Carbon Neutrality
Arizona State University’s Carbon Neutrality Action Plan serves as a strategic blueprint for achieving a net zero carbon footprint across all campuses. ASU commits to mitigating 100 percent of its carbon emissions from energy, agriculture and refrigerants, and waste-related sources by 2025, and 100 percent of its carbon emissions from transportation by 2035.
Energy Conservation Project
ASU is making utilities infrastructure upgrades on the Tempe campus to reduce electrical and natural gas consumption and use of chilled water for cooling.
Room Temperature Guidelines
ASU's Tempe campus classrooms and offices are heated to no higher than 68° F, and cooled to no lower than 80° F to reduce the amount of energy used for space conditioning.
Computer Energy Conservation
ASU is committed to reducing wasted power from computers via power management and purchasing energy efficient computers.
Computer Energy Conservation »
Campus Metabolism
Campus Metabolism™ provides an interactive web tool that enables users to examine real-time energy and water use on campus — by individual building, building type, or the entire campus.
Campus Solarization
ASU is committed to expanding solar installations across all four campuses to a total of 10 MW by the end of 2010, and 20 MW by 2020.
Wind Energy
ASU has mounted six wind turbines on the roof of the Global Institute of Sustainability building to provide an additional source of renewable energy.
Public Transit Passes
The ASU U-Pass provides unlimited access to all four campuses and greater Phoenix on Valley Metro bus routes and the METRO light rail. U-Pass is available to students, faculty, and staff for a discounted rate.
Campus and Intercampus Shuttles
Free intercampus shuttles to the Polytechnic and West campuses as well as several shuttle routes around the Tempe campus make it easy to get from one location to another.
Campus and Intercampus Shuttles »
Carpooling
Commuters can use a free ridematching service to find others in the Valley who are interested in sharing the ride to work in a carpool or vanpool. ASU offers carpool-reserved parking spaces on both the Tempe and West campuses.
Bicycle Co-op
Students can borrow a bicycle for no cost, receive expert maintenance and repair of their bicycles, and purchase at a discount many common replacement parts, as well as locks, lights and helmets.
Fuel-Efficient Rental Vehicles
ASU partners with Zipcar, a car-sharing company that makes it possible to use alternate forms of transportation to travel to campus, and still have affordable access to a vehicle when needed.
Fuel-Efficient Rental Vehicles »
Eliminating Leaf Blowers
Grounds Services has contributed to improved air quality by eliminating its arsenal of leaf blowers and continues to seek alternative grounds-keeping methods to achieve greater sustainability on campus.
Grounds Bicycle Program
Grounds Services workers operate several three-wheeled bicycles pulling small carts. Workers quickly and easily navigate the more than 700-acre Tempe campus, carrying tools and equipment while reducing the university's vehicle emissions.
Community Supported Agriculture
CSA partner Crooked Sky Farms provides fresh, local, organic produce to community members at ASU’s Polytechnic and West campuses. Students, staff, faculty, and others purchase shares of high-quality, local produce, providing financial security to a local farm.
Community Supported Agriculture »
Local and Organic Foods
Approximately 35 percent of ASU food expenditures go toward local, organic, or otherwise environmentally preferable food. Roughly 15 percent of total purchases are from within a 150 mile radius.
Community Garden
Arizona State University at the Polytechnic campus has created a community garden, the first of several planned for all campuses. The garden encourages students to learn about permaculture and sustainable food practices, creates a sense of community, and transforms an underutilized area to one that is more vital and engaging.
Composting
ASU is developing a university-wide composting program. Currently, landscaping waste is composted through a partnership with a local farmer. The program diverts an average of 140 tons of landscaping waste from the landfill each year, returning the compost to ASU as fertilizer for the Tempe Campus Arboretum.
Dining
Sun Devil Dining is committed to making environmentally responsible decisions across its operations, minimizing environmental impact while providing quality food and service.
Catering
The University Club focuses on creating a sustainable environment through its food selections, waste conservation, and more. Atlasta Catering is the official caterer of the University Club.
Campus Harvest
Campus Harvest engages the ASU community in planting and harvesting food from ASU’s extensive urban campus to provide fresh, local produce for campus kitchens, for charity, and for sale.
Arboretum
The Arboretum at ASU encompasses the entire Tempe Campus and is managed by the Facilities Management Ground Services Department. As Arizona's largest public arboretum, it is home to more than 900 species and is nationally recognized arboretum as a flourishing oasis of plants from around the world.
Green Building Standards
Following a 2005 order by the governor of Arizona, ASU now requires, to the fullest extent practicable, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification for all new construction of university-owned and operated buildings.
Recently Completed Buildings
Review a portfolio of LEED buildings at ASU, both current and pending, along with all other recently completed buildings on the Downtown, Polytechnic, Tempe, and West campuses.
Recently Completed Buildings »
Sustainability Toolbox for "green" offices and events
The Sustainability Toolbox is an online collection of strategies and resources for ASU departments interested in sponsoring "green" offices and hosting sustainable events.
