Stanford University Certified As A Green Business, August 2004

Stanford University was certified as a Green Business by the Santa Clara County Green Business program on August 18th. Certification was awarded based on the university's energy and water conservation, pollution prevention and recycling efforts:

Water Conservation
Campus-wide, 85% of the showers and 80% of the faucets have been retrofit with low-flow rate plumbing fixtures. Approximately 80% of our irrigation system is controlled by a centralized system linked to a local weather station to seasonally adjust the water needs based upon evapotranspiration factors.

Energy Efficiency
The Energy Retrofit Program (ERP) funds projects to improve energy efficiency, reduce building costs, reduce utility demand, improve occupant comfort, and decrease maintenance costs. In the last decade, the ERP has funded over seven million dollars worth of retrofit projects with estimated savings of over 20 million kWh of energy.

Pollution Prevention
Wide ranging pollution prevention programs include Integrated Pest Management, mercury thermometer replacement, battery recycling, chemical reuse, and one of the most comprehensive transportation demand management programs in the country.

Recycling
Stanford University's Source Reduction and Recycling Program includes collecting, and processing recyclable materials, operating a community recycling center, and educating the campus on the 5Rs (reduce, re-use, recycle, buy recycled, rot). Through this comprehensive program, Stanford University has been able to increase its diversion rate from 30% in 1994 to 54% in 2004.

In addition to university-wide certification, individual certifications were awarded to Grounds Services, the Fleet Garage and Stanford Dining, a Division of R&DE.

Departments contributing toward Stanford University Green Business Certification:

  • Land & Buildings:
  • Land Use & Environmental Planning Office
  • Department of Project Management
  • Facilities Operations Utilities Division, P& TS, Grounds Services, and Fleet Garage
  • Environmental Health & Safety
  • Stanford Dining, a Division of R&DE
  • PSSI

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