Campus Sustainability | Ohio State Sustainability Institute

In 2015, Ohio State adopted eight specific, university-wide sustainability goals to demonstrate our commitment to sustainable operations while advancing improved behavioral and cultural changes. Through these goals, Ohio State aims to make sustainability an integral part of being a Buckeye.

As a leading public research university, Ohio State is leveraging our campus resources to explore cleaner energy sources and solve sustainability challenges in Ohio and around the world. Meeting the university’s sustainability goals requires the efforts of numerous units across campus, including Facilities Operations and Development; Transportation and Traffic Management; Planning, Architecture and Real Estate; Student Life; Athletics; and Wexner Medical Center.

Current goal achievement summary (through 2024)

37% carbon emission reduction (since 2015 baseline)

13.1% more energy efficient (since 2015 baseline)

16.2% more water efficient (since 2015 baseline) and 3.2% more water efficient (since 2020 baseline)

15% ecosystem services improvement (since 2020 baseline)

3.2% decrease in carbon emissions per 1,000 miles driven (since 2016 baseline)

41% landfill waste diversion rate 

Additional achievement highlights (through 2024)

229 million gallon decrease in annual water usage since 2015 

15,936 trees on the Columbus campus

20.1% of university fleet vehicles run on electric/alternative fuel

Resources

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center's Sustainability Report

The campus community can participate in helping to achieve these goals through sustainable actions in campus buildings and on campus grounds. Additional actions, such as those listed here for college students, could help area sustainability efforts in any location.