Sustainability

CU �鶹ӰԺ claims zero-waste football challenge honors

Megan Maneval — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 18:23:18 +0000

CU �鶹ӰԺ claims zero-waste football challenge honors Megan Maneval Mon, 03/31/2025 - 12:23

Ralphie’s Green Stampede volunteers

CU �鶹ӰԺ continues to be sustainability stalwarts, earning 2024 GameDay Football Zero Waste Touchdown Challenge honors from the National Wildlife Federation for CU's tremendous efforts to reduce and recycle waste generated during football games at Folsom Field. CU was the top university in the Per Capita Recycling category by achieving the highest generation of recyclables per capita, while finishing second in waste diversion percentage by capita.

During the 2024 football season, the CU Environmental Center’s dedicated student staff and volunteers hand-sorted 99,499 lbs of material that was diverted from landfills—the equivalent of 125 Ralphies—including 17,442 lbs of food waste and compostable service items, which were subsequently sent to the compost facility.

After the Buffs’ Family Weekend game against Cincinnati on Oct. 26, 14,725 lbs of bottles, cans and cardboard was separated and sent to recycling centers. Over the six home football games, students and volunteers worked a total of 1,827 hours to complete the painstaking work of sorting waste generated on game day by hand.

“This honor is hard-earned and illustrates the commitment of the �鶹ӰԺ to sustainability,” said CU Athletics Senior Deputy Athletic Director Jason DePaepe. “My thanks to all of our incredibly dedicated students and volunteers who worked tirelessly, mostly overnight, to sort thousands of pounds of waste that otherwise would’ve ended up in area landfills.”

“The success of the Ralphie’s Green Stampede program is rooted in our partnership with all campus departments that contribute to game day sustainability efforts, including our vendors, Levy Restaurants, Eco-Products and A1 Organics,” said Angie Gilbert, zero waste program manager at CU’s Environmental Center. “We are truly proud of our ability to send clean, hand-sorted organics along with CMA-certified compostable products over the past two seasons. This pilot is to observe the potential to replicate this type of operation at future events.”

Sustainable Buffs

CU �鶹ӰԺ is no stranger to earning GameDay Football Zero Waste Touchdown Challenge accolades. Last year, Colorado also earned the prize for Recycling Per Capita while finishing third in organics per capita. In 2022, CU won the Pac-12 Zero Waste Football Challenge for the third time (also winning in 2018 and 2019), and in 2021, Colorado earned the Innovation Award for the Pac-12 Zero Waste Football Challenge.

The GameDay Football Zero Waste Touchdown Challenge is a nationwide competition among colleges and universities to reduce and recycle the waste generated at home football games. As part of the Campus Race to Zero Waste program, GameDay Football challenges campuses nationwide to reduce the waste footprint of their home games and tailgating events through efforts including reduction of single-use plastics use, food waste recovery, use of reusable products, recycling, and more.

Colorado Athletics has long been a leader in game day sustainability efforts with the creation of Ralphie’s Green Stampede in 2008, the NCAA’s first Division 1 sustainability program, which is entering into its 18th year.

CU Athletics and the Environmental Center have received this year's GameDay Football Zero Waste Touchdown Challenge award in recognition of efforts to reduce and recycle waste generated during football games at Folsom Field.

Traditional

White

Sustainability Leadership Team discusses onboarding new vice chancellor, upcoming projects

Megan Maneval — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 16:43:56 +0000

Sustainability Leadership Team discusses onboarding new vice chancellor, upcoming projects Megan Maneval Tue, 03/11/2025 - 10:43

The campus Sustainability Leadership Team (SLT) convened Wednesday, Feb. 26, to discuss the following topics:

3-month sprint

Discussion: A “three-month sprint” spreadsheet comprises the projects discussed in January’s meeting that can be accomplished in the next three months.

Next steps: Once finalized, this spreadsheet will be shared with the SLT, its working groups and other sustainability-focused groups, and then will be publicly available on the sustainability website.

Onboarding new vice chancellor for sustainability

Discussion: Massimo Ruzzene and Jon Leslie have been asked by the chancellor to spearhead onboarding Andrew Mayock. Leslie presented a list of goals to achieve during the onboarding process. Heidi VanGenderen is supporting the drafting of an onboarding approach for Mayock.

Get ready for the Campus Sustainability Summit

Attend a listening session April 11

Sustainability landscape map

Discussion: Following the chancellor’s request for a sustainability landscape map, Leslie drafted a prototype graphic, which he presented to the SLT. The landscape map is intended to help understand the sustainability ecosystem across campus, and it will later be used publicly in digital formats, while engaging campus and external sustainability constituents as a living document.

This is part of a series that will cover CU �鶹ӰԺ Sustainability Leadership Team (formerly known as the Sustainability Executive Council) meeting agendas, discussions and decisions. The Sustainability Leadership Team brings together decision-makers and leaders from across campus to drive action and accountability to achieve carbon neutrality, goals outlined in the Chancellor’s Call to Climate Action and the implementation of the campus Climate Action Plan.

At its February meeting, the campus Sustainability Leadership Team discussed planning for Vice Chancellor Andrew Mayock’s first three months at CU �鶹ӰԺ, upcoming sustainability projects and an opportunity with the Carnegie Foundation.

Traditional

White

Advice from Sustainable Buffs on being a conscious consumer

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 21:11:42 +0000

Advice from Sustainable Buffs on being a conscious consumer Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 03/06/2025 - 14:11

Sustainability starts with making the most of what you already have. When you do need to buy something, there are ways to make choices that are better for the planet.

Off

Traditional

White

CU wins award to improve Environmental Design building energy efficiency

Elizabeth Lock — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 20:40:14 +0000

CU wins award to improve Environmental Design building energy efficiency Elizabeth Lock Mon, 03/03/2025 - 13:40

The CU system office and CU �鶹ӰԺ have won a $220,000 award after participating in the inaugural Scalable Tech Track Adopters cohort, an initiative of Wells Fargo’s Innovation Incubator in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL).

CU �鶹ӰԺ will use the award to retrofit the windows of the Environmental Design (ENVD) building using INOVUES’ innovative energy-saving window technology. The upgrade is projected to reduce ENVD’s energy use by at least 15%, generating a cost savings of $46,900 per year.

Over the course of the five-month program, CU system Assistant Vice President for Budget, Planning and Capital Kori Donaldson and CU �鶹ӰԺ Vice Chancellor for Infrastructure and Resilience Chris Ewing worked closely with experts at NREL to explore the challenges and solutions for implementing scalable clean energy technologies. They embarked on a listening tour with a dozen individuals from within CU to gather data and input before delivering a final presentation. Seven judges from various industries made the final decisions about which projects would move forward.

CU �鶹ӰԺ will integrate INOVUES’ advanced retrofit window solution into the ENVD building—a move that promises to reduce energy consumption and contribute to the university's goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. The INOVUES product, a dynamic, cost-effective window retrofit system, will enhance the building’s energy efficiency by reducing heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer.

“We’re proud to be leading the way in implementing real-world solutions that directly impact our campus and the broader community,” President Todd Saliman said. “This project highlights CU’s continued dedication to sustainability, and we’re excited by its potential for use in other CU buildings and a cleaner, more sustainable future.”

With INOVUES’ patented retrofit technology, CU �鶹ӰԺ will be able to upgrade its existing windows without the need for full replacements in a building constructed in 1947—minimizing waste and disruption while still achieving substantial improvements in energy performance. The result will be a more comfortable, efficient learning environment for students and faculty.

“Our goal is to lead by example and ensure that CU �鶹ӰԺ remains at the forefront of sustainability and energy efficiency,” said CU �鶹ӰԺ Chancellor Justin Schwartz. “This is the kind of innovative, scalable solution that can help us accelerate our clean energy transition and make a real impact on campus decarbonization by reducing how much energy we use to begin with. It’s also a great example of how we can work with NREL and other partners to make great strides on the sustainability goals we share.”

CU �鶹ӰԺ was the only university represented in the cohort. Four other award recipients will do projects such as retrofitting HVAC systems, improving air quality and optimizing data center cooling.

“Alongside the new relationships formed with NREL, the program itself is an award,” said Sarah Derdowski, Innovation Incubator program manager at NREL. “We’re already seeing renewed efforts to change the culture at all of these organizations.”

Following the installation of the retrofit windows, CU’s facilities teams will monitor the energy efficiency of the building through thermal imaging and energy-use data to determine whether this could be a viable long-term solution for other buildings on campus.

“This is an exciting opportunity for CU �鶹ӰԺ to further its commitment to sustainability, and we are thrilled to have been part of this cohort,” said Ewing. “By leveraging the INOVUES retrofit windows, we will be able to make an immediate small stride toward our carbon neutrality goals, while also demonstrating the viability of scalable clean energy technologies that can be adopted across other institutions and buildings. As a proud ENVD alumnus who spent so many hours in that building, it is exciting to work on a project that will not only reduce our energy usage but also increase user comfort for our students, faculty, staff and visitors.”

ENVD window retrofitting is expected to begin over the summer and will be complete before fall 2025.

“This partnership is just the beginning of many more sustainable projects at the University of Colorado that we hope can benefit all four campuses,” said Donaldson. “Through collaboration and innovation, we are working to achieve our long-term carbon neutrality goals while making a tangible difference in the fight against climate change.”

The pilot Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator has awarded CU $220,000 to implement innovative energy technology that is projected to save the university $46,900 per year.

Traditional

White

Sustainability Leadership Team discusses critical initiatives

Megan Maneval — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 15:02:34 +0000

Sustainability Leadership Team discusses critical initiatives Megan Maneval Thu, 02/27/2025 - 08:02

The Sustainability Leadership Team (SLT) held its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 29. The group had a discussion about ongoing sustainability projects and critical initiatives and strategies to enhance the university's sustainability efforts.

More specifically, the team identified projects that are on track to be implemented within the next three months and prioritized them based on feasibility and impact. Examples of projects include completing the building efficiency project, reviewing the STARS findings and increasing campus involvement in sustainability.

Next steps

The SLT will discuss opportunities for collaboration and ongoing support of these priority items.
The SLT will also assist with the onboarding of the new vice chancellor for sustainability, Andrew Mayock.

Join the Sustainable Buffs community

Share your sustainability ideas

At its monthly meeting, the Sustainability Leadership Team discussed and prioritized ongoing sustainability projects to enhance the university's sustainability efforts.

Traditional

White

CU �鶹ӰԺ achieves STARS Gold rating for sustainability

Megan Maneval — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 21:05:31 +0000

CU �鶹ӰԺ achieves STARS Gold rating for sustainability Megan Maneval Tue, 02/25/2025 - 14:05

CU �鶹ӰԺ has demonstrated its continued commitment to sustainability by earning a Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS) Gold rating for 2025. This recognition from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) marks the university’s fifth STARS Gold certification since becoming the first university to achieve the honor in 2009, and it keeps CU �鶹ӰԺ on track to reach its stated goal of achieving STARS Platinum during the next three-year reporting cycle.

"Achieving STARS Gold for the fifth time is a testament to CU �鶹ӰԺ's unwavering commitment to sustainability, and it also sheds light on the areas in which we must continue to make progress to achieve our goals,” Chancellor Justin Schwartz said. “We are dedicated to achieving carbon neutrality as a campus, discovering innovative solutions to some of humanity’s most pressing climate threats, and equipping our students to be leaders in creating positive impact around the world.”

STARS is a comprehensive framework that measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. CU �鶹ӰԺ's STARS report showcases the university's achievements across five key areas: academics, engagement, operations, planning and administration, and innovation and leadership. With more than 1,200 participants in 52 countries, AASHE's STARS program is the most widely recognized framework for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university's sustainability performance.

This accomplishment is particularly noteworthy as CU �鶹ӰԺ is one of the first campuses to file under the new 3.0 version of STARS, released in the summer of 2024 after an extensive five-year development process by AASHE. Version 3.0 includes more robust indicators of racial equity and social justice, streamlined performance-based credits and increased global accessibility.

CU �鶹ӰԺ has set a goal of achieving a STARS Platinum rating by its next submission in 2028. The university plans to use the data and performance metrics from the current report to inform its campus strategy. A gap assessment report will be delivered at the Campus Sustainability Summit in April.

“Our community's involvement and student participation in sustainability initiatives are crucial as we strive for continuous improvement and work toward a sustainable future,” Schwartz said. “We strive to be a global leader in sustainability, and it will take the efforts of all of us to realize our aspirations."

CU �鶹ӰԺ has earned a STARS Gold rating for 2025, highlighting its ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental performance, with plans to achieve a platinum rating by 2028.

Traditional

White

Simple ways to be more sustainable

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 20:42:29 +0000

Simple ways to be more sustainable Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 02/24/2025 - 13:42

Environmental Center

Looking to be more sustainable this year? Join the Sustainable Buffs Community to get tips and connect with like-minded students. Here are some ways to get started and opportunities to get involved.

Off

Traditional

White

Sustainability case competition: Business students tackle AI’s energy challenge

Megan Maneval — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 14:32:46 +0000

Sustainability case competition: Business students tackle AI’s energy challenge Megan Maneval Mon, 02/17/2025 - 07:32

Leeds School of Business

The annual Leeds Sustainability Case Competition brought together 39 teams from top business schools to develop solutions for sustainability challenges in the age of artificial intelligence.

Traditional

White

Creating sustainability through music education

Megan Maneval — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 13:35:58 +0000

Creating sustainability through music education Megan Maneval Mon, 02/17/2025 - 06:35

College of Music

Margaret Berg highlights the importance of human sustainability—the well-being of individuals and communities. By integrating both human and environmental sustainability into music education, the College of Music is preparing students to make an impact on our interconnected society.

Traditional

White

CU �鶹ӰԺ announces vice chancellor for sustainability

Megan Maneval — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 13:24:51 +0000

CU �鶹ӰԺ announces vice chancellor for sustainability Megan Maneval Thu, 02/13/2025 - 06:24

Chancellor Justin Schwartz has appointed Andrew Mayock vice chancellor for sustainability, effective March 10 following an international search.

Vice Chancellor for Sustainability Andrew Mayock

The newly created position will be charged with establishing a university-wide sustainability leadership role, forming partnerships with faculty, positioning CU �鶹ӰԺ as a national and global sustainability leader, directly assisting local communities to make Colorado the most sustainable state in the U.S. and funding priority sustainability initiatives through internal and external sources.

Mayock is the former chief sustainability officer for the United States government, where he led the Biden administration’s efforts on sustainability initiatives. Mayock has a proven track record and a strong reputation for driving solutions to the global challenges of climate change.

“I'm thrilled to have someone of Andrew Mayock’s caliber joining our campus,” said Schwartz. “In addition to a wealth of knowledge on sustainable policies and practices, he brings an understanding of how to build coalitions and lead effectively across large, complex organizations.”

During his tenure at the White House, Mayock focused on powering the government’s vehicles and buildings with clean energy, increasing supply chain decarbonization and resilience through the purchase of low-embodied carbon materials and increasing climate impact through domestic and international partnerships.

He will begin his duties a few weeks before the 32nd annual Campus Sustainability Summit, and in June CU �鶹ӰԺ will co-host the next Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit with UN Human Rights and the University of Oxford.

“I am honored to join the �鶹ӰԺ, where this new role reflects the university’s steadfast commitment to creating a sustainable future for our students, faculty, staff and community,” Mayock said. “As we continue to navigate the pressing challenges of climate change and environmental stewardship, I am excited to collaborate with this talented community to foster innovative solutions, inspire bold action and continue to lead the way in sustainability practices—locally and globally.”

Mayock will bring his significant experience in the government and private industry to elevate CU �鶹ӰԺ’s national and global sustainability profile.

CU �鶹ӰԺ is home to numerous research institutes and offers over 250 sustainability-related courses, while its operational units consistently push forward its ambitious climate goals:

Chancellor Justin Schwartz announced the appointment of Andrew Mayock as the vice chancellor for sustainability. Mayock will drive efforts to achieve CU �鶹ӰԺ's climate action goals, while also helping shape the next generation of sustainability leaders.

Traditional

White

Sustainability

CU �鶹ӰԺ claims zero-waste football challenge honors

Sustainable Buffs

Related Articles

Sustainability Leadership Team discusses onboarding new vice chancellor, upcoming projects

3-month sprint

Onboarding new vice chancellor for sustainability

Sustainability landscape map

Related Articles

Advice from Sustainable Buffs on being a conscious consumer

Off

CU wins award to improve Environmental Design building energy efficiency

Related Articles

Sustainability Leadership Team discusses critical initiatives

Next steps

Related Articles

CU �鶹ӰԺ achieves STARS Gold rating for sustainability

Related Articles

Simple ways to be more sustainable

Off

Sustainability case competition: Business students tackle AI’s energy challenge

Related Articles

Creating sustainability through music education

Related Articles

CU �鶹ӰԺ announces vice chancellor for sustainability

Related Articles