As Columbia’s first campus-wide sustainability plan will come to a close in 2020, the Office of Environmental Stewardship launched the planning process to build the next iteration. Plan 2030 – a larger, more ambitious 10-year plan encompassing all four of Columbia’s campuses – will provide a roadmap for the University to take progressive, urgent action around climate change.
New York, NY, October 15, 2019 - Columbia University announced today that it recently joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership. Columbia is using about 270,897,887 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually from wind, which is enough green power to meet 100 percent of the university’s electricity use. In using wind power, Columbia is helping advance the voluntary market for green power and development of those sources.
During its coverage of the Global Citizen Festival in September, MSNBC featured members of Columbia University in a segment focused on individuals and groups engaged in social issues including health, education, sustainability and sanitation.
Campus Services recently added a new electric Chevy Bolt and a hybrid-electric Subaru Crosstrek to its sustainable vehicle fleet.
When Columbia Athletics purchased a set of new lockers for the women’s softball locker room last month, a multi-departmental effort found a new home for the old lockers, which were still in good condition.
Columbia Transportation earned first place in The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)'s 2019 Sustainable Campus Index for the fifth time.
As part of the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) International Conference – where Columbia was awarded “Best Overall Program” for transportation demand management (TDM) – one of Columbia’s new battery-electric buses shuttled industry professionals on a tour from the Marriot Marquis in Times Square to Columbia’s campuses in uptown Manhattan.
At its annual International Conference – held this year in New York City – the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) presented Columbia University with an award for “Best Overall Program” in transportation demand management (TDM). The award recognized Columbia’s achievements in reducing drive-alone commutes, providing alternative sustainable transport for commuters, and the purchase of six battery-electric buses, among other initiatives.
The New York State Department of Transportation has declared June 27 and 28 Air Quality Action Days in the downstate metro area. This means high amounts of ground-level ozone are forecasted. Ground-level ozone can trigger chest pain, impact lung tissue and can be particularly unsafe to people with heart and lung problems as well as older adults and children.
Facilities and Operations is holding the next Clean + Go Green Event at the Morningside campus from Wednesday, July 10 through Friday, July 12, 2019. We will make large bins available across campus, at no cost to you, for the recycling, reuse or proper disposal of large unwanted items.
Columbia University advanced its strategy for clean, renewable energy with a purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) for off-site wind generation, continued use of hydropower, and new investment in solar power. As a result, Columbia achieved 100% renewable, zero emissions for reported electricity in 2018 for the Morningside, Manhattanville, Irving Medical Center, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Nevis, and Baker Athletics Complex campuses. Columbia has exceeded its goal of cutting emissions by 35% over 2006 levels by 2020.
With a 47 percent reduction in absolute GHG emissions at the Morningside campus, Columbia has exceeded its goal of cutting emissions by 35 percent over 2006 levels by 2020.
The first ever Campus Sustainability Fair brought members of all Columbia campuses to The Forum – Columbia’s newest LEED Gold certified building – for a day of celebration, networking, and learning about sustainability.
Columbia University has been selected as a Clean Air NY Campus Partner, an honor given to institutions of higher education who go above and beyond to encourage and facilitate their communities to carpool, take public transit, bike, or walk to campus.
For the second year running, Columbia University will observe Earth Hour on Saturday, March 30 at 8:30 p.m. along with other universities, cities, and businesses in more than 180 countries worldwide.