With input from a variety of campus collaborators, the Office of Sustainability is releasing an interactive, multimedia, GIS map-based Sustainability Tour of Washington University’s Danforth Campus. The tour features eighteen locations that showcase WashU’s efforts to transform our historic campus into a truly sustainable campus. These locations make up a small sample of the variety of ways by which WashU is fully committed to […]
This summer the Office of Sustainability will be hosting a series of Recycling Genius Lunch & Learns. The Recycling Genius training consists of a brief, yet in-depth, training on what can be recycled and composted and why. Once you are trained as a Recycling Genius, you can provide presentations to groups (like your office) or […]
Lime, the dockless bike share company recently introduced to St. Louis and soon to campus, is currently seeking a Student Brand Manager (SBM) to help execute marketing initiatives and support operational efforts at WashU. The SBM will work alongside Lime’s Local Operations Manager and WashU’s Bike Share Coordinator to assist with the execution of Lime on […]
The heat has kicked off and so have the associates working for the Office of Sustainability. About two weeks ago, the Office welcomed six new full time summer associates coming from diverse backgrounds. The team consists of three undergraduate students, one graduate student, and two College Prep graduates, a program for first generation college students […]
Since 2014, Washington University in St. Louis has pursued zero waste receptions throughout the Commencement celebration. Typically, receptions achieve 98% waste diversion through recycling and composting. Some of our standard practices include: 100% recyclable or compostable serviceware at each commencement reception. Waste collection stations with trained volunteers and staff to help attendees correctly sort waste […]
This summer, the Office of Sustainability, in partnership with Parking and Transportation Services (Danforth) and the Operations & Facilities Management Department (WUSM), is bringing back the Summer Commuter Resource Fair series, featuring services and service providers that support employees and graduate students in their transportation choices. Alternative transportation – which includes biking, walking, public transit, […]
L. Irene Compadre graduated two times from WashU: in 2008, with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture that she completed after studying a combination of architecture and sculpture, and in 2012, with a Master of Landscape Architecture. Today, in addition to working as an adjunct faculty at the Sam Fox School of Visual Arts, she is the founding principal of Arbolope Studio […]
The Burning Kumquat is the on-campus, student run, organic garden located right next door to the Alumni House on the South 40. During the school year, the farm functions as a student club involving members pitching in at workdays and selling produce at DUC markets. But in the summer, when most students are gone and […]
“Walk Smart. Bike Smart. Drive Smart.” – The Pedestrian and Vehicular Safety and Education Program has the straightforward goal of making the WashU School of Medicine campus a safe place for all types of commuters. The WUSM community had the chance to see this program represented at the recent Earth Day festival in Hope Plaza. […]
A couple of weeks ago, the WashU School of Medicine welcomed Alicia Hubert, who will be the first Sustainability Coordinator for the medical campus. In her new role, Alicia will be in the Operations & Facilities Management Department on the WUSM campus and she will also work closely with the Office of Sustainability to coordinate […]
Spring has finally arrived in St. Louis and Dave Smith of Local Farmer CSA is excited for the new produce and beautiful weather the season brings. It’s a great time for WashU community members to check out the CSA and Farmer’s Market offerings. Each season brings new produce in the weekly farm boxes and at […]
Over the past several years, the Green Rehab team at the Office of Sustainability has been implementing an exciting research project to investigate the impact of environmentally focused renovations on WashU off-campus residential buildings. This year, the team has undertaken a second phase of the project: engaging residents to explore the impact of habits and […]
As of Monday morning, Mayor Lyda Krewson has officially announced the launch of Bike Sharing in the City of St. Louis. Ofo and LimeBike, two private companies who have been granted permits to operate within the city, have deployed hundreds of colorful bikes around various St. Louis neighborhoods, available for anyone and everyone. This milestone […]
Above: Students in the Sustainability Exchange visit Earth Dance Farms to learn about urban farming for their project that addressed food access. Browsing through WebSTAC for the right courses can be tricky, but luckily there are a few resources available to find courses related to environmental topics for this summer and fall. Recently, initiatives have […]
SWAP is getting ready for Share Our Stuff, its end-of-semester donation initiative, and is looking for volunteers! Partnering with WashU ResLife, the Office of Sustainability, and WashU Facilities, SWAP is mobilizing a campus-wide (and off-campus WashU owned) collection for anything usable that would otherwise be thrown out. How it works: Donation bins will be placed […]
Mobility For All By All (MFABA) is a collaborative project exploring equitable mobility in St. Louis, initiated about a year ago by three faculty members at the Sam Fox School, Assistant Professor of Communication Design Penina C. Laker, Associate Professor of Urban Design Linda Samuels, and Senior Urban Designer and Lecturer Matt Bernstine. Receiving funds […]
Campus Next is a WashU channel intended to inform the community about campus physical changes. A few weeks ago, Campus Next led an exclusive interview with Railesha Tiwari, first Sustainable Design and Construction Project Manager at WashU, about her unique role and impact on new construction and renovation projects. The article can be found here. The […]
Join the Office of Sustainability, Parking and Transportation Services and friends for a month of exciting events centered around Active Transportation! With many fun and educational events throughout the month of April, we aim to recognize and support our active commuters, encourage current drivers to utilize alternative transportation, educate about mobility and safety on campus […]
The following article has been contributed by SWAP (Sharing With A Purpose), the only nonprofit student business at Washington University. Claire Irawan, Sustainability Coordinator for SWAP and freshman at WashU, tells us about PLAN and its involvement with WashU’s Earth Week. WashU’s nonprofit Sharing With A Purpose (SWAP) is proud to bring the Points of […]
Danica Yu graduated from WashU in 2015 with majors in Environmental Policy and Anthropology: Global Health & Environment. She helped develop and grow the Green Office Program during her seven semesters as one of the first interns at the Office of Sustainability. In February, she traveled from California to attend the 2nd annual Green Carpet Awards […]
On Thursday, February 15th, the rain didn’t stop students and community leaders in environmental justice from attending the Spring 2018 Environmental Justice Ice Cream Social – if anything it quickened their pace to the Brown School for an evening of presentations, ice cream, and internship-seeking. Nearly 80 students from across campus, undergraduates and graduates, gathered […]
Last fall, the City of St. Louis Board of Aldermen unanimously passed a Resolution calling for the City to pursue a transition to 100% clean energy by 2035, following the path of 46 other US cities that committed to phase out of fossil fuel before 2050. By passing this Resolution, the city of St. Louis […]
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 […]
Every month, the Office of Sustainability meets with a WashU staff or faculty member that has adopted alternative forms of transportation to commute to and from work. The goal behind these stories is to highlight the diversity of patterns and to demonstrate the value that transportation can have on one’s everyday life. With the construction […]
Along with the crisp fall air, September brings with it a shifting landscape. By this time the school year is in full swing, but as you are bustling about campus, spare a moment to take in the landscape: all around you are thriving communities of plants. At any given time, these plants are doing much […]
For most first year students, entering WashU is an adventure. Not only they are jumping from high school to one of the biggest institution in the nation, but they are also leaving home to move in a new and unknown city. With almost three million inhabitants and hundreds of neighborhoods, the St Louis metropolitan area […]
With students coming back to campus, the quiet summer time at WashU is over. For most of us, the beginning of school is a busy time when classes, events and meetings are competing for a space in our calendar. To get through this hectic period in the most sustainable way possible, WashU offers many opportunities […]
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 […]
The end of another year is upon us and that means another class of Office of Sustainability Associates will be graduating. The WashU Sustainability Alumni Network will be adding 6 names to its list. Our graduates were asked to share their post-graduate plans and some words of wisdom as they reflect on their time at WashU […]
One component of the Green Rehab Experiment is to determine if a combination of energy efficiency upgrades, solar panel installations, and reduced energy consumption can result in a century-old apartment building that satisfies the annual energy needs of its occupants solely through on-site renewable energy generation. An experimental apartment building was retrofitted to this end, […]
WashU students, staff, and faculty can participate in a year-round Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program partnership with Local Farmer CSA. Program members receive a weekly or bi-weekly Crop Box filled with locally grown produce, eggs, and/or other artisan goods. Options start at $20 per box for students and $29.99 per box for employees, with pick-up sites at […]
Waste sorting is a dynamic and evolving practice, with changes in the market, materials and technology influencing what is in the waste stream and how the materials should be sorted properly for maximum diversion from the landfill. Ready-to-go materials below can be downloaded and printed for updating signage in your living, learning and work spaces. […]
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 […]
Believe it or not, buildings use an estimated 40% of all energy consumed in the United States. That’s a big contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, and although we can now construct extremely energy efficient buildings like the Bullitt Center in Seattle, we still need to worry about all of the existing ones that were built decades before […]
The Washington University Green Ambassador (WUGA) program launched in 2013 and gives students the opportunity to become sustainability leaders across campus. This year, 30 WUGAs completed training and are volunteering across residence halls, dining facilities, and at large events to help first-year students with waste sorting and to provide sustainability resources. Over the first 40 days of the semester, they helped […]
Washington University Students for International Collaboration on the Environment (WUSICE) is hosting its second annual Washington University Climate Change Negotiations (WUCCN). WUCCN is a mock climate change negotiations, modeled after the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP). WUCCN is a great opportunity for anyone interested in international negotiations, COP, […]
October is Active Transportation Month (ATM) at Washington University. The goal of ATM is to motivate staff, faculty, and students to kick the car habit and try active, low-carbon means of transportation. If you cannot imagine going car-free, consider carpooling or budgeting time to try transit one or two days during the month. If you are […]
October is Active Transportation Month (ATM) at Washington University. The goal of ATM is to motivate staff, faculty, and students to kick the car habit and try active, low-carbon means of transportation. If you cannot imagine going car-free, consider carpooling or budgeting time to try transit one or two days during the month. If you are […]
Every building at WUSM is supported by dedicated Facilities Management Technicians (FMT’s) who get to know the specific equipment that supports the university community and its mission. A recent suggestion related to the central vacuum pump systems from Steve Lawrence, in Operations and Facilities Management Department has us looking for ways to communicate with our […]
“Courtesy is Contagious” is a campaign that aims to help bicyclists and pedestrians have a more enjoyable, low-stress, and safe commute. Led by the Parking & Transportation department, the campaign promotes ways for WashU community members to positively interact with cyclists and pedestrians while out and about, which includes being alert and courteous when sharing paths and roads. […]
The School of Medicine’s (WUSM) Facilities Management Department has been involved in two recent efforts at the Central Institute for the Deaf (CID) to optimize the operation of the space conditioning equipment at the school and research buildings in order to save energy and lower operating costs. The Facilities Management Department has operated and maintained the CID’s […]
The end of the 2016 academic year was marked with celebrations across campus. Two of the most notable celebrations, Commencement and Staff Day, were carefully organized to reflect the values of the university, with sustainability playing a key role in planning and decision-making. Commencement Numerous partners came together to plan and execute the waste diversion effort […]
Washington University was recently recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus USA recipient for 2015. The campus is home to over 4,000 trees, with 100 plus species which include Shawnee Brave Bald Cypress, Valley Forge, Emerald Sunshine, Lacebark, Frontier, Princeton Elms, Princeton Sentry Gingko, Swamp White, Sawtooth, Willow, Swamp Chestnut, Chinkapin Oaks, Tulip Poplar, […]
The School of Medicine’s new 4515 McKinley Research Building has received LEED Gold certification. Located at the corner of McKinley and Taylor, the new research building is dedicated to interdisciplinary research on some of the most complex problems in human biology. LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that […]
Every Thursday from 10a until 2p, Washington University’s School of Medicine sponsors a Farmer’s Market. Between April and early November, the market is located on Hope Plaza. During inclement weather and from late November through March, it moves indoors to the McDonnell Pediatric Research atrium. A variety of vendors participate, bringing local items for purchase. Vendors include […]
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: Department of Anthropology (Silver) Genetics Business Office (Gold) Office for Socially Engaged Practice (Platinum) Office of the Dean of Faculty of Arts & Sciences (Silver) Environmental […]
Looking for a unique way to enjoy events around town this summer? How about helping them reduce waste by interacting with attendees and educating them on properly sorting their waste? If you like getting your hands dirty, sharing your passion for recycling and composting with others, and feeling satisfied that you made a real difference […]
On April 13-14, WashU, SLU, Missouri S&T, and Ameren co-hosted the Sustainable Energy Future Conference, which featured dynamic presentations and dialogue about the future of low- and no-carbon energy. The conference was attended by over 200 people from businesses, government, higher education, and community organizations. The conference explored sustainable energy in four topic areas: utility […]