It’s Easy Being Green: Sustainability Solutions Symposium

University staff often fall in the “missing middle,” ineligible for strictly defined affordable housing but still lacking the means to live near campus, which can make employee recruitment and retention a major challenge. This session will explore creative ways universities can partner with local communities to increase on- and near-campus affordable housing that meets modern environmental standards and doesn’t displace long-term residents. Making housing greener and more accessible is a form of impact investing, which seeks opportunities to deploy capital in ways that have intentional, direct and measurable positive effects on environmental or social outcomes, while generating competitive risk-adjusted returns.

After several years of pandemic stresses and economic volatility, colleges and universities have begun focusing on long-overdue deferred maintenance projects. They are also taking renewed interest in sustainability initiatives, with many institutions accelerating efforts to meet net-zero carbon goals or adding such goals to their strategic plans. In this session, we will explore ways institutions can use creative financing structures and partnerships to address deferred maintenance, expand operations and enhance sustainability initiatives.

The University of Washington is recognized as a national leader for its deep commitment to sustainability on its campuses and in the community. Sustainability has been a core principle of UW Bothell since the inception of its campus in the 1990s. UW Bothell leaders will share their interdisciplinary approach to achieving environmental sustainability in research, teaching, campus operations, student life, and community partnerships.

As the U.S. implements its environmental justice, clean energy transition, and green jobs legislation, it must address critical gaps in the education and training of the present and future green workforce. Historically marginalized communities face significant gaps in green learning opportunities, hindering their access to well-paying green careers and their ability to lead sustainable and equitable change. Without strengthening the role of postsecondary institutions, including regional public universities, to address these gaps, the country risks falling short of its goal to transition to a low-carbon economy while leaving no one behind. This session will examine the extent of these education and training gaps and aim to identify the transformative actions postsecondary institutions can take through a New Green Learning Agenda to achieve a more just, socially-inclusive low-carbon economy.

Whether due to the effects of climate change or rising utility costs, most are in agreement that reducing consumption of utilities is a worthwhile pursuit.  In addition to energy conservation, the development of renewable energy solutions provide positive environmental impact and resiliency and are of growing importance to today’s students.  Can higher education institutions get the energy infrastructure upgrades they need now and stabilize ongoing utility costs?  In response to these questions, Ameresco will provide multiple examples of such projects, and West Texas A&M University will showcase the largest utility consumption reduction and modernization project in its history.

Universities often struggle with creating regular funding for energy and sustainability efforts among all the competing demands for University funds. This session will explore how to build a reliable financial model for making significant changes in campus operations. Utility costs are large portion of University expense and managing risk associated with these costs is an important aspect of maintaining energy savings for future sustainable development. Weber State will show they have achieved 50% utility cost reduction without using funding mechanisms outside of traditional/typical appropriations. With an original plan of being carbon neutral by 2050, Weber State is on track to be carbon neutral by 2040 with minimal carbon offsets for scope 1 and scope 2.