Green Building Accomplishments


  • LEED for Existing Buildings silver certification awarded for Engineering 2 building in April 2009 with the help of a CUIP (Chancellor's Undergraduate Internship Program) student intern.
  • Measure 35 passed in 2008: student fee supporting the inclusion of sustainable features and subsequent LEED silver certification of the Cowell Student Health Center Renovation and Expansion. LEED certification currently being pursued with the help of several student interns.
  • Energy Efficiency Partnership with CSU and Investor Owned Utilities begun in 2006 provides funding for energy efficiency projects
  • Ballot measure 28 passed in 2006 to offset 100% of energy use with renewable energy certificates from Sterling Planet
  • LEED workshops on campus to educate staff
  • Water Audit completed in December 2007 surveyed water use on campus and identified opportunities to increase efficiency. Currently implementing a 5-year plan based on the recommendations in the water audit to replace fixtures and reduce consumption of city water.
  • Integrated pest management to control weeds, diseases, insects and rodents successfully implemented for past 15+ years
  • Computer monitoring system for irrigation installed to increase water efficiency; almost 85% of irrigation occurs at night when inefficiencies due to evaporation are lower
  • Storm Water Management Plan outlines best management practices to be used on campus to control erosion, minimize the potential for water pollution, and educate the changing campus population on behaviors that affect storm water quality.
  • At the Sustainable Living Center, run by PICA (Program in Community & Agroecology) and CAN (Community Agroecology Network), there are several small scale demonstration projects:
    • Two cob benches and a straw bale wall demonstrate natural building techniques
    • Digital energy monitoring system installed by an ESLP Action Research Team so that energy consumption and the results of energy conservation can be tracked
    • Rainwater Catchment System to replace the use of city water for irrigation
    • Compost and organic garden demonstrates a productive and sustainable model for agroecology
    • Solar powered water pump for a pond shows a renewable energy system in action
    • Currently installing a permaculture forest-garden for the dual benefits of increased biodiversity and harvest of useful plants