Campus Operations

Green Cleaning

The Cal State Fullerton Green Cleaning Policy and Plan addresses environmental best practices for cleaning the interior of all Facilities Operations managed interiors. Specifically, it addresses purchasing:

• Sustainable cleaning products
• Sustainable cleaning equipment

The policy further requires:

• Developing and implementing standard operating procedures for effective cleaning
• Promoting and improving hand hygiene
• Developing guidelines for handling cleaning chemicals
• Developing staffing and employee training requirements
• Collecting and addressing occupant feedback; and establishing procedures for use of chemical concentrates and dilution systems

Who to Contact

Capital Programs and Facilities Management

Energy

Tapping into the power of the sun, in April 2015 Cal State Fullerton ranked 7^th among the top 10 campuses across the nation for its use of solar energy according to Energy Digital Magazine. At the time, CSUF’s 1 megawatt solar energy system helped offset more than 26.422 tons of greenhouse gas each year, equivalent to removing 5,181 cars from the road for 25 years.

Today, the campus system has grown to 4.7 megawatts, with solar photovoltaic systems atop the Eastside North and South parking structures, Clayes Performing Arts Center, and Kinesiology and Health Science building. Canopy systems are also in place in the Nutwood and State College parking structures. There is an additional 650kW canopy system at the Titan Hall parking lot. This allows our campus to generate 17% of its energy from a clean, renewable energy source.

CSUF is currently exploring options to bring battery energy storage to the campus. The battery would be an important part of the micro-grid we hope to create so that the campus can maintain its own electricity in the event of a grid power outage.

Additional 173.8 kW from photovoltaic panels on these new buildings:

• Housing Phase 5: 63.8 kW
• New ECS: 60 kW
• Center for Leadership: 50 kW

Who To Contact

Capital Programs and Facilities Management

Water

CSUF has an extensive history of water conservation efforts. Campus groups have worked together on innovative solutions to save water, achieving a 27% reduction in water use from FY 12/13 to FY 21/22 as the campus grew by 2.4 million square feet:

• In 2014, in conjunction with PowerSave campus, CSUF audited restroom sinks across campus, identifying those with the above-code-prescribed flow and replacing them with 0.5 gallons per minute flow aerators, saving a projected million and a half gallons of water per year.
• Spurred by ongoing drought, in 2015 Cal State Fullerton removed 11 acres (or 471,000 square feet) of lawn and replanted with native wildflowers and grasses, decorative rock, and ground cover, helping the campus exceed the 28 percent water use reduction goal mandated by the governor. While two acres of lawn were since reinstalled, drought-tolerant landscaping is the new campus norm.
• Flow meters were installed to help monitor daily water usage more accurately, plus master valves to help shut the system down in the event of major leaks.
• Twenty-four “smart” water meters were installed to monitor irrigation campus-wide. The meters remotely read data down to the 5-minute interval and sends the information to a dashboard that can be viewed from any smart device. In addition to reading water usage, these smart meters also have flow rate and leak detection capabilities and can send reports via email.
• Forty additional weather-based irrigation controllers were installed and ready to be programmed.
• In January 2016, Student Housing replaced top-loading washers with 46 efficient front-loading Speed Queen washers in the Cypress Hall laundry facility.
• Pool covers have been added on all campus pools to reduce evaporation and save on natural-gas heating costs.
• In 2018, CSUF replaced 372 faucets in 12 buildings with water-saving fixtures thanks to a $600,000 grant from the Department of Water Resources. The new 0.5-gallon-per-minute faucets represent, on average, a 75% reduction in flow from existing ones.
• In 2019, under the grant 110 dishwashers serving 800 residents were replaced in Student Housing with water-saving models.

Ongoing Efforts

• Incorporating colorful, drought-tolerant landscaping in passive zones
• Installing bioswales that capture water during heavy rains, recharge our aquifer, and remove contaminants from stormwater
• Converting landscape areas to water-wise drip irrigation and low-water-use overhead irrigation
• Installing low-flow toilets, urinals, and touch-free automatic faucets with low-flow restrictors in new construction projects
• Retrofitting faucets with low-flow restrictors
• Installing weather-based central irrigation controllers
• Using the latest varieties of turf grass that require less water
• Installing soil moisture meters for better irrigation practices
• Using soil-wetting agents to help with the conservation of water
• Maintaining the Storm Water Management Program

Get Involved

• Students, Faculty, and Staff
  • Report a leak: When on campus, please report all leaks to Capital Programs & Facilities Management at 657-278-3494 or by email servicecenter@fullerton.edu
• How to make a difference:
  • Take shorter showers
  • Wash full loads of clothes and dishes
  • Turn off water when brushing teeth or shaving
  • Use water-wise plants
  • Fix leaks
  • Install high-efficiency toilets
  • Use a broom to clean outdoor areas
  • Install aerators

Learn More

Be Water Wise

SoCal Water Smart

Who To Contact

Capital Programs and Facilities Management

Waste

In line with CSU Sustainability Policy, our campus is aiming to reduce landfill bound waste, divert at least 80 percent from landfill by 2040, and move toward zero waste.

The campus is pursuing these goals by:

• Encouraging the use of products that minimize the amount of trash sent to landfills
• Participating in the CalRecycle Buy-Recycled program
• Increasing our recycled-content purchases

Recent Campus Efforts

In the past few years, Cal State Fullerton has:

• Diverted 57.59% of waste from landfills, or at least 1,657 tons per year
• Increased recycling collection from all buildings, with dual Max-R recycling-and-waste bins and common recycling signage installed across campus
• Recycled, donated or otherwise recovered at least 1,675 tons of construction and demolition materials each year
• Eliminated printing of the University Course Catalog, making it available online
• Increased recycling of electronic waste, such as old phones, televisions and AV equipment, through partnerships
• Contracted with Public Surplus to sell surplus furniture and other items
• Installing hand dryers in campus restrooms to reduce paper towel use
• Created an online hazardous waste pickup request form for faculty and staff, and consolidated compatible hazardous waste to reduce disposal costs
• Set up donation and cardboard collections on student housing move-in/move-out days
• Worked with waste hauler to improve accuracy of data collection
• Improved our purchasing policy to add more sustainable products
• Installed an oil filter crusher and bulk oil tank to collect motor oil for recycling
• Purchased self-mulching mowers and instituted green-waste collections at the campus athletic fields for off-site recycling
• Installed waste and recycling compactors at Pollak Library to reduce pickups, cut disposal costs and reduce

Get Involved

Electronic waste requires special handling and should not be placed in campus recycling bins or dumpsters. Here’s how to dispose of tricky items:

• Printer and Copier Cartridges:
  • Place used cartridges in the original package or a zipped plastic bag and send via inter-campus mail to Shipping & Receiving, T-1100
  • Call Shipping & Receiving at ext. 2531 for a large pick-up
• Batteries:
  • For small amounts of batteries (20 or fewer small batteries), please send via inter-campus mail to Environmental Health & Safety, T-1475
  • For a large amount, please submit a Hazardous Waste Pickup form
• Public Surplus:
  
  • Email Logistical Services and Asset Management assetmanagement@fullerton.edu

Who To Contact

Environmental Health and Safety

Transportation

University Sustainability collaborates with Parking and Transportation Services on strategies to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, reduce emissions and promote personal health and well-being. One major strategy is to support zero emission vehicles. CSUF has installed a total of 100 electric vehicle charging ports across campus, where students, faculty and staff can plug in at a subsidized rate with a valid EV permit. Those not affiliated with CSUF may charge on campus at a rate of $0.40 per kilowatt/hour.

The results are impressive. From July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, campus drivers plugged in for 44,246 vehicle charging sessions, helping to spare the use of 87,460.7 gallons of gasoline and preventing 513,882 pounds of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

For more information on how to charge your electric vehicle on campus, please visit the EV Parking Page

Get Involved

• Drive an electric vehicle
• Utilize alternative transportation

Who To Contact

Commuter Services

• 657-278-4699
• cservices@fullerton.edu

Purchasing

To cut waste, preserve natural resources and to support a sustainable community, Cal State Fullerton follows “green” procurement practices in its daily operations.

• We prioritize computers, displays, thin clients, television and other imaging equipment registered with EPEAT, a program administered by the Green Electronics Council
• Through the Green Cleaning Policy, 48 percent of CSUF custodial products carry the environmentally friendly EcoLogo or Green Seal
• Following the CSU’s Buy Recycled program, we purchase copier paper, paper towels and other paper products with at least 30% recycled content
• Purchasing preferences are given to certified disabled veteran business enterprises and to certified small businesses

Food Services

Titan Dining Hall

The Titan Dining Hall is a unique, all-you-care-to-eat dining facility. It provides the Cal State Fullerton community healthy, nutritious, and well-balanced meals as the hub for an active community.

The Titan Dining Hall features a Sustainability Platform that strives to make positive change by:

• Supporting local economies
• Sourcing sustainable seafood
• Implementing measures to address climate change issues

Campus Dining

Campus Dining operates multiple retail dining locations and strives to provide the CSUF campus community with high-quality food options. We aim to "Help our Titans Reach Higher" by employing current CSUF students, where we offer flexible hours and other employee benefits.

ASC’s Campus Dining is committed to sustainability:

• Food Donation Program
• Eco-Friendly Packaging and Cutlery
• Reduce Paper Consumption
• Responsible Sourcing
• Compostable Organics Recycling Program

ASI Food Pantry

Addressing food insecurity among college students has been a CSU system-wide effort for a number of years. The Pantry is a new and permanent program to the CSUF campus that serves to distribute foods and support students facing food insecurity. The Pantry’s inventory rotates between various food items; typically offering a variety of non-perishable foods, canned goods, and fresh produce.

Along with The Pantry’s services, the program works with Tuffy’s Basic Needs to provide additional resources for support around other various areas of basic needs insecurity and related issues.

There are no requirements or qualifications for students to use this service and scheduling an appointment is quick and easy!

Who To Contact

Campus Dining

ASI Food Pantry

Grants

Active Grants

• CalRecycle Beverage Container Recycling Grant 2023
• The Beverage Container Recycling Grant (BCRG) Program aims to reach and maintain an 80% recycling rate for all California Refund Value (CRV) beverage containers – aluminum, glass, plastic, and bi-metal.
• California Schools Healthy Air, Plumbing, and Efficiency Program (CalSHAPE) 2023
• The California Schools Healthy Air, Plumbing, and Efficiency Program (CalSHAPE) provides funding to upgrade heating, air conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC) systems in public schools and replaces noncompliant plumbing fixtures and appliances that fail to meet water efficiency standards.

Previous Grants

• CalFire Urban and Community Forestry Grant, Partner with City of Fullerton 2020
• Assessment Inquiry Grant – Sustainability Literacy Survey, 2019
• CSU Chancellor’s Office Mini Grant - Campus Community Garden, 2019
• Club Car Sustainability Vehicle Grant, 2019
• California Clean Air Day, 2019
• California Electric Vehicle Project (CALeVip), 2019
• Department of Water Resources – Water Efficiency Grant, 2018