Campus Sustainability
UCSB continues to excel as a leader in sustainability among higher education institutions. Home to one of the nation’s first Environmental Studies programs and the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UCSB has a long history of promoting sustainability, conducting environmental research, and encouraging resource conservation. Today, UCSB’s sustainability programs have expanded to reduce environmental impacts and improve the campus’ operations in 12 areas: academics & research; built environment; communications; energy; alternative energy; food; labs, shops & studios; landscape & the biotic environment; procurement; transportation; waste; and water.
By turning off lights, printing double-sided, or taking the extra moment to recycle, individuals make everyday choices that drive the success of UCSB’s sustainability programs and drastically reduce the campus’ impact on the environment. Students address environmental issues through 39 environmentally- or sustainability-related campus organizations, including the Environmental Affairs Board, which is the largest student group at UCSB. From organizing beach clean-ups to partaking in international energy policy discussions, these organizations offer a full spectrum of opportunities to students who want to get involved with sustainability. For example, The Green Initiative Fund is student-directed and awards over $150,000 each year to students, staff, and faculty to finance projects that aim to reduce UCSB’s environmental impacts. Similarly, the student-led Renewable Energy Initiative Governance Board facilitates the implementation of projects to supply the campus with renewable energy.
Additionally, students from the PowerSave Green Campus, PACES (Program for the Assessment and Certification for the Environment and Sustainability), and LabRATS (Laboratory Resources, Advocates, and Teamwork for Sustainability) programs audit campus facilities to assess their performance and provide suggestions for improvement. While these are just a few examples of the campus’ numerous sustainability programs, UCSB also encourages students to promote sustainability at the regional, national, and international levels as well.
As the goals of sustainability continue to evolve at UCSB, new challenges provide the everyday stimulus for developing fresh solutions. Some of these solutions will be discovered through the research of our campus’ scientists and engineers, while others will result from the insight of our behaviorists, humanists, staff, faculty and students. We all share a future—let’s share the solutions that make it better!