Sustainability is a core value at UC Berkeley. Residential Student Service Programs (RSSP) partners with organizations across campus to meet sustainability targets including Zero Waste by 2020 & beyond, Carbon Neutral by 2025 and 25% sustainable food by 2030. The Housing & Dining Sustainability Advocates (HADSA) provide student-led advocacy, auditing, and peer education about sustainability and work to improve housing & dining infrastructure across RSSP.
Department Highlights:
- All residents living in campus housing have access to compost, recycling & landfill bins in their residence halls and are provided with regular education about proper sorting methods.
- 50% of the resident room furniture is green certified & contains recycled content. The solid wood material removed each year is used in the following year’s furniture order.
- 30,000 pounds of over-produced food is recovered from the dining halls annually, preventing food waste and supporting the campus basic needs program. Each weekly donation provides the campus food pantry with ~300 meals.
- The University Village carport solar system is the largest on campus and produces 700,000 kWh of carbon-free renewable electricity each year, providing 20% of the power needs for residents.
- An annual energy savings competition is managed in the residential halls using an interactive dashboard provided through the energy department on campus.
- A low- pressure, gas- fired steam boiler plan supports the entire Clark Kerr Campus site, saving significant amounts of water & energy.
- Clark Kerr Garden & Brown’s herbal garden provide outdoor space for staff and students to host wellness workshops and learn to grow food.
- 200 garden plots at University Village’s Community Garden provide land to community gardeners.