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Initiatives

CACS Initiatives

Over the years, CACS has undertaken several major initiatives aimed at increasing the sustainability of the UC Berkeley campus.  These projects have been crucial milestones for the campus and are frequently cited as examples of our progress and accomplishments.

These initiatives include:

  • Finalized Water Report In 2009 and 2010, CACS undertook water. In order to address California's fourth consecutive year of drought, the State of California has issued a state of emergency, passed water conservation legislation, and ordered immediate action to mitigate a potential water shortage crisis. In response, CACS commissioned a report to better understand baseline water consumption and identify areas of opportunities for water conservation with a focus on domestic and industrial use of potable water in campus buildings. Learn more about campus water use and initiatives in the Final Campus Water Usage and Conservation Report and Water Report Presentation.
  • At CACS' 2006 Sustainability Summit, Chancellor Birgeneau officially launched Cal’s Climate Action Partnership, an initiative to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the UC Berkeley campus. This effort, with support from both CACS and the Berkeley Institute of the Environment (BIE), produced the 2007 CalCAP Campus Feasibility Study.
  • A Sustainable Water Plan for UC Berkeley:  In 2005, one of the graduate students who was instrumental in the creation of the Campus Sustainability Assessment authored an expanded Professional Report on campus water use.
  • The 2005 and the 2008 Campus Sustainability Assessments 

Learn It, Live It - a sustainability events series

The CACS Programming subcommittee runs this events series in order to promote and enhance sustainability among the campus community. Events thus far include:

  • October 26, 2011 - "This Is Your Brain On Fossil Fuel - Neurosciences Insights into Sustainable Behavior" Lecture by Senior Lecturer, David Presti - See his related blog.
  • March 29, 2011 - Screening The Next Frontier: Engineering the Golden Age of Green - Flyer
  • March 16, 2011 - "Consumers & Sustainability: Can Transparency in the Marketplace Advance Sustainable Behaviors?" Lecture by Dara O'Rourke - Flyer
  • November 19, 2010 - Ivy Pull at Strawberry Creek - Flyer
    Students had fun pulling ivy, picking up trash, and making our creek beautiful.
  • October 20, 2010 - "Understanding and Influencing Sustainable Behaviors: Promoting energy conservation, recycling, and alternative transportation." Lecture by Joan Walker - Flyer - Slides
    70 people attended to learn what drives people to behave in sustainable ways, what policies can be enacted to promote more sustainable behavior, and how we can determine what policies are most effective.
  • September 28, 2010 - Celebration of CED and Ramona's New Composting Program - Flyer
    Students came together to sip coffee using Ramona's new compostables while mingling with representatives from a variety of campus sustainability groups.

Campus Sustainability Assesments

The 2005 Campus Sustainability Assessment was a major accomplishment for CACS.  Though its breadth and depth make for a compelling document, the Assessment is best viewed as an important first step in the ongoing process of transforming UC Berkeley into a sustainable institution. 

CACS continues to work with Office of Sustainability on regular updates to the Assessment. The 2008 Campus Sustainability Assessment highlights progress UC Berkeley has made in addressing its carbon footprint, reducing water use and waste, and implementing numerous innovative projects by faculty, students and staff.  The assessment unveils an initial set of Sustainability Metrics to be used by the campus to monitor overall success.