The Climate and Sustainability Ambassadors program is an initiative of the Sustainable Administration Hub. The Ambassadors are an energetic and enthusiastic group of students who assist in the implementation of the Ohio University Sustainability and Climate Action Plan. You can find them leading the Earth Day Sustainability Parade; instructing Bobcats fans on proper disposal of game day waste; teaching in the local middle schools; labeling our storm drains with "drains to river" markers; and more!
Office of Sustainability
Updates
The Office of Sustainability will have variable in-person hours for the indefinite future, but is open virtually during normal business hours. Please subscribe to our newsletter for monthly updates or email sustainability@ohio.edu with questions.
What is Sustainability
Ohio University defines sustainability as the capacity to simultaneously benefit people, the planet and prosperity now and in the future. Life-cycle analysis, life-cycle costing, social financial proxies, and multi-criteria decision analyses are tools that are used to evaluate sustainability. Also used at Ohio University is a popular but less actionable definition, adapted from the Bruntland definition of sustainable development: sustainability is the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Mission
Ohio University’s Office of Sustainability facilitates the implementation of the Ohio University Sustainability and Climate Action Plan by providing services and support to the campus community and ensures fulfillment of institutional commitments to environmental, social and economic well-being.
News and Announcements
Students make energy-saving recommendation...
January 13, 2023
While maximizing the potential of energy is a never-ending quest, students at Ohio University have found ways to improve energy efficiency on OHIO’s main campus in Athens. The Building Energy Treasure Hunt is an experiential learning class that allows students to collaboratively conduct their own energy audit on a campus building and then suggest changes for improvement. The one credit class is divided into teams and the winning team’s suggestions are then implemented by OHIO’s Facilities Management staff.
Game Day Recycling Challenge results annou...
November 23, 2022
This year’s Game Day Recycling Challenge, a recycling and waste reduction competition to minimize waste generated during a single sporting event, took place at the Oct. 22 OHIO football game. This challenge is a part of Campus Race to Zero Waste, which is an organization that encourages colleges to reduce their waste through various competitions.
Ohio faculty experts discuss food sustaina...
November 18, 2022
aculty experts Steve Scanlan, professor of Sociology, director of Graduate Studies for the Sociology MA Program and director of Studies for the HTC Environmental Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences, Michele Morrone, professor in the College of Health Sciences and Professions, and Thomas (Thom) Stevenson, assistant professor of instruction in the Patton College of Education, will discuss food sustainability and safety around the holidays, as well as the importance of food access during an Ask the Experts livestream on Friday, Nov. 18 at 3 p.m.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, February 8
SPRING 2023 SUSTAINABILITY FILM SERIES: TO THE END
7:00 PM — 9:00 PM
ATHENA CINEMA
Office of Sustainability Featured Programs
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Sustainability Tracking and Evaluation Program (STEP)
The Sustainability Tracking and Evaluation Program (STEP) is a sustainability certification program which aims to recognize departments or offices across campus for their sustainable efforts, whether they be existing practices or new changes.
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Sustainability Project Laboratory
Students, do you need an idea for a course project or thesis? Faculty, are you looking for project ideas for a project-based course? Our Sustainability Project Laboratory may have the projects you are looking for! These projects are designed to advance goals in the Ohio University Sustainability & Climate Action Plan while providing experiential and/or community-engaged learning opportunties for students.
Sustainability Hubs
We welcome participants to our Sustainability Hubs! The dates and topics for the Hub Seminar Series can be found on the Calendar of University events. For more information, please sign up for our newsletter or visit our Hub webpages. For other sustainability events, please visit the Calendar of University events, and search using the keyword "sustainability".
