FutureVu Sustainability

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

Things to Know:  Earth Hour began in Sydney, Australia, in 2007 when more than 2.2 million people turned off their lights for one hour.   In 2023, Earth Hour saw over 410,000 hours pledged to the Hour Bank. … Read More

The annual report provides an overview of progress around the core themes of connectivity and community enhancement, diversity and inclusion, accessibility, environmental sustainability and the preservation of the university’s historic, park-like setting.  Read More

The latest annual sustainability report, released by Environmental Health, Safety and Sustainability in the Division of Administration, details Vanderbilt’s fiscal year 2023 sustainability efforts that support the university’s overall sustainability goals.   Read More

Did you know Vanderbilt University is completely carbon neutral? Watch as Class of 2024’s Ari Sasson takes us behind the scenes of the Vanderbilt I Solar Farm that’s providing clean energy to the electrical grid.  Read More

Vanderbilt’s efforts in large-scale renewable energy are closely tied to the work of its alumni. Silicon Ranch co-founder and CEO Matt Kisber, BA’82, helped lead an important collaboration between his company and the university to build solar farms, which helped Vanderbilt achieve carbon neutrality years ahead of its original goal of 2050. Read More

Vanderbilt has collaborated with Spin to provide designated e-bike share parking on campus in support of Metro Nashville’s dockless e-bike share program. Read More

VandyRide shuttles are now all electric and have a new app available to see shuttle schedules and locations in real time. There will also be updated routes, stops and wait times, as well as a new feedback form. Read More

By minimizing plastic waste and encouraging reusable container usage, ReusePass, which replaces the Fill it Forward program, provides the latest example of Vanderbilt’s ongoing commitment to responsible consumption and environmental preservation.   Read More

Since the Bicentennial Oak’s fall in November 2022 due to age-related decay, Vanderbilt’s facilities team has taken every care to salvage its remains to preserve its important history to the university. Read More

The new all-electric shuttle fleet will provide eco-friendly vehicles for VandyRide, a nighttime shuttle service for Vanderbilt students, by the start of the fall 2023 semester. In addition to being environmentally friendly, the new shuttles are also quieter and smoother than traditional buses, providing a more comfortable ride for passengers. Read More