Green Operations

Eco-Friendly Food Services

The Hinson Campus Center Food Court, renovated and opened in fall 2007, features biodegradable paper products and utensils and organic produce choices from local farmers. These changes were the result of a team effort of student leaders from the environmental club WISE 37 and Patrick Gannon, director of the campus center, with support from Jeanine Hawk, vice president of Finance and College Services.

Commute Alternatives

De Anza is located along Stevens Creek Boulevard and Stelling Road in Cupertino, a major transit thoroughfare, which includes bicycle lanes and bus routes connected to the Sunnyvale and Mountain View Caltrain. We are located near highways 85 and 280, which include carpool lanes for ridesharers. With our large commuter base of students, we recognize the need to support other means of transportation beyond driving alone. Bike racks can be found throughout the campus. There is designated parking for carpooling and hybrid vehicles, too. Also we provide a commute alternatives Web page with resource links to encourage solo drivers to change their commute habits.

Energy and Utilities Projects

Managed at the district level in partnership with De Anza's College Services, the Facilities, Operations & Construction Management Department is committed to supporting the educational mission of the Colleges in a way that minimizes the District's impact on the environment, which includes energy and utilities. Efforts to achieve this goal include initatives to reduce energy consumption, reduce water use, minimize solid waste production, and maximize the use of recycled materials in construction and operations. To date, measures include installation of a photovoltaic 201kW peak AC rated PowerTracker solar parking shade system on the Lot C Parking Structure , with 340,000 kWh/year power production (June 2006); and swimming pools heated through co-generation four 60kW Capstone microturbines, with 1,800,000 kWh/year power production and 90,000 therms/year heat to pool (June 2006). De Anza's Kirsch Center for Environmental Studies serves as the lead demonstration building for energy efficient design and renewable energy technologies in the California Community College system (September 2005). Campuswide occupancy sensors and lighting retrofits are under way.

Green Building Construction and Renovation

The construction of the Kirsch Center and the recent renovations to the Hinson Campus Center, Administration and Planetarium buildings all incorporated recycled and recyclable materials and low-volatile organic compound (VOC) paints, carpets and tiles. In addition, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems were made more efficient and tied into the district’s energy management system. Find out more about current and past construction projects.

LEED® Certification for New and Existing Buildings

Sustainability successes include LEED® certification of the Science Center and the Student and Community Services Building; the Kirsch Center’s LEED® platinum application; and at least LEED® silver certification planned for the Visual and Performing Arts Center and the Mediated Learning Center. All existing building projects will be subject to LEED® EB certification.

Other Green Operations

All paper supplies provided by Custodial Services contain post-consumer recycled content, and custodians use toxic-free cleaning agents. Landscaping projects feature native and drought-tolerant plants; no pesticides are used. The college has a long history of recycling efforts, and plans are under way for a campuswide recycling education project. You can recycle your e-waste at De Anza through our OTI computer donation program and student Inter Club Council battery and cell phone collection drives.