In 2010, OSU’s greenhouse gas emissions were 113,342 tons of CO2 equivalent, down from a high point in 2007 of 150,053 tons and close to what they were in 1991 (113,005 tons). The reasons why: student-approved purchases of green power and OSU’s work toward efficiency and conservation as put forth in the planning process by President Ray in 2007 to achieve climate neutrality.

Another way OSU has committed itself to being a more sustainable and green campus includes having registered or achieved LEED certification or its equivalent for environmental performance of 8 buildings on campus. Since 2005, the amount of recycling at OSU has increased 55% with composting now at 76%. Additionally, waste to the landfills has decreased 20%. OSU has decreased it’s annual water consumption by 16% since 2002, despite the increase in students on campus.

OSU students at the Dixon Recreation Center send power back to the grid

If sustainability interests you, not only can you contribute to it on campus through various daily activities such as recycling or using exercise equipment at the Dixon Recreation Center that is connected to the power grid; but you can also choose one of OSU’s many academic programs to major/minor in. Some academic programs related to sustainability include: Environmental Engineering, Renewable Materials, Energy Engineering Management (OSU Cascades Campus), Natural Resources, Environmental Science, and BioResource Research.

Way to go Beavers!

-AG