Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 69.69
Liaison Rochelle Owen
Submission Date April 6, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Dalhousie University
OP-22: Water Use

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00
"---" 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

Total water use (potable and non-potable combined):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water use 699,256 Cubic meters 1,242,692 Cubic meters

Potable water use:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use 697,456 Cubic meters 1,242,692 Cubic meters

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year April 1, 2016 March 31, 2017
Baseline Year April 1, 2009 March 31, 2010

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

This is the baseline year adopted in the University Sustainability Plan. This figure assumes 80,000 m3 of water for the Agricultural campus in the baseline and performance year. There is no historical measurement of water. Since the merger the campus is being hooked up to city water. This year this transition will happen and actual consumption numbers will be reported for the next STARS submission.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 2,481 2,259
Number of employees resident on-site 9 9
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 5 5
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 17,610 15,685
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 5,717 5,592
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 606 160
Weighted campus users 17,668.25 16,409.75

Potable water use per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per weighted campus user 697,456 Cubic meters 1,242,692 Cubic meters

Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
47.87

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area 519,261 Gross square meters 468,905 Gross square meters

Potable water use per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per unit of floor area 32.96 Cubic meters per square meter 65.04 Cubic meters per square meter

Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
49.32

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 65.80 Hectares 65.80 Hectares

Total water use (potable + non-potable) per unit of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water use per unit of vegetated grounds 1,136,097.61 Cubic meters per hectare 2,019,030.81 Cubic meters per hectare

Percentage reduction in total water use per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
43.73

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:

Water conservation is a key program area highlighted in ecolympics and through social marketing Rethink signage and messages.


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

There is a cistern to collect non-potable water in the Mona Campbell and Le Marchant Place buildings. Rain water cisterns will be added in new buildings. Also there have been retrofits of large research water units to recycle water (Aquatron).

http://www.dal.ca/dept/sustainability/programs/water.html


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):

Reducing water consumption - The University has completed many water efficiency projects such as adding sensors to older urinal tanks, installing low flow fixtures and toilets for new and existing buildings, adding rain water cisterns in new buildings, and retrofitting large research water units to recycle water (Aquatron). Upcoming projects are focusing on reducing water used for cooling equipment and air and in research.

http://www.dal.ca/dept/sustainability/programs/water.html


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.