Fall Sustainability Accomplishments!
The Ecologue features a deeper dive into sustainability news and updates at Oregon State University. The latest story features OSU's recent sustainability accomplishments! Click HERE to read more about OSU's recognition in the Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges: 2025 Edition, the 2024 Sustainable Campus Index, and a grant from the Community Renewable Energy Grant Program!
Sustainability Council
The OSU Sustainability Council unites student clubs and organizations – and individual students – with passion for sustainability and social justice at OSU. As part of Council, students support new and existing sustainability work at OSU – such as deciding how to allocate university resources or volunteering for events like the Clothing Swap. Stay up to date with council on instagram! @osu.suscouncil
OSU Recognized as a Top Performer in 2024 Sustainable Campus Index
Oregon State University has again been recognized in the 2024 Sustainable Campus Index! This year, OSU tops the list for the institution with the most STARS reports of any school, and for a perfect score of 100% for Coordination and Planning! The Index, a publication from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), recognizes top-performing colleges and universities overall and in 17 impact areas, as measured through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). View the report here!
Recommissioning Campus Buildings Reduces Carbon Impact
Facilities Services and the Sustainability Office have been working together to optimize building heating and cooling systems to reduce wasted energy. Since the effort began in the summer of 2022, OSU has saved an estimated $215,000 in energy costs and moved closer to the goal of carbon neutral by 2025. The process is called recommissioning, which includes analyzing and improving the existing mechanical and building control systems to better meet occupant needs and increase energy efficiency. Two recent projects have included the Linus Pauling Science Center and Nash Hall. Linus Pauling Science Center reduced its energy usage by $100,000 in the first year since recommissioning and Nash Hall is estimated to save $75,000 per year.