31% of waste in the US consists of containers or packaging.
In November 2022, the Office of Energy & Sustainability was created in the Department of Facilities Management & Campus Operations (previously Engineering & Maintenance) to work with faculty, staff, and students to implement sustainable practices. The creation of this group expands on the creation of an energy conservation team within Engineering & Maintenance in 2016, as well as many years of volunteer initiatives led by the Sustainability Leadership Council.
The team's priorities are:
- Comply with local regulations and the energy code.
- Reduce energy use on campus.
- Increase waste diversion and recycling.
- Build a stronger sustainability culture on campus (supporting student groups, collaborations with other departments, newsletters, events, etc.).