{"id":66,"date":"2020-10-02T19:38:48","date_gmt":"2020-10-02T19:38:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu\/?post_type=location&p=66"},"modified":"2020-10-02T19:38:48","modified_gmt":"2020-10-02T19:38:48","slug":"uc-merced","status":"publish","type":"location","link":"https:\/\/sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu\/2020\/locations\/uc-merced\/","title":{"rendered":"UC Merced"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

UC Merced has made significant progress toward achieving its sustainability goals as outlined in the systemwide Sustainable Practices Policy<\/a> and the campus\u2019s Sustainability Strategic Plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most notably, the campus achieved carbon neutrality<\/a> 7 years ahead of the UC system\u2019s 2025 goal. The portfolio of solutions for this achievement includes a campus solar array system that mitigates carbon emissions, an additional on-site solar installation and reductions in the carbon intensity associated with green power purchases. The portfolio also includes the purchase of offsets. (Because this data was independently verified late in 2020, UC Merced’s climate data does not reflect this achievement.)<\/p>\n\n\n

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

UC Merced has a total of 24 LEED certified buildings under New Construction and Existing Building Operation & Maintenance. The last certification was the Sustainability Research and Engineering (SRE) building, which earned a Platinum rating in new construction. This is one of 13 buildings from the the Merced 2020 project<\/a> project that will achieve a Platinum rating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To combat food insecurity and reduce food waste, UC Merced has implemented the successful No Food Left Behind (NFLB) program. NFLB is a text messaging service open to all UC students, staff and faculty to ensure catered food left over from events is not wasted and instead feeds the UC Merced community. Members of the campus community who opt into the texting service receive a text usually 24 hours before an NFLB event. The leftover food either must be stored properly or consumed immediately, and participants have only 15 minutes after the scheduled event to collect leftovers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sustainability at UC Merced<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n
\n\"Beets\"\"<\/a>\n

The Pop-Up People\u2019s Pantry: Feeding Merced\u2019s Community in Need and Reducing Food Waste<\/a><\/h3>\n

For the last three years, a UC Merced staff member has worked with the regional food bank to rescue food from the local farmers market each week to get items to those in need. When the coronavirus pandemic first hit, the farmers market was forced to move locations and UC Merced\u2019s partnership with the food […]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

\n\"Students\"\"<\/a>\n

Saving the Food and Feeding Essential Workers and the Community<\/a><\/h3>\n

Through the Bobcat Eats Food Waste Awareness and Prevention Program, student staff, career staff and volunteers pick up surplus food and take it to those in need at various shelters, pantries, migrant camps and other sites. A great deal of this food went to the D St. Shelter, a 24-hour homeless shelter. In early summer, […]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n