| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 60.77 |
| Liaison | Breeana Sylvas |
| Submission Date | April 15, 2013 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of California, Merced
PAE-5: Climate Action Plan
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 2.00 |
Does the institution have a plan to mitigate its greenhouse gas emissions that meets the criteria for this credit?:
A brief summary of the climate plan’s long-term goals:
UC Merced’s Climate Action Plan has two long term goals: (1) To be a zero net energy campus with respect to campus energy use by 2020 and (2) to be a climate neutral University by 2020, with respect of on-campus and off-campus greenhouse gas emissions
As a new campus, UC Merced is in the unique position of being able to pursuing these goals with a heavy emphasis on energy efficiency in new building design, implemented through “benchmark-based” building energy performance targets. Thus, UC Merced’s basic approach to mitigating climate effects is to:
1. Save as much energy as is economically feasible
2. Generate from renewable sources as much energy as is consumed annually (zero net energy)
3. Offset remaining greenhouse gas emissions, prioritizing on-site and regional offsets (climate neutrality)
The campus believes this provides a national and global model higher education institutions experiencing growth. The plan was adopted by the University in March 2009.
A brief summary of the climate plan’s short-term goals:
Energy production and building demands are the primary sources of greenhouse gases. UC Merced’s Climate Action Plan details a five prong approach to climate neutrality based on (1) developing a renewables based energy infrastructure grid (2) designing the most energy efficient building stock (3) influencing occupant behavior (4) maintaining our building stock and (5) Applying best practices for the campus’ fleet.
In the near term, the Climate Action Plan is the foundation to expand the range of sustainability content in the campus core curriculum, facilitating sustainability-related community partnerships, and communications regarding sustainability.
Year the climate plan was formally adopted or approved:
An indication of whether institution has made a commitment to reduce GHG emissions a specific amount by a target year:
List which emissions (scope 1, 2, and/or 3) are included in its GHG emissions commitment:
The reduction level (percentage) institution has committed to:
The baseline year the institution used in its GHG emissions commitment:
The baseline emissions level institution used in its GHG emissions commitment:
The target year the institution specified in its GHG emissions commitment :
The website URL where information about the climate plan is available:
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.