SD City Council to Honor USD’s Sustainability Efforts

The University of San Diego will be honored for its efforts  to conserve water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at its meeting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 12.

The council will declare April 12 “University of San Diego Sustainability Day.”

Through installation of a smart irrigation system and other efforts, USD has reduced its water consumption by 25 percent or 40 million gallons, placing usage levels to what they were in 1991, when USD’s square footage and student population were half of what they are today.

USD also has partnered with San Diego Gas & Electric to create a more sustainable campus with a smaller environmental footprint by reducing greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency and a commitment to renewable energy. USD has partnered with AMSOLAR to install 1.2 megawatts of renewable solar energy, representing 15 percent of the university’s peek energy needs.

“We are delighted to receive this recognition from the San Diego City Council that reflects our commitment to becoming one of the greenest campuses in the country,” said Michael Catanzaro, USD’s director of Sustainability.

USD is engaged in a number of sustainability efforts including plans to open an E-Recycling Center on Wednesday, April 20 during Earth Week.

About the University of San Diego

The University of San Diego sets the standard for an engaged, contemporary Catholic university where innovative Changemakers confront humanity’s urgent challenges. With more than 8,000 students from 75 countries and 44 states, USD is the youngest independent institution on the U.S. News & World Report list of top 100 universities in the United States. USD’s eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. USD recently concluded our successful $317M Leading Change: The Campaign for USD, which represented the most ambitious fundraising effort in the history of the university. In September 2016, USD introduced Envisioning 2024, a strategic plan that capitalizes on the university’s recent progress and aligns new strategic goals with current strengths to help shape a vision for the future as the university looks ahead to its 75th anniversary in the year 2024.