UVA Office for Sustainability briefs Board of Visitors’ panel 

The University of Virginia is a partner with Albemarle and Charlottesville in regional efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a bid to slow an increase in the global mean temperature. Earlier this month, the people who operate UVA’s Office for Sustainability briefed the Buildings and Grounds Committee on the status of institutional goals. (view the presentation)

“In addition to the important roles of research, teaching, and engagement, universities also have significant environmental footprints if left unmitigated,” said Andrea Trimble, the director of the Office for Sustainability. “Our stewardship goals include targets for carbon emissions, nitrogen, water, and waste.”   

UVA has the goal of being carbon neutral by 2020 and completely free of fossil fuels by 2050. Trimble said the strategy has been to increase energy efficiency and to decrease consumption. 

“Even accounting for increased emissions from growth, we have reduced carbon emissions by over 44 percent since our baseline year of 2010,” Trimble said. “Last year we surpassed our ten year goal of reducing energy use per square foot over 500 buildings by at least 20 percent. We achieved 27 percent.”

Some of those buildings are under UVA’s Sustainable Labs program which seeks to reduce energy usage in scientific spaces. Trimble said this has saved $2.3 million in utility costs since 2021.  

Trimble’s office has a leadership program with around 35 students who work as sustainability advocates, eco-leaders, and zero-waste ambassadors. 

“The zero-waste ambassadors program empowers student leaders to actively contribute to UVA’s ambitious waste reduction goals,” said third-year student London Tuma. “Zero-waste ambassadors help expand and implement composting initiatives around grounds. The eco-leaders program, in partnership with Housing and Residence Life, focuses on fostering sustainability in residence halls by organizing sustainability focused events and supporting initiatives like the dorm-energy race.”

Another 20 students are hired by the Office for Sustainability, including Tuma. Some duties include working football and basketball games to coordinate recycling and other waste reduction efforts.  

“Move in and move out are also important opportunities for waste reduction,” Tuma said. “Students help the Office for Sustainability with cardboard and other recycling during move-in. During move-out, the Hoos Re-Use helps divert gently used items from landfills and instead donates to Goodwill and the UVA Community Food Pantry.”

Ellie Cowan is a fourth-year student who has worked in the Office for Sustainability helping to coordinate efforts to explain the goals of the overall initiative through engagement programs.  

“On a personal note, the Office for Sustainability has provided me with invaluable experience including managing volunteer events, recruiting passionate students, and teaching important lifelong sustainability habits,” Cowan said.   

UVA has been working toward this moment for many years. The first story I wrote about their efforts was back in June 2007 for Charlottesville Tomorrow. 

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