Aug 25, 2022
4 min
Carnegie Mellon University has earned gold for being green.
The university recently was awarded its second consecutive gold ranking by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) for its sustainability performance in five categories: Academics, Engagement, Operations, Planning and Administration, and Innovation and Leadership. AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) uses a self-reporting structure for colleges and universities to measure their environmental efforts.
Carnegie Mellon’s latest report, which got underway last March, was compiled by more than 50 individuals representing 23 departments across the university, from the Provost’s Office and the Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research, to Facilities Management and Campus Services and the Office of Human Resources.
In Carnegie Mellon’s mission to transform society, our actions on campus must reflect our ambitions to impact the world,” said President Farnam Jahanian. “Our university’s participation in STARS is a great example of our community’s shared responsibility and accountability in creating a more sustainable planet, and strengthens the campus-wide partnerships necessary to maintain sustainability-focused programs.”
Carnegie Mellon earned a silver rating in 2015 and its first gold award in 2019.
Deborah Steinberg, CMU’s new manager for green practices and sustainability, coordinated the university’s report for 2022 soon after joining CMU in July 2021 from Knox College, where she was director of Sustainability Initiatives. Steinberg is working with FMCS to provide vision and leadership to advance sustainability efforts across all aspects of university support services. She earned her master’s degree in landscape architecture from Chatham University, a master’s degree in education from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a bachelor’s degree in resource ecology and management from the University of Michigan.
Steinberg said the university’s report scored the highest in the academics and engagement categories with more than 48% of CMU undergraduate and graduate course offerings mapping to at least two of the 17 Sustainability Development Goals. She said in 2021, CMU’s greenhouse gas emissions inventory showed a 72% reduction in emissions since the inaugural inventory in 2005.
“The greenhouse gas emission inventory was a good summary of CMU’s operational sustainability initiatives,” Steinberg said. “It looks at purchased and generated energy, and reflects our Renewable Energy Credits and increased building efficiency as seen through our commitment to LEED certification for significant renovations and new construction.”
For the past decade, Carnegie Mellon has purchased all of it electricity from renewable sources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro. This past fall, the university was ranked 11th in the EPA’s list of Top 30 Green Power Universities. Twenty-four of CMU’s buildings have earned either gold or silver LEED certification for their energy efficiency and environmental design.
Steinberg also noted the often-overlooked efforts to reduce emissions, including zero-waste efforts and the use of alternative transportation on campus, such as biking and walking. CMU is recognized as a bicycle-friendly university by the League of American Bicyclists.
A point of distinction in the report that Steinberg said garnered “innovation points,” was CMU’s Voluntary University Review. The VUR, a first-of-its-kind report released by Provost Jim Garrett at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2020, reviewed the university’s education, research and practices to develop a snapshot of activities related to the 17 Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs).
CMU ranked 11th in the EPA’s list of Top 30 Green Power Universities.
“We know that universities offer an important and stable platform from which to advance these global goals,” Garrett recently shared at the INTERSECT@CMU Conference. “Through the process of developing a VUR, we have identified many ways that our students, faculty and staff are making great contributions to the SDGs. At CMU, we are intently focused on our shared responsibility to not only educate the future leaders of our world but to help save the planet on which they live.”
The Scott Institute for Energy Innovation offers seed grants to faculty for energy research and supports the development of new research in areas such as energy sources, production, efficiency and environmental impacts. In 2020, the institute awarded almost half a million dollars to nine faculty-led projects.
The Steinbrenner Institute encourages student sustainability research through a variety of programs, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Undergraduate research is supported by engaging students in campus greening projects that relate to their academic work and research, and through the Steinbrenner Institute SEED grant program.
Steinberg encourages members of the campus community to view CMU’s STARS report on the AASHE’s website.
“The report is an excellent way to review all of CMU’s sustainability efforts across campus,” Steinberg said. “We want students, faculty and staff to read the report and contact us with any feedback or suggestions. It’s a valuable resource for anyone interested in campus sustainability initiatives and research.”
1 min
Carnegie Mellon University’s artificial intelligence experts come from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives, representing fields including computer science, sustainability, national security and entrepreneurship. Ahead of the AI Horizons Summit highlighting the city's commitment to responsible technology, CMU experts weighed in on why they see Pittsburgh as a hub for human-centered AI.
1 min
Earlier this month, alarm bells were ringing at the Justice Department after a Jordanian citizen was arrested for targeting and breaking into solar power facility farm in Florida. During that same time period, energy facilities in New Jersey and Idaho also came under attack. The attacks were politically motivated and have led national media outlets like USA Today to contact experts from Carnegie Mellon University to help explain the situation and break if all down. The Department of Homeland Security has issued warnings that domestic extremists have been developing "credible, specific plans" since at least 2020 and would continue to "encourage physical attacks against electrical infrastructure." Industry experts, federal officials, and others have warned in one report after another since at least 1990 that the power grid was at risk, said Granger Morgan, an engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University. One challenge is that there's no single entity whose responsibilities span the entire system, Morgan said. And the risks are only increasing as the grid expands to include renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, he said. August 15, 2024 - USA TODAY Professor Granger's comments are startling as America's vulnerabilities to important infrastructure seem to be more exposed than ever. And if you're a journalist looking to cover this emerging topic - then let us help with your questions and stories. Morgan Granger is available to speak with media - simply click on his icon below to arrange an interview today. Photo Credit: Zbynek Burival
2 min
Is the bubble about to burst again on the country's economy? A recent article by Bloomberg News paints a picture of what lies ahead - and the predictions look bleak at best. The Congressional Budget Office warned in its latest projections that US federal government debt is on a path from 97% of GDP last year to 116% by 2034 — higher even than in World War II. The actual outlook is likely worse. From tax revenue to defense spending and interest rates, the CBO forecasts released earlier this year are underpinned by rosy assumptions. Plug in the market’s current view on interest rates, and the debt-to-GDP ratio rises to 123% in 2034. Then assume — as most in Washington do — that ex-President Donald Trump’s tax cuts mainly stay in place, and the burden gets even higher. With uncertainty about so many of the variables, Bloomberg Economics has run a million simulations to assess the fragility of the debt outlook. In 88% of the simulations, the results show the debt-to-GDP ratio is on an unsustainable path — defined as an increase over the next decade. April 01 - Bloomberg The economy is in the news every day - and if you're a journalist looking to know what the future may hold - then let us help with your coverage and questions. Professor Lee Branstetter is a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research and nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. He is available to speak with media about the economy - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.
Check out some other posts from Carnegie Mellon University
1 min
Carnegie Mellon University’s artificial intelligence experts come from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives, representing fields including computer science, sustainability, national security and entrepreneurship. Ahead of the AI Horizons Summit highlighting the city's commitment to responsible technology, CMU experts weighed in on why they see Pittsburgh as a hub for human-centered AI.
1 min
Earlier this month, alarm bells were ringing at the Justice Department after a Jordanian citizen was arrested for targeting and breaking into solar power facility farm in Florida. During that same time period, energy facilities in New Jersey and Idaho also came under attack. The attacks were politically motivated and have led national media outlets like USA Today to contact experts from Carnegie Mellon University to help explain the situation and break if all down. The Department of Homeland Security has issued warnings that domestic extremists have been developing "credible, specific plans" since at least 2020 and would continue to "encourage physical attacks against electrical infrastructure." Industry experts, federal officials, and others have warned in one report after another since at least 1990 that the power grid was at risk, said Granger Morgan, an engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University. One challenge is that there's no single entity whose responsibilities span the entire system, Morgan said. And the risks are only increasing as the grid expands to include renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, he said. August 15, 2024 - USA TODAY Professor Granger's comments are startling as America's vulnerabilities to important infrastructure seem to be more exposed than ever. And if you're a journalist looking to cover this emerging topic - then let us help with your questions and stories. Morgan Granger is available to speak with media - simply click on his icon below to arrange an interview today. Photo Credit: Zbynek Burival
2 min
Is the bubble about to burst again on the country's economy? A recent article by Bloomberg News paints a picture of what lies ahead - and the predictions look bleak at best. The Congressional Budget Office warned in its latest projections that US federal government debt is on a path from 97% of GDP last year to 116% by 2034 — higher even than in World War II. The actual outlook is likely worse. From tax revenue to defense spending and interest rates, the CBO forecasts released earlier this year are underpinned by rosy assumptions. Plug in the market’s current view on interest rates, and the debt-to-GDP ratio rises to 123% in 2034. Then assume — as most in Washington do — that ex-President Donald Trump’s tax cuts mainly stay in place, and the burden gets even higher. With uncertainty about so many of the variables, Bloomberg Economics has run a million simulations to assess the fragility of the debt outlook. In 88% of the simulations, the results show the debt-to-GDP ratio is on an unsustainable path — defined as an increase over the next decade. April 01 - Bloomberg The economy is in the news every day - and if you're a journalist looking to know what the future may hold - then let us help with your coverage and questions. Professor Lee Branstetter is a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research and nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. He is available to speak with media about the economy - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.
