Awards
Another definition of sustainability is the concept of “Cradle to Cradle”. All of us have heard the expression “cradle to grave”, which denotes a lifespan. One person’s time on earth with no acknowledgement of their impact while here. “Cradle to cradle”, is intended to demonstrate that one life impacts the next life to follow. How we live our lives impacts future generations.
Annual report shows UC continues progress in sustainability practices
The University of California has been a leader in its sustainability practices and gained momentum in 2007 by expanding its sustainability policy, completing energy efficiency projects that are providing more than $5 million annually in operational savings and gaining national recognition for its green efforts. [read the full article]
Campus Gets a 'Green' Thumbs Up for New Composting, Lighting [By Dave Jones, Dateline UC Davis]
The latest proof: Two more best practice awards in a program for California's three public systems of higher education: UC, California State University and California Community Colleges.
At the sustainability program's sixth annual conference June 24-28, UC Davis received awards for its dining commons composting project and the retrofitting of the bathroom lighting systems in the Webster residence hall. [read the full article]
Student Housing Wins Recognition Award (2007)
For the 2nd year in a row, UC Davis Student Housing received a Best Practice Award for Best Lighting Retro-fit at the annual University of California/California State University/California Community College Sustainability Conference in late June 2007 at UC Santa Barbara. [read the full article]
Last April, campuses for the UC, CSU and CCC systems were invited to apply for these awards. UC Davis Student Housing won the award for the use of “Smart Vanity Light Fixtures”, which have been installed at Webster Hall. These fixtures were installed in all bathrooms over the vanities. The fixtures have LED nightlights and vacancy sensors. Student Housing partnered with the California Lighting Technology Center to initialize use of this product. Research shows that dormitory bathroom lights operate between five to eight hours per day. Students either leave the lights on to act as nightlights or simply forget to turn them off. The new fixtures installed use a low wattage LED nightlight and a vacancy sensor that saves energy while improving student satisfaction. In Webster Hall these lights now stay unlit 83% of the time, where previously the old light fixtures were unlit only 68% of the time, a savings of 22%.
UC’s Office of the President will present these awards as part of the Higher Education Energy Efficiency Partnership Best Practices in Sustainable Operations.
For more information please contact UC Davis Student Housing, Facilities Services at (530) 752-4265.
University Dining Services Wins Best Practices Award - Innovative Waste Reduction
The practice of composting has been especially successful. Pre-consumer composting has been an ongoing practice of Dining Services since 2001 and contributed roughly 1,000 pounds of organic material daily to the student run farm. Although post-consumer composting has been logistically overwhelming in the past, it has become a reality.
Through a collaborative effort with Jepson Prairie Organics, R4 Recycling Program, UC Davis Student Housing, and UC Davis Solid Waste Division, Dining Services has successfully established a post-consumer composting program at Tercero Dining Room, with plans for expansion to the other three dining rooms on campus in the near future. As a result of the program, there has been a 91% diversion of organic materials from the landfill to the composting facility and a reduction in the number of hauls per month by two.
Student Housing Wins Recognition Award (2006)
UC Davis Student Housing received a Best Practice Award for Best Lighting Retro-fit at the annual University of California/California State University Sustainability Conference in late June 2006 at UC Santa Barbara.
Last April, campuses for the UC and CSU systems were invited to apply for these awards. Student Housing won the award for the use of “light harvesting/dimmable ballasts” installed in various bathrooms, lounges, hallways, and laundry rooms. These special electronic ballasts are designed to permit only the light output needed. Specifically, the preset fixed level dimming allows light power output to be set to the minimum desired light level, either 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50% or 40% of full lighting. The photocell then provides additional savings by dimming lower than the preset level by “harvesting” and blending natural daylight as it contributes to the room light levels. Savings range from 30-60%.