UB is an innovator in solar energy on campus through The Solar
Strand, a one-of-a-kind solar array designed by landscape architect
Walter Hood that serves as a model for blending art, science,
accessibility and technology at public research institutions.
UB is benchmarking its sustainability performance with the State
of Sustainability Infographic. This will help communicate our goals
and achievements to both the campus and the broader community.
UB developed a world-class climate action plan with one-, three-
and five-year goals for six committees that span the
university’s sustainability spectrum.
We have made a commitment to sustainable buildings. Greiner
Hall debuted in August 2011 and represented the first LEED
gold designed student residence hall in the State University of New
York System and also was designed with the practice of
Universal Design in mind.
UB IT increased the efficiency of the computing power at the
Center for Computational Research. The project decreased total
energy consumption at the data center by 20%, saved UB more than
$278,000, and reduced our carbon footprint by 550 metric tons.
More than $3 million in grants have been awarded to the Buffalo
Promise Neighborhood initiative to provide
"cradle-to-career" support to Buffalo schoolchildren.
A Senior Environmental Design student from UB won the 13th
session of the International Winter University competition for
their proposal on how to fix the uncontrolled
development of Irkutsk, Russia.
Through UB’s Center for Educational Collaboration 1,000
students in the Buffalo public schools have been offered
opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math.
Sustainable Futures, a service learning program in architecture,
landscape architecture and planning, is conducted in
Monteverde, Costa Rica and hosted by the Monteverde Institute, the
University at Buffalo, and other universities.
The UB Green office is created, providing environmental
stewardship for campus facilities. Today, the office’s
efforts include offering assistance to groups both on and off
campus.
10/25/12
The university appoints Ryan McPherson as its chief
sustainability officer, charged with creating a culture of
sustainability at UB.
10/25/12
UB becomes an initial signatory of the American College and
University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, a pledge to reduce
the global emission of greenhouse gases.
10/25/12
UB releases its Climate Action Plan, which draws from the
university’s comprehensive plan and sets a goal of achieving
climate neutrality by the year 2030.
10/25/12
UB’s environmental efforts begin with the creation of the
Rachel Carson College, named for the author of “Silent
Spring,” the book that sparked the environmental
movement.
10/25/12
UB hires its first energy officer and creates the Conserve UB
program, which leads to energy conservation efforts that have saved
the university more than $100 million.
