University of California San Diego

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Tours

  1. Sustainability Tour

    This self-guided tour will take you through the various sustainability locations nestled throughout the UC San Diego campus. Explore innovative sustainability efforts in our living lab.

    Stops

    1. Sustainability Resource Center

      The Sustainability Resource Center, a LEED “Commercial Interiors” Gold rated facility, serves as a hub for materials and initiatives related to local, national, and global sustainability. The Sustainability Resource Center is a collaborative effort between UC San Diego Sustainability and the Student Sustainability Collective. Both groups work to promote sustainability and bolster involvement on campus.

    2. East Campus Energy Innovation Park

      UC San Diego’s Energy Park and surrounding east campus area are home to a diverse portfolio of innovative clean energy systems, including:

      • A 2.8-megawatt fuel cell that uses directed biogas from the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant to provide renewable electricity to the campus microgrid.  

      • Over 3 million gallons of thermal energy storage that stores chilled water from the east campus central utility plant.  A 300-ton absorption chiller that captures waste heat from the fuel cell also provides chilled water to the system.

      • A Compressed Natural Gas fueling station that provides renewable natural gas for both campus fleet and public vehicles.

      • 2.5 megawatts / 5 megawatt-hours battery energy storage that helps reduce peak demand on the microgrid.

      An array of  EV charging systems that are part of one of the largest and most diversified of any university worldwide.

    3. Central Utilities Plant

      The Central Utilities Plant supplies chilled water, high temperature hot water, and electricity to the majority of the 15 million square foot campus. The plant houses two 13.5 MW natural gas turbine generators, one 3 MW steam turbine generator and has more than 20,000 tons of chilled water generation capacity along with 320,000 lbs/hr of steam boiler capacity. Electricity is distributed to the campus via UC San Diego’s microgrid, while chilled water and high temperature water are distributed via an underground tunnel system.

    4. Keeling Apartments

      The Keeling apartments have the prestige of being UC San Diego’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum certified building.


      In addition to several sustainable building feature, the Keeling Apartments have a 49 kilowatt rooftop solar array and an on-site grey water recycling system for irrigating the landscape.  One interesting feature is a green roof, which absorbs rainwater, provides insulation to reduce heating and cooling costs, and creates new wildlife habitats.

    5. Scripps Coastal Reserve Biodiversity Trail

      This Scripps Coastal Reserve Biodiversity Trail is a is a habitat restoration area that offers an elevated view of the coastline. Small placards along the trail identify and highlight key features of native plants in the reserve.

    6. North Torrey Pines Living Learning Neighborhood

      The North Torrey Pines Living and Learning Neighborhood (NTPLLN) is a new development being built on the west side of campus. The site has been designed to meet LEED Platinum standards and  includes features like a rooftop solar array, an anaerobic digester, and energy optimized building orientation.

    7. Solar Chill

      The Solar Chill project was started by members of Engineers of a Sustainable World in 2013. Students built a 1.5kW off-grid photovoltaic structure which provides a unique social space in the North UCSD campus. Solar Chill’s structure is designed to capture solar energy and provide shading. The solar “flower” sends electricity to an off-grid battery storage system that supplies power to a  light structure and several outlets attached to accompanying benches. The project mission is to provide by-passers with education and inspiration regarding sustainable energy alternatives while also promoting campus unity with a comfortable outdoor social space!

    8. The Landscape Wedge

      The Landscape Wedge is a sustainable park area located between resident halls and the Rady School of Management. The area is a functional space with natural seating, pedestrian walkways, and landscape filtration infrastructure. The space is irrigated from runoff water reclaimed from other parts of campus.

    9. Village Apartments

      The Village Apartments, which are LEED Gold certified, have many energy and water efficient features, such as:

      • Solar-heated showers and “wind scoops” that pull in Pacific breezes to help cool the apartments.  

      • Non-potable “recycled” water that nourishes native outdoor plants through an efficient drip-irrigation system.

      • Plaster, paving, carpet and metal wall studs that are made from recycled material.

    10. Spanos Athletic Performance Center

      UC San Diego was the winner of the 2017 USG NACDA Sustainability Award for incorporating sustainable practices and materials into the Spanos Athletic Performance Center. This LEED Gold facility has incorporated many sustainability features, including:

      • Low-emitting materials throughout.

      • On-site stormwater management utilizing bio-swale retention systems.

      • Light reflecting roofing and paving materials to reduce heat island effect.

      • Low water use landscaping, drip irrigation, and low-flow plumbing fixtures to improve water efficiency.

    11. Earth Cubes

      The Earth Cubes are composting units installed by the Recreation Department in an effort to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill from the RIMAC Annex building. They have been composting the green waste from Peet’s Coffee & Tea and the paper hand towels in the building’s restrooms. As the first department on campus to incorporate composting into their on campus operation, they hope to demonstrate that composting is easy, and encourage other departments to follow their lead.

    12. Ecological Preserve and Historic Grove

      The Grove hosts several miles of walking and running trails that meander through sugar-gum eucalyptus trees. This expansive green space provides a serene retreat from the urban landscape of San Diego.

    13. Canyon Vista Energiplant

      The Energiplant is a project that was developed by the student chapter of Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW). It looks like a flower and uses both solar and wind energy to power outlets that students can use while relaxing on benches in the shade of its “leaves.”

    14. Birch Aquarium

      The Birch Aquarium offers many sea-life and educational exhibits. The “Boundless Energy” exhibit celebrates the innovative ways we can use natural forces to power our everyday lives through hands-on displays showing how renewable energy is harnessed from the wind, sun, and other — sometimes unexpected — sources.