An inside look at living, studying and working at Cal Poly.

Inside Cal Poly

<a href="https://inside.calpoly.edu/author/cal-poly-administration-and-finance/"></a><a href="https://inside.calpoly.edu/author/cal-poly-administration-and-finance/"></a>



As an award-winning leader in sustainability, Cal Poly is dedicated to lowering its environmental footprint on its&nbsp;<a href="https://inside.calpoly.edu/journey-to-zero-where-we-are-and-where-we-need-to-go/">Journey to Zero</a>.



Over the past three decades, Cal Poly has implemented several initiatives that have brought campus closer to its carbon neutrality goals by 2045, zero waste and water resiliency.



Reaching these goals will require an ongoing commitment from students, faculty and staff.



So, to make joining the Journey to Zero easier, we’ve compiled some helpful tips to include in your daily routine:



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<li>Dispose of trash, recycling and compostable <a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/sustainability/campus-action/zero-waste/what-goes-where" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in the right bin</a>. This helps to keep down recycling contamination. Contamination is when something that cannot be recycled is put in the recycling bin. This includes food and liquids which can cause mold that eats at the fibers in paper and cardboard so it can&#8217;t be turned into new paper. Mold can spread to other accepted items like bottles or cans, lowering their value.</li>
</ul>



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<li>Conserve water by turning off your shower or sink when not actively using it. <a href="https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/www3/watersense/kids/tap-off.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">According to the EPA</a>, just by turning off the tap while brushing teeth in the morning and before bedtime, you can save up to eight gallons of water! That adds up to more than 200 gallons a month, enough to fill a huge fish tank that holds six small sharks!</li>
</ul>



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<li>Reduce energy use by turning off unnecessary lights and shutting down computing equipment, such as printers or scanners. Will shutting off lights in empty rooms save you a ton of money? No, but if every household in SLO county shut off lights in empty rooms, that would be more than 100,000 lights. That’s electricity that doesn’t need to be generated. That’s savings.</li>
</ul>



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<li>Carpool, take the bus or ride a bike. Cal Poly offers many <a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/parking/commutingtocampus/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sustainable commute options</a> including free rides on SLO Transit buses for anyone with a Cal Poly ID, free parking for vanpools and great Rideshare networks for students faculty and staff.</li>
</ul>



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<li>Participate in campus sustainability clubs and events to engage in environmental sustainability activities throughout the year. From the Real Food Collaborative to Surfrider, Cal Poly is home to over a dozen <a href="https://www.asi.calpoly.edu/sustainability/sustainability-clubs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sustainability-based clubs</a>. Who wouldn’t want to be part of the Garden Club.</li>
</ul>



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<li>Lastly, share Cal Poly&#8217;s Journey to Zero by <a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/sustainability/journey-to-zero/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">downloading these communication assets</a> and displaying them in your dorm, classroom and social media.</li>
</ul>



To learn more about Cal Poly’s efforts and what you can do to help <a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/sustainability/campus-action/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">visit the campus action web page</a>.

Join Cal Poly’s Journey to Zero

The Journey to Zero — achieving net zero by 2045 — is achievable, although not without the help of the Cal Poly community.
The Facilities Energy, Utilities, and Sustainability team is calling on all Cal Poly students, staff, faculty, employees, alumni and friends to join the effort.
Next fall, a new campuswide campaign will launch that will help to raise awareness of Cal Poly’s expansive sustainability efforts and initiatives created to move the university towards net zero.
The campaign, Journey to Zero, aims to promote the numerous efforts taken by the university and the Energy, Utilities, and Sustainability team and inspire action from the entire campus community.
Cal Poly will be considered carbon neutral when it has reduced its carbon emissions to close to zero and offsets the remainder that cannot be eliminated.
Carbon neutrality is measured with a biennial Greenhouse gas inventory that looks at all carbon emissions from energy use, water use, waste, transportation, and any other carbon sources.
As an Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) award-winning leader, Cal Poly continues to work tirelessly to reduce the campus’ carbon emissions, using sustainability as a driving force in campus planning and operations.
Cal Poly is committed to leadership in sustainability in both academics and operations. In March 2016, it adopted the AASHE Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) framework for implementing, measuring and improving sustainable practices.
Significant progress has been made since, including: 
— Integration of sustainability strategies throughout the 2045 Campus Master Plan (adopted in 2020). 
— Update of the campus Climate Action Plan (PolyCAP) to accelerate the path to carbon neutrality. 
— Completion of 430 kW of solar PV at the yakʔitʸutʸu student housing complex, and an additional 200 kW planned for installation at the University Union later this year. 
— Creation of a High-Performance Buildings policy in Facilities to guide design and construction of low carbon, life-cycle optimized facilities using the LEED certification framework. 
— Completion of the 4.5 MW Gold Tree Solar Farm in May 2018. As a result, 22 percent of Cal Poly’s total electricity needs are now being met by on-site solar generation. 
— Maintained total campus water usage nearly flat since 2003 despite a 60% growth in building square footage and 100% growth of on‐campus residency over the same period.
A lot of work still needs to be done and this Journey to Zero campaign will help the campus take the next step forward.

Journey to Zero: Where We Are and Where We Need to Go

Fleet Services continues to make headway on strategic goals all while helping to make campus more sustainable and efficient.



In the past three years the team’s biggest impact has been the transition to electric. In that time more than 100 internal combustion vehicles have been replaced by electric. This year, Fleet Services hopes to convert at least 50 more.



“These vehicles will be newer and therefore more reliable, and will require less maintenance and upkeep, so the cost per hour and per mile will be lower,” Fleet Manager of Facilities Management and Development Adolfo Siqueiros said. “This will be a concrete example to our students that we’re being proactive with the way we think about our assets, in this case, vehicles.”



Cal Poly has the largest fleet in the CSU, almost double the size of the next campus. Fleet Services’ strategic objectives include fleet centralization, analyzing vehicle utilization, reducing the age of the fleet, and focusing on sustainability by reducing the campus’ carbon footprint. Over 200 of Cal Poly vehicles are electric, with more on the way.



On the efficiency front, Fleet Services is deploying a fleet management software package.



Fleetio will facilitate and automate the maintenance and inspection process, vehicle cost, utilization, financial reporting and communication to the different shareholders of our vehicles, and much more. There hasn’t been this type of automation at Cal Poly until now.



The Fleetio app will be available to everyone who has a campus vehicle. The driver can use the app to make appointments. An email will be sent out about what services are due, if there is a breakdown, or if a golf cart has a low battery or a flat tire, for example. All one has to do is get on the app, and the message will go directly to Fleet Services.



You can <a href="https://www.fleetio.com/go" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">download the Fleetio app</a> from the Apple Store or Google Play.

All Things New with Fleet Services

As the CSU works toward a more sustainable future, Cal Poly is leading the way and providing yet another benefit for our students, staff, and faculty for making eco-friendly decisions.
Cal Poly community members get an exclusive discounted charging rate at on-campus ChargePoint stations.
With 37 electric vehicle (EV) charging spaces strategically located across campus, powering up has never been more convenient.
Our charging network includes spaces in lot H-2A, the Grand Ave Structure, and Structure 131. No matter where you are on campus, a charging option is readily available to keep you on the move. If all available spaces are occupied, the waitlist feature ensures you get your chance to charge. Simply tap your charge card on the desired station or get in line through your ChargePoint account. You&#8217;ll be notified when a station becomes available, giving you a specified time to accept the space and plug in seamlessly.
To make this initiative a success, we kindly remind our community to move their vehicles at the end of the charging session. It&#8217;s crucial to ensure that EV charging spaces are used actively for charging. Additionally, charging spaces are valid for a maximum of 4 hours and a valid Cal Poly parking permit or timed session is required.
Join us in this green journey, and let&#8217;s work together to promote alternative transportation programs on campus. The ChargePoint charging stations at Cal Poly promote progress, sustainability, and a brighter future for our community.

Powering Up Progress

After more than four decades of dedicated service at Cal Poly, Dennis Elliot, the executive director of Energy and Infrastructure Planning, will be retiring in June. Throughout his career, Dennis has been a driving force behind Cal Poly&#8217;s sustainability initiatives, leaving a lasting impact on the university and its community.
Elliot&#8217;s journey at Cal Poly began in 1982 when he enrolled as a mechanical engineering student. During his student years, he worked as a night shift student employee in the Central Plant. Over the years, Elliot&#8217;s roles expanded, showcasing his remarkable dedication and leadership qualities.
One of Elliot&#8217;s most significant contributions lies in the field of renewable energy. He spearheaded the installation of every solar photovoltaic array on campus, from the initial 135 kW array on Engineering West in 2006 to the impressive 4.5 MW Gold Tree Solar Farm in 2018. Thanks to these efforts, Cal Poly now saves over $1 million annually. In 2022, the university was on the cusp of achieving 30% of its electricity from solar power &#8211; largely thanks to Elliot.
Under Elliot&#8217;s guidance, Cal Poly has become a sustainability leader in the California State University system, attaining one of the highest Sustainability Tracking, Assessment &#038; Rating System (STARS) scores. With his leadership, the university is aiming for a coveted Platinum STARS rating, a distinction achieved by only 12 campuses worldwide. This commitment to sustainability has transformed Cal Poly&#8217;s patterns of production and consumption.
Elliot&#8217;s influence extends beyond energy. His time overseeing water management saw water usage per square foot at Cal Poly reduced by half, employing strategies such as low-flow retrofits, smart irrigation, and turf removal. Additionally, he initiated efforts to establish an on-campus recycled water supply and an interconnection with the State Water Project.
“I am deeply grateful for my experiences at Cal Poly as both a student and employee. This institution has provided me countless opportunities to learn and grow, take on challenges and responsibilities, and try new things,” says Elliot. “It has been an incredibly rewarding experience to help lead Facilities to where it is today and chart a course to carbon neutrality and climate resilience in support of the university’s academic mission.”
As Elliot prepares to retire the Cal Poly community applauds his outstanding contributions. His leadership has earned numerous awards for Cal Poly Sustainability, and his dedication has fostered a culture of sustainability on campus. To carry on Elliot’s legacy, the recently established Dennis Elliot Sustainability Award will honor individuals who demonstrate excellence in sustainable facilities management. His legacy at Cal Poly will continue to inspire future generations, driving them towards a more environmentally conscious world.

Celebrating the Remarkable Achievements and Retirement of Dennis Elliot

Cal Poly has recently been recognized by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) along with five other California State Universities. This incredible achievement is in honor of Cal Poly’s dedicated efforts to teach about climate change.



This past year, AASHE awarded CSU the highly coveted Campus Sustainability Achievement Award. This accomplishment recognizes the CSU system’s efforts to reshape how nearly half a million students are taught about climate change. The CSU system has raised the standards and expectations of sustainability on college campuses.



Five campuses — Cal Poly, Chico, Humboldt, Monterey Bay, San Marcos and Stanislaus — were recognized in large part for establishing the CSU Faculty Learning Community in Teaching Climate Change and Resilience.



Last spring 62 faculty members covering 30 different disciplines, participated in the first multi-campus Faculty Learning Community (FLC). FLCs are usually a faculty group contained to a single campus, however, with great determination and innovation, CSU campuses challenged themselves to make history. This multi-campus FLC included seven 90-minute sessions in which participants discussed significant ways teaching about climate change could be improved. Discussion included how to incorporate social and environmental justice&nbsp;in the classroom, as well as how to counter climate change with innovative solutions. Faculty members were challenged with how to teach outside the classroom and redesign the curriculum to include civic engagement.



“Having played a lead organizing role in this faculty learning community was a great experience,” said Kylee Singh, Cal Poly’s sustainability coordinator. “At Cal Poly we had over 20 faculty apply for 10 budgeted stipends. Hopefully, we can grow this program in the future since it was such a huge success.”



As the largest public university system in the United States, the CSU makes a great impact on our home state. These new developments will benefit students all over California and the collaborative efforts of CSU sustainability leaders will have a lasting impact as we incorporate events focused on climate justice, environmental racism and intersectional sustainability across campuses. Cal Poly is proud to contribute to this cause.

AASHE Recognizes Cal Poly

Thanks to the College Corps Fellowship, the Cal Poly Green Campus team is expanding to tackle a variety of sustainability projects spanning across campus and the SLO community.



You may have heard of Green Campus during their annual Sustainability Month and Earth Week events, or you may have attended one of their sustainability planning summits. Green Campus is a team of student interns under the Energy, Utilities, and Sustainability team within the Facilities Management and Development unit.



Historically, Green Campus has focused on sustainability awareness and education through outreach and events. With the College Corps Fellowship, Green Campus will take on projects to address sustainability in dining, transportation, building efficiency and drought response. They will also explore programs for waste reduction and diversion, sustainability education and student involvement.



All these efforts will contribute towards reaching the most prestigious ranking in the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS). This comprehensive sustainability tracking system incorporates elements from across campus to determine a sustainability score. Cal Poly hopes to achieve the top rank of STARS Platinum in the coming years, and the Green Campus team in partnership with the College Corps Fellowship has a great role to play in this goal.



One of the top priorities for the team this year is water conservation. With increasing drought severity across California, water conservation is a pressing issue that the Green Campus College Corps fellows will seek to address at Cal Poly. Green Campus plans to release a campus-wide marketing campaign surrounding water savings and educate the campus community about Whale Rock Reservoir (our water source!). Further water conservation will take place through auditing of campus water facilities and propositions for innovative solutions to ensure water use efficiency across all areas of campus. First-year students will get involved in water conservation efforts through the Annual Conservation and Diversion Challenge (ACDC) in the residence halls, where the hall which reduces its energy and water use the most across the span of three weeks will win a prize! These efforts serve the purpose of water awareness and education to cultivate a drought-tolerant campus.



With the College Corps Fellows now a part of the Green Campus team, there is great potential for sustainability and climate action on campus! Connect with Green Campus and keep up with the work they are doing by following them on Instagram @cpgreencampus and subscribing to the sustainability newsletter at bit.ly/gogreenmustang

Cal Poly Green Campus expands

This year’s Sustainability Month has come to a close, meaning it’s the perfect time to reflect on all the exciting progress and engagement that went on this October. In the past several weeks, over a dozen events were held by a variety of different sustainability organizations on campus – engaging more than 800 students, staff and faculty in everything from beach cleanups to climate conferences.



The beginning of Sustainability Month was marked by a lively festival on Dexter Lawn. Here, students played games, connected with sustainable clubs, bought handmade goods and swapped unwanted clothes for new ones. Missed out on the clothing swap?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.asi.calpoly.edu/sustainability/sustainability-clubs/">Cal Poly’s Sustainable Fashion Club</a>&nbsp;hopes to continue regular clothing swaps throughout the year.



Sustainability Month offered a variety of opportunities for outside of the classroom learning.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.netimpactslo.com/">Net Impact</a>&nbsp;ran a Sustainability Professionals in Tech Panel and over 50 talks were available during the two-day Climate Solutions Now Conference.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.asi.calpoly.edu/sustainability/sustainability-clubs/">Surfrider’s</a>&nbsp;beach cleanup, Sprout Up’s Trivia Night, and the&nbsp;<a href="https://cfs.calpoly.edu/Student_Experimental_Farm">Cal Poly Experimental Farm</a>&nbsp;workday offered some more hands-on learning experiences.



The State of Sustainability brought in students, staff, and faculty to learn about the progress that’s been made since last spring’s Sustainability Charrette. Updates were heard from several sectors at Cal Poly like&nbsp;<a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/parking/commutingtocampus/index.php">Transportation and Parking Services</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://calpolydining.com/sustainability/">Campus Dining</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.asi.calpoly.edu/sustainability/">ASI</a>. Participants also heard from the&nbsp;<a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/sustainability/">Energy, Utilities, and Sustainability</a>&nbsp;office who gave vital updates on Cal Poly’s drought response, carbon neutrality and zero waste goals.



A big thank you to the&nbsp;<a href="https://afd.calpoly.edu/sustainability/about/staff/green-campus-team">Green Campus team</a>, who organized this year’s Sustainability Month. This group of student interns are working on a variety of projects dedicated to improving sustainability at Cal Poly, ranging from water conservation to campus reuse programs.



Sustainability Month is over but keep an eye out for the dozens of sustainability initiatives happening on campus year-round.

Cal Poly Sustainability Month Recap

In 2019, Cal Poly received a gold rating from the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (<a href="https://stars.aashe.org/">STARS</a>) – a comprehensive measurement and reporting framework for sustainability across all aspects of a university campus. AASHE STARS has four different levels of certification- bronze, silver, gold, and platinum, and of the nearly 1,100 participating institutions internationally, Cal Poly’s current Gold rating places us among the top 150 STARS certified institutions in the world. Not resting on our laurels, Cal Poly is now looking to see how we can build upon our successes to join the elite ranks of the ten universities that have achieved STARS Platinum.



As you can see in the chart above, there is a lot of opportunity for Cal Poly to improve within the AASHE STARS framework. That is why in April of this year, students, teachers, and other key stakeholders worked together at the sustainability charrette to help identify the steps that need to be taken to achieve platinum status. As a result, many innovative ideas were brought to the table in the areas of curriculum and research, campus culture, carbon neutrality, and circular economies. A follow-up meeting, referred to as the State of Sustainability will be held on Oct. 21. This event will provide updates on the action items that were identified in the charrette and will also feature an interactive activity that will help support climate action planning on campus. To RSVP to the State of Sustainability event, fill out this form&nbsp;<a href="https://forms.office.com/r/U3WaFR89Wx">here</a>.



Furthermore, Cal Poly was recently granted $90,000 to put towards supporting AASHE STARS efforts.Funding will:



1) Buyout a faculty fellow who can own academic course redesign projects and sustainability research tracking



2) Provide a research stipend for a faculty member and staff at the assessments office to run a student sustainability literacy and culture assessment



3) Provide stipend/ consultant time to identify solutions for expanding tracking of community service hours across campus



4) Send select staff from across all divisions to sustainability focused career building trainings.



If you are interested in supporting Cal Poly&#8217;s mission to achieve Platinum status, please contact Kylee Singh at klsingh@calpoly.edu.

Tag: Sustainability