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Students standing by compost buckets at TDR

Environment ·

AU Ranks Second in Key Category in Annual Campus Race to Zero Waste Competition

AU ranked second among large universities for composting, keeping 21,009 pounds of food waste out of landfill.
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AU's surplus furniture program has upcycled more than 200 items.

On Campus ·

Sitting on a Second Chance: Program Gives New Life to Campus Furniture

Aligning with AU's sustainability goals, Facilities Management has launched a formal initiative to recycle surplus furniture to new homes across campus.
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Solar panels on the roof of an AU building.

Environment ·

Leading Environmental Change: AU Continues to Be a Power Player, Five Years after Achieving Carbon Neutrality

How do you quantify carbon neutrality? The energy saved since AU reached the historic milestone in 2018 is equivalent to planting around 4.5 million trees—more than double the total number in the District.
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The scarlet oak on the quad is a stop during a moonlight tour of the AU Arboretum.

On Campus ·

Blooms Beneath the Stars: Community Members Explore AU’s Arboretum

More than 100 neighbors and local green thumbs explored the sights and (floral) scents of campus during a moonlight tour of AU’s Arboretum and Gardens.
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Heat map showing energy use on main campus. The dark green bands (equating to periods of low energy use), called out by a “black box” outline, show building energy reductions.

Environment ·

AU’s Latest Winter Energy Curtailment Efforts Result in Significant Energy and Cost Savings

AU reduced its emissions by 222 metric tons during the December 2022 winter break closure. It also resulted in an $77,318 reduction in energy costs for the university.
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AU's fleet of buses provides sustainable travel to campus.

Environment ·

DC Competition Rewards Sustainable Commuting

Lace up your sneakers and log your trip to work—even if it’s a home office—for a chance to win Nationals tickets, gift cards, and more.
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CAS student Ekua Hudson used AU's Design and Build Lab to construct a sustainable farming system.

Environment ·

A Bountiful Future: AU Student Crafting Sustainable Food Plan for DC Public Schools

Driven by the desire to create equitable food systems for underserved communities, public health major Ekua Hudson, CAS/BA ’24, is teaching herself how to design and build sustainable hydroponic farms to help feed Washingtonians.
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AU Dining has updated the products at the East Campus Grocery store in Constitution Hall.

On Campus ·

Campus Grocery Freshens up Its Offerings

From spinach, peaches, and watermelon to cookie dough, the results of a recent student poll guided AU Dining as it updated offerings at the campus grocery store in Constitution Hall.
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To the Point

Environment ·

To the Point: What Causes Earthquakes, and Is Climate Change Involved?

Professor of Environmental Science Stephen MacAvoy answers our question of the week
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You can compost at your home regardless of your space.

Environment ·

Your Guide To: Composting in Small Spaces 

Megan Litke, AU’s director of sustainability, breaks down how composting even in tiny spaces can have a big impact on our plants and our planet.
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