Last Friday, nearly 40 members of the WashU community came together to talk about the connections between climate change, disasters, and displacement, to acknowledge the end of “Displaced: An Art Installation for Climate Justice.” Seniors Kristen Patino and Julia Widmann spearheaded the project, with the help of Fossil Free WashU and funding from the Student […]
As part of this spring’s Active Transportation Month, the Office of Sustainability and Parking and Transportation Services are bringing back an old favorite offering, the Active Transportation Challenge! The Challenge galvanizes teams of faculty, staff, and students to drop the car habit and to use alternative forms of transportation when commuting to WashU: walking, biking, […]
Above: “Barrel Mountain” by Jason Hargrove was inspired by his visit to the Weldon Springs toxic waste containment site where uranium was processed and stored. On February 1, the EPA released a record of the decision announcing its new proposal to remove radioactive waste from the West Lake Landfill. This removal strategy proposes the excavation of […]
As you walk up Wallace Drive from the South 40, there is a peculiar sight tucked into the landscape on your right. Tubes coming out of trees and emptying into large white buckets are almost reminiscent of an alien harvesting scene if you don’t know that they are for tapping the maple trees for sap […]
Last month, the Student Sustainability Board (SSB) allocated $2,200 to support a project that aims to introduce composting in on-campus residential areas. Thanks to the funding allocation, the WashU Green Ambassadors’ waste team will be able to implement a pilot phase of their project in Dardick Hall, one of the Residential Colleges of the South 40 […]
Last Friday, Washington University in St. Louis hosted its first Climate Day event. This exciting event brought together students, educators, community members, and leaders in climate action in important discussion about today’s pressing climate issues. Climate Day featured a keynote speech, 3 panels consisting of professionals working in government and in the non-profit sector and […]
The Office of Sustainability, in partnership with Residential Life and Facilities, is excited to announce the launch of WashU’s eighth annual Green Cup competition! Among Washington University’s South 40 Residential Colleges and School of Medicine residents, leagues will compete to reduce their energy usage. A Competition to Save Energy On the Danforth campus, electrical energy use from […]
Tim Biello graduated from WashU in 2002, where he studied anthropology and biology. He now runs Featherbed Lane Farm located in the Eastern part of New York State, just north of the capital, Albany. Born in St. Louis, Tim taught environmental education and did trail work before setting his sights on owning and operating his own farm […]
The WUGA program (Washington University Green Ambassadors) is currently seeking applicants for two student director positions. The WUGA program is a student-led, peer-education program supported by the Office of Sustainability that orients new students to sustainable living practices at WashU. WUGAs play a critical role in training first year student to adopt behaviors that align […]
Washington University in St. Louis is proud to announce that it has recently been re-certified as a “Tree Campus USA” for its commitment to encouraging students and university personnel to care for our planet’s tree resources. Tree Campus USA is an initiative through the Arbor Day Foundation that has recognized 333 other universities for their […]
Whittemore House, Washington University’s Faculty Conference Center, offers an exceptional menu for breakfast, lunch and special events to their 1,045 members and their guests. They have recently earned additional distinction as a certified-sustainable dining establishment through the Green Dining Alliance (GDA), earning 5-star recognition of its sustainable operations. A program of the non-profit organization St. […]
The Environmental Studies Program has announced five open internship positions for Spring 2018. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed starting November 20. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible for the best chance of receiving consideration. [accordion] [accordion_tab title=”Positions” active ] We are looking for enthusiastic and hard-working graduate or undergraduate […]
It’s official! Local Farmer CSA, in partnership with the Office of Sustainability and the Department of Human Resources, now offers CSA (Community Shared Agriculture) Crop Boxes on Danforth campus! Farmer Dave Smith will set up his farm van and a mini market every other Wednesday from 4:00 to 6:00 PM in the Music Library parking […]
Today, we are proud to announce that the League of American Bicyclists has officially recognized Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) with a Silver Bicycle Friendly University (BFU) award, joining 54 other visionary colleges and universities from across the country. This designation is a significant accomplishment for the University and recognition of the commitment to […]
Applications for open internship positions with the Office of Sustainability and affiliated partners are now posted. The deadline to apply is November 12. In-person application reviews are available through November 10. Food Associate – 1 positions AVAILABLE The Office of Sustainability seeks to foster a food system that advances environmental and public health while supporting […]
Background of the WashU CSA program For several years, Washington University’s Office of Sustainability and Human Resources Department have partnered with Local Farmer CSA to offer staff, faculty, and students the opportunity to receive a weekly or bi-weekly Crop Box filled with locally grown produce, fruit, meat, cheeses, yogurt and/or other artisan goods. Signing up […]
The Office of Sustainability is excited to welcome Michelle Patterson to the role of Internship and Business Coordinator! Working closely with the International Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability (InCEES) and Environmental Studies, Michelle will play a central role expanding the interdisciplinary internship program to serve a greater number of students and offer a broader range […]
Download the Sustainability Month Calendar Held every October, Campus Sustainability Month is an international celebration of sustainability in higher education. Throughout the month, colleges and universities organize events on campus and elsewhere to engage and inspire incoming students and other campus stakeholders to become sustainability change agents. Washington University is proud to celebrate and […]
Since 2013, WashU Green Ambassadors (WUGAs) have participated in a coordinated effort to welcome first-year students and quickly get them accustomed to the campus’ sustainability culture. This year, a hands-on approach, greater coordination with the Residential Life custodial staff, and diverting additional materials resulted in significant increases in waste diversion from area landfills. Highlights of […]
Do you find waste sorting puzzling? If you are feeling rusty and need to brush up on what goes where, check out this video that breaks it down, item by item. This video is perfect for sharing with student groups and campus offices during team meetings. Want a Recycling Genius to come to your meeting […]
The Office of Sustainability is excited to announce the start of a new active transportation support initiative, the Bike Commuter Buddy System! This mentoring program aims to support and encourage members of the Washington University community to commute by bike with a simple concept: connecting experienced and less experienced bike commuters that live in the […]
For many of the WashU staff and faculty members who live far from campus, commuting by car is a challenge: it takes time, costs money and can be stressful when it comes to getting a parking space, not to mention the environmental impact! Carpooling, which has numerous benefits for both drivers and passengers, addresses many […]
The close of the 2016/17 academic year was punctuated by wonderful celebrations of our graduating students, our amazing staff, and the exciting upcoming transformation of the East End of the Danforth Campus. As has come to be tradition at WashU, all of the celebrations were green events that sought to reduce, compost, and recycle as […]
In line with Washington University in St. Louis’s sustainability goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, the University adopted changes to thermostatic setpoints in offices and classrooms on the Danforth Campus. Beyond reducing our carbon footprint, these changes will also improve occupant comfort and reduce operating costs by an estimated $200,000 […]
Washington University School of Medicine is expanding the use of solar-powered waste and recycling bins on the medical campus. In May of 2017 two sets of the Bigbelly & Smartbelly waste stations will be installed around the exterior of the new Mid-Campus Center. The Bigbelly Waste station is a solar compacting trash receptacle that is […]
The Washington University Climate Change Program (WUCCP), in collaboration with the Environmental Justice Initiative, International Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability (InCEES), and the Office of Sustainability, is working to better connect a community of 1) scholars researching and teaching about the causes, effects, and broader consequences of climate change, and 2) scholars researching and […]
Over 150 people attended the first-ever major showcase and celebration of Washington University’s environment, energy, and sustainability initiatives. The April 19th event brought together community partners, alumni, and industry professionals with WashU faculty, students, and staff at the beautiful St. Louis Art Museum (SLAM). The dynamic event, dubbed “EnviroSLAM”, featured over 20 major university initiatives, […]
On April 5, over 250 regional leaders, non-profit and governmental agencies, planning practitioners, and community advocates, attended the OneSTL Sustainability Summit, an event that was the result of a year-and-a-half collaboration between many of the area universities, several non profits, and East-West Gateway. The shared goal of the hosts and attendees was to learn, share information, […]
RecycleMania is an eight-week period in which schools across the country report waste diversion data for three waste streams: landfill, recycle and food organics, and are then ranked in a variety of competitions. The information is compiled and compared to determine each school’s relative standing on per capita waste generation and the overall waste […]
Q: What do you do with old CDs? What about pet supplies or art supplies? Or cans of paint? A: Recycle them! When residential single stream recycling was launched in the City of St. Louis in 2011, it led to a threefold increase in recycling in the first year alone. Since then, progress has plateaued – […]
Join the Office of Sustainability, Parking and Transportation Services and our partners for a month of exciting events centered around Active Transportation! Active Transportation – biking, walking, and using public transit – is beneficial not only to the environment but to personal health and wellness, and is becoming increasingly significant on our campus with the […]
Last spring, Washington University’s Office of Sustainability and Human Resources Department partnered to offer a second pick up location for a community supported agriculture (CSA) program provided by Local Farmer CSA. The pick up at the West Campus parking garage is an option that builds on a very successful model that has been operational at the […]
Sustainable living can often mean going out of your way, changing your habits, or trying new things. This can be a challenge for seasoned veterans and eager learners alike, but the resources provided in this list of smartphone apps can poise you to confidently make sustainable choices in all areas and contribute to the creation […]
The WashU Green Ambassador (WUGA) Program is a student-managed, peer-education program supported by the Office of Sustainability that orients new students to the sustainability initiatives on WashU’s campus. WUGAs play a critical role in training first year student to adopt behaviors that align with WashU’s culture of sustainability, behaviors that they will carry with them during […]
The Climate Team within the Office of Sustainability and the Department of Environmental Studies, with the support of I-CARES, has been working to build a “Climate on Campus” database that details all the opportunities for research, education and action at Washington University to address climate change and its consequences. The master list will showcase WashU classes, […]
On March 13-15 Washington University proudly hosted the 2017 annual conference of the Missouri Chapter of the Association of Physical Plant Administrators (MOAPPA). The mission of MOAPPA is to support educational excellence through quality leadership and professional management, and the annual conference helps meet that mission through an agenda geared toward professional development and best […]
On Tuesday, March 28th the Office of Sustainability and the Knight Center will be hosting an e-waste recycling and confidential paper shredding event. All are welcome to bring accepted items to the collection drive, outside Knight and Bauer Hall on Snow Way Drive between 8am and 1pm. All confidential papers and hard drives will be securely and […]
On February 6, the Buder Center for American Indian Studies hosted a symposium on indigenous rights and environmental justice at Washington University’s Hillman Hall. The symposium addressed environmental and cultural issues relevant to St. Louis and the Dakota Access Pipeline project in North Dakota. The event featured a diverse and dynamic group of presenters. Keynote speaker Harold Frazier, […]
Are you interested to enhance your student leadership skills while fostering a sustainability culture on campus? Apply to be a team leader for the 2017-18 Washington University Green Ambassador (WUGA) program! The Office of Sustainability launched the Green Ambassador program in 2013, and it transitioned to being a student-managed program in 2015. Under the guidance of […]
The Office of Sustainability is pleased to welcome ten new part-time associates this semester. From left to right: Sam Emery, Jenna Schnitzler, Alexis Vidaurreta, Ankita Bhalla, Camille Rieber, Sofia Joison, Annalise Wagner, Sean Fallon, Channing Hunter, and Ashwin Sundaresan. This dynamic group of students will work alongside 12 returning associates and 3.5 staff members to […]
On January 27, the first annual Washington University Green Carpet Awards recognized the 55 university offices that certified or re-certified with the Green Office Program in 2016. To certify, an office must first fulfill requirements that promote a sustainable workplace and environment, ranging from sourcing recycled-content paper to eliminating individual space heaters. Since the program […]
Beginning December 10, Residential Life and Sharing With A Purpose (SWAP) are providing a new service for students interested to donate old or unused items before heading home for the winter break. Similar to the Share our Stuff move-out drive each May, the collection service makes it easy to divert unneeded items like clothing, kitchenware, and dorm supplies […]
Like the State of Missouri, the City of St. Louis, and St. Louis County, WashU has been working to limit idling by vehicles. WashU’s no-idling policy has been in place since early 2009 and helps reduce the pollution caused by vehicles running when parked or waiting for passengers. Emissions produced by vehicles endanger public health […]
November 15 annually marks America Recycles Day, a day in which we celebrate advances in recycling and redouble efforts to increase public awareness and participation in community recycling efforts. Recycling is often described as the gateway to sustainability because it’s easy to understand why reducing, reusing and recycling whenever possible has a positive impact on the […]
On October 22, Washington University Students for International Collaboration on the Environment (WUSICE) presented the second annual Washington University Climate Change Negotiations (WUCCN). During the event, around thirty WashU undergraduate students, law students, and students and staff from other universities participated in a simulation of the annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) […]
WashU’s Green Office program is a point-based, self-assessment checklist that enables offices to evaluate their current practices and set goals to be more sustainable moving forward. Congratulations to recent participants: Office of Central Services & Mail Receiving Office of Access Control School of Medicine’s FMD Supply Room Office of Student Technology Services Habif Health and Wellness […]
The Office of Sustainability is excited to introduce a new volunteer program, Recycling Geniuses, which has been developed to help address waste contamination on campus. Recycling Geniuses will receive training on new recycling guidelines and will help with a three-week education blitz in key dining areas. The Recycling Genius program was developed in response to […]
Food Day is a national event that takes place October 24. It is intended to inspire Americans to make healthy changes in our diets and to take action to solve food-related problems in our communities. WashU is celebrating Food Day throughout the week of October 24-28 with a theme of Food Justice. We envision a food […]
On Friday September 30, the Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM) celebrated its employees by hosting its annual Employee Picnic. Beginning at 11a, thousands of employees started lining up to enjoy BBQ from Kendrick’s Meats and Catering, Ted Drewes custard, and a variety of carnival games for prizes. Since 2013, the Office of Sustainability has worked with […]
Week one of Active Transportation Month (ATM) is underway and has featured several exciting events. On October 1, the Office of Sustainability collaborated with the Outing Club for a bike trip to Grove Fest. Attendees (shown above) enjoyed a ride through Forest Park en route to this annual event, which features street performers, live music, and a variety […]