Sustainability Fast Facts
Cornell University holds a Platinum Rating, the highest possible from the Sustainability Tracking Assessment & Rating System (STARS) and is advancing an innovative path to campus carbon neutrality by 2035.
Climate Leadership
- On track for campus carbon neutrality goal by 2035, with 51% reduction in emissions since 2008
- Earth Source Heat will heat the campus using a breakthrough deep geothermal technology
- MOOC Cornell Climate Fellows course has reached 3,000+ citizens from 65 countries since 2017
- 85% of students believe climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time
Academics & Research
- Sustainability research has increased 141% in the last decade, with 36% of all faculty contributing
- 91% of academic programs offer sustainability courses, a total of 811 offerings across 29 departments
- 41 undergraduate and 78 graduate sustainability majors, minors, or concentrations offered
- 40+ living laboratory projects and learning initiatives support 6,000+ students each year
Campus Operations
- 15 solar arrays and a hydropower plant provide 100% renewable electricity on sunny days, all year
- Lake Source Cooling provides 100% fossil-fuel-free renewable cooling to campus from Cayuga Lake
- 28 green buildings, including 5 LEED Platinum Buildings with green roofing and solar arrays
- Cornell Farm composting diverts 4,000 tons of food waste from residences and dining halls annually
- Grounds staff use a mobile solar trailer to power fossil-fuel free landscaping equipment
- Water use has dropped 25% since 2005, with 116.5 million gallons conserved last year alone
Culture & Engagement
- 40+ student sustainability organizations
- “Culture of Sustainability” award recognizes outstanding staff & team sustainability leadership
- 100% of new students receive a free bus pass & complete a climate & sustainability learning module
- The Sustainability Maps feature 300+ points of interest from bike parking to reuse stations