| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 81.82 |
| Liaison | Ryan Ihrke |
| Submission Date | Feb. 23, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Green Mountain College
OP-22: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.20 / 4.00 |
Ryan
Ihrke Director of Sustainability Sustainability |
Level of ”Physical Risk QUANTITY” for the institution’s main campus as indicated by the World Resources Institute’s Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas:
Total water use (potable and non-potable combined):
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Total water use | --- | 7,455,540 Gallons |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 6,546,300 Gallons | 7,455,540 Gallons |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | July 1, 2016 | June 30, 2017 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2006 | June 30, 2007 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
The water use baseline of FY 2007 was chosen to be consistent with our other baselines.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 480 | 577 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 12 | 5 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 7 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 850 | 749 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 167.20 | 188.75 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 288 | 30 |
| Weighted campus users | 676.90 | 826.31 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 9,671.00 Gallons | 9,022.66 Gallons |
Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
Gross floor area of building space:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross floor area | 493,298 Gross square feet | 478,745 Gross square feet |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 13.27 Gallons per square foot | 15.57 Gallons per square foot |
Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
Does the institution wish to pursue Part 3 of this credit? (reductions in total water use per acre/hectare of vegetated grounds):
Area of vegetated grounds:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Vegetated grounds | 181.60 Acres | 181.60 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 | 41,054.74 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:
Signage has been placed some residence hall restrooms encouraging students to turn off the faucet when brushing, shaving, or lathering their hands.
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
Rain water is captured in a rain barrels at two locations and reused for watering plants.
Site 1: Native Plant Nursery.
The OVaL (Occupy Vacant Lots) shed designed and built by assistant professor Lucas Brown's design/build class is located on the west side of campus and serves as a greenhouse and storage shed for the Champlain Valley Native Plant Restoration Nursery. The nursery provides hands-on laboratory experience for GMC students and provides a reliable source of native plants for local landowners and ecological restoration projects. Non-potable water is captured in a rain barrel utilizing the design of a butterfly roof on the OVaL shed and reused for watering the plants.
Site Number 2: Cerridwen Farm
In 2016, a student installed a rain water barrel outside of the Cerridwen Farm Farmhouse. Water is collected from the farmhouse roof and used to water the kitchen garden in front of the farmhouse.
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):
In FY16, additional efforts from the Sustainability Office and Facilities has been placed in identifying leaks and failed meters across campus. A significant leak on the campus farm was identified, caused by a water line that was not buried deep enough below grade and has ruptured during the winter. An additional leak likely caused by the same issue is currently being addressed between a residence hall and the library. When the leaks have been found, if it can't be addressed immediately due to weather, the line is shut off and turned on only when water is necessary.
Facilities has been developing a communication strategy and signage to enable additional staff on campus the training and ability to shut off water when emergency leaks occur during non-business hours to limit high volume releases of water. Facilities has also installed water saving flush kits on five toilets in recent years.
In the Spring of 2016, a pair of students inventoried the current efficiency of toilets and showers in the residence halls and offered recommendations on reducing water usage in the residence halls. In the fall of 2014, a student project explored the possibility of replacing the already low efficiency shower heads with even more efficient heads, and using a model that can easily be adjusted by students allowing for varying degrees of pressure and for the ability to pause the flow so that students can lather up before continuing.
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:
Performance year for gallons of water used is FY 2017. Baseline year is FY 2007. Numbers do not include the Killington campus because the data were difficult to obtain. GMC leases the lodge and the owner pays the water bill.
For the vegetated lands definition, GMC uses total acreage minus buildings and impervious surfaces. The 85 acre Deane’s Nature preserve was included in this total acreage.
Water use from the farms and athletic fields was not factored out.
Performance year for gallons of water used is FY 2017. Baseline year is FY 2007. Numbers do not include the Killington campus because the data were difficult to obtain. GMC leases the lodge and the owner pays the water bill.
For the vegetated lands definition, GMC uses total acreage minus buildings and impervious surfaces. The 85 acre Deane’s Nature preserve was included in this total acreage.
Water use from the farms and athletic fields was not factored out.
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.