UC Merced is a sustainable ‘Cool School’

UC Merced is recognized again by the Sierra Club for its commitment to sustainability by working to reduce energy use and transportation emissions, conserve water and expand environmental knowledge.

The university ranked 84th on the Sierra Club’s list of 202 Cool Schools. This year was the fifth time UC Merced placed among the top 100 schools.

According to James Leonard, director of news and social media at UC Merced, it is the only university in the nation to have every building certified, or pending certification, by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, an organization supporting and certifying green buildings.

LEED certifies buildings because they are resource efficient, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and use less energy and water.

Since UC Merced opened in 2005, sustainable buildings have been a priority, according to a statement by the university.

Colleen McCormick, director of sustainability at UC Merced, said practicing how to build sustainable buildings has allowed unique learning opportunities for students. Last fall, a course was available teaching students about the certification process and the standards to meet them.

“Not only does it reduce cost and water usage, but it provides an opportunity for classes and contributes to their (students) learning process,” McCormick said.

Buildings designed at UC Merced use 40 percent less water than the typical university building, according to McCormick. Less water usage, saving energy and exploring opportunities to move off fossil fuels are all focal points the university takes into consideration, McCormick said.

“We work to promote and encourage the student population, faculty population and staff population to reduce their carbon footprint,” McCormick said.

The materials used inside buildings such as paint and carpet also are taken into consideration, McCormick said, to make sure they don’t release harmful gases.

“We do keep that human health factor in mind,” McCormick said. “We look to reduce emissions that have impact on health quality at large.”

Students, staff and faculty spend a great deal of time indoors, McCormick said, and making sure the materials used inside aren’t tainted with unhealthy compounds is an important part of having sustainable buildings.

“We work to promote and encourage first-year students, first-year faculty and staff to build a culture of sustainability,” McCormick said. “It’s part of who we are and what we want the campus to be known for.”

The Sierra Club, founded in 1892, is one of the largest environmental organizations aiming to protect the wilderness, practice and promote responsible use of the earth’s resources and restore the quality of the environment.

The Cool Schools list scores universities on a point system, with UC Merced receiving 571.16 points out of a possible 1,000. The school taking first place, College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, received 783.41 points.

This story was originally published September 6, 2016 at 5:54 PM with the headline "UC Merced is a sustainable ‘Cool School’."