24 by 20%. Two new LEED NC certified projects were completed this year: the Marine Science Research Building (Certified) and the Student Resource Building (pending Gold). In addition, the Recreation Center has submitted documentation to the US Green Building Council and expects to receive a LEED Silver certification.
Sustainability efforts in other areas include a 17% decrease in energy consumption since 1998 despite an increase in overall energy usage and the inclusion of organic and local farms in food supply contracts. Currently, 11% of the produce Housing serves is certified organic or local/sustainable. This is up from 2% just last year (2005-2006). In addition, the UCen not only continues to increase their selection of sustainable food and beverages, but also recycled 174 tons of waste this year through the commingled trash program. Overall, UCSB recycled 3452 tons of waste for a total of 53.25%.
With regard to landscape and biotic environmental issues, UCSB recently dedicated 85 more acres to conservation and restoration, bringing the campus total to 226 out of 800 acres. UCSB is also making strides in transportation, with 11 vanpools reducing vehicle miles traveled by campus commuters by 3.2 million miles per year and keeping over 2.2 million pounds of CO2 out of the atmosphere. These facts, however, are a mere sampling of UCSB’s current efforts toward improved sustainability. The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) was created by students in the spring of 2006 with a charge to “reduce the University's impact on the environment,” ensuring that these efforts will continue to advance in the future. For more information on campus sustainability, visit http://sustainability.ucsb.edu/plan.