University Receives 2024 Gold AASHE STARS Recognition
The University of Pittsburgh has achieved AASHE STARS Gold for the second time!
Earth Month 2024
Happy Earth Month! As members of the Pitt community, we have the power to make a significant impact on the environment.
On the first Earth Day in1970, an estimated 20 million people attended inaugural events across tens of thousands of schools, universities, and community sites. As a result of the growing public demand for cleaner water, air, and land, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established that same year.
2023 Watershed Sampling Day Results Released by Pittsburgh Water Collaboratory
In 2023, the Pittsburgh Water Collaboratory and Allegheny County Conservation District conducted a countywide Watershed Sampling Day. Nearly 40 trained volunteers collected water samples at 44 tributaries of interest.
Pitt Green Spotlight: Pitt Athletics Administrative Office & Strategic Communications (March 2024)
The Pitt Green Spotlight is a monthly series highlighting Pitt’s Green Offices & Labs!
Zero Waste Laundry Sheet Pilot in Lothrop Hall
Residents of Lothrop Hall now have a unique opportunity to help reduce waste on-campus just by doing their laundry. Starting in February 2024, Pitt Housing is piloting a zero waste refillable laundry sheet dispenser from Generation Conscious. The dispenser eliminates consumer packaging and the sheets are made without water, reducing the waste and carbon impact of laundry on campus – and best of all, it’s currently available for free to Lothrop Hall residents from a laundry room dispenser.
Pitt Green Spotlight: Big Idea Center (February 2024)
The Pitt Green Spotlight is a monthly series highlighting Pitt’s Green Offices & Labs!
Pitt Green Spotlight: Carvunis Lab (January 2024)
The Pitt Green Spotlight is a monthly series highlighting Pitt’s Green Offices & Labs!
All We Can Save “Circles” Pilot Addressing Climate Anxiety Launching in 2024
The University of Pittsburgh has been actively working to combat, mitigate and adapt to our climate emergency since the nineties, and in that time, much progress has been made!
2024 Pitt Sustainability Award Nominations Are Open
Do you or someone you know radiate the spirit of a sustainability leader at the University of Pittsburgh?
Nominate yourself or your peers for a 2024 Pitt Sustainability Award in 1 of 3 categories:
Report from the Faculty Ad Hoc Committee for Sustainability (2023)
To advance the Plan for Pitt and University-wide Sustainability goals, the 2022-23 Ad Hoc Faculty Committee on Sustainability was charged by the Provost to develop recommendations for a University-wide sustainability institute, including establishing a vision, mission, and goals; identifying measurable actions to elevate sustainability research, education, and outreach; and developing a governance model, among other elements.
Pitt Joins U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Climate Challenge
The University of Pittsburgh recently joined the over 175 partners pursuing bold, measurable action against climate change and taking part in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Better Climate Challenge.
In doing so, Pitt reaffirmed its own commitment to carbon neutrality by 2037 and support for broader national climate action.
2022-23 Pittsburgh Collaboratory for Water Annual Report
In fiscal year 2023, the University of Pittsburgh’s Water Collaboratory completed a number of impactful projects and partnerships, with research on landslides, drinking water systems, water quality across our rivers and regional tributaries, and the impacts of industrial legacies.
In fiscal year 2023, Pitt’s Water Collaboratory published 12 articles and 3 community engaged reports.
Pitt GHG Inventory for Fiscal Year 2022
Reflecting the University of Pittsburgh’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality for the Pittsburgh campus by 2037 the results of Pitt’s Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory for the Pittsburgh campus are summarized below, showcasing Pitt’s progress on GHG reductions and commitment to annual GHG inventories.
Pitt Nitrogen Inventory for FY22
Learn about Pitt’s annual Nitrogen Inventory, a complement to the annual greenhouse gas inventory.
The University of Pittsburgh’s nitrogen footprint analysis was completed as part of the University’s annual greenhouse gas inventorying process. For fiscal year 2022, Pitt’s net nitrogen footprint totaled 129.95 metric tons, a 30% decrease from FY19 (the first year the Nitrogen inventory was performed). However, this footprint is up 28.5% over FY21, primarily due to the food and wastewater categories.
2022-23 Research Annual Report, Sustainability Section
The University of Pittsburgh’s 2022-23 Annual Report of Research was recently published by the Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Research. The University of Pittsburgh is currently ranked third in National Institute of Health (NIH) funding cementing us as one of the premier research institutions in the country.