| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.88 |
| Liaison | Krista Bailey |
| Submission Date | Sept. 14, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Pennsylvania State University
OP-22: Water Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.90 / 5.00 |
Shelley
McKeague Environmental Compliance Specialist Engineering Services |
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 | --- | 986,745,387 Gallons |
Potable water use:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use | 698,976,160 Gallons | 896,785,700 Gallons |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | Jan. 1, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2016 |
| Baseline Year | Jan. 1, 2005 | Dec. 31, 2005 |
A brief description of when and why the water use baseline was adopted:
FY 05/06 was adopted as the baseline for the majority of sections to be consistent with previous STARS reporting. For Water Use, data is reported by Calendar year to be consistent with regulatory reporting.
Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 14,211 | 13,795 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 45,661 | 39,043 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 15,577 | 14,183 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 49,481.25 | 43,368.25 |
Potable water use per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per weighted campus user | 14,126.08 Gallons | 20,678.39 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 | 20,886,526 Gross square feet | 18,577,348 Gross square feet |
Potable water use per unit of floor area:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Potable water use per unit of floor area | 33.47 Gallons per square foot | 48.27 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 | 7,835 Acres | 6,939 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 | 142,202.82 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:
The monthly AIR sustainability e-newsletter for Green Team members and others includes occasional tips on water conservation among its topics. In addition, the Green Paws office certification program includes water-related behavior change measures in Levels 1 and 4.
A brief description of the institution's water recovery and reuse initiatives:
Penn State has masterplanned a Campus Reuse System for University Park that could reduce groundwater withdrawals by 300,000 to 500,000 GPD. It has started to install the distribution piping system one pipe section at a time as opportunities present themselves. And it is designing the interior plumbing systems of selected building projects for ease of reuse connection in the future. In summary, 24,000 feet of future reuse piping has been installed, nearly 5 miles, over the past 8 years.
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):
Retrofits that include high efficiency pluming fixtures and fittings are part of the Energy Program. Projects have been implemented at various locations on campus including many residence halls.
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:
Vegetative grounds acreage derived from total campus acreage minus calculated impervious surface (using GIS).
Total water use comes from annual water withdrawal report. Potable water use comes from metered use.
Vegetative grounds acreage derived from total campus acreage minus calculated impervious surface (using GIS).
Total water use comes from annual water withdrawal report. Potable water use comes from metered use.
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.