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UVA’s sustainability framework is built upon interdepartmental and interdisciplinary connections at all levels of the University to ENGAGE our community in sustainability action and equity, STEWARD our resources on Grounds and beyond, and DISCOVER solutions to local and global challenges through research and curriculum.
This section reflects the STEWARD goal of reducing the University’s environmental impact and ensuring the sustainability and longevity of UVA’s built and natural environments.
The University of Virginia is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a unique distinction among U.S. colleges and universities that carries great responsibility for innovative and continual stewardship.
Steward Goals
1. Be carbon neutral by 2030 and fossil fuel free by 2050
2. Achieve the “30/30” goals by 2030 (based on 2010 baseline)
- Reduce water use by 30%
- Reduce nitrogen emissions by 30%
- Reduce waste footprint to 30% (a 70% reduction)
- Increase sustainable food and beverage purchases to 30%
UVA’s Grounds (including the Health System) feature more than 550 buildings across more than 18 million square feet of building space, more than 1,600 acres and hundreds of cutting-edge research labs. Some 25,000 undergraduate and graduate students live and learn here, and almost 20,000 staff and faculty work at UVA.