Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 81.34
Liaison Mary Whitney
Submission Date Nov. 26, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Chatham University
OP-22: Water Use

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Mary Whitney
University Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Level of ”Physical Risk QUANTITY” for the institution’s main campus as indicated by the World Resources Institute’s Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas:
Low to Medium

Total water use (potable and non-potable combined):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water use --- 29,364,000 Gallons

Potable water use:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use 16,125,000 Gallons 29,364,000 Gallons

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Jan. 1, 2014 Dec. 31, 2014
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2005 Dec. 31, 2005

A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:

Chatham uses 2005 as the baseline year for water due to the requirements for the 2012 STARS assessment.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 448 400
Number of employees resident on-site 12 2
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 2,134 1,136
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 406 406
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 135 0
Weighted campus users 1,918.75 1,257

Potable water use per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per weighted campus user 8,403.91 Gallons 23,360.38 Gallons

Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
64.02

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area 1,100,000 Gross square feet 984,000 Gross square feet

Potable water use per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per unit of floor area 14.66 Gallons per square foot 29.84 Gallons per square foot

Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
50.88

Does the institution wish to pursue Part 3 of this credit? (reductions in total water use per acre/hectare of vegetated grounds):
Yes

Area of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Vegetated grounds 420 Acres 32 Acres

Total water use (potable + non-potable) per unit of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water use per unit of vegetated grounds 0 Gallons per acre 917,625 Gallons per acre

Percentage reduction in total water use per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
---

A brief description of the institution's water-related behavior change initiatives, e.g. initiatives to shift individual attitudes and practices such as signage and competitions:

We run a periodic "don't be a drip" outreach campaign to remind people to turn off taps completely.


A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:

Eden Hall has an extensive on-lot sanitary system that returns non-potable water for use in toilets and meadow irrigation. (See Eden Hall documents, PA2) We also collect rainwater in rain barrels for use in native plant gardens on several of the older Shadyside buildings, as well as for use in topping off Mellon Pond.


A brief description of the institution's initiatives to replace plumbing fixtures, fittings, appliances, equipment, and systems with water-efficient alternatives (e.g. building retrofits):

The university has installed water conservation aerators on all faucets and showers, and in toilets wherever possible. The student center now has variable-flush toilets, and we are planning to retrofit more over the next few years..


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.