Columbia University

Campus Category

Four year and graduate institutions over 15,000 student FTE

Contact Information

Nilda Mesa
Assistant Vice President
Environmental Stewardship

Education and Research

Selected highlights:

  • Columbia University has 23 degree-granting programs in environmental studies ranging from engineering to policy to basic science
  • Site of the Earth Institute, with over 32 programs and centers
  • Home of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
  • The importance of El Nino and ocean currents regarding climate change was first observed here
  • Team of scientists recently mapped mountain ranges under Antarctica
  • Polar scientists measure ice melt and glacial retreat and impact on climate change
  • Over 36 members of the Nobel-Peace-Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are affiliated with Columbia University
  • Sustainable Development concentration available for undergrads, with a major being developed
  • Columbia University Green Roof Consortium received major NSF grant for green roof research this month. Two green roofs were installed last year, and are now the site of NYC’s first-ever green roof research station, quantifying performance on heat island effect, water retention, and CO2, as well as energy. Up to four additional green roofs will be installed and instrumented this year.
  • Awarded NYSERDA grant for developing energy-efficient data center.
  • EcoReps at both the medical center and main campuses educate students and promote green initiatives in the residence halls.
  • The Urban Design Lab has graduate and undergraduate students designing solutions for local planning and sustainability issues.
  • Columbia hosted The Politics of Food conference with Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer to examine food sustainability policies and challenges in New York City.
  • The University co-hosted a Clean Construction conference with the EPA to share best construction practices to minimize air quality impacts in this area of high asthma rates.
     

Campus Operations

Selected highlights:

  • Columbia University has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions 30% at its main campus by 2017.
  • The University has completed a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and action plan.
  • The Manhattanville Campus Expansion participates in the LEED-ND pilot program
  • A minimum LEED Silver commitment established for those buildings
  • 6 major LEED buildings underway
  • Air quality plan requires filters and ultra low sulfur diesel for construction equipment.
  • Energy saving light sensors and timers have been installed throughout most of main campus buildings.
  • Over 25,000 CFLs were distributed to faculty, staff and students last year.
  • First "green" dorm launched.
  • The central walkway pavers feature 35% recycled content.
  • Waste cooking oil is recovered by a not-for-profit and turned into biofuel.
  • Columbia buildings have been phasing in low-flow plumbing, and efficient water heaters have been installed.
  • All appliances purchased are Energy Star.
  • The main campus uses integrated pest management.
  • Main and medical center campus use Green-Seal certified cleaning products.
  • Paper products are recycled content.
  • The Morningside campus has a number of green roofs.
  • A shuttle bus operates amongst the campuses.
  • All campuses have recycling for bottles, cans and paper, and also for toner cartridges, books, batteries and small electronics. Solvents are recycled, and mercury thermometers have been phased out.
  • All coffee is organic, fair trade, locally roasted by a woman-owned business.
  • Students get discounts for using coffee mugs at dining venues.
  • Vegan options -- labeled -- are available at every meal.
  • Student-run coop features local and organic food.
  • All seafood purchased meets the Monterey Bay criteria.
  • All milk and many fruits and vegetables are locally purchased.
  • Reusable and disposable and compostable servingware and packaging exclusively used in food service areas.
  • Styrofoam was phased out several years ago.
  • Dining halls are trayless.
  • Public Safety is replacing its gas-fueled vehicles with hybrids.
  • Columbia's Gary C. Comer Geochemistry Building has won a number of awards for its design -- a Merit Award for Excellence in Architecture for a New Building (one of only two projects recognized in this category) by the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) and the American Institute of Architects Committee on Architecture for Education (AIA-CAE). SCUP and the AIA-CAE also cited the project in the 2009 Excellence in Planning and Excellence in Architecture Awards program. The building also garnered an Award for Design in the 2009 Sustainable Design Awards, sponsored by the Boston Society of Architects Committee on the Environment and the American Institute of Architects. The biennial award is co-sponsored by the U.S. EPA and the Committee on the Environment of the AIA New York Chapter. In February, the building was named Lab of the Year by Research & Development magazine, and in June it was given an Outstanding Research Project Award by the Greater New York Construction User Council.
     

Administration and Finance

Selected highlights:

  • The Environmental Stewardship office was established in 2006 and works with all three campuses to promote sustainable practices and policies.
  • The University employs local, minority and women-owned contracting firms and businesses.
  • Columbia has traditionally been the most diverse of the Ivy League schools.
  • Human resources has instituted a flex-time work policy.
  • Its new website has a car-pool section to match drivers.
  • Deconstruction at the Manhattanville site will recycle up to 90% of the materials and also provide job-training for local residents.
  • The Engineering School requires all students to complete a service-learning requirement, working with local not-for-profits and government agencies.
  • Scholarships are available for sustainability education.
  • Internships, both paid and unpaid, are available as well.
  • The University participates in the Manhattan Borough President's Go Green committees, and the Mayor's PlaNYC Challenge for Universities.
  • The University works with local unions on green job training.
  • On June 16, Columbia and Turner Construction hosted an informational seminar at the School of International and Public Affairs to educate minority, women-owned and local (MWL) businesses on building information modeling (BIM). The goal of the seminar was to help prepare MWL firms to accept new and potentially advantageous business opportunities, such as BIM. Excess meals/food from the residence halls go to City Harvest, a food bank.
  • A "green grant" program awarded grants to student groups for projects promoting sustainability on and off-campus.
  • The University has a social responsibility investment advisory committee.

For more information: www.environment.columbia.edu

 

  • ""