Sustainable Cornell

Catch the latest sustainability news, initiatives and opportunities in the May Sustainable Cornell Newsletter.
Take a look https://bit.ly/4uyrbUU

2026 Donation Bins Open May 7 - June 30 Dump & Run Ithaca is accepting donations of quality used household goods and clothing May 7 through June 30. Find campus bin locations and schedule pick-ups.

https://sustainable.cornell.edu/news/cornell-sustainability-reporting-stars

🌟 Celebrating new STARS Platinum institutions!

Congratulations to Cornell University (STARS 2.2), Loyola University Chicago (STARS 3.0), and SUNY ESF (STARS 3.0) on earning a Platinum rating—the highest level in AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS).

STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework– created by AASHE– that is used by colleges and universities to measure and communicate their sustainability performance across academics, engagement, planning, and operations. A Platinum rating reflects comprehensive, institution-wide efforts to advance sustainability and a very strong commitment to continuous improvement.

We’re proud to recognize Cornell, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and Loyola University Chicago for their leadership and the work they’re doing to drive meaningful change across their campuses. These milestones would not be possible without the leadership and commitment of the campus liaisons guiding the reporting process across these institutional systems: Lisa Kilgore (Cornell University), Aaron Durnbaugh (Loyola University Chicago), and Mark Lichtenstein (State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry). A special thank you to the many campus champions who contributed time, knowledge, and collaboration to make these accomplishments possible.

We’re excited to see this momentum continue and look forward to celebrating even more Platinum-rated institutions soon.

To see the latest sustainability advancement on Cornell’s campus, facilities engineer Sam Fairchild will tell you to look up to the roof of Olin Hall.

Perched along nearly the entire length of the building’s west wing, a brand new heat recovery system – “a beautiful assembly of sheet metal,” Fairchild said – is a small cityscape, with fans 30 feet high, metal shed-like structures and a long chute for the flow of air.

The system is one of three installed on campus and is part of a larger portfolio of improvements, across 23 campus buildings, that have massively overperformed on initial targets for cost and carbon savings.

he effort fits into Cornell’s larger, long-standing approach of using campus facilities and its operations as a Living Lab, where staff, researchers, and students innovate, experiment, and learn while advancing sustainability goals.

“We do some pretty amazing things,” said Cole Tucker, associate vice president of energy and sustainability in Facilities and Campus Services. “It’s not only about the problems we solve for Cornell, it’s about how our solutions can be maximized globally.”

Learn more at the link in our comments.

🌍April Is Sustainability Month — Upcoming Events
4/22
🥒 Plant‑Friendly Plates (11am)
🔧 Earth Day Repair Fair (4pm)
🔭 Venus & the Moon (5:30pm)
4/23
🎥 The Carbon Wave (5pm)
4/24
🌿 Mindful Botany Walk (12pm)
👉 Full details & locations: https://bit.ly/47ZLWPZ

Couldn’t make the Sustainable Cornell Summit? We’ve got you
🎥 Watch the 2026 summit and explore
⚡ NY State energy transition challenges & opportunities
🏗 BIG RED Utilities Reliability & Energy Transition (BIGRED URET) work
🔬 Living Lab sustainability projects
🎓 Leadership updates + closing insights from campus sustainability leaders
https://bit.ly/4aMtCvj