Sustainability and Energy

The District has a long-standing history in exhibiting sustainable innovation, and these efforts have only accelerated with recent years. San Bernardino Community College District recognizes the need to take a leadership role on sustainability both within its local community as well as within the network of community colleges. SBCCD has undertaken a thorough strategic sustainability planning process to establish a set of sustainability goals to guide future operations at SBCCD. The District's 24,000+ students, staff, and faculty are committed to doing our part to promote sustainable practices and policies.

Awards

SBCCD Wins Award for “Overall Sustainable Design” at CHESC 2020

San Bernardino Community College wins the "Overall Sustainable Design" award at CHESC 2020 for its Automotive Technology Building. This building utilizes a dynamic high-performance façade to reach net zero energy. Through the use of evidence-based design tools, the team has created a high-performance building that parallels the design of a high-performance vehicle. The California Higher Education Sustainability Conference brings together California Community Colleges, California State University, University of California, and representatives of private and independent colleges in California to share best practices in campus sustainability efforts.

SBCCD Wins Sustainable & Green Development Award from IEEP 2019

SBCCD has been selected as the 2019 winner of IEEP’s Sustainability and Green Development Award for its Zero Net Energy Project. In line with the California’s ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045, San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) is the first and only Community College District in California to complete the Proposition 39 Zero Net Energy (ZNE) Schools Pilot Program. Through implementation of this program, SBCCD has reduced building energy use to a level equal to the amount of energy generated through the solar PV while improving occupant comfort and productivity. The project included constructing a solar carport that produces up-to 174 kilowatts of power, which has an added benefit of reduced heat island effect. It also included energy efficient lighting upgrade, which is a custom retrofit of 480 LED fixtures with occupancy and daylight controls; and HVAC upgrades that included ultra-efficient rooftop units and demand control ventilation for classrooms and conference rooms.

SBCCD Wins 2019 Self-generation Project at CCC Chancellor’s Office

SBCCD’s District Office Solar Photovoltaic System wins the California Community Colleges’ 2019 Self Generation Project Award. The PV system, which has been operational since February 2018, is a 174 kilowatt solar carport photovoltaic system added to SBCCD’s district parking lot. The $900,000 project saves the district 310,000 kilowatt hours annually, reduces utility bills by an estimated $41,000, and was paid for almost entirely through Proposition 39. The carport also reduces the heat island effect from asphalt and keeps cars cooler. The California Community Colleges’ Board of Governors Energy and Sustainability Awards were established in 2012 to recognize leadership in implementing goals set forth in Proposition 39, also known as the California Clean Energy Jobs Act, to improve energy efficiency and expand clean energy generation in schools.

2019 California Community Colleges Sustainability Champion

Farrah Farzaneh, SBCCD’s Director of Facilities, Planning and Construction, has been named the 2019 California Community Colleges Excellence in Sustainability – Sustainability Champion by the Board of Governors at the State Chancellor’s Office. Farzaneh was selected for her leadership and dedication, leading SBCCD through various successful initiatives, including the first zero net energy building in the California Community Colleges system. Congratulations to Farrah Farzaneh and the SBCCD team!

 

SBCCD Honored for Driving ZNE in New and Existing School Projects in California

New Buildings Institute has selected SBCCD as its 2019 Visionary District for utilizing policies and plans that result in larger scale advancement of zero energy buildings. SBCCD was recognized for being the only Southern California Community College District in the Proposition 39 Zero Net Energy Schools Pilot Program, for its portfolio of LEED certified buildings, and for implementing energy conservation measures, such as the design of an optimized lighting retrofit in just two months, and the installation of 480 fixtures and over 250 controls over only nine weekends. The NBI California ZNE School Leadership Awards, now in their fourth year, showcase the people, buildings and policies that are driving a new standard for ZNE in school environments.

SBCCD Wins Award for “Large Scale Planning” at CHESC 2018

SBCCD wins the award for “Large Scale Planning” at CHESC’s 2018 Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Best Practice Awards. SBCCD was recognized for its passion toward sustainability, across students, faculty, administration, facilities, and campus and district leadership. The District developed its sustainability plan in response to its participation with the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. The plan establishes seven, which have been considered the cornerstone to the Districtwide sustainability master plan. The large-scale plan provides the road map for the districtwide LEED projects, integrated energy infrastructure projects, energy saving programs and ZNE campuses. The California Higher Education Sustainability Conference brings together California Community Colleges, California State University, University of California, and representatives of private and independent colleges in California to share best practices in campus sustainability efforts.

SBCCD Wins Award for “Overall Sustainable Design” at CHESC 2018

SBCCD’s Crafton Hills College wins the award for Overall Sustainable Design at CHESC’s 2018 Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Best Practice Awards. Crafton Hills was recognized for their evaluation of LEED building certifications and the additional strategies that need to be advanced to lead the drive to a more sustainable campus. The California Higher Education Sustainability Conference brings together California Community Colleges, California State University, University of California, and representatives of private and independent colleges in California to share best practices in campus sustainability efforts.

USGBC Sustainability Innovation Award “Energy & Atmosphere Merit”

San Bernardino Community College District wins the USGBC Sustainability Innovation Award for “Energy & Atmosphere Merit”. The Sustainable Innovation Awards recognize sustainable strategies that demonstrate exemplary performance above and beyond credit achievement under any sustainability rating system. With 10 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings – including on 2 LEED Platinum and 1 LEED Gold building – across the district, SBCCD has integrated innovative energy performance measures throughout their building portfolio. SBCCD was awarded the “Energy & Atmosphere Merit” in recognition of the numerous energy conservation measures that have pushed the boundary of innovation in the built environment, such as campus-wide energy retrofits, construction of a 1.3MW solar tracking system, and the Zero Net Energy (ZNE) retrofit of the district office.

SBCCD Wins Sustainable & Green Development Award from IEEP 2017

San Bernardino Community College District and the City of Redlands have won IEEP’s 2017 Sustainability and Green Development Award for their collaboration to connect Crafton Hill College’s irrigation system to the City of Redlands’ non-potable water supply.
Crafton Hills College and the City of Redlands have collaborated to install a 1,250 pipeline connecting Crafton Hills College’s irrigation system to the City of Redlands’ non-potable water supply. The switch reduces the college’s annual potable water usage by an estimated 67 percent, or 100 million gallons of potable water per year. By using non-potable water for irrigation, the college alleviates the pressure on the potable water system in the City of Redlands, which has a goal of reducing potable water by 36 percent.
As drought risk in the area increases, SBCCD will continue to systematically minimize the amount of water used by (1) reducing indoor potable water demand through building fixture efficiency and water conservation education, (2) reduce outdoor water demand through irrigation and landscape best practices, and (3) investigate alternative supplies of water to offset potable water consumption. The Inland Empire Economic Partnership’s Sustainability and Green Development Award recognizes programs that simultaneously target and create relationships between economic development and environmental sustainability.

SBCCD Wins 2019 “Excellence in Energy and Sustainability" Award at CCCCO

SBCCD Receives “Visionary District” Award at 2019 Green California Summit

SBCCD Receives “Energy Efficiency” Award at 2014 Green California Summit

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