Purdue earns high ranking for campuswide sustainability efforts

Purdue University is adding to its national recognition for campuswide sustainability efforts. QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) World University has ranked Purdue No. 12  of 210 institutions in the United States and No. 93 out of 1,403 institutions worldwide for sustainability.

Purdue’s sustainability efforts were previously honored with an AASHE STARS Silver rating and a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School Postsecondary Sustainability Award. Purdue is the first higher education institution in Indiana to be named a Green Ribbon School.

QS, an analytics organization focused on the global higher education sector, considered the categories of environmental and social impact and governance in compiling its rankings.

“Purdue University has proven to be a leader in tangible sustainability actions among other higher education institutions,” said Ryan Gallagher, associate vice president for facilities operations and environmental health and safety. “We have received recognition for our sustainability efforts at state and national levels, and we have no intention to slow down.”

Many of Purdue’s efforts are covered in the 2020 Physical Facilities Sustainability Master Plan, which outlines actionable and measurable goals through fiscal year 2024 for energy, water, materials and waste, and buildings and grounds. Significant progress has been made with several of the plan’s goals, including increased recycling efforts across the West Lafayette campus, a reduction in carbon emissions by 27%, an effort to plant thousands of trees since 2020, 13 LEED-certified buildings to date and upgraded infrastructure for alternative transportation. 

In addition to these demonstrable near-term results, Purdue is also looking forward by investigating the feasibility of a future, clean-energy, nuclear-powered campus.

“We continue to work with Duke Energy to explore the possibilities associated with small modular reactors,” said Michael B. Cline, senior vice president of Administrative Operations. “Following the publication of our feasibility study interim report, we believe small modular reactors are a potential means by which Purdue could significantly reduce or eliminate our greenhouse gas emissions, and we’re actively pursuing the next steps outlined in the interim report.”   

Purdue and Duke Energy’s Small Modular Reactor and Adctor Feasibility Study considers the potential of utilizing nuclear power to greatly reduce carbon emissions while continuing to provide campus with safe, reliable and affordable energy.

“We are committed to pursuing further actions and innovations in sustainability through the hard work of our researchers, faculty, staff and students,” President Mung Chiang said. “Supporting sustainability is a value we can expand upon in our professional and personal lives.”

Efforts to enhance the culture of sustainability are happening through many avenues at Purdue, including research, education and campus life. Purdue is the proud home of the Institute for a Sustainable Future, which fosters research, partnerships and engagement in many aspects of sustainability Purdue also offers degree programs for students interested in pursuing careers in sustainability and addressing environmental challenges. All students then have the opportunity to learn and practice new habits during their time on campus.