Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 54.91
Liaison Andy Mitchell
Submission Date July 17, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Illinois Chicago
OP-22: Water Use

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.15 / 4.00 Cynthia Klein-Banai
Associate Chancellor for Sustainability
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

Total water use (potable and non-potable combined):
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water use 713,563,730 Gallons 851,919,090 Gallons

Potable water use:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use 713,463,730 Gallons 851,919,090 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, 2013 June 30, 2014

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

This is the year we started tracking the water data in the Office of Sustainability.


Figures needed to determine "Weighted Campus Users":
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 2,800 3,800
Number of employees resident on-site 14 0
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 464 470
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 24,509 23,646
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 11,100 10,845
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 1,146 0
Weighted campus users 27,014.75 27,288.25

Potable water use per weighted campus user:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per weighted campus user 26,410.15 Gallons 31,219.26 Gallons

Percentage reduction in potable water use per weighted campus user from baseline:
15.40

Gross floor area of building space:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross floor area 14,802,873 Gross square feet 14,063,190 Gross square feet

Potable water use per unit of floor area:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Potable water use per unit of floor area 48.20 Gallons per square foot 60.58 Gallons per square foot

Percentage reduction in potable water use per unit of floor area from baseline:
20.44

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 90.69 Acres 94.62 Acres

Total water use (potable + non-potable) per unit of vegetated grounds:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Total water use per unit of vegetated grounds 7,868,163.30 Gallons per acre 9,003,583.70 Gallons per acre

Percentage reduction in total water use per unit of vegetated grounds from baseline:
12.61

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:
---

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

UIC has installed a cistern to capture run-off from the roof
on the UIC Forum and the water is utilized to irrigate the plantings in the area.


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):

Gradually all restroom plumbing fixtures are being replaced with low flow fixtures. For example, Lincoln Hall has reduced potable water consumption by 42% from calculated baseline through the installation of low flow urinals, dual flush water closets, low-flow lavatory faucets and automatic sensors.
The power plants have also instituted various water conservation initiatives related to chemical treatments, blow-down rates, etc.


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:

UIC saw a steady downward trend in water use through 2009. However, due to a leak in a chilled water line that could not be repaired until the end of the cooling season, there was a large spike in campus water consumption.


UIC saw a steady downward trend in water use through 2009. However, due to a leak in a chilled water line that could not be repaired until the end of the cooling season, there was a large spike in campus water consumption.

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.