Systems
Stanford University is unique in that it owns and manages its own utility and infrastructure systems, namely energy, waste, and water. The university is committed to improving the sustainability of all campus operations, including other campus systems outside of utility and infrastructure.
Learn more about each of the Sustainable Stanford systems:
Energy
Stanford University is leading the way, building on a decades-long commitment to energy conservation and efficiency, as well as the advantages of a temperate climate and strong state energy codes.
Waste
By using less, reusing more, recycling, and composting, Stanford and its community can save land, energy, and water, as well as significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Water
The university has an extensive history of effective water conservation efforts and sustainable practices, while preserving ecological systems and vital resources for future generations.
Food
Stanford Dining provides sustainable, locally-produced, fresh, and delicious meals all the while crafting its entire operations to reduce food waste, help decrease pollution, minimize energy use, and support small businesses.
Transportation
Stanford runs one of the most comprehensive transportation demand programs in the country to reduce university-related traffic impacts – it’s an essential part of our drive for sustainability.
Land & Buildings
To pursue world-changing research and respond to climate concerns, Stanford mindfully plans land use and skillfully creates buildings that use resources wisely to provide healthy, productive environments.
Progress
The university has undertaken major ongoing initiatives to reduce energy and water use, apply stringent environmental standards to all new buildings, encourage sustainable living, promote low-impact transportation, conserve natural resources, and decrease waste, even with continued campus growth. Stanford continues to analyze the effectiveness of its sustainability programs and identify opportunities for improvement. In addition to tracking absolute consumption and intensity trends, Stanford considers annual per capita resource use. For a complete review, please view the Sustainability at Stanford: Year in Review.
As the university continues to grow to support its academic mission, responsible growth is both a priority and a tool for informing long-range strategic planning. Stanford is dedicated to driving resource conservation at the individual and operational levels, and the efficiency and conservation programs implemented by the department of Sustainability, Utilities & Infrastructure and its partner organizations ensure that each individual footprint shrinks. A future Sustainability Data Hub will transparently showcase campus progress compared to baseline years of measurement.
