Energy & Sustainability
![roof terrace of the school of nursing building](https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200_16_9/public/media/images/2018-05/cpm-son-roof-terrace-oudeman.jpg?itok=btU3fnSW 200w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260_16_9/public/media/images/2018-05/cpm-son-roof-terrace-oudeman.jpg?itok=lHCNUAiY 260w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320_16_9/public/media/images/2018-05/cpm-son-roof-terrace-oudeman.jpg?itok=rHeMIprj 320w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400_16_9/public/media/images/2018-05/cpm-son-roof-terrace-oudeman.jpg?itok=gaHcAZpH 400w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520_16_9/public/media/images/2018-05/cpm-son-roof-terrace-oudeman.jpg?itok=xDMfpkf0 520w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640_16_9/public/media/images/2018-05/cpm-son-roof-terrace-oudeman.jpg?itok=ct4sFSGi 640w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800_16_9/public/media/images/2018-05/cpm-son-roof-terrace-oudeman.jpg?itok=mLRsAra- 800w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040_16_9/public/media/images/2018-05/cpm-son-roof-terrace-oudeman.jpg?itok=3X-9I30b 1040w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280_16_9/public/media/images/2018-05/cpm-son-roof-terrace-oudeman.jpg?itok=ZwM-I1N1 1280w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600_16_9/public/media/images/2018-05/cpm-son-roof-terrace-oudeman.jpg?itok=kVBgmEcL 1600w)
Photo Credit: Frank Oudeman
CUIMC accepts climate change as an existential threat to our city, country, and planet. Based on the Paris Agreement of 2015 and Columbia University President Lee Bollinger’s statement recognizing the urgency of the climate crisis, CUIMC aims to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050 or earlier.
Under the University’s latest sustainability plan, Sustainability Plan 2030, CUIMC will implement and execute ambitious sustainability initiatives grounded in climate science and data to achieve our collective goal.
To achieve this, CUIMC is employing a four-step strategy that involves deep energy efficiency, electrification of heating, procuring zero-carbon energy, and purchasing carbon offsets.
Sustainability By The Numbers
![Amount of renewable electricity procured in the last 3 years is 100%](https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/cuimc_energyman_1200x627-01_0.jpg?itok=-m5h44-3 200w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/cuimc_energyman_1200x627-01_0.jpg?itok=xQpxq7uS 260w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/cuimc_energyman_1200x627-01_0.jpg?itok=Icx9TFl4 320w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/cuimc_energyman_1200x627-01_0.jpg?itok=jCysogLL 400w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/cuimc_energyman_1200x627-01_0.jpg?itok=EW7uRMkN 520w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/cuimc_energyman_1200x627-01_0.jpg?itok=8sKuKZLq 640w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/cuimc_energyman_1200x627-01_0.jpg?itok=jvHbakYH 800w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/cuimc_energyman_1200x627-01_0.jpg?itok=0pgvsKeN 1040w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/cuimc_energyman_1200x627-01_0.jpg?itok=ocOe1cPC 1280w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/cuimc_energyman_1200x627-01_0.jpg?itok=RzgRee8y 1600w)
See the ways in which Columbia University Irving Medical Center has made sustainability a priority on our campus.
Sustainable Columbia
![Cover of the Sustainable Columbia Plan 2030](https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/sustainable-columbia-plan-2030-cover.png?itok=dvyBCttX 200w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/sustainable-columbia-plan-2030-cover.png?itok=uYIoQPpZ 260w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/sustainable-columbia-plan-2030-cover.png?itok=Evx3lIRK 320w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/sustainable-columbia-plan-2030-cover.png?itok=Zvsn_Qq3 400w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/sustainable-columbia-plan-2030-cover.png?itok=a4n5_Hdz 520w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/sustainable-columbia-plan-2030-cover.png?itok=dWpYV5_h 640w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/sustainable-columbia-plan-2030-cover.png?itok=BuNZZFq- 800w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/sustainable-columbia-plan-2030-cover.png?itok=Evm5giVY 1040w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/sustainable-columbia-plan-2030-cover.png?itok=qg1vWa4Y 1280w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/sustainable-columbia-plan-2030-cover.png?itok=PqE-5HND 1600w)
In April 2021, Columbia University launched Sustainability Columbia Plan 2030–the second iteration of a University-wide sustainability initiative.
What You Can Do
![a person holding a water bottle at a water refill station](https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_200_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/bac-waterrefill-featured.jpg?itok=JTUEFgOP 200w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_260_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/bac-waterrefill-featured.jpg?itok=GMplnBSq 260w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_320_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/bac-waterrefill-featured.jpg?itok=gbpOBPXy 320w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_400_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/bac-waterrefill-featured.jpg?itok=feVXdQau 400w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_520_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/bac-waterrefill-featured.jpg?itok=_SJCyeRH 520w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_640_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/bac-waterrefill-featured.jpg?itok=ZplfSvy1 640w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_800_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/bac-waterrefill-featured.jpg?itok=8I14P7HU 800w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1040_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/bac-waterrefill-featured.jpg?itok=hNelX6zd 1040w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1280_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/bac-waterrefill-featured.jpg?itok=skM8EfDz 1280w, https://www.facilities.cuimc.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/styles/cola_media_1600_16_9/public/media/images/2021-04/bac-waterrefill-featured.jpg?itok=ra68F5e6 1600w)
We cannot create a more sustainable campus overnight. While we work each day to establish more sustainable practices, everyone at CUIMC can help create a more sustainable campus.