The Commons wins state Environmental Stewardship Award for Green Buildings
The Commons has a total of seven LEED-certified buildings, four Gold and three Silver.
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Sustainability at Vanderbilt University
Sustainability is broadly defined as meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (1) The term "sustainability", when applied institutionally within a university, is essentially the development of a process or management system that helps to create a vibrant campus economy and high quality of life while respecting the need to sustain natural resources and protect the environment. (2) Sustainable programs are those that result from an institution's commitment to environmental, social and economic health, or the "triple bottom line". Sustainability has both individual and institutional applicability, and is usually a balancing act.
Vanderbilt University interacts with the local, national, and international communities in three major ways. As educators, Vanderbilt plays a significant role in preparing our students for future leadership throughout the globe. Our students today will make the decisions of tomorrow. As a major employer and health service provider in Middle TN, we have a relationship with the community in which we operate that demands that Vanderbilt conduct its business while applying the principles of environmental and social stewardship. As a center for scholarly research, informed and creative teaching, and service to the community and society at large, we are developing and sharing best practices and cultivating new ideas concerning sustainability.
Nationally, the sustainability movement is sweeping across campuses. The National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), the Association of Physical Plant Administrators (APPA), and The Chronicle of Higher Education have embraced and endorsed campus sustainability principles and serve as a major force on the national scene. (3) The Winter, 2006 Edition of the journal The Presidency contained an 11 page article entitled "Sustainability and the University". (2) The Chronicle of Higher Education just released on October 20, 2006 an entire issue on Sustainability at universities. (4) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently announced that it is partnering with the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) to develop a national framework to rank, assess, and compare campuses on their sustainability efforts.
Vanderbilt Operational Sustainability Accomplishments
Brief Overview of Vanderbilt Academic Activities Related to Sustainability
Brief Overview of Vanderbilt Student Activities Related to Sustainability
