Sustainability
Commitment to Care For Our Common Home
Sustainability is a way of life at University of San Diego (USD). Student-led initiatives provide sustainable solutions to current issues. Faculty incorporate sustainability in curriculum. Collaborative research projects and grants between faculty and students pay immediate dividends for the USD community and beyond, including a $5 million grant by the National Science Foundation to educate community leaders about the impacts of climate change.
In 2016, USD adopted a Climate Action Plan with aggressive targets aimed at reducing the university's environmental impact. USD has already reduced its energy consumption by more than 20% since 2010 and water consumption by 38% since 2006. Additionally, 5,000+ photovoltaic panels generate 7% of the university’s energy needs, making the system one of the largest solar energy producers among private colleges nationwide.
Begin quote The University of San Diego prepares students to be enlightened, engaged and ecological citizens.
The first of its kind on a college campus, the University of San Diego Electronics Recycling Center was a living example of USD’s commitment to social entrepreneurship. The Center diverted 4+ million pounds of electronic waste from landfills and served 25,000+ customers during its 7 year operation. The university's fair trade and bike-friendly designations also help to bolster its sustainable campus reputation.
From messaging on campus, to policies affecting how we do business, to facilitating engagement from our staff, students, faculty and administrators, to creating and supporting curricular efforts at all levels, we must take immediate action in concrete ways at all levels of the university to create a truly shared and lived vision of Care for Our Common Home.
Recent Spotlights
Walk for Water
March 20, 2019
According to UN-Water, 2.1 billion people live without safe drinking water at home. In 8 out of 10 households without water, women and girls bear the …
In the News
Walk for Water is Solidarity with Women, Girls, Sustainability Awareness
// March 22, 2019
Today, March 22, the United Nations declares it World Water Day. It might seem like a celebration, but it’s mostly a chance to maintai…
Photos: kids in 123 countries went on strike to protect the climate
// March 18, 2019
By Eliza Barclay and Kainaz Amaria | Vox | March 17, 2019 | “This movement had to happen, we didn&rs…
World Water Day 2019 – Leaving no one behind
// March 18, 2019
By UN Water | United Nations | January 17, 2019 | World Water Day, on 22 March every year, is about focusing attention on t…
@usdsustain on Instagram
Contact Information
Sustainability
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA 92110
Phone: (619) 260 7530
sustainability@sandiego.edu
