Sustainability

Sustainability is incorporated campus-wide into daily operations in energy, buildings, landscape, and waste management.

The Office of Sustainability (OOS) plans and designs the vision, strategy, and initiatives that align with campus procedures, processes, incentives, and resource management to meet the standards set in the university’s strategic plan for sustainable operations.

Across campus, sustainability is incorporated in many ways:

Solar panel installation on Weil Hall.

Renewable Energy

The Danforth Campus Utility group reduces greenhouse gas emissions by increasing renewable energy, following the buildings performance standard (BEPS), adopting the Danforth Setpoint Policy, and enrolling in Ameren’s Peak Time Savings Program. 

Maintenance Operations Grounds crew

Landscape

The Maintenance Operations Grounds crew maintains the landscape through the methods of increasing tree species biodiversity, green spaces, and native plant species on the Danforth campus to foster human and environmental health. 

sustainable design standards

Buildings

FPM Capital Projects and OOS work to implement efficient and sustainable design standards by metering energy and water usage for each academic building, automating thermostats and LED lights, and strategically designing the buildings to use natural lighting.

Recycling & Waste Management
Recycling & Waste Management

Washington University in St. Louis strives to meet the goal of zero waste on campus through waste reduction and reuse programs and outreach programs such as the WashU Green Ambassadors.

Sustainability Campus Tour
Sustainability Campus Tour

Discover eighteen locations showcasing the university’s efforts to transform its historic campus into a truly sustainable campus through this interactive Sustainability Tour. 

Recognition & Awards
Recognition & Awards

Washington University in St. Louis has the goal to serve as a national leader in sustainability. The awards and recognition the university has received exemplify our regional and national excellence on a number of sustainability fronts.

Sustainability News

Celebrating Sustainability Champions at the Green Carpet Awards  (Links to an external site)

Celebrating Sustainability Champions at the Green Carpet Awards 
Sustainability champions from across the university gathered to celebrate significant projects and programs that are enhancing sustainability efforts and impact. Ed Soltero, Assistant Vice Chancellor and University Architect, presented the key trends related to sustainability in building design and the important role building occupants play in actualizing the intentions of green buildings. As the University Architect, […]

WashU Receives AASHE STARS Gold Accreditation (Links to an external site)

WashU Receives AASHE STARS Gold Accreditation
Washington University in St. Louis has been awarded Gold status accreditation from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), renewing certification at the same level as its last certification in 2018, though on a more rigorous version of the reporting tool.

Arts & Sciences shares building project updates, names architect (Links to an external site)

Arts & Sciences shares building project updates, names architect
New York-based architectural firm Weiss/Manfredi has been selected to lead the design of the new Arts & Sciences building, set to be constructed at the heart of the Danforth Campus. The firm’s selection marks one of the first major milestones in the project, which was announced in December 2021 during the launch of the Arts & Sciences Strategic Plan.

Lights Out Pledge Protects Migrating Birds (Links to an external site)

Lights Out Pledge Protects Migrating Birds
Each year, billions of birds pass through the United States on their way to seasonal destinations. And each year, these birds are among the 600,000 birds that die after colliding with buildings. Cities like St. Louis pose a disproportionate risk to birds, as the geography, developmental spread and glow of night time lights converge to create significant obstacles to these long-distance travelers.  

Arts & Sciences announces plan for new building, launches strategic plan (Links to an external site)

Arts & Sciences announces plan for new building, launches strategic plan
Washington University in St. Louis plans to construct a new state-of-the-art building for Arts & Sciences, the largest school on the Danforth Campus, announced Chancellor Andrew D. Martin. The university’s Board of Trustees was advised of the administration’s commitment for the new building, estimated to be between 90,000 and 120,000 square feet. This project will move forward through the board approval process. The building and the surrounding landscape will create a new quad at the heart of campus, west of Olin Library and north of Graham Chapel.

More News & Achievements ≫

Phil Valko

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Sustainability

Visit the Sustainability website for additional contacts.

Upcoming Events

Visit the Sustainability website for upcoming events!