SDSU Sustainability Walking Tour

1. The Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union is the pride of the SDSU green building efforts. Opened in 2014, the Student Union received LEED Platinum certification from the US Green Building Council – the highest possible level – for its sustainable design and construction. After a couple years of occupancy, the Student Union also received LEED Platinum certification through the Existing Building: Operations and Maintenance program. Although a building can be built with the best green intentions, the operation of the building after opening makes a tremendous impact. All Associated Students buildings will be LEED certified as an Existing Building by 2020 and they’re on track to meet this goal. Sustainable features of the Student Union include a solar array, green roof, three 50,000 gallon rainwater tanks, radiant heating and cooling, and operable windows.

2. Hydration stations provide the campus community with clean, filtered, and cold water. There are over 100 hydration stations located across campus, with dozens in the residence halls. Additional hydration stations have been added recently from a collaboration between Associated Students and Facilities Services. Hydration stations discourage students from drinking bottled water which results in wasted resources, pollution, and higher water usage. Find your favorite bottle and bring it to campus to fill up again and again.

3. The SDSU Transit Center opened in 2005 and provides a trolley stop along with access to several buses. Students, faculty, and staff commute to campus every day on the trolley or the bus. People can also take the trolley downtown or to the football game without worrying about parking. Sustainable transportation options like public transit reduce carbon emissions and help with congested roadways. In 2015, 37% of campus greenhouse gas emissions were due to commuting to campus. Finding responsible, sustainable ways to get to campus, like public transit, carpooling, biking, or

skateboarding, will help SDSU meet our carbon neutrality targets.

4. South Campus Plaza is a mixed-use development with retail and restaurants on the first floor and student housing above. The development is a green building, certified LEED Silver by the US Green Building Council. South Campus Plaza was designed as a pedestrian-, transit- and bicycle-friendly development. Its location adjacent to the SDSU Transit Center will facilitate transit ridership and create less reliance on automobiles, thereby reducing pollution and traffic congestion. Because students living on campus generate significantly less traffic that those living off-campus, providing additional student housing will help the university continue to reduce student dependence on their cars.

5. SDSU has twenty-two electric car charging stations, including a two-port DC fast charger. Providing these stations helps the campus community increase their driving range. EV spots can only be used by electric vehicles that are plugged in; a standard parking permit is also required. Electric cars dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As the electrical grid gets cleaner, electric cars will become an even greener form of transportation.

6. The food waste compactor is the repository for all pre-consumer food waste on campus.

Pre-consumer food waste is generated in kitchens before food reaches the customer, such as carrot tops and orange peels. The food waste is then sent to the food waste compactor where it is picked up by our waste hauler. The materials are then transported to the Miramar Greenery where they are composted. The final product is then sold by the City of San Diego. Landscape waste is also collected and sent to the Miramar Greenery. Composting enriches the soil and encourages plant growth without relying on synthetic fertilizers. It also results in reducing methane emissions, which is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Though there is no outlet for post-consumer composting, a facility is expected to open in San Diego County by 2020. At that time, SDSU develop a program to send post-consumer composting to the facility. A small pilot facility is located in the Community Garden.

7. On the patio of The Garden restaurant, twenty aeroponic towers grow food for Aztec Shops restaurants. Aeroponics can grow food quicker with upwards of 90% water savings. You can catch a glimpse of the towers from the Cuicacalli walkway, but you’ll get a better view if you stop at The Garden for a meal. There’s a good chance your greens and herbs had been grown steps away from your table.

8. There are bicycle pump and fix stations in several areas on campus, including at Cuicacalli, Chapultapec, University Towers, and the Aztec Recreation Center. These can be used to fill up your tires or take care of some basic maintenance. Hang your bike from the rack to adjust your brakes, raise your seat, or anything else you can do with the provided tools. Keep your bike maintained to allow you to bike around and enjoy our wonderful weather.

9. The College Area Community Garden provides community members with the opportunity to rent a plot and grow their own food. Aztec Shops has twenty plots in the Community Garden that serves several campus restaurants. Students can get involved in the community garden through the Green Love student group or by renting their own plot! There is also a small composting system that takes food from the Children’s Center and zero waste events; the finished compost is provided to the gardeners.

10. Take a look to the east and you can see the solar panels on Parking 1, which has the largest solar PV arrays on campus at 375 kW. Total solar capacity on campus is more than 1 MW – enough to supply campus with 3.5% of its annual electricity needs. Solar power is a clean source of renewable energy that will be crucial to our energy future. Campus will need to tap into solar power on campus or elsewhere to meet our climate neutrality goals. Other solar installations include Storm-Nasatir, Student Union, ARC, Aquaplex, Childrens Center, Music, Physics, and Extended Studies.

11. The Engineering and Interdisciplinary Sciences building opened in January 2018 and will position SDSU as a top research institution. Collaborations between different disciplines will develop and strengthen research opportunities. EIS is on track to receive LEED Gold certification through the US Green Building Council, an accomplishment for a heavy lab building. Sustainability features range from exhaust velocities driven by wind conditions to native oak trees and drought-tolerant kurapia ground cover.

12. Arts and Letters underwent an energy efficiency process called Monitoring-Based Commissioning in 2015. This cut energy use in the building by 35% and won an award from the California Higher Education Sustainability Conference. The process optimizes how the building operations and focuses on mechanical system controls and equipment, like air handlers and pumps. In addition to saving energy, MBCx can often improve comfort. Other buildings will undergo the same process, starting with CSL, using the revolving energy fund. Savings from funded projects will go back into the fund to pay for new projects.

13. This garden was part of a Recreational Land Use class in Geography, taught by Prof. Diana Richardson. Students studied another area of campus and made recommendations on how to improve on an underutilized patch of grass. These concepts were integrated into this garden which includes native plants, natural boulder seating, and more efficient irrigation. Across from Starbucks, students can fill up their reusable cup, cross the street, and take a rest or study on the boulders. Funding was provided through the Chancellor’s Office’s Campus as a Living Lab program.

14. The Storm-Nasatir Complex includes five buildings that provide classroom, office, and dining space. Storm and Nasatir Halls were originally built in 1957 and had a major renovation that was complete in 2014. The other buildings, Storm Hall West, Hostler Hall, and Aztec Shops Terrace are all new facilities. The project saved resources by reutilizing the bones of the old buildings. The group of buildngs is rated LEED Gold by the US Green Building Council for its green design and construction. Two solar arrays provide partial power to the buildings and the envelope, mechanical, and electrical systems improve the buildings energy performance.

15. An example of building integrated photovoltaics, the canopy above the patio behind the Storm-Nasatir complex provides both shade and energy. The canopy has a total power capacity of 52 kW; a solar PV system above Storm Hall West provides another 62 kW to the group of buildings.

16. Bicyclists and skateboarders can navigate through campus on bike paths and streets. Racks are available along this route and all buildings are only a short walk away. The bike paths were opened in 2010 thanks to the advocacy of students. Riding your bicycle or skateboard is a healthier way to commute than driving and reduces greenhouse gases, helping SDSU reach our carbon neutrality goal. Make sure to check out campus guidelines for more information on riding safely.

17. The Mediterranean Garden is composed of plants from all five Mediterranean regions across the world. These plants are grown in similar climate conditions as San Diego and require little water. The Garden is home to some unique species, like the sausage tree and rose cactus. Grab a map and walk around to learn about the different regions and trees.

18. Aztec Shops operates two gardens by the Faculty-Staff center. These plots and their other ones at the Community Garden and The Garden are part of the Aztec Shops Campus Grown program. These plots are all maintained by student gardeners. Local food lowers the energy and carbon emissions associated with transportation. Plus, fresh tastes better.

19. SDSU is developing a robust zero-waste operation. In recent years, campus has placed hundreds of new recycling and landfill bins with improved signage. Custodial operations provide a chain of custody through color coded bags (clear for recycle, black for landfill). SDSU has strong pre-consumer and landscape composting programs, as well as a surplus operation. By 2020, a new post-consumer composting facility is expected to open and SDSU will begin to compost that stream as well. Read the recycling guidelines on the bins or the Sustainable SDSU website. Reduce, reuse, and recycle – in that order!

20. Centennial Mall had a makeover in 2016 to create a better recreational area. Grass mounds and benches were removed and replaced with drought-tolerant plants, trees, decomposed granite, and outdoor furniture. The sage and jasmine also create a pleasant, inviting fragrance. The campus community has embraced this space for studying and relaxing.