Utilities & Sustainability Update

We're Committed

UC San Diego is a vibrant growing campus that is home to top-ranking academic programs and world-renown research. We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint while we expand to accommodate new infrastructure and additional students.

In 2021, energy use per square foot decreased by 6%. This reduction in energy intensity is similar to turning off lighting in a home for one year. Greenhouse gas emissions decreased by over 17,000 metric tons of CO2e. This equates to the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from approximately 16,000 passenger vehicles driven for one year.

Potable water use decreased 14% in Fiscal Year 2021 compared to Fiscal Year 2020. Cooling tower water use was comprised of 65% recycled water. Our reduction in potable water use reached nearly 55 million gallons, which is the equivalent of approximately 83 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Our Comprehensive Energy Reduction Program includes:

Ventilation upgrades; LED lighting; enhanced building controls, monitoring and tuning; and energy efficient lab equipment.

Watch the Strategic Energy Town Hall Video and Sign Up to Participate in a Focus Group

Resource Management and Planning held the first Climate & Sustainability Town Hall featuring campus experts who addressed the campus community on UC San Diego’s energy systems and highlighted past, current and potential future actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Watch the video.

After watching the town hall recording, you can share your feedback to help us plan future town halls. You can also sign up to participate in a focus group over the summer.

Our Water Conservation Program includes:

Expanding recycled water use; installing enhanced water-efficient fixtures; replacing turf; collecting condensation and wastewater for reuse; and smart metering.

Actions You Can Take

Visit the Green Residence program for more conservation tips.

Plug computers and electronics into power strips. Switching off power strips at the end of the day can cut electricity use by 20-48%.

Turn off the tap. Save gallons of water for every minute you turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or lathering up. The average faucet flow rate is 1-5 gallons per minute.

Use natural light when possible. You can cut your energy use up to 22% by taking advantage of natural light. Turn off lights when not in use.

Limit water use to five minutes or less when showering. Taking a five-minute shower reduces annual water use to 3,822 gallons, saving up to 750 gallons.

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