| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.56 |
| Liaison | Natalie Hayes |
| Submission Date | June 22, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Bentley University
OP-26: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.00 / 2.00 |
Natalie
Hayes Associate Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
Level of water risk for the institution’s main campus:
Total water use (potable and non-potable combined)::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water use | 52,150,816 Gallons | 44,924,262 Gallons |
Potable water use::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 52,150,816 Gallons | 44,924,262 Gallons |
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users"::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of residential students | 3,337 | 3,330 |
| Number of residential employees | 14 | 12 |
| Number of in-patient hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Full-time equivalent enrollment | 4,902 | 4,989 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 974 | 779 |
| Full-time equivalent of distance education students | 0 | 0 |
Gross floor area of building space::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross floor area | 1,948,044 Square feet | 1,850,233 Square feet |
Area of vegetated grounds::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Vegetated grounds | 29.50 Acres | 29.50 Acres |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | July 1, 2015 | June 30, 2016 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2008 | June 30, 2009 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
2009 is the first year that Bentley has reliable and accurate water data collection. This was due to improved metering and process.
Water recycled/reused on campus, performance year:
Recycled/reused water withdrawn from off-campus sources, performance year:
A brief description of any water recovery and reuse systems employed by the institution:
A brief description of any water metering and management systems employed by the institution:
Roughly 15 of our 37 buildings (mostly residence halls) have individual water meters, while the main campus (classrooms and offices) is metered together as one unit. The management system for water is focused on improving efficiency in water use for irrigation (rather than domestic use).
A brief description of any building retrofit practices employed by the institution, e.g. to install high efficiency plumbing fixtures and fittings:
In July, 2016 the university replaced shower heads in most of its residence halls with low-flow shower heads, reducing the GPM from 2.5 to 1.5. Currently 19/31 buildings are completely retrofit with 1.5GPM shower heads.
Each summer, one residence hall is renovated. Low flow bathroom faucets, shower heads and dual-flush toilets are installed in every bathroom and kitchen. All of these fixtures use half the water that standard fixtures use without compromising water pressure. The university is exploring the option of installing waterless urinals on campus.
A brief description of any policies or programs employed by the institution to replace appliances, equipment and systems with water-efficient alternatives:
Facilities Management will be installing Energy Star, water-efficient appliances in all renovated kitchens. New high-efficiency boilers have also been installed as part of these renovations. Dish machines in the campus' dining halls have been replaced with high efficiency versions.
A brief description of any water-efficient landscape design practices employed by the institution (e.g. xeriscaping):
The university utilizes the following design practices for landscape water-efficiency:
a. All new plantings are native or adaptive plant species, and are selected for soil conditions and sun/shade conditions.
b. Bentley locates and plants deciduous trees to provide summer shading.
c. Bentley amends campus soils with compost for moisture retention and beneficial plant growth.
d. Bentley mulches plant beds to retain moisture, and prevent weed growth.
e. Bentley has started using permeable paving across campus where applicable for localized groundwater recharge. Under-construction, the new Multi-purpose Arena will have nearly 6,000 SF of permeable paving.
f. Irrigation heads are routinely monitored for leaks and adjusted to avoid spraying on any paved areas.
A brief description of any weather-informed irrigation technologies employed by the institution:
We use the following weather-informed irrigation technologies:
a. Our irrigation systems are equipped with sensors for wind, rain and temperature.
b. Most our watering is achieved in the early morning hours to reduce evaporation.
A brief description of other water conservation and efficiency strategies employed by the institution:
Bentley has installed low-flow water fixtures with all renovations and new constructions, which use less than half of water required from traditional fixtures. This includes dual-flush toilets which have an added behavioral component of water conservation.
The website URL where information about the institution’s water conservation and efficiency initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
in FY2016 a square foot audit was done of campus resulting in a reduction of square footage.
in FY2016 a square foot audit was done of campus resulting in a reduction of square footage.
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.