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Office of Sustainability - Columbus State University

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University Operations

Office of Sustainability

At Columbus State University the Office of Sustainability strives to encourage Faculty and Staff along with our student body to promote and implement sustainably practices at the University and at home. The Office of Sustainability also is constantly reducing Columbus State University footprint by expanding our recycling program, installing energy efficient lighting, using electric vehicles for transportation, encouraging students to use alternative mode of transportation such as CSU's shuttle service, cycling or carpooling to campus along with many other programs to improve Columbus State University as a whole.

Columbus State University has already made many changes to improve sustainability:

  • Recycling (to include paper, aluminum, plastic, batteries, small electronics, toner cartridges, as well as some construction waste)
  • Solar Panels (to light pathway lights near the Soccer Field and Cunningham Center)
  • Bus Transit (to transport students and decrease parking spaces for cars)
  • Purchase and Use of Electric Vehicles for Plant Operations Personnel and the purchase of new fuel efficient vehicles campus wide
  • Energy Management System (allows room temperatures and energy consumption to be remotely controlled.)
  • "Green" Chemicals (for cleaning with Campus Services)
  • Bike and Walking Paths (to encourage use of bicycles and walking for health reasons and decreasing carbon footprint on campus)
  • We are a bike friendly school, check out our award in the awards section
  • Landscape Design (use native plants and mulch, decreasing watering efforts)

The complete 2018-2025 Environmental Sustainability Plan (PDF) can be found and viewed at the link provided. 

Sustainability is about creating a better future. As a result, our work is aspirational and future-focused. We are committed to a servant leadership approach in working for the common good. Hope and expectation of progress are essential to our work.

We work to enable others to realize their ability and power to be co-creators of the future, and we engage people in specific, relevant efforts that make a difference in achieving a sustainable society.

Awards

CSU obtained the Bicycle Friendly Award from The League of American Bicyclists for our remarkable commitment to bicycling (2018-2022).

CSU was awarded an Energy Grant to fund:

  • Installation of motion sensors
  • Installation of 2 sets of solar panels(Soccer Field & the other on the roof of Morrow Clubhouse)
  • Replacement of T12 light bulbs to energy efficient T8 light bulbs
  • Installation of LED bulbs for pathway lighting

Certification in Principles & Strategies for Campus Sustainability
Certification in Sustainable Campus Operations
Certification in Campus Sustainability Best Practices & Implementation
Certification in Advanced Certificate in Campus Sustainable Innovation

Message from the Office of Sustainability

The Office of Sustainability exists to develop an ethic, practice and culture of sustainability throughout Columbus State University, and to serve as a sustainability education and training resource for individuals and organizations within the university and in local, regional, national, and international communities.

The Office works to foster a culture and practice of sustainability on campus that is expressed throughout the University's instructional, research, outreach, and operational activities. The Office also offers sustainability-relation education and training, as well as planning and decision-making workshops and seminars for business, government, civic, and other groups.

Sustainability is about creating a better future. As a result, our work is aspirational and future-focused. We are committed to a servant leadership approach in working for the common good. Hope and expectation of progress are essential to our work.

We work to enable others to realize their ability and power to be co-creators of the future, and we engage people in specific, relevant efforts that make a difference in achieving a sustainable society.

Columbus State University is participating in the Green Thread Initiative through Aramark. (click link for more information) and is a member of the College & University Recycling Coalition (CURC) their goal is to help you in facilitating the exchange of technical knowledge and best practices on recycling and waste reduction programs among institutions of higher education.

Donate to Sustainability

Every contribution helps us improve the sustainability of our campus and will go towards projects that aim at education and outreach or improving our recycling efforts. To donate simply click the button below, which will redirect you to the main CSU Giving page and then click the button that says "Would you like to support a program not listed above?" and write in the title of the account as "sustainability."

Give to CSU

Contact Us

We would love to hear from you, please contact us at SustainCSU@columbusstate.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Most recycling activities occur at Facilities on CSU Main Campus.

City of Columbus Recycling Center.

By Recycling and incentive programs.

At the present time we do not recycle glass.

Yes, any recyclables can be brought to CSU Facilities.

Bailing of Cardboard, recycling Plastic, Aluminum, Paper, Toner Cartridges and Batteries. We also utilize electric vehicles, electric charging stations, solar panels, shuttle service, bike and walking paths and green cleaning chemicals.

Where are We Located?

We are located at Plant Operations, across the street from Richards Hall and adjacent to the CSU Tennis Courts. All recyclables can be brought to this location.

Plant Operations Map

Sustainability Committee

This committee is responsible for: serving in an advisory role in the effort to reduce the institution's ecological footprint through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions campus-wide enhancing the institution's efforts at environmental stewardship promoting the concepts of sustainability and environmental ethics in the curriculum

Committee Membership for the 2019 - 2020 Academic Year is:

  • Troy Keller
  • David Mitchell
  • Clifton Ruehl
  • Eric VanBibber
  • Amanda Rees
  • Mark Mccarthy
  • Terence Jones
  • William Gunter
  • Avalandria Dixon

Ask Cody

Ask Cody