Timeline of sustainability at UC

2012

• Bearcat Bike Share expanded to UC East (Clermont County)
• UC named to Princeton Review's list of top green colleges and universities for 3rd consecutive year
• UC places in top 5 for water use reducion in Campus Conservation Nationals competition
• First green roof on campus completed (Procter Hall)

2011

• UC wins 2011 Green Business Award for sustainable transportation policies and is finalist in green design category
• UC included in the League of American Bicyclists' inaugural list of Bike Friendly Universities
• UC receives inaugural Bike Friendly Destination designation from Queen City Bike and the City of Cincinnati
• Zipcar car sharing introduced on campus
• First Student Sustainability Summit held at Hueston Woods to build leadership capacity for students
• UC earns Energy Star Combined Heat and Power Award for demonstrating leadership and a commitment to protecting peoples' health and the environment

2010

• Bearcat Bike Share founded
  
• UC Bike Kitchen created
• UC Garden founded
• Office of Sustainability created
• PACES committee receives funding for student programs from Student Advisory Council on University Budget which helps allocate student activity revenue
• President Williams includes sustainability as key component of UC 2019 Plan
• UC named to Princeton Review’s list of top green colleges & universities
• UC competes in first annual Campus Conservation Nationals
• Board approves funds to expand recycling to all academic and residential buildings
• First LEED Silver building completed
• Bearcat Recycling expanded to all major events and  Athletics games
• Sustainability Advocates and UC Bike Mechanic positions created
  

2009

• Full-time Sustainability Coordinator position created
• Part-time Sustainability Assistant position created
• UC completes Climate Action Plan for Uptown campus
  
• UC Urban Farm founded
  
• Sustainable food survey and focus groups started
  
• Dining halls go trayless to conserve water, money and food
  
• First “Green Up Day” held by Center for Community Engagement and Cincinnati Parks
  
• UC participates in the National Teach-In on Global Warming
  

2008

• UC completes carbon footprint for Uptown campus
  
• UC submits LEED certification for two more buildings (CARE and Teacher’s College/Dyer)
  
• METRO*UC free bus pass program begins
  
• Annual Energy Conference founded by College of Applied Science
  
• UC participates in Focus the Nation with local and state leaders, webcasts and lectures
  
• UC celebrates National Campus Sustainability Day with speakers and educational sessions
  
• Trees for Tomorrow tree planting program begins
  
• Farmers Market on MainStreet begins
  
• Re*Use Market created to collect/distribute/donate used furniture and household items
  

2007

• Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) signed by UC President
  
• Center for Sustaining the Urban Environment (SUE) founded
  
• Board of Trustees approves additional $10 million for energy reduction initiative
  
• President’s Advisory Council on Environment & Sustainability (PACES) becomes All-
  University Committee
  
• Bi-annual Housing Conservation Challenge begins
  
• Climate Commitment 101 lecture series begins
  
• UC completes three LEED-certified buildings (Varsity Village, Campus Recreation Center,
  and Van Wormer Library)
  
• Pitch In recycling competition begins
  
• Pilot recycling program created by students in Government of Siddall Hall
  
• “Clean Energy & Climate Change” film festival held
  
• Operation Move-In Recycle founded to reduce waste during hall opening
  
• UC begins participation in Keep Cincinnati Beautiful’s “Great American Cleanup”
  

2006

• UC adopts Comprehensive Policy on Environmental Sustainability (Administrative
  Memorandum 135)
  
• UC completes first LEED-certified building (Steger Student Life Center)
  
• Board of Trustees approves $8 million for energy reduction strategies
  
• UC joins the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
  (AASHE)
  
• President’s Advisory Council on Environment & Sustainability (PACES) formed
  
• Facilities Management expands recycling program
  
• LEAP is named “Best Student Group” by Cincinnati Earth Day Committee
  
• DAAP students create college-based, volunteer-run recycling program
  

2005

• E-SAVE changes name to Leader for Environmental Awareness & Protection (LEAP)
  
• Participation in Recyclemania begins
  
• LEAP wins “Student Group of the Year” from UC Student Government
  

2004

• Co-generators added to Central Utility Plant
  

2003

• Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC), which would later become PACES,
  created after students meet with President
  
• Students for Ecological Design (sed) founded
  
• Central Utility Plant expanded

2002

• E-SAVE completes student survey on environmental sustainability attitudes and concerns
  
• UC implements “Walk to Work” homeownership program
  

2001

• UC adopts Sustainable Design Policy (Administrative Memorandum 127)
  
• UC joins United States Green Building Council (USGBC)
  

2000

• Environmental Students for Awareness, Volunteering & Education (E-SAVE) founded
  
• Landscaped Campus Green and Sigma Sigma Commons replace 6-acre surface parking
  lot on West Campus
  

1998

• Environmental Studies program is created in the College of Arts & Sciences
  
• Self-Directed Work Team on Sustainability forms to create green building criteria
  

1997

• UC wins EPA “Partner of the Year” Award
  

1995

• UC joins EPA “Greenlights” program
  
• UC begins voluntary Energy Star purchasing program
  

1994

• Return-on-investments energy conservation program begins
  

1993

• On-campus coal-burning power plant decommissioned

1992

• New Central Utility Plant constructed
  

1991

• Recycling program begins on campus
  

1970

• UC celebrates inaugural Earth Day with week of events including speakers, forums,
  community discussions, a rally and an “Ecoffee House”
  

1960s

• Students Organized Against Pollution (SOAP) founded
  
• “Environmental Thing” coalition of student groups founded
  

1910

• Coal-burning power plant constructed near center of campus