How We're Doing

Utah State University is transparent in its efforts and in its results when it comes to sustainability efforts. A collection of data, statistics, charts, and tables help to form a snapshot of the current sustainability climate at USU.

Academics

Emissions

Energy

Transportation

Waste

Water

Academics

Planetary Thinking in the Curriculum

In May 2016 a group of faculty launched Destinations: Planetary Thinking in the Curriculum. This workshop engages faculty in teaching about sustainability and the UN sustainable development goals in their curriculum. Integration into the curriculum, instead of a standalone course, ensures students encounter concepts of sustainability as it relates to their field of study, therefore providing multiple touch points to the concepts throughout their time at USU.

A bar chart showing students that took classes that faculty workshopped over the years of 2016 to 2022 (missing data for 2020). In 2016, nearly 1500 students did; in 2017, nearly 2500 students did; in 2018, about 1500 did; in 2019, over 1000 did; and in 2022, about 1750 did.

Sustainability Courses

Courses Offered Undergraduate Graduate
Sustainability Focused Courses 16 5
Sustainability Related Courses 67 38
Total Courses offered 1272 649

*Taken from the 2021 AASHE Report

AASHE Report

  • "75 faculty participants and 8,250+ students reached since 2016"

  • "6.56% of courses at USU are sustainability courses"

  • "47.27% of academic departments have sustainability course offerings"

Emissions

USU is committed to carbon neutrality by 2040. Carbon means that through emissions reduction and some offsets, USU will be contributing no carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

In 2019 the faculty senate accelerated our carbon neutrality goal to 10% reduction each year until neutrality. 

In the near term, by 2030 we hope to reach 30,915.25 MTCO2e (Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide), which represents a 72% reduction from our 2018 baseline of 109,458.87 MTCO2e

A line graph of MTCO2e emissions over the years 2007 to 2020. Total Scope 1 shows a general increase from about 35k to 50k, but Gross Emissions shows a general downward trend from around 100k in 2007 to about 75k in 2020. General Emissions show a more dramatic decrease between 2017 and 2020. Total Scope 2 and 3 show level or decreasing emissions at a level lower than Total Scope 1.

A line chart of emissions of MTCO2e per fulltime enrollment over the years of 2007 to 2020 showing very similar trends to the Emissions MTCO2e chart over the same years. Total Scope 1 shows an increase from 2 up to about 3 and then a decrease back to 2 in 2020, but Gross Emissions shows a general downward trend from around 6 in 2007 to about 3.5 in 2020. General Emissions show a more dramatic decrease between 2017 and 2020. Total Scope 2 and 3 show level or decreasing emissions per fulltime enrollment at a level lower than Total Scope 1.

How we are doing it

Energy

USU's energy profile is managed by USU Facilities. The way we heat and cool our buildings, and keep our lights on every day is a large part of our emissions inventory. Reducing energy use and increasing energy efficiency is essential to reach USU's carbon neutrality goals.

Big Goals

  • Decarbonize central energy plant by 2040.
  • Increase investment in HVAC commissioning and electrification ready technology for all current buildings and new construction.
  • Procure at least 50% renewable energy for USU Logan campus by 2030.
  • Assist statewide in measuring energy savings from efficiency projects. 

Transportation

Transportation accounts for about 13% of USU's emissions. How can we improve this? By electrification! Tangable actions inlude investing in electric vehicles for our fleet and advocating for alternative transportation options for our students, faculty, and staff.

A pie chart of student transportation methods. 36.6% drive alone, 31.7% walk, 17.8% use the public bus, 7.9% bike, and 5.9% carpool.

A pie chart of faculty transportation methods. 67.7% drive alone, 8.1% walk, 4% use the public bus, 12.1% bike, and 8.1% carpool.

A pie chart of staff transportation methods. 66.2% drive alone, 12% walk, 8% use the public bus, 5.7% bike, and 8% carpool.

*Data from the 2019 commuter survey

35.4% of employees use sustainable transportation options, 67.6% of students use sustainable transportation options. Efforts to increase sustainable transportation include the Commuter Club, Aggie Blue Bikes, the Aggie Shuttle, and bicycle infrastructure improvements like bike lanes and covered bike racks across campus.

USU has a variety of vehicles in it's fleet. From the aggie shuttle buses to the landscaping crew vehicles, we maintain a mixture of gas, hybrid, electric and diesel options.

A pie chart of USU vehicle fleet fuel types. 80.8% of vehicles use gasoline only, 10.4% use diesel only, 6.2% are hybrid, and 1.8% use natural gas.

A bar chart of different types of cars in USU's rental fleet. There are 18 hybrid and 8 gas sedans, 8 hybrid and 15 gas vans, 5 hybrid and 5 gas SUVs, 0 hybrid and 5 gas trucks, 0 hybrid and 3 gas mini-busses, and 1 all electric sedan.

Waste and Recycling

The Goals

  • Increase waste diversion to 35% by FY 2025 from 25% in FY 2012.
  • Develop a university wide waste reduction policy.

How We're Doing

  • New recycling stations were installed on campus with landfill, paper, and container bins. 
  • Outdoor recycling bins were installed in fall 2017.
  • The university installed a commercial composter in 2015, which has been so successful that demand already exceeds capacity.
  • Currently streamlining labeling across University owned and maintained buildings.
  • Integrating recycling collection at the Spectrum and Stadium.
  • Working with the sustainability club and COSAS on waste diversion from tailgating and during football games.

A bar chart of tons of waste between the different waste streams at USU in 2007 and 2019. In 2007, there were 1812 tons of materials disposed in a solid waste landfill or incinerator, 578 tons of materials recycled, and 50 tons of materials composted. In 2019, there were 2011 tons of materials disposed of in a solid waste landfill or incinerator, 348 tons of materials recycled, and 165 tons of materials composted.

Water

USU is committed to reducing our water usage. This can be implemented with efficient building technology, like low flow toilets. USU Landscaping and Operations Maintenance (LOAM) is working to implement the Drought Resiliency Landscape plan to incorporate native and water-wise plants, and reduce traditional turfgrass to 20% (down from 60%) of campus, not including park spaces. 

Over 60% of Main Campus open space is turf grass. This includes spaces like the Quad and the Library/Engineering Quad. USU is planning to replace park strips, parking areas, small disconnected spaces, shade impacted areas, and low-use landscapes away from turfgrass.

Fall 2022 Baseline Irrigation Use Calculations

Usage Estimates Gallons Irrigated Acres
Culinary Irrigation 63,215,110 72.16
Secondary Irrigation 259,742,595 278.18