Sustainability

Planting trees, encouraging bike commuting and minimizing energy lost to heating and cooling are among the ways Oregon State University employees and students plan to reduce the university’s carbon footprint, thanks to grants from the Carbon Reduction Pilot Program administered by the Faculty Senate Carbon Commitment Committee.

What should you do with the long-forgotten clothes cluttering your closet? How do you stay stylish without buying new outfits all the time? Why are your clothes falling apart after a few washes?

For OSU employees and students with innovative ideas about how the university can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, there’s a pool of $50,000 in grant money ready to help put those ideas into action.

10 Questions With… Brandon Trelstad, sustainability officer with the Sustainability Office

The Oregon State University Sustainability Office recently released its FY2024 greenhouse gas report, showing that the university reduced its total gross emissions statewide by 0.98% from the previous year. The university has reduced its per-square-foot emissions by nearly half since 2008, including a drop of 6.5% per 1,000 square feet of building space from FY23 to FY24.

Oregon’s interminable rainy season is upon us, bringing with it a strong desire to hibernate and avoid going out in the cold and dark. Some bike commuters may be struggling to find the motivation to brave the elements on their way to work or class.

But with the right preparation, the weather need not be a deterrent, says Elza Records, sustainable transportation coordinator with Oregon State University Transportation Services.