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Sustainability at AU

Sustainability is the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It’s about using our resources responsibly, but it’s also about making sure all people today and in the future can thrive. The concept of sustainability is comprised of three pillars: environment, society, and economy. When a system is good for the environment, people, and the economy, we get closer to achieving sustainability.

In 2009, Â鶹´«Ã½ signed Second Nature’s , acknowledging the threat of climate change and the unique role universities can play in fighting it. The Office of Sustainability was created to assess AU’s impact on the environment and work with the community to improve our campus systems to lessen that impact. Since then, we have been working to measure, report, partner, and act on a wide variety of sustainable activities. In 2018, AU became the first university to achieve carbon neutrality. We also fully divested our endowment from fossil fuels in 2020 and released our current sustainability plan in 2021, and in 2024, we broke ground on the Meltzer Center, which is designed to be our first and ²ú³Ü¾±±ô»å¾±²Ô²µ.Ìý

Yes, we track and report on our progress in several ways. We calculate and report our annual inventory of greenhouse gas emissions through . To measure progress in the environmental, social, and economic aspects of sustainability work, AU uses the (STARS). Finally, we evaluate our progress against AU’s sustainability plan.

At Â鶹´«Ã½, many departments and organizations are engaging with sustainability on campus. The Office of Sustainability, Facilities Management (which includes Zero Waste, Arboretum and Grounds, and Energy and Engineering teams), Transportation, and Dining Services are all actively engaged in implementing sustainability initiatives. In addition, offices across campus are certified Green Offices, over 600 faculty members are certified Green Teachers, and numerous student organizations are centered around at least one aspect of sustainability.

AU builds all new buildings to standards. AU’s campus is currently home to 10 LEED-certified buildings, with an additional building in the process of becoming certified. In addition to investing in offsite renewable energy, AU has installed nearly 2,500 solar panels on rooftops across campus.

Yes. AU offers several programs to encourage and incentivize sustainable commuting, including the U-Pass program, a bicycle commuter benefit for staff and faculty, and discounted memberships to Capital Bikeshare for students. A map of biking resources can be found .

We’d be happy to assist. First, please review our website; the answers to many common questions can be found throughout the site. Then, you are welcome to contact sustainability@american.edu to schedule a time to meet with an Office of Sustainability staff member. When writing, provide as much information about your project as possible. Please note: If you are working on a group project, please meet with us as a group. We do not have the capacity to meet with group members individually. In addition, please contact us as early as possible; last minute requests cannot always fit into our schedule.

Carbon neutrality refers to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions. In 2018, Â鶹´«Ã½ became the first university, first urban higher education institution, and first research university to achieve carbon neutrality. To learn more about AU's journey to carbon neutrality and the verification process, visit our Carbon Neutrality page.

Getting Involved

Everyone can contribute to improving the health and wellbeing of our environment, both on and off campus. Learn more about how to get involved on campus here.

Yes, the Office of Sustainability offers sustainability internships for undergraduate students on a yearly basis. We also support additional internships and volunteer opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, as needed. To be notified about upcoming opportunities, please .

Please visit our Events Page to see what’s coming up. We hope to see you at an event soon.

Planning for a sustainable and zero waste event starts before you place your catering orders. To host a more sustainable event, use our Green Event Guidelines to green your event from start to finish. Staff and faculty event planners are invited to take our training, Hosting Green Events at AU, on Workday. 

Absolutely. We maintain a list of environmental student organizations on our Get Involved page. Please contact individual organizations for more information.

The Office of Sustainability offers a number of resources to support faculty interested in including campus sustainability in the classroom. Please visit our Sustainability Across the Curriculum page to learn more about greening your courses.

Great! Visit our Get Involved page to learn more about our Green Office and Green Home Office programs for staff, as well as events and other resources for our whole community.

If you have an idea for campus sustainability project, or if you would like to implement a project yourself, please contact sustainability@american.edu to schedule a time to discuss your idea with a staff member. We can help you refine your concept, determine the feasibility of the project, and help identify necessary campus partners. The Office of Sustainability also administers a Sustainability Fund for students, faculty, and staff projects.

Waste Management

AU offers mixed recycling bins across campus for paper products and bottles and cans, in addition to separate receptables for e-waste and plastic wraps and bags. Visit our Zero Waste page for a list of items that can be recycled.

Yes. In accordance with the D.C.’s , all items should be clean and empty of food and residue before recycling.

AU offers compost bins in all buildings across main campus. Visit our Zero Waste page for a list of items that can be composted.

Compost, recycling, and landfill waste are collected in separate bins with corresponding bags of different colors: compost is collected in compostable green bags, recycling in clear bags, and trash in black bags. Our campus compost is collected by a team of paid students who work with AU’s Zero Waste team. Recycling and trash bins are emptied by the university’s housekeeping staff. From campus, all recycling and trash is transported to a waste transfer station in D.C. where the bags are sorted onto municipal trucks that deliver them to the proper facility. Our compost goes to an industrial composting facility in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Learn more on our Zero Waste page.

No. The only person who has control over what materials are put into which waste stream is you. If you are unsure about which bin to use for a certain item, we recommend reviewing our waste sorting guides.

Have a question about campus sustainability?

Get in touch with the Office of Sustainability.

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