1.0Sustainability Annual Report 2025https://sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu/2025sarahhttps://sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu/2025/author/sarah/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="R1AmOUGqL0"><a href="https://sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu/2025/locations/uc-santa-barbara/">UC Santa Barbara</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu/2025/locations/uc-santa-barbara/embed/#?secret=R1AmOUGqL0" width="600" height="338" title="“UC Santa Barbara” — Sustainability Annual Report 2025" data-secret="R1AmOUGqL0" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); /* ]]> */ </script> https://sec-1127-sustainabilityreport-multi.pantheonsite.io/2025/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2020/10/2025_UC_SantaBarbara_StudentBike.jpg20001340Since completing the Clean Energy Master Plan, UCSB has continued to make progress on planning for building electrification by launching the C·CHANGE project. A detailed project program to electrify the main campus was completed in the fall of 2025, as was the first conversion of an existing building to all-electric. While efforts to reduce scope 1 emissions continue, UCSB has also successfully reduced scope 3 commuting emissions, which declined significantly for the second consecutive year, dropping 17% below 2019 levels. Per capita water use and waste generation also declined. FOOD For the first year, Maetadata conducted a comprehensive analysis of UCSB’s food spending, which led to some shifts in percentage breakdowns. One of the most notable changes was an increase in the spend on plant-based food. There was also a slight increase in spend on sustainable food and beverage options. Previous analyses were more conservative, but Maetadata’s advanced tools and insights provide a more accurate picture. Green building A public-private partnership, Ocean Walk Phases 4 & 5, which include 70 new faculty homes, received LEED Gold for Homes certification in June 2025. UCSB is converting an existing building, Environmental Health & Safety, to all-electric. The project represents the first such transition undertaken by the campus and will be complete by the end of 2025. UC Santa Barbara has not built any new parking lots in years and therefore has not pursued Parksmart certification. 16 Platinum, 43 Gold, 15 Silver and 2 Certified Healthy Vending Healthy vending is defined as meeting UC’s Healthy Vending Guidelines. Data is from 2023–24. Fiscal year 2023–24 represents the first year UCSB is reporting healthy vending data to the UC system. UCSB will be employing a student this year to help raise awareness on campus of healthy choices. procurement The University reports on green spend, as defined in the Sustainable Procurement Guidelines, and reached out to suppliers for spend data in four product categories for this year’s report. Green spend is defined as meeting preferred or minimum criteria in UC’s Sustainable Procurement Guidelines.Suppliers reporting: Electronics (10), Furniture (6), Cleaning supplies (5), Office supplies (4). UC Systemwide Spend Analytics category data provided by CalUSource. Sustainable Building & Laboratory Operations Last year, UC Santa Barbara’s Green Labs team certified two labs and provided thousands of dollars in incentives for freezers, fridges and other sustainable lab equipment. Transportation Eighty-three percent of students, staff and faculty commute to and from campus using sustainable commuting options. Commute mode split stayed relatively the same compared with the previous year; however, distance traveled decreased slightly. Sustainable vehicles are defined as electric (zero-emission), plug-in hybrid or clean transportation fuel Single-Use Plastics Phase-Out Complete Phase-out* Partial Phase-out Starting Soon *Complete phase-out of single-use plastics may include exemptions where reasonable alternatives to plastic do not exist. UCSB made changes to the containers used at Ortega Takeout. Nearly all of the containers, condiments, cups and lids are now made from bagasse, a compostable material made from sugarcane. Only a few items — utensils, clear lids for salad containers — are made from PLA, a bioplastic. In retail operations, UCSB has transitioned to bagasse hot and cold cups and lids. Wherever possible, the switch has been made to bagasse to-go containers, condiments and lids. UCSB is still evaluating which items can be transitioned to plastic-free packaging and exploring changes to improve vending machine options. Awards UCSB received 5th in EPEAT’s Purchaser Award for Sustainable Electronics Leadership. A full list of awards is featured on the UC Office of the President’s website. AASHE STARS Gold rating