Sustainability Initiatives at Worcester State

Sustainability Initiatives at Worcester State

IN THIS SECTION
Contact Sustainability
Modular Building
Room 113
green@worcester.edu
508-929-8332
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Single-Stream Recycling
Worcester State initiated a single-stream recycling program in 2006. Blue recycling bins are located in all classrooms, offices, hallways, and high-traffic areas. All recyclable materials can be put into the same bin.

Download our recycling infographic to help remember what can and cannot be recycled.
Download Recycling Infographic
A water bottle filling in a hydration station
Hydration Stations
Hydration stations are bottle-filling stations that supplement traditional water bubblers around campus. Each campus building has at least one, and we also have installed them at the Sagamore Campus building.

They save our community money and reduce the use of plastic bottles as well as all the fossil fuel used to transport the water bottles to stores.
Back to Sustainability Grid
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Solar Energy
Worcester State has solar PV on top of the LRC and Wasylean Hall and solar hot water panels on top of the Wellness Center. This means when you take a shower in the Wellness Center your water has been warmed by the sun!

The LRC solar panels generate over 140,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, which is enough energy to supply electricity to 20 homes of about 2,800 square feet each.

See how much energy our LRC solar panels are producing in the dashboard.
Worcester State Solar Energy Dashboard
One of the EV charging stations on campus
Electric Vehicle Charging
Worcester State offers 8 electric vehicle charging stations, with capacity to charge 16 cars at one time. There are 4 chargers in the North Lot (lot O), 1 outside the Shaughnessy Administration building in Parking Lot H, and 3 at the Parking Garage (building 14) with two outside in Lot C and one inside the garage on the bottom floor near the exit..
View Campus Map
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Responsible Food Options
Worcester State grows most of our lettuce on campus in our Leafy Green Machine. Our dining services provider, Chartwells is committed to the following practices:

Purchasing Fair Trade products
Buying local produce to support family farms
Purchasing Certified Humane Cage-Free Shell Eggs
Providing milk and yogurt that is free of artificial growth hormones
Providing customer nutrition, health and wellness

Chartwell's Commitment to Sustainability
The LEED Building plaque hanging in the administration building
LEED Buildings
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Buildings on Campus:

Shaughnessy Administration Building (#6 on campus map) - LEED Gold
Wellness Center (#7 on campus map) - LEED Gold
Sheehan Hall (#19 on campus map) LEED Gold
Dowden Hall (#20 on campus map) LEED Gold
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Princeton Review/Awards

Awards Won:

  • Princeton Review – on their Green Colleges list for 5 years and counting MassDOT /MassRf des Eco Awards for commitment to a more sustainable Massachusetts in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018
  • 2015 Leading by Example Award from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for outstanding energy and environmental efforts in the Higher Education category
  • 2015 EPA Environmental Merit Award – National Food Recovery Challenge Award Winner for New England

Related Links

ACUPCC
Climate Action Plan
Environmental Working Group
Stormwater Management Program
Contact Sustainability
Modular Building
Room 113
green@worcester.edu
508-929-8332