Our organization strives to be an environmental leader on campus and in our community.
Despite UC Irvine shifting to remote learning and work in fiscal year 2020 – 21, the campus persevered in maintaining its sustainable operations and engagement. UC Irvine is leveraging the lessons of the pandemic to continue to adapt and strengthen its sustainable practices for the years ahead.
2021 Annual Report on Sustainability – UCI
The Green Committee promotes and encourage efforts to exercise environmental awareness in the Student Center. The members make policy and spending decisions in key areas such as housekeeping, engineering, front office, and maintenance.
Joseph
Ayoub
Antonio
Gonzalez
Daryl
Han
Greg
Rosas Goss
Indoor triple-stream recycling stations are installed throughout the Student Center. The three bins are color coded black for landfill, green for compost, and blue for recyclables.
Each bin is equipped with signage to help with sorting. When items are properly composted or recycled, they can become value resources like energy, soil or turned into new products like aluminum. Recycling existing materials takes 95% less energy than it does to create new materials.
Newly installed Bigbelly trash cans with convenient foot pedals for handless operation are a visible commitment to sustainability at the Student Center.
These smart trash cans use cloud-driven technologies for a real-time management system that improves operational performance and organizational efficiency. Solar-powered sensors measure a can’s capacity and signals a compactor that presses the trash down. This allows each Bigbelly to collect eight times more waste than standard bins. The sensors communicate real-time status to collection crews and sends an email notification to staff that indicates how full they are. Recycling diversion rates can be more accurately measured and have the potential to reduce CO2 emissions and fuel costs by reducing the number of scheduled collections.
When visiting the Student Center, guests know how our organization is practicing sustainability and how to be green themselves at our sustainability stations. Temperature-controlled thermostats boast UCI’s annual “Cool School” ranking, water refill stations stand out at water fountains, and signage at waste stations communicate how to dispose of waste responsibly.
The drip irrigation system conserves water and adjusts for rain on the Student Center’s drought-tolerant landscaping. These low-water solutions are colorful, at times fragrant, and reduce maintenance costs all while adding a visual appeal.
EcoSmart aerosols (an all-natural product made with essential oils from plants and trees, water, and carbon dioxide), natural diatomaceous earth (an all-natural product made from tiny fossilized water plants), and physical barricade techniques are used instead of traditional pest control products.
The Student Center rooftops are home to an 85-kilowatt solar panel system.
On the Terrace, two ConnecTable solar charging outdoor workstations allow guests to charge their electronic devices with off-grid and eco-friendly energy. The tables’ solar panels can charge up to 150 hand-held devices a day and include LED lighting for continued use at night.
Faucets and flushers reduce water consumption and are also automatic, thereby increasing sanitation for Student Center guests.
| System | Current Water Use | Old Water Use |
|---|---|---|
| Faucets | 0.5 gallons per minute |
2.5 gallons per minute |
| Flushers | 1.6 gallons per flush |
3.5 gallons per flush |
| Urinals | 0.25 gallons per flush |
1 gallon per flush |
The Student Center was honored by the California Higher Education Sustainability Conference with the 11th annual Best Practice Award for lighting design.
Adjustable LED lighting system reduces power usage by 25%. The adjustable lighting at the Cross-Cultural Center and most places in the Student Center allow conference guests to adjust lighting to use only what they need while lights automatically either dim or shut off in motionless offices and venues.
UCI Dining Services, grand prize winner of the 2019 NACUFS Award for Sustainability, focuses on reducing the environmental impact through sustainability programs and initiatives. Biodegradable containers are used for most to-go items and biodegradable plates are used in most retail dining locations within the Student Center. All locations are Styrofoam-free. Reusable cup discounts are available.
By tinting hundreds of windows in Student Center North and Student Center South buildings, energy loads were decreased and outside heat entering the building reduced by 95%. Additional benefits include an eye-catching aesthetic and added security.
A311 Student Center · Irvine, CA 92697-2050
Phone: 949.824.5252 · Email: reserver@uci.edu