{"id":64,"date":"2020-10-02T19:38:42","date_gmt":"2020-10-02T19:38:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu\/?post_type=location&p=64"},"modified":"2020-10-02T19:38:42","modified_gmt":"2020-10-02T19:38:42","slug":"uc-irvine","status":"publish","type":"location","link":"https:\/\/sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu\/2020\/locations\/uc-irvine\/","title":{"rendered":"UC Irvine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This past year, UC Irvine has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to the goals outlined in the UC Sustainable Practices Policy<\/a>, as evident in its perseverance to achieve sustainable progress in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The construction and completion of two new student housing projects highlight UCI\u2019s creativity and innovation in green building design. Plaza Verde Student Apartments<\/a> opened to over 1,400 students in fall 2019 and is the campus\u2019s first all-electric student housing project, eliminating the need for natural gas by utilizing heat pump water heaters and an electric outdoor grill system. The Middle Earth Towers<\/a> house 500 first-year students in a project with LEED Platinum certification that incorporates features such as a 50-kilowatt photovoltaic system, natural ventilation and stormwater treatment systems that include green roofs. <\/p>\n\n\n

Read More about Sustainability at UC Irvine<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n

UCI also participated in the procurement of electricity for direct access accounts through the UC Power Program<\/a>, which is 100% carbon-free. Additionally, in a collaborative greenhouse research project, 7,500 square feet of turfgrass was replaced with native and nonnative drought-tolerant plants, saving approximately 75,000 gallons of water per year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the campus shifted to remote learning and work due to the escalating global pandemic, sustainability champions across campus quickly adapted to developing virtual tools and resources. The Sustainability Spot<\/a>, a student-run blog, serves as an outlet for sharing research, experiences and hopes for the future. The Sustainability Corner<\/a> was created to provide a behind-the-scenes look into campus operations and to empower greater sustainable behavior while working remotely or on campus. The Sustainability Resource Center<\/a> built a Virtual Earth Week Platform<\/a>, showcasing a breadth of programs and opportunities around the world, receiving over 600 visits throughout the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sustainability at UC Irvine<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n
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Orange County Health Equity Community-Academic Partnership with UC Irvine Trains Community Members to Conduct Contact Tracing<\/a><\/h3>\n

The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated long-standing social, economic and political inequities in the U.S., with disproportionate morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 in low-income communities of color. In May 2020, the Orange County Health Equity COVID-19 Community-Academic Partnership was formed to assert a health equity approach to mitigating and eliminating the effects of COVID-19. Over the […]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

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FRESH Basic Needs Hub Creates Innovative Food and Housing Security Solutions During the Pandemic<\/a><\/h3>\n

The UCI FRESH Basic Needs Hub is dedicated to supporting students with basic food and housing security through the provision of resources, tools and accessibility. Deemed an essential service, FRESH has continuously demonstrated resilience and its commitment to students during the COVID-19 pandemic.  FRESH quickly adapted its programs and resources during the pandemic to align […]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n