UC Merced Magazine | Commemorative Chronicle

Building a Sustainable Campus from Day One

UC Merced’s physical development re ects its deep commitment to sustainability. e campus was conceived as a “living laboratory,” where operations, infrastructure, and landscape design reinforce teaching, research, and public service. is approach has allowed students and faculty to engage directly with sustainability challenges and solutions in real time. A cornerstone of this commitment is the Triple Zero Commitment—a bold pledge to achieve zero net energy use, zero land ll waste, and zero net greenhouse gas emissions. To meet these goals, the university has implemented aggressive energy e ciency standards, including reducing energy consumption by 50%, exceeding California’s Title 24 energy code by 30%, and optimizing building performance to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards. In 2018, UC Merced became the rst public research university in the United States to achieve carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, a milestone that underscores its leadership in climate action.

December 17, 2003 — An inside look at the early construction of Central Plant

August 7, 2004 — Raising the walls of the Classroom and O ce Building 1

UC Merced became the first public research university in the United States to achieve carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, a milestone that underscores its leadership in climate action.

UCMERCED MAGAZINE 34