Building DesignSanta Clara University adopted a Sustainable Building Policy in 2014 in order to plan and maintain sustainable and high-performing buildings. SCU is a former member of The Green Building Council, the overseeing body of the LEED rating system, and retains staff that have been trained in the principles of LEED as well as a number of LEED certified design consultants.
- Electrification of Landscape Equipment
In the Summer of 2023, Santa Clara University’s Facilities Operations team launched SCU’s landscaping decarbonization initiative as they began electrifying the landscaping equipment by purchasing 16 leaf blowers, 16 hedge trimmers, and 1 ride-on lawn mower. A generous $80,000 donation to SCU’s Climate Action gift fund allowed the acceleration of purchasing for this transition. These funds also provided many interchangeable and rechargeable batteries to power this new equipment.
LandscapingThe campus landscape is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also serves an important function and promotes a more sustainable relationship with our natural resources. The University maintains landscaping with consideration to human needs and healthy ecosystems in mind by striving to minimize the use of toxic chemicals, protect wildlife habitat, and conserving and managing resources, such as a campus-wide tree tagging program.
Water ConservationThe University has responded to Governor Jerry Brown's declaration of a drought state of emergency in California with a goal to reduce the campus' potable water use by 20 percent. We have committed to reduce landscaping watering by 20 percent. Most of campus (over 85 percent) is already irrigated with recycled water, and we are expanding use of recycled water whenever possible.
