Sustainability Initiative
Winship Cancer Institute moved into its new building in 2003. The 280,000 square foot building is certified by the U.S. Green Building Council under its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. Emory is a national leader in green building with more square feet of building space LEED certified than any other campus in America.
What is Sustainability?
The Brundtland Commission identified sustainable development in 1987 as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. As part of a commitment to positive transformation in the world, Emory has identified sustainability as one of the University's top priorities.
A sustainable Emory will be part of a healthy ecosystem; we seek to reduce the University's harmful impacts on the environment and contribute to regeneration of the ecosystem. A thriving economic sector will provide equitable opportunities for satisfying livelihoods and study through a safe, healthy, high quality of life for current and future generations. A sustainable Emory community implicates social dimensions, including a rich fabric of cultural diversity and the opportunity for all members to play a role in determining their own future. The intersections of social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability are the "triple bottom line" by which we will assess our progress.
You can help keep Winship green.
There are various ways you can contribute to keeping Winship green? Here's a few...
- Take the sustainability pledge.
- Recycle using one of the many bins located throughout the Winship building.
- Visit RideSmart and find a carpool or van pool.; learn about alternative transportation.
The History of Emory's Sustainability Initiatives
Emory's Office of Sustainability Initiatives was founded in September of 2006. Sustainability-related work at Emory began around 1990 with six efforts:
- Recycling white paper,
- Campus forest protection,
- Committee on the Environment founded to review capital projects and policy recommendation related to planning and development,
- Alternative transportation,
- Green purchasing,
- Sustainability in the curriculum of the university.
In 1999, the Ad Hoc committee on Environmental Stewardship was formed. This group of 20 - 30 faculty, staff, administrators, students and alumni came about in large part with plans for the construction of a new road connecting a satellite campus and parking deck with the main campus. The road would cut through a forested area known as Lullwater.
The awareness raised led to the creation of an Environmental Mission Statement which is now guiding the campus wide efforts and crossing many boundaries of the University, Healthcare, and collaborating entities.