FutureVu Sustainability

What does a better-connected Nashville look like? For Vanderbilt University, it means a campus that is seamlessly linked to the city through frequent, reliable public transit, safer sidewalks and smarter traffic signals—all of which are on the horizon with the approval of the “Choose How You Move” transportation referendum. On Nov. 5, voters in Davidson County approved the $3.1 billion transit plan; 66 percent of ballots cast were in favor of the city’s transportation system overhaul. Approval of the referendum triggers a half-cent increase in sales tax that will take effect Feb. 1.  Read More

Did you know that Vanderbilt's West End Neighborhood was re-imagined into a more inclusive, sustainable community? Here are five things that you might not know about the West End Neighborhood.   Read More

Vanderbilt has expanded access to clean energy in the Southeast through a collaboration with Clearloop. The university community is invited to learn more at the campus celebrations Oct. 15–16.  Read More

The more than 600 staff members who make up the Vanderbilt University Facilities Department play a vital role in keeping the university ticking, and now the department is expanding and restructuring to better serve the Vanderbilt community.  Read More

Vanderbilt has won three Stevie awards—the first time the university has been recognized by the world’s premier business awards. More than 3,600 international nominations were submitted in a wide range of categories. Read More

All full-time and part-time Vanderbilt University students, faculty, staff and postdocs can ride WeGo local and regional buses, paratransit services and the WeGo Star free of charge at any time. Starting July 17, the university is transitioning from using physical Commodore Cards to utilizing the “QuickTicket by WeGo” app or a physical QuickTicket card. Read More

The 160,000-square-foot Oliver C. Carmichael College will join E. Bronson Ingram, Nicholas S. Zeppos and Rothschild as the final residential college in the West End Neighborhood, concluding 12 years of construction. The transformation of the West End Neighborhood is part of FutureVU, a framework for campus planning that embodies the university’s core values and holistic approach to its mission of teaching, research and service, while prioritizing inclusivity and sustainability. Read More

Tucked behind the 6 Magnolia Building on Vanderbilt’s Peabody Campus is what might look to some like a lush garden of weeds. In reality, it’s a strategic Native Meadow full of pollinator-friendly plants. Since its inception, the meadow has flourished, and many faculty, staff and students have found ways to collaborate and interact with the space, thought of as a ‘living lab.’ Read More

Springtime in the Vanderbilt University Arboretum fills campus with buds and blooms, and new trees find their home across the grounds. At the beginning of April, people walking around campus may have noticed landscapers planting trees in the arboretum. The trees were planted in clusters across campus, including on Alumni Lawn and near Rand, Sarratt and Curry Field.   Read More

During Earth Month, Vanderbilt Campus Dining hosted a series of events centered around locally sourced foods, which included the largest Rand Farmer’s Market to date! Plus, over 5,000 community members have enrolled in ReusePass, reducing single-use plastic on campus. Read More

Vanderbilt University will help expand access to clean energy in Brownsville, Tennessee, while further offsetting the institution’s carbon footprint—thanks to the second of three solar farms being developed through the university’s multiyear collaboration with Clearloop, a subsidiary of Silicon Ranch, an alumni-founded solar company based in Nashville. Read More

  Led by the Wond’ry, Vanderbilt’s center for innovation, the Climate Innovation Accelerator is a first-of-its-kind Nashville initiative that engages an inclusive network of local universities, minority-owned/led small businesses, and nonprofits to advance the city’s leadership initiatives toward a climate-positive future.  The second… Read More

Vanderbilt Environmental Health, Safety and Sustainability is launching the Vanderbilt Sustainable Labs program, which provides guidance for laboratory members to reduce the environmental impact of their lab activities. Read More

Dan Russell, sustainability coordinator intern in Auxiliary Services, teaches the Vanderbilt community about how people’s individual choices in using Earth's resources can affect our urban patch of Nashville and the planet on which we live. Read More

THINGS TO KNOW:  Vanderbilt University now has 25 LEED certified buildings  Vanderbilt has PETAL and WELL-designed buildings (certifications pending)  The Commons was the first set of buildings to receive LEED certification on campus  … Read More

The FutureVU Walk & Roll Loop will offer a scenic pathway for students, faculty, staff and the community to walk, bike and roll around campus. As part of ongoing campus improvements, a new segment has opened along West End Avenue, boosting accessibility and sustainability in the West End Neighborhood. Read More

Today is the first day of Earth Month! Vanderbilt Campus Dining is constantly working to expand its sustainability programs. Here are five things you should know about sustainability at Campus Dining. Read More

It’s almost Earth Month! Did you know that Vanderbilt is carbon neutral? Throughout April, we’ll be highlighting sustainability-related programs and areas throughout the university, which all contribute to continually lower Vanderbilt’s carbon footprint—and here are five that you might not know about.   Read More

Did you know that the Southern magnolia is one of the most common trees on campus? It’s thanks to the efforts of Margaret Branscomb and the Vanderbilt Women’s Garden Club in the 1950s.  Read More

Excerpt: Vanderbilt University will celebrate Earth Month during April with events aimed at education and engagement around Vanderbilt sustainability programs and initiatives.  Read More