Greenhouse Gas Emissions

University of California, Riverside Energy and Climate Protection (ECP)

Greenhouse gas emissions

The University of California Riverside has four projects that they use conserve energy and enhance climate protection. The projects are called the Strategic Energy Plan, Renewable Energy, Behavioral/Educational, and the Sustainability Action Plan. Their short term goals are to hire an energy utilities manager, form a new construction to surpass CEC Title 24 by 30% or better, assemble a climate neutrality team, manage an implementation of a Climate Action Plan, perform a monitoring‐based commissioning (MBCx), 10 State Funded Buildings, implement heat recovery projects, 6 State Funded Buildings, launch a Shut the Sash Campaign, procure 20% of electricity by renewable sources by 2010, increase the participation with UC Systemwide Sustainability Working Group, participate in a UC Energy Manager's conference call, involve the UC Alumni in renewable energy installations, and develop a reference resource for energy efficient incentives. Some intermediate goals (2-5yrs) are to perform a monitoring‐based commissioning for 6 State Funded Buildings, increase on site renewable energy capacity to one megawatt by 2014, purchase renewable geothermal power, investigate energy‐saving IT projects, require eligible projects utilize by Design and Labs 21 programs, develop and implement a campus standard retro‐commissioning (RCx) protocol, pursue funding from UC/CSU/IOU Energy Efficient Partnership Program, reduce GHG emissions to 2000 levels by 2014, and revise the Climate Action Plan. Some Long term goals (5-10yrs) are to complete a monitoring‐based commissioning project on non‐State Funded Buildings, develop student residence hall energy competitions, develop energy intensity standards for campus major‐space usage types, adopt a consistent integrative approach to project delivery, investigate emerging technologies, establish a climate‐friendly investing policy, and reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.

Becoming climate neutral

The UC Riverside decided to attack the water aspect of becoming climate neutral through its buildings and through landscape. On the building aspect they decided to perform building water audits, test low-flow plumbing fixtures, establish flow standards for water-using fixtures, and install water sub-metering in buildings. Through landscaping they decided to reduce potable water used for landscaping by 20%, irrigate 100% of the West Campus with non-potable water, and install water-efficient landscaping. On the site aspect they completed numerous amounts of tasks. They test pervious pavers to mitigate storm water, formalized the integrated pest management program, test cool roof products to mitigate heat island effect, reduced synthetic fertilizer purchases to 10%