The University of California system has been a leader in higher education sustainability. All UC campuses have committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2025 and have implemented a wide range of initiatives to achieve this goal. This includes investing heavily in renewable energy sources. For example, UC San Diego has installed multiple solar arrays that provide over 35% of the campus’ energy needs through solar power. The school also uses ground-source heat pumps for heating and cooling buildings.

UC campuses have also focused heavily on Zero Waste programs. All sell reusable to-go containers and don’t use disposable plates/cutlery in dining halls. Compost and recycling bins are placed next to each other everywhere on campus. Through these programs, UC Berkeley diverts over 90% of its waste from the landfill. Transportation is another key area of focus. All UC schools provide subsidized public transit passes for students and employees and have invested in expanding bike lanes, trails and electric vehicle charging stations.

At Columbia University in New York City, every new building on campus is now required to meet the highest sustainability standards like LEED Platinum certification. New dormitories feature rainwater harvesting, geothermal wells, and recycled materials in their construction. The schools Center for Climate and Life installed over 6 megawatts of solar panels on campus rooftops. To reduce food waste, Columbia partnered with local farms to donate excess edible food from the dining halls.

The University of Washington has set a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 through aggressive renewable energy adoption. Over 38% of its electricity now comes from wind and solar. The Bioproducts, Sciences and Engineering Laboratory on campus converts used cooking oil into biodiesel fuel. A new Light Rail extension connected the campus directly to downtown Seattle, reducing the need for commuter vehicles. Every bathroom on campus was retrofitted with water efficient fixtures, resulting in annual water savings of 170 million gallons.

At the University of Florida, a $53 million project installed over 17,000 solar panels that now supply up to 8 megawatts of electricity. This sizable installation makes UF a national leader in university solar energy generation. The school operates one of the largest private hybrid vehicle fleets in the U.S. and has constructed multiple LEED certified buildings in recent years featuring sustainable materials, daylighting and rainwater recycling. A new electrified bus rapid transit system connects UF’s satellite campuses reducing emissions from commuter traffic.

Cornell University diverted over 95% of its waste from landfills through extensive recycling and composting programs. New student housing is constructed using mass timber which requires less embodied carbon than concrete. The campus operates entirely on renewable energy during daytime hours through a blend of large solar arrays and hydropower. Cornell uses geothermal wells for campus heating and cooling when possible. Lake source cooling along with new chiller plant upgrades have cut energy use in half. The school’s sustainable agriculture program provides organic produce for the dining halls.

At Arizona State University, all new buildings are required to be at least LEED Silver rated with many achieving higher certification levels. Almost 6 megawatts of solar panels have been installed across the Tempe campus providing a third of its daytime electricity. Electric buses and shuttle routes encourage transit use over personal vehicles. Every indoor and outdoor water fixture was replaced with low-flow alternatives reducing consumption by 25%. ASU diverts over 75% of its waste through composting and recycling and was the first university to offer a sustainability-focused graduate degree program.

This covers some of the major programs and initiatives undertaken in recent years at several leading universities that have helped them become national models for sustainable campus operations. All of these schools have detailed long term plans to further reduce their carbon footprint and environmental impacts through renewable energy, Zero Waste goals, sustainable construction & renovation, alternative transportation programs and more over the coming decades. University sustainability efforts have accelerated significantly and will continue evolving to address the urgent challenges of climate change.