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UC Berkeley Goal: Reduce GHG Emissions to 1990 Levels by 2014

The University has made great progress on climate action by completing an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and formalizing its commitment to reduce these emissions. In April 2007, soon after the release of an extensive Climate Action Feasibility Study, Chancellor Birgeneau adopted the Cal Climate Action Partnership (CalCAP) goal to reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2014.

Mitigation Strategies

The campus has so far identified and committed to 17 mitigation strategies that are anticipated to result in about half of the emission reductions needed to meet the 2014 target. The mitigation projects fall into two general categories - infrastructure (mostly energy efficiency) and behavioral (encourage individuals to conserve energy). The recently completed UC Berkeley 2009 Climate Action Plan provides an accounting of the campus' current progress towards meeting the 2014 emissions reduction goal, explores new areas of importance such as equity and inclusion in climate action and outlines what still needs to be addressed in order to achieve the climate goals of the campus including setting the next interim target in 2011.

Focus on Energy Efficiency

UC Berkeley has and will continue to emphasize energy efficiency as a way to reduce the campus' energy footprint. Facilities Services has developed a Strategic Energy Plan (SEP) and has committed to a suite of projects that could reduce emissions by up to 23,000 metric tons carbon equivalent. Campus electricity usage has grown by 37% since 1990, but by just 1% since 2005. This slowing growth reflects the efforts made by the University to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Annual Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions at UC Berkeley, 1990-2007

	1990	1995	2000	2005	2006	2007	Growth Rates, 1990-2007
Electricity (mWh)	153,682	171,709	185,667	207,653	212,828	210,114	36.7%
Steam (MMBtu)	844,972	894,828	938,135	1,005,500	1,022,150	1,075,650	27.3%
Natural Gas (MMBtu)	153,091	162,123	155,331	244,009	238,879	197,750	29.2%
CO₂ equivalent (metric tons)	~165,000	167,647	259,801	275,973	205,090	207,215	25.6%
Population	44,120	43,509	45,565	47,884	48,700	49,138	11.4%
CO₂ per capita (metric tons)	3.648	3.853	5.702	5.763	4.231	4.237	16.2%
Square Footage	12,817,517	13,520,471	14,145,728	14,827,825	15,464,279	15,675,971	22.3%
CO₂ / sq. ft (lbs)	25.1	24.8	37.2	26.7	26.6	26.6	5.8%

Source: 2008 Sustainability Assessment (October 2008)

CAMPUS CLIMATE AND ENERGY RESOURCES

Cal's Climate Action Partnership (CalCAP): A collaboration of administrators, faculty, staff and students working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at UC Berkeley.
Strategic Energy Plan (SEP): Focuses on 200 energy efficiency retrofit projects in campus buildings - especially lighting and HVAC improvements and commissioning measures.
UC/CSU/IOU Energy Efficiency Partnership: A state-wide energy efficiency program designed to permanently reduce energy usage in higher education buildings.
Green Buildings Projects: Green building projects on campus work to reduce building impacts on human health and the environment.
Green Building Practices: Green building maintenance, utilities, cleaning, and waste reduction practices at UC Berkeley
Building Sustainability at Cal: Student facilitated classes that address the environmental impacts of campus buildings and have a service learning component.
Green Campus: A student led energy efficiency campaign to educate students, staff, faculty, and the local community on the importance of energy conservation and achieve real energy savings.
Green Departments: Green Department Certification is a new program offered at UC Berkeley to identity and recognize departments on campus that have taken extra steps to have greener operations and lower their environmental footprint.
Photovoltaic Power: Information on the 59 kW PV system on the roof of the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union Building.
Energy and Resources Group: An interdisciplinary academic unit whose mission is to develop, transmit and apply critical knowledge to enable a future in which human material needs and a healthy environment are mutually and sustainably satisfied.
Energy@Berkeley: Leading the way on finding solutions, the University of California, Berkeley, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are pooling their vast expertise in energy technology, policy, and transportation to help achieve an affordable, sustainable and clean supply of global energy.
Cal Energy and Climate: A gateway to campus faculty and organizations working on energy and climate issues.
UC Berkeley Green Computing: An effort to raise awareness on the subject of energy usage associated with information technology on the UC Berkeley campus and to collaborate on the reduction of energy usage.