Facilities and Infrastructure

Creating a comprehensive Sustainability Action Plan is the central outcome to meet this priority, and one that Facilities Management is already planning to undertake.  Substantive components should include: 

• In keeping with the AJCU Laudato Si’ Commission’s recommendations,
  • Cut direct carbon emissions in half from 2019 levels by 2030, relying on actual reductions rather than offsets
  • Reach net zero carbon emissions by mid-century at the latest
• To the extent feasible, develop specific and measurable goals and identify specific measures for green landscaping, green energy and energy efficiency, low-carbon transportation options, sustainable food services, and sustainable procurement initiatives, drawing upon the sustainability initiative suggestions in Appendix 2, which emerged from the OEI Working Group itself and from input we received in meetings, on the OEI website, and in our community conversation.

We recommend the following process for creating the Sustainability Action Plan: 

• Assess progress in meeting 2014 CAP goals (Facilities Management, 2023-24)
• In Fall 2024, constitute a joint administration, faculty, staff, and student committee to develop the Sustainability Action Plan ( including Facilities Management personnel, faculty with energy/sustainability expertise; Sustainability Officer, and students from the OEI infrastructure and facilities working group plus others as needed) 
• In January 2025, begin Sustainability Action Plan planning process, determining components, resources needed to complete each component, and anticipated completion dates for each component. The energy decarbonization audit will contribute vital ideas and information to this effort.
• Aim to have a complete Sustainability Action Plan by the end of FY 2025-26, while releasing individual components as they are completed.
• Consult with other AJCU universities that have developed sustainability plans
• Create a database of USF emissions data that students, faculty and staff can use as a resource

USF already boasts several “living laboratory” opportunities.  Star Route Farms, located off the main campus, offer innovative learning and research opportunities. The on-campus USF Community Garden is an outdoor classroom for Urban Agriculture classes and provides hands-on project opportunities for numerous classes in a wide range of disciplines and programs including environmental studies, environmental sciences, anthropology, architecture, and the Honors College. The working group would coordinate these efforts with the OEI working group on the student experience.

Short-term actions:

• Assess the strengths and weaknesses of existing learning laboratory resources such as Star Route Farms and the USF Community Garden, and assess potential need for additional support. (College of Arts and Sciences, Facilities Management)
• Identify location for and set up solar microgrid “test bed” for use by students in the Masters in Energy Systems program (Prof. Jalel Sager, ESM program; Facilities Management)

Long-term actions:

• To identify and develop additional living laboratory opportunities, facilitate coordination between Facilities Management staff and faculty and students from Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Engineering, Art & Architecture, as well as the masters programs in Environmental Management and Energy Systems Management.  For example, faculty in the Urban Agriculture program could work with Facilities staff to expand urban gardens in on-campus open spaces.

Short-term actions:

• Assess funding support offered by an array of sources, including federal and state grant programs, utility programs, and energy services companies (Facilities Management; partially in progress through Finance department, Fall 2023); potential assistance from faculty and students in the Masters in Energy Systems Management program)
• Identify projects that might attract donor support. ( Work with OEI working group on institutional support. )

Long-term actions: 

• Develop grant and development proposals for viable projects (Facilities Management, Office of Sponsored Programs, Development Office, Energy Systems Management program)

In the short term, this outcome is focused on continuing to engage in energy improvements that will help USF meet San Francisco’s decarbonization requirement, pending the completion of USF’s Sustainability Action Plan.  Once the Sustainability Action Plan is complete, it will guide USF’s future energy improvements.

Short-term actions:

• Complete campus decarbonization audit (Facilities Management; in progress)
• Replace thermal solar and aging PV with updated PV (Facilities Management)
• Install additional PV arrays, contingent on funding availability (Facilities Management)
• Install a pilot solar microgrid and lab, potentially as part of the Masonic East renovation, contingent on funding availability (Facilities Management; Prof. Jalel Sager)
• Develop working group to consider the viability of an expanded campus microgrid with battery storage and computer software controls.  The working group will collect USF energy data and data from other US campus microgrid projects, and explore costs, potential barriers, and potential partners and funders.  (Working group established by Energy Systems Management program in 2023)

Long-term actions:

• Develop a campus microgrid (technological and economic feasibility and scale to be determined) (Prof. Jalel Sager, Energy Systems Management; Facilities Management)

In the short term, this outcome is focused on continuing to engage in energy efficiency improvements pending the completion of USF’s Sustainability Action Plan.  Once the Sustainability Action Plan is complete, it will guide USF’s future energy efficiency improvements.

Short-term actions: 

• Prioritize renovation projects that increase efficiency, including modernization that include smart environmental and lighting controls, and building envelope improvements that include window replacements (Facilities Management)
• Expand water, gas, and steam condensate submetering to enable floor-by-floor monitoring. (Facilities Management)
• Work with ITS to address low-energy options for cooling server rooms (Facilities Management)

Long-term actions:

• Invest in energy efficiency and decarbonization throughout campus buildings, contingent on available funding (Facilities Management)

In the short term, this outcome is focused on continuing to engage in our waste reduction efforts and our efforts to meet San Francisco’s waste reduction requirements pending the completion of USF’s Sustainability Action Plan.  Once the Sustainability Action Plan is complete, it will guide USF’s future waste reduction initiatives.

• Continue improving signage and receptacles across campus. (Facilities Management, Office of Sustainability)
• Create university policies that reduce reliance on single-use products, including food serviceware and plastic beverage containers, and that prioritize products made from recycled material (Office of Sustainability; Facilities Management) 
• Provide zero-waste education to incoming freshman and transfer students, at on-campus events, and for new employees. (Office of Sustainability; Office of Student Life)