About the Green Campus Partnership
The Green Campus Partnership is the umbrella group that addresses environmental sustainability and stewardship, and advocates for enhanced sustainability policies at Penn. It includes the Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee (ESAC) as well as faculty and student groups, including the Penn Environmental Group (PEG).
The Green Campus Partnership was formed after Penn President Amy Gutmann signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment in February 2007, the first Ivy League President to do so. Although the University's comprehensive sustainability plan won't be complete until 2009, much is already underway in the Penn Community to lower our carbon footprint. |
NEWS
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Penn ranked among the country's Top 25 Green Leaders
by Scientific American Magazine
Scientific American has ranked the University of Pennsylvania #19 on its list of the country's "Top 25 Green Leaders" alongside other environmentally-conscious companies and municipalities. Penn, the only institution of higher learning on the list, was recognized for its purchase of 193 million kilowatt-hours of green power, the most among all colleges and universities... (more) |
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Penn crowned EPA's College and University
Green Power Challenge Champion
For the third straight year, the University of Pennsylvania has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the nation's leading purchaser of green power among institutions of higher learning. Penn's purchase of nearly 193 million kilowatt-hours of wind power through renewable energy certificates led the Ivy League to victory in the Individual Conference competition... (more)
Read what Penn Environmental Sustainability Coordinator Dan Garofalo had to say about Penn's victory on the EPA's blog, Greenversations. |
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Penn receives recognition for transit-friendly campus
Penn has been designated as one of the BestWorkplaces for Commuters by the National Center for Transit Research (NCTR) at the University of South Florida for meeting the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Standard of Excellence for outstanding commuter benefits. These benefits promote energy conservation by reducing traffic congestion and related air pollution.
Read more about the Best Workplaces for Commuters at:
http://www.bestworkplaces.org/index.htm |
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Penn Hosts Inaugural Middle Class Task Force Meeting
Penn was chosen to host the first meeting of Vice President Biden's Middle Class Task Force because of the University’s leadership role in sustainability. Click here to read more. |
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A Plan for Penn Park
Penn Park is a 24-acre site on the eastern edge of the campus, offering beautiful views of the Center City skyline located along the Schuylkill River between Walnut and South Street. The Park will expand Penn’s athletic and recreation facilities within a broader public open space. The design concept calls for a system of large sculptural landforms that will organize the site, pedestrian circulation, and connections to campus and city. Interspersed between the fields and the landforms are smaller park spaces, planted loosely with canopy trees, for passive recreation and relaxation. |
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Sustainability Endowments Institute
2009 Green Report Card
The Sustainability Endowments Institute released the 2009 Green Report Card. Penn was one of 15 schools to receive an A-, which was the highest grade given. This is a significant increase from the B Penn received last year. Click here to see the report card and its explanation. |
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Welcome
Penn is addressing climate change through research, scholarship, education and sustainable design, construction, and operations. In 2007, the University of Pennsylvania witnessed two milestones that will shape our campus and its environmental impact for years to come.
In February, I pledged that by 2009 Penn would create a plan to significantly reduce emissions that contribute to global warming.
In July, we acquired 14 acres of industrial land adjacent to campus which is the focus of our award winning campus plan Penn Connects - A Vision for the Future. Sustainability is a guiding principle of this plan. We are excited to increase the amount of green space on campus by over 25% by converting parking lots to parkland, mitigating storm water runoff, reducing urban heat island effect, and creating a beautiful landscape to support native plantings.
The Penn Community is proud of the steps we've taken to reduce our environmental footprint, and we are committed to moving even farther in the future. I am pleased to share with you this summary of Penn's accomplishments, which illustrate Penn's dedication to sustainability.
Amy Gutmann
President |
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