Sustainability: It's what we do.
In 2016 Sierra magazine ranked PSU 14th in the nation, and first in Oregon, for its commitment to sustainability. The official publication of Sierra Club, Sierra commended PSU for its innovative strategies for reducing wasted, conserving resources, and advancing environmental research.
At Portland State University, students have the opportunity to take sustainability lessons beyond the classroom, engaging directly with the community to solve real-world problems and achieve new levels of sustainability at the local and regional levels. Portland State strives to harness the strengths of the university—with new ideas, innovative partnerships, and rigorous academic programs—moving closer to solving the environmental, social, and economic problems of our time.
The campus itself is a model for sustainability; each new building or major renovation on campus since 2004 has received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The new buildings include such sustainable design features as ecoroofs, rainwater harvesting, and geothermal heating and cooling systems.
Working with like-minded businesses, individuals, and organizations, faculty and students are performing valuable research and developing solutions to address issues related to climate change, public health, urbanization, and much more. With sustainability as a campus-wide learning outcome, students in departments across campus consider issues that integrate economic, social, and environmental viewpoints. Armed with this knowledge and experience, they will join a generation of leaders building a more equitable, livable, resilient world.