Sustainability Efforts in Education Get Recognition in Oregon

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) has awarded the Oregon Institute of Technology a STARS Bronze rating in recognition of the university's sustainability actions and achievements.

STARS stands for Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System. It is a new program that measures and encourages sustainability in higher education. It is the only one of its kind that involves publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university's sustainability performance. Participants report achievements in three overall areas: education and research, operations, and planning, administration, and engagement.

"STARS was developed by the campus sustainability community to provide high standards for recognizing campus sustainability efforts," said AASHE Executive Director Paul Rowland. "Oregon Tech has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Bronze Rating and is to be congratulated for their efforts."

The program is unique in the sense that it is open to all institutions of higher education in the U.S. and Canada, and the criteria that determine a STARS rating are transparent and accessible to anyone. STARS is based on credits earned, therefore it allows for both internal comparisons as well as comparisons with similar institutions.

Oregon Tech's commitment to sustainability dates back to 1974 when the institution inaugurated its Geo-Heat Center. In 2001 the center was complemented by the legislative establishment of the Oregon Renewable Energy Center at Oregon Tech, which marked the beginning of a new era of sustainability projects and efforts to integrate the concept into all aspects of campus life.

The entire Klamath Falls campus is heated with geothermal energy, which prevents emissions and reduces electricity bills. The college also has a geothermal power plant, which will soon be accompanied by a large scale photovoltaic system and a larger scale geothermal power plant.

Another pioneering sustainability action by the college was the introduction of its Renewable Energy Engineering program, the first of its kind in the U.S. Besides, other majors such as Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences include sustainability-related classes in core curriculum areas.

"We are very proud to have earned a bronze STARS rating for our sustainability accomplishments. We look forward to using the STARS system to prioritize future sustainability efforts that will minimize environmental impacts and ensure OIT's long-term viability," said Charles Riley, Ph.D., assistant professor of civil engineering and chair of the OIT sustainability committee.

Image credit: Oregon Institute of Technology.