Eastern’s sustainability efforts include integrating sustainable energy studies into the liberal arts core curriculum, teaching students about recycling through student activities and educational materials, and developing a sustainable-minded campus culture for students, faculty and staff.
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Sustainability at Eastern
The University’s commitment to sustainability is evident throughout campus. From its LEED-certified buildings to its reforestation efforts, Eastern has made significant progress in its quest for a greener future under President Elsa Nunez’ leadership. In addition, the school has committed to carbon neutrality and signed the American Campuses Act on Climate Pledge.
The Institute for Sustainability offers many student internships, including energy and trash auditing, data collection, and sustainability-related communications, outreach, and research projects. The Institute also has a “green” housing option for residential students who are interested in reducing their impact on the environment.
In 2021, the Institute launched a new program, “Resources for Resilience.” The initiative helps community leaders and local businesses develop projects that are both environmentally beneficial and economically practical, especially in light of the ongoing pandemic. These projects include reusing wood pallets for signage, recycling unused electronics, and creating a community garden to help reduce food waste. The program was funded by grants from the Connecticut Green Bank and the Smart Seed Fund.
The Institute for Sustainability
The Institute for Sustainability (IS) at Eastern is a champion and objective resource for Connecticut’s transition to sustainable practices and policies. The IS connects individuals, organizations, businesses and communities in support of a more resilient, equitable, and inclusive world.
The IS focuses on developing long-lasting solutions through the intersection of environmental stewardship and social equity. It explores the local and global as existing simultaneously and constituting each other, so students can understand how underlying structural factors produce specific forms of inequality.
IS is working with several partners to promote community-based renewable energy in our region. This includes the Connecticut Green Bank, which has helped create a dedicated network of contractors, developers, lenders and community leaders, as well as providing funding to help homeowners and businesses replace their old solar production meters. It is also working with a local company, Bloomfield-based C-TEC Solar, which provides installation services for home and business owners and has installed more than 100 projects to date.
The Green Campus Committee
The Green Campus Committee at Eastern is made up of faculty, staff and students from various departments including the Institute for Sustainability, facilities management, dining services, housing and residential life, and human resources. Together, this diverse group implements a broad range of sustainability initiatives on the campus. ECSU has several LEED designed buildings, an active recycling program and the state’s largest geothermal residence hall. The campus is committed to carbon neutrality, and was the first in higher education to sign the American Campuses Act on Climate Pledge.
The Sustainable CT Fellowship places young people at Connecticut's Council of Governments, regional planning organizations, and other no-cost community partners to help towns understand and implement the many sustainability resources available through the statewide Sustainable CT program. Fellows have gone on to intern at the Connecticut General Assembly, pursue advanced degrees, and even work for some of the towns they supported as Sustainable CT fellows. For more details please visit top news
The Social Change Amplifier Match Fund supports projects that engage Black, Latinx, Multiracial and Indigenous leaders to promote and support community-based initiatives for social justice, environmental stewardship and thriving, resilient communities. Applicants can apply for up to $2,500 in matching funds for projects that:
Dining & Residential Life
The food is better than I think most people could make themselves and they have a good variety of choices. They also have a variety of clubs to join and there is always something going on in the common rooms like the pride room or cafe. The campus is safe and there are police around all the time.
Eastern has recently partnered with other colleges and community organizations to form the Center for Housing Equity and Opportunities in Eastern Connecticut (CHEO). CHEO will work to align regional resources to deliver equitable housing solutions. This is an important step in the effort to make affordable housing a priority for the entire region. The College is pleased to have this partnership with other institutions and communities across the state.