{"id":69,"date":"2020-10-02T19:38:59","date_gmt":"2020-10-02T19:38:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu\/?post_type=location&p=69"},"modified":"2025-11-19T20:51:28","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T20:51:28","slug":"uc-san-francisco","status":"publish","type":"location","link":"https:\/\/sustainabilityreport.ucop.edu\/2025\/locations\/uc-san-francisco\/","title":{"rendered":"UC San Francisco"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

Over the year UC San Francisco continued to deliver a breadth of best practices in sustainability and climate action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UCSF produced a building energy decarbonization roadmap for its major sites that calls for multiple new electrified heating and cooling plants and thermal storage, distribution of hot and chilled water to plant-connected buildings and individual electrified plants for stand-alone buildings. Key projects from this study were prioritized in UCSF\u2019s 10-year capital financial plan charting an implementation course to a 90% reduction in carbon emissions by the 2045 target date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read More about Sustainability at UC San Francisco<\/summary>\n

UCSF\u2019s Academic Senate Committee on Sustainability published an e-course, Environmental Sustainability in the Lab, training researchers and learners on how to save resources in wet and dry labs. UCSF launched a new training, required of all employees, on indoor heat illness prevention as part of an ongoing response to the Bay Area\u2019s increasingly frequent high temperatures. To meet a surge in demand for sustainable commute options, the campus introduced new shuttle routes, added park-and-ride lots, launched a commuter bus program, and expanded the vanpool and free bus pass program. Learners in the School of Medicine assessed UCSF\u2019s performance<\/a> in five environmental categories, including planetary health curriculum and support for student initiatives, earning an A for the institution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite a more restricted grant landscape, the Office of Sustainability<\/a> led efforts to secure over $2 million in funding for EV charging infrastructure, an electric shuttle bus and cybersecurity. UCSF also welcomed its inaugural chief sustainability officer<\/a> and celebrated the retirement and achievements of its pioneering sustainability officer<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"University<\/figure>\n\n\n
\n
Sustainability at UC San Francisco<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n
\n\"\"\"\"<\/a>\n

The Plastic Inside Us<\/a><\/h3>\n

Every day people take advantage of the utility of plastic. But eventually these products turn into tiny fragments that infiltrate human bodies. UCSF experts are beginning to tease out what these microplastics mean for human health \u2014 and what can be done about it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

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

UCSF\u2019s Award-Winning Freezer Rebate Program Saves Utility Costs<\/a><\/h3>\n

Findings on the impact of UCSF\u2019s Energy Star freezer conversion program on energy use, costs and carbon emissions have been published so other institutions can replicate it. UCSF\u2019s approach makes a large-scale initiative to replace energy-inefficient ultra-low-temperature freezers logistically possible, reduces the carbon footprint and demonstrates an attractive return on investment while proactively protecting valuable research materials.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

EMISSIONS<\/h2>
Loading…<\/canvas><\/div>\n

*Methodological changes in scope 3 accounting introduced beginning in 2019<\/p>

**90% direct reduction of total emissions from 2019 levels with residual emissions negated by carbon removal<\/p><\/div>

\n

Scope 1 emissions rose by approximately 3% in 2024 due to building energy use associated with UCSF Health\u2019s newly acquired Hyde and Stanyan hospitals, plus increased fleet emissions from additional gasoline use in shuttle service to meet higher ridership demand. Scope 2 emissions remained zero. Scope 3 emissions rose with the incorporation of municipal solid waste emissions into the inventory.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>
<\/form><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

ENERGY – RENEWABLE ENERGY USE<\/h2>
Loading…<\/canvas><\/div>\n\n
<\/div><\/form><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

ENERGY USE INTENSITY (EUI)<\/h2>
Loading…<\/canvas><\/div>\n
\n

UC San Francisco saw a decrease in its EUI in the calendar year 2024.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div><\/form><\/div>\n\n\n
\n

FOOD<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Bok<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
57%<\/strong>\n\n

of food and beverage purchases met sustainability criteria ($713K)<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

35%<\/strong>\n\n

of food and beverage purchases were plant-based ($436K)<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

UCSF’s sustainable food spend continued to exceed the goal, reaching more than 57%. Plant-based food spend decreased to 35% as a result of missing data but still exceeded the goal. Total food spending nearly doubled as a result of increased tenant business activities \u2014 from about $660,000 to more than $1.2 million.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Green building<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

UCSF achieved one LEED Gold certification.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

16 Gold, 6 Silver and 5 Certified
<\/p>\nTotal number of LEED certifications<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Healthy Vending<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"Icon<\/div>46%<\/strong>\n\n

healthy vending spend on food ($103K)<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\"Icon<\/div>64%<\/strong>\n\n

healthy vending spend on beverages ($112K)<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Healthy vending is defined as meeting UC\u2019s Healthy Vending Guidelines<\/a>. Data is from 2023\u201324.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Fiscal year 2023\u201324 represented the first year healthy vending data was collected, providing an important baseline for measuring progress in the coming years. UCSF has made progress by eliminating regular Coke from vending machines and by working with Canteen, the University of California\u2019s contracted vending and micromarket services provider, to stock healthier snack alternatives. UCSF is working to align its offerings with campus health and sustainability goals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

procurement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

The University reports on green spend, as defined in the Sustainable Procurement Guidelines<\/a>, and reached out to suppliers for spend data in four product categories for this year\u2019s report.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Icon<\/div>$17.4M<\/strong>\n\n

green spend on electronics (55%)<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\"Icon<\/div>$541K<\/strong>\n\n

green spend on indoor office furniture (65%)<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\"Icon<\/div>$407K<\/strong>\n\n

green spend on cleaning supplies (56%)<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\"Icon<\/div>$163K<\/strong>\n\n

green spend on office supplies (30%)<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Green spend is defined as meeting preferred or minimum criteria in UC’s Sustainable Procurement Guidelines<\/a>.
Suppliers reporting: Electronics (10), Furniture (5), Cleaning supplies (5), Office supplies (5).
UC Systemwide Spend Analytics category data provided by CalUSource.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Sustainable Building & Laboratory Operations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/div>40<\/strong>\n\n

total assessed green laboratories<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

The campus certified one new lab and engaged 112 labs to sign up for the ultra-low-temperature freezer rebate program.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Transportation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Due to significant changes in UCSF Parking and Transportation policies implemented in June 2025, the campus did not conduct a new survey in 2024\u201325. A new survey is planned for launch in fall 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"A<\/div>72%<\/strong>\n\n

of students and employees are utilizing sustainable commuting methods<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\"\"<\/div>6%<\/strong>\n\n

of all vehicles and 0%<\/strong> sedans and minivans acquired in 2025 were sustainable vehicles*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

20%<\/p>\n\n\n\n

of the fleet consists of sustainable vehicles*<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\"\"<\/div>125<\/strong>\n\n

EV charging ports<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

Sustainable vehicles are defined as electric (zero-emission), plug-in hybrid or clean transportation fuel<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

WATER<\/h2>
Loading…<\/canvas><\/div>\n

*Based on a 3-year average of fiscal years 2005-08<\/p>

**2025 goal is a 36% reduction from baseline.<\/p><\/div>

\n

Campus water consumption was 1.3 million gallons lower than the previous year, while weighted campus population increased. UCSF continues to meet the 2025 water reduction goal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div><\/form><\/div>\n\n

ZERO WASTE – GENERATION<\/h2>
Loading…<\/canvas><\/div>\n

*These numbers might include a small amount of incineration that is being phased out.<\/p><\/div>

\n

With the return-to-work mandates in effect for faculty and staff and more teams on campus, as well as a new satellite campus in Fresno still ramping up its waste diversion efforts, landfill tonnages increased from previous years. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div><\/form><\/div>\n\n

ZERO WASTE – DIVERsion<\/h2>
Loading…<\/canvas><\/div>\n

* Waste incineration was counted as diversion prior to July 2022.<\/p><\/div>

\n

The campus waste diversion decreased 4 percentage points from last year, with the amount of landfill waste increasing and recycling and compost staying relatively the same. This increase is attributed to more staff coming back on-site as well as the addition of an existing building.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div><\/form><\/div>\n\n\n
\n

Single-Use Plastics Phase-Out<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n

Complete Phase-out*<\/h3>\n\n\n\n