| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 51.05 |
| Liaison | Juliana Goodlaw-Morris |
| Submission Date | June 30, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
California State University, San Marcos
IN-26: Innovation C
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Juliana
Goodlaw-Morris Sustainability Manager Safety, Risk and Sustainability |
Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:
As our campus has grown, so has the hazardous and non-hazardous waste that can’t be placed in the landfill. Our research laboratories are conducting important research, which we want to help develop. However, as research programs grow so does the waste from their research. This program was developed to meet the needs of our academic programs, but do so with sustainability and waste management at the forefront.
This is currently the most sustainable way to manage this waste stream. The waste is taken to an incineration facility where the heat produced from the waste is converted into electrical energy. This methodology diverts the biological waste from the landfill.
The goal of this program has been twofold:
1. Dispose of waste in the most environmentally-friendly way possible
2. Ensure our laboratories can conduct the research they desire without a heighten concern to their waste production.
In order to achieve these two goals, we partnered with an outside company, InGenium, a local company whose vision has grown to encompass a broad approach to waste management along with a redoubled focus on achieving sustainable solutions in support of zero landfill.
Since 2012 date, we have worked with InGenium to pick up our waste, and through their different programs, we are able to turn our waste into energy. Through this process, appropriate waste types can now be recaptured and converted to electricity in a cost neutral manner compared to traditional waste management options. Waste managed through the InGenium process is used to power California state and local electrical grids.
We are the only campus in the CSU working with our waste in this way and were nationally recognized in 2016 by the Campus Safety Health and Environmental Management (CSHEMA.
Since 2014, the following data demonstrates the success and outcomes of this program:
Emerald Energy 2014-present: 12,236lbs.
3,364.5 kWh of renewable electricity generated
2014: 3,476lbs.
955.9 kWh of renewable electricity generated
2015: 3,100lbs.
852,5 kWh of renewable electricity generated
2016: 2,990lbs.
822.5 kWh of renewable electricity generated
2017(ongoing): 2,670lbs.
734.25kWh of renewable electricity generated
Which of the following impact areas does the innovation most closely relate to? (select up to three):
A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise or a press release or publication featuring the innovation :
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.