Sustainability

Sustainability is most commonly defined as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” As a public higher education institution, the University at Albany has both an obligation and an opportunity to be a model of environmental responsibility for both the campus community and the region around us. UAlbany is the first higher education institution in the area with a full-time professional office dedicated to coordinating and overseeing efforts toward creating a more strongly sustainable campus.

Some of the initiatives that UAlbany is working on in the area of sustainability include the formation of a student group called UAlbany Students for Sustainability; residence hall energy campaigns; an established recycling program; dedication to healthier choice foods and farmers’ markets; replacement of cleaning products with Green Seal approved cleaners; and 100% biodegradable plastic bags in all Campus Center food outlets. For information on UAlbany’s sustainability initiatives visit the Go Green Web site.