News

Progress on construction of a solar energy project, completion of a carbon footprint for Penn’s real estate holdings, and the first purchase of carbon offsets for Penn’s air travel, are significant achievements for progress against the goals of the University of Pennsylvania’s Climate and Sustainability Action Plan 3.0 completed in FY22.

The University of Pennsylvania's 2022 Green Purchasing Awards were recently granted to Danielle Cavalcanto, Associate Director of Interiors with the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) and the Division of Finance's Disbursements Department. Presented by Penn Procurement Services and Penn...

In October 2022, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a global higher education analytics company, announced that Penn ranked #2 in the nation and #8 globally in their 2023 World University Rankings for Sustainability. QS used eight indicators to test the universities basked on two measures: sustainability...

In fall 2022, Penn was awarded a Silver designation as a Bicycle Friendly University (BFU) from the League of American Bicyclists. Lasting through 2026, the Silver designation recognizes the University's commitment to campus sustainability and community health by promoting a safe and bicycle...

In November 2022, Penn's campus in West Philadelphia was given renewed accreditation as a Level II arboretum, ensuring its status for the next five years. First recognized as a Level I arboretum in early 2017 by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program, Penn's campus is an urban forest with more...

The University of Pennsylvania has begun purchasing carbon offsets for Penn’s air travel emissions, as part of its plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2042.The offsets purchased through the Travel Sustainability Fund - Penn's first offset purchases related to its air travel emissions - will be supported by a Climate Impact Offset charge (CLIO) applied to Penn's schools and centers that make travel-related purchases. This will be the first time Penn has purchased offsets specifically related to its air travel emissions.

Penn Transit is pleased to announce the inclusion of the first full-size electric vehicles to its fleet! Four new vans will primarily accommodate the following transit routes: On-Request Evening Shuttles, Penn Accessible Transit, A.M. Medical Service Shuttle, FMC Shuttle, and Pennovation Works...

Climate Week at Penn is back with dozens of events from hosts across campus from October 10-14, 2022. Now in its third year, Climate Week at Penn has been a resounding success. With over 80 events and several thousand participants, Climate Week has conveyed urgency and a spirit of innovation...

The University of Pennsylvania has been recognized as a top performer in the 2022 Sustainable Campus Index, achieving the number two (2) spot in the Food & Dining category. A publication from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), the Sustainable Campus...

New College House West (NCHW), Penn's 450-bed residential building located at 40th and Walnut streets, has been awarded Silver Level LEED Certification. Completed in 2021, NCHW was designed specifically as an undergraduate college house, part of Penn's residential system of shared communities. In...

Penn Sustainability is hiring! We are accepting applications for an academic year photography intern. This position is a paid opportunity for the 2022-2023 Academic Year and will begin in early September 2022. This position will work closely with the Sustainability Office to document programs and...

In the recent 2022 issue of Lab Reporter, published by Fisher Scientific, Penn’s sustainability efforts and progress toward campus carbon neutrality were feature story material. The article by Mike Howie reviewed Penn’s decade of progress – calling out the Green Labs program and Procurement...

In April, Penn Sustainability supported the first Pan-University Earth Week at Penn guided by an Earth Week Organizing Committee (members listed below). Nearly 50 events were hosted by 27 different schools, centers, student groups, community organizations, and green teams ranging from native tree...

Penn is dedicated to promoting biodiversity and ecological resilience both on campus and beyond. The Creating Canopy program is one example of how we put this dedication into action. In May of 2022, Penn gave away 100 free trees as part of our Creating Canopy program to Penn staff and faculty living...

After a two-year absence, Bike to Work Day returns to Penn’s campus on Friday, May 20. From 7:30 – 9:30 a.m., Penn bicyclists are invited to stop by the Energizer Station near the Penn Museum Indego Bike Share Station, at the corner of 33rd and South streets, to learn about various bike resources...

For the thirteenth year in a row, Penn has been named a Tree Campus Higher Education (formerly known as Tree Campus USA) by the Arbor Day Foundation. The Tree Campus Higher Education program recognizes college and university campuses that effectively manage their campus trees. To continually obtain...

The University of Pennsylvania has been selected as a finalist for the 2022 International Green Gown Awards for Creating Impact for its work in offsetting air emissions. The International Green Gown Awards are supported by UN Environment and seek to recognize exceptional sustainability initiatives...

The University of Pennsylvania announces that construction has begun on the solar energy project that is part of its Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed in April 2020. This PPA moves the University significantly closer to meeting its commitment of a 100% carbon neutral campus by 2042, as outlined...

Thank you to all Penn labs who participated in our second annual freezer challenge. The Freezer Challenge is part of the International Freezer Challenge supported by My Green Labs and the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL). Lab freezers represent a huge opportunity for...

Are you interested in learning more about the trees and plants on Penn's campus? Or, as the weather warms, in spending more time with friends outdoors? The Penn Plant Explorer Interactive website is an excellent resource for anyone looking to get outside, discover campus gardens, or find a quiet...

Every year on April 22, Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. Penn Sustainability is planning a week of events and educational opportunities to celebrate our dedication to social, environmental, and economic sustainability at the University of...

Penn Sustainability is producing a video series to illustrate some of the key programs in the Climate and Sustainability Action Plan 3.0. Released primarily on our social media channels, two videos have been released to date, Utilities & Operations and Procurement. Watch these fun short clips about...

You asked, we listened! Penn Dining and Penn Sustainability are teaming up to provide more ways for students to return used Green2Go containers. You can drop off your used Green2Go containers in the designated carts or bins at locations across campus, including various dining halls and public spaces...

PennMoves will be making its return in Move-Out 2022! The annual program, managed by Residential & Hospitality Services in collaboration with Goodwill, provides an opportunity for Penn students to donate unwanted items such as clothing, appliances, furniture, and more before they return home for the...

Did you know that Americans spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, according to the EPA? The 30x30 Challenge is an effort to encourage the Penn community to get outside, learn about local ecology, and appreciate the beauty of nature. Join Penn's 30x30 Challenge and challenge yourself to...

In partnership with the Office of Social Equity & Community and University City (UC) Green, Penn Sustainability hosted the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Environmental Justice event on Thursday, January 20, 2022. Kiasha Huling, Director of UC Green; Lori Hayes, Director of Urban Forestry at the...

Join the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and the Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology (VIEST) for Energy Week at Penn taking place April 4th – 8th! Various events will be hosted throughout the week; including a keynote by author Kim Stanley Robinson, a panel on energy and indigenous...

To encourage the continual ‘greening’ of our communities in the Greater Philadelphia area, Penn will once again partner with TreePhilly, a program of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and the Fairmount Park Conservancy, for the Creating Canopy tree giveaway. Each year, a limited number of free trees...

The Environmental Innovations Initiative was launched in 2019 to meaningfully impact the critical environmental challenges of our time, particularly climate change, biodiversity loss, and human vulnerability. To accomplish this, the Initiative will bring together scholars, leaders, practitioners...

It’s time for all of us to get outside! Sign up for Penn’s 30x30 Challenge and get outdoors for at least 30 minutes per day in April. Did you know that Americans spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, according to the EPA? Over the last decade, researchers have been documenting what many of...