Washington University in St. Louis

Initiatives & Outreach

Energy, Environment & Sustainability

Operations

Washington University in St. Louis pursues sustainability in all of its endeavors and operations. The university has undertaken an evaluation and planning process to ensure that the community is aware of its various impacts and is making decisions that systematically give sustainability the highest priority. Some examples:

Buildings & Grounds

  • Develop a sustainability master plan to guide all development in promoting human and environmental health while being aesthetically pleasing.
  • Define our LEED (the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green building rating program of the Green Building Council) checklist for new construction, major renovations and existing buildings.
  • Monitor and manage green building performance — review and revise facilities policies to align with LEED–EBO+M (LEED for Existing Building Operations + Maintenance).
  • Reduce energy usage and potable water consumption per square foot.
  • Improve grounds maintenance to eliminate non-certified pesticides, develop shading to control heat islands, use native species and control and use storm- and groundwater.

Dining Services

  • Purchase only fair trade coffee and a percentage of food from within 150 miles by 2015.
  • Reduce solid waste, convert waste cooking oil into biodiesel, compost food organics and eliminate “all you care to eat” programs.
  • Use reusable and recyclable dishware, cups, silverware and packaging.
  • Reduce energy use with EnergyStar equipment, efficient lighting and HVAC systems.

Energy & Emissions

  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy source and fuel mix.
  • Reduce energy consumption by investing in conservation initiatives, enhancing facilities design standards and pursuing LEED-EB certification on existing buildings.

Material Management

  • Define environmentally preferable purchasing, screen all purchasing through EPP guidelines.
  • Reduce packaging and ensure that all packaging is reusable or recyclable.
  • Improve diversion of solid waste from landfill.
  • Create a sustainability code of conduct for vendors.

Transportation

  • Reduce solo automobile commuting. Promote bicycling and walking, increase use of mass transit and expand the WeCar car-sharing program.
  • Increase the fuel economy of the vehicle fleet by purchasing only the highest-rated vehicles and using electrics and hybrids. Improve fuel economy of shuttles. Implement and enforce a no-idling policy on campus.