Archive Year

Northwestern launched its first Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (ISWMP) aimed at reducing waste and protecting the environment by taking a greener approach to waste management.

Northwestern University has received a number of recognitions for its sustainability efforts over the past few months. Congratulations to our community for making progress towards our sustainability goals and leading the way toward a more sustainable future! 

Northwestern completed its second annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory for the 2017 fiscal year. sustainNU will use the results to identify emission reduction opportunities and to measure progress toward the objective of becoming net zero by 2050. 

sustainNU is a University-wide program that aims to engage students, faculty, and staff in reducing—and eventually eliminating—Northwestern’s contribution to climate change. In doing so, we will lead the way toward a greener, healthier, and more sustainable future. Check out these articles from our archives to learn about sustainNU program areas, sustainability initiatives, and national recognition.

Northwestern won its category for the third year and logged the most miles of any team during Chicago’s 2018 Bike to Work Challenge. This annual cycling challenge between organizations in the Chicago area is a friendly competition meant to highlight the health and environmental benefits of commuting by bike.

This month, Northwestern University and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlining their collaborative strategy for advancing solutions to local and global sustainability and biodiversity conservation challenges.

To reduce unnecessary waste caused by move-out, Northwestern introduced the “Take It or Leave It” program in 1994. The program provides boxes in residence halls where students can leave things they no longer want or take things left by classmates. Items left in the bins are donated to local charities. Donation boxes will be available in residence halls from June 8 through June 18.

Everyone at Northwestern can contribute to efforts to reduce the University’s environmental footprint. Sustainability-focused policies set expectations and offer guidance on how to work and live more consciously on campus.

Now is the time to get out your bikes for this year’s Bike to Work Challenge. This two-week event encourages people across the Chicago region to commute by bicycle. This year, the competition runs from Friday, June 15 through Friday, June 29.

The 17th annual PhilFest will take place this Memorial Day, May 28, on the Norris East Lawn. The concert and craft fair is hosted by Northwestern’s largest student environmental activism group, Students for Ecological and Environmental Development (SEED) with support from other sustainability groups and A&O.

The Human Resources (HR) office at 720 University Place took a big step toward green living this April. They took action to cut costs and reduce waste, and joined the growing list of on campus offices that have earned Green Office Certification through sustainNU.

Northwestern University is one of eight schools in the Big Ten Conference that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is recognizing as 2017-18 College and University Collective Conference Champions for green power use.

sustainNU answers your frequently asked questions about waste and recycling.

Nine oak trees were planted on Northwestern’s campus in celebration of Arbor Day on April 27. This event was a part of Northwestern’s April Earth Month celebrations, which included more than a dozen events involving more than 700 people.

Dining halls at Northwestern are going green. Four Northwestern dining halls in Evanston, as well as Harry’s Café on the Chicago campus, have been certified as Level 1 Certified Green Restaurants® by the Green Restaurant Association.

This year, roll into spring by helping Northwestern compete in the annual Chicago Bike2Campus challenge. Bike2Campus is a week-long competition between 11 Chicagoland institutions. The 2018 competition will take place from April 9 to 15, so gear up to help Northwestern win first place.

This April, the City of Evanston introduced new composting options that will make it easier for Evanston residents to compost food waste.

Northwestern University has received the 2018 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award for its efforts to reduce campus energy consumption and educate students, faculty, staff, and the broader community about energy efficiency.

Over the past years, the sustainNU team collaborated with Elevate Energy, a Chicago-based nonprofit with a mission of promoting smarter energy use for all, to audit Northwestern’s energy data from 2012 through 2017. The project provides tools that will allow Facilities Management to more accurately monitor and manage energy usage in buildings.

On March 24, Northwestern will participate in Earth Hour, a global “lights-out” event to save energy and raise awareness about climate change.

The Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing was motivated to get involved in the Green Office program because their staff members recognize the important role environmental justice plays in the mission of the Institute.

If you notice a massive pile of trash alongside Sheridan Road on April 25, it is not an accident. Mount Trashmore, representing the trash Northwestern sends to the landfill, has become one of the highlights of Northwestern’s annual Earth Month programming.

Earth Month at Northwestern is a call to action. Throughout April, all members of the campus community are encouraged to participate in activities including community volunteer projects and educational events focused on sustainability issues.

On March 8, Northwestern will host a screening of An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power as a part of the One Earth Film Festival. This event is free of charge and is open to students, faculty, staff, and members of the broader community.

Everyone on campus has a part to play in making Northwestern more environmentally sustainable. The Green Office Certification program guides participants through a process of identifying and acting on opportunities to save energy and conserve resources.

The Group Residence for Environmental Engagement at Northwestern (GREEN House) is a special interest residential community tucked into Northwestern’s fraternity quad. It houses undergraduate students brought together by a shared commitment to sustainable living and environmental awareness.

Northwestern collects the most common recyclable materials in mixed recycling bins distributed throughout buildings and outdoor spaces. However, since few see the next steps of the process, students and University employees occasionally express curiosity about what happens to the materials they have so carefully placed in the proper bins.

The Kellogg School of Management’s Global Hub has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification, joining Kresge Centennial Hall as a Northwestern University building to earn the U.S. Green Building Council’s highest green building rating.

Northwestern's partnerships with the local utilities distributor are essential to managing and reducing the energy use intensity in campus buildings.

Environmentally conscious organizations often refer to their sustainability efforts as focused on the triple bottom line: people, planet, and profit. Northwestern University is tackling all three elements of this sustainability framework on multiple fronts, with several departments championing specific initiatives.

Northwestern’s 2016–2017 Year in Review Sustainability Report, published this week, highlights the results of an engaged campus community dedicated to reducing the University’s environmental impact.