History of Sustainability at Cornell
Cornell University's legacy of sustainability extends deep into our campus history, beginning with the principles upon which the University was founded in 1865.
Cornell University has historic ties to North American Indigenous Nations. Our Ithaca campus sits on the traditional lands of the Gayogo̱hóǫɁ (Cayuga Nation), part of the Hodinǫ̱hsǫ́ (Haudenosaunee) Confederacy. We continue to support education, research, and engagement with Indigenous communities.
From its inception, Cornell University has been a pioneer in reinventing education with a purpose. Visionary leaders Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White rejected the social limitations of existing educational system of the 1800s, which typically accepted only white men of Christian denominations, and instead committed to advancing equitable educational access by creating an institution in which "any person can find instruction in any study.” This early commitment to social sustainability through access and equity was followed in later years by progress and leadership in other areas of sustainability, notably climate leadership and environmental care.
Explore our history with the timeline below.
1865: Cornell Charter
New York Governor Reuben Fenton signs into law Cornell University’s charter on April 27, 1865. Since its founding, Cornell has been a leader in advancing social sustainability for everyone within the Cornell community and beyond. The University Charter states, “Persons of every religious denomination or of no religious denomination, shall be equally eligible to all offices and appointments.” Although Cornell’s nonsectarian and inclusive stance caused controversy in the mid to late 1800s, Ezra Cornell believed these ideals could only succeed as tenants for a university and for “true lovers of liberty” (letter by Ezra Cornell).
1868: Hydropower
The University began investing in hydropower when trustees approved $1,500 for the purchase of a water wheel and pumps.
1985: Energy Conservation Initiative (ECI) Launches
Cornell implements a program called the Energy Conservation Initiative (ECI), which has kept campus energy use relatively flat since 2000, despite a 20% growth in campus building square footage.
1997: Environmental Pledge
President Rawlings, Cornell officials, and student leaders sign a commitment to uphold sound environmental leadership. The new statement pledges support and participation from all levels of Cornell in protecting the environment and building sustainable futures for all. Participant Theodore L. Hullar, acting director of Cornell’s Center for the Environment, notes, “Especially important is the emphasis on sustainable futures, which aims to bring together optimally long-term environmental quality combined with economic and social vitality, for the continued fulfillment and enrichment of individual spirit and initiative.”
2000: Lake Source Cooling
Lake Source Cooling is pioneered by Cornell engineers. Replacing the need for refrigerants, this innovative renewable energy represents about an 86% reduction in energy use for campus cooling.
2001: Kyoto Protocol
Student activists lead a 7-day protest in front of Day Hall opposing the United States’ decision to refuse to sign the Kyoto Protocol. This protest leads to Cornell signing the Kyoto Protocol, becoming the first university in the nation to independently commit to this international agreement.
2004: Sustainability Intern
Garrett Meigs '05 becomes Cornell's first sustainability intern. Student staff within the Campus Sustainability Office continue to enable students to develop their professional skills while implementing critical initiatives for the campus community.
2004: Sustainability Coordinator
Dean Koyanagi '90 becomes Cornell's first sustainability coordinator.
2005: Redbud Woods
The University owned a patch of urban wildland, located near the intersection of University Avenue and Lake Street, which was cut to make way for a 176-space parking lot as part of its West Campus Residential Initiative. The administration’s decision to pave over Redbud Woods was the cause of many well-publicized protests over a several year period by environmental activists including students and faculty. It also was the center of two legal battles between Cornell and the City of Ithaca. Despite the Court’s finding that Cornell could use the land, local community activism about the now demolished Redbud Woods has continued to persist.
2007: Carbon Neutrality Commitment
President David Skorton signs the Second Nature Carbon Commitment, pledging to reach carbon neutrality, measure greenhouse gases, provide sustainability education for all students, and publicly report on these goals. Over 900 campuses have now signed the Second Nature Carbon Commitment.
2007: The Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future
The Cornell Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future is established as the first research center in America that unites the three pillars of sustainability (environment, social, and economic) within one center at Cornell.
2008: LEED Certification for Buildings
Cornell's Trustees approve a policy that Ithaca Campus new construction projects over $5M total must attain U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification at a minimum of silver level. Projects must also achieve at least 30% energy savings compared to the baseline established by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) – the national standard for energy efficient buildings.
2009-2020: Cornell University Partners in Sustainability Awards (CUPSA)
.The Cornell University Partners in Sustainability Awards (CUPSA) honored individuals, teams, and community partners for their impactful contributions to sustainability, social equity, and for building partnerships that promoted sustainability within Cornell and the surrounding community. The CUPSA awards were replaced by the President's Culture of Sustainability Award.
2009: Climate Action Plan Launches
The Cornell community develops and implements our award-winning Climate Action Plan, committing to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. The first campus-wide sustainability committee is formed to advocate for initiatives that enhance Cornell’s living laboratory for the environmental, economic, social, and academic dimensions of sustainability.
2010: Cornell Goes Beyond Coal/New Power Plant
Cornell stops using coal for heating the campus while buying electricity from the grid, and begins operating a natural gas-fired combined heat and power plant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Cornell’s Combined Heat and Power Plant increases the efficiency of heating and electrifying the campus by 50%.
2010: Campus Sustainability Office
The Campus Sustainability Office (CSO) is created to empower, equip, and engage the Cornell community to catalyze a sustainable campus transformation.
2010: CALS Green
Through the year-long initiative called CALS Green, individuals working in 6 CALS buildings eliminate about 2 million pounds of carbon emissions, saving Cornell about $230,000.
2011: Sustainability Associate Director
Dan Roth becomes Cornell's first sustainability associate director.
2011: Recyclemania
Cornell first participates in Recyclemania, the national competition between colleges and universities to promote and improve efforts to reduce campus waste.
2012: 1st Ivy to Earn Gold STARS Rating
The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) gives ratings in the program called STARS, or sustainability tracking, assessment and rating system. Cornell is the top-rated Ivy league for sustainability through the STARS and other national rankings.
2012: Climate Change Minor
Available to every student across every study, this minor enables and empowers students to explore the many facets of rapid climate change while obtaining a firm knowledge in basic physical, ecological and social science (as well as interactions with history, philosophy, and the arts) disciplines.
2013: Sustainability Director
Dan Roth becomes Cornell's first sustainability director.
2013: Campus-wide Change in Human Resources
In order to integrate sustainability into the workplace at Cornell, the Division of Human Resources revises the university-wide guidance document for employee expectations, Skills for Success, to include sustainability as an overarching principle.
2013: Building Dashboard
The new website Building Dashboard provides raw, real-time energy data on campus buildings to educate the Cornell community about campus energy use, and empower people to integrate sustainability into their personal behaviors.
2014: Students Form ECO Collaborative
Over one hundred students representing more than 40 environmental clubs, all seven undergraduate units, and a diverse array of majors, establish a new, cohesive environmental alliance at Cornell called ECO (the Environmental Collaborative).
2014: First Large-Scale Solar Project
The Snyder Road Solar Farm goes live, producing 2.5 million kWh per year (about 1% of our total electricity use, or enough to power about 240 homes for one year). As the first large-scale project in the region – Cornell worked through several utility and state policy barriers paving the way for many others. The Snyder Road Solar Farm includes educational panels installed on a “tilt” racking system which allows for adjustment to facilitate research studies. In lieu of running gas-powered, carbon-dumping mowers to maneuver around 6,778 solar panels, the Snyder Road Solar Farm uses a flock of about 40 sheep to mow the fields.
2015: Carbon Neutrality Goal is Accelerated to 2035
All University assemblies pass resolutions calling for Cornell to speed the carbon neutrality goal to 2035, and President Skorton endorses.
2016: Carbon Neutral Campus Energy Alternatives Report (CNCEAR)
Carbon Neutral Campus Energy Alternatives Report (CNCEAR) (PDF) provided an analysis of options that Cornell University may choose to pursue climate neutrality for the Ithaca Campus. The intent of this report is to provide critical information for consideration by the Senior Leader Climate Action Group (SLCAG) in recommending ongoing and future initiatives toward achieving the goal of carbon neutrality.
2016: Trustees Approve New Standard & Process for Divestment
Cornell University Board of Trustees approved a standard that will guide its decisions on divesting university funds for socially responsible reasons.
2016: Options for a Carbon Neutral Campus Report, Earth Source Heat
Cornell releases the report Options for Achieving a Carbon Neutral Campus by 2035 (PDF). This report is first to recommend our current quadruple bottom line sustainability framework, an innovative form of analysis that evaluates projects affecting four categories: academic purpose, prosperity, people, and the planet. The report confirms Cornell’s goal of pursuing Earth Source Heat and renewable energy to heat and power the campus with carbon neutral sources.
2018: Environment & Sustainability Major Launches
A new environment and sustainability major in the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is created and launched, following an extensive process of interdisciplinary community engagement.
2018: Pyrolysis Kiln Opens
On May 24, 2018, the largest pyrolysis kiln of its kind at any American University opens. The kiln creates earth-friendly biochar which boosts the fertility of soil and will be used operationally and for research advancements.
2018: Poop-to-Power Cow Manure Reclamation System
The College of Veterinary Medicine solved a challenging cow waste reduction issue and is successful in capturing liquid waste for energy production through the Ithaca Wastewater Treatment Facility.
2018: Student Sustainability Awards | Green Honor Tassel
The Student Sustainability Awards celebrate the sustainability achievements, projects, and innovations of Cornell University's students and student organizations. The awards introduced the "Green Honor Tassel" for graduating seniors who pledge lifelong commitment to sustainability, recognizing their campus efforts and future leadership in building a more just and sustainable society.
2018: Staff Sustainability Champions
The Staff Sustainability Champions program was launched to honor Cornell staff who demonstrate leadership in advancing sustainability on campus.
2018:Residential Compost Program Launches
The Residential Compost Program launched in Fall 2018 with 45 trained Compost Managers (student volunteers), who composted over 10,000 lbs of food scraps and napkins during the year from 23 residential buildings on campus.
2018: Heat Pump System
Maplewood Apartments recieve a new heat pump system for heating its graduate student residences. Deploying heat pumps at this scale is unprecedented in this climate zone and is the largest in the Northeast. The project's living laboratory is essential to Cornell's Campus Sustainability Plan, offering undergraduates valuable community engagement and real-world learning opportunities.
2019: New Sustainability Governance Committee Launches
The Sustainable Cornell Council is created to direct and coordinate Cornell's role in sustainability. The SCC represents the third iteration of sustainability governance and is driven by senior leadership and staff, faculty, and student representatives.
2019: Residential Sustainability Leaders Program Launches
The Campus Sustainability Office launches the Residential Sustainability Leaders (RSL) program. RSLs work in collaboration with the Campus Sustainability Office, Residential Life, and West Campus House System to promote sustainable behaviors, identify issues and implement real solutions within residential communities, and build a culture of sustainability across campus.
2019: New Sustainability-based Learning Outcomes
For the first time in FY2019, every college at Cornell University includes sustainability learning outcomes as part of the core curriculum for students. That means every student - regardless of area of study or major - graduates from Cornell ready to create a better tomorrow. Whether students study in English, Industrial Labor Relations, International Business, Plant Sciences, or Engineering, the classes will prepare them for our greatest sustainability and climate-change-related challenges.
2020: 20MW Solar Farm Online
The new Cascadilla Community Solar Farm comes online, doubling the clean and renewable electricity being used by the University and bringing the overall number to 20 percent. The new solar farm is cared for by sheep who mow the grass, cutting down on fossil fuels in landscaping.
2020: Renewable Energy Supply Meets Demand
For the first time in 100 years, the Ithaca campus sees power demand matched entirely by renewable energy. The Cascadilla Community Solar Farm brought online earlier in the year, produces additional power during peak months.
2020: Moratorium on Fossil Fuel Investments Announced
The Cornell University Board of Trustees votes to institute an immediate moratorium on new private investments focused on fossil fuels, and to grow investments in alternative energy technologies. The moratorium evaluated the financial outlook for coal, oil, and gas and threats posed by climate change.
2020: Cornell Hosts 10th Annual NY State Sustainability Conference
From December 2nd–4th, Cornell hosted the 10th annual State of NY Sustainability Conference as part of membership with the New York Coalition for Sustainability in Higher Education (NYCSHE). The NYCSHE annual conference brings together faculty, staff, and students from New York’s colleges and universities to share best practices and expertise to benefit policies, practices, and sustainable development.
2020: First Ivy League to Achieve Platinum Sustainability Rating
In a historic national achievement, Cornell becomes the 1st Ivy League and the 6th institution in the world to achieve a STARS Platinum Rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. Cornell has maintained this prestigious rating every year from 2020 to 2024, reflecting its continued leadership in sustainability.
2020: Mission Sustainability Module
Introduced in fall 2020, Mission Sustainability is part of Cornell’s Climate Action Plan (CAP). In addition to the university’s commitment to become carbon neutral by 2035, the CAP includes an ambitious goal to advance sustainability knowledge and skillsets for all students.
2021: Regional Partnership Supports UN Sustainability Program
Cornell joined with the City of Ithaca and the Town of Ithaca to form a campus-regional partnership committed to promoting efficient, innovative and accessible energy, and reach carbon neutrality, community-wide, by the early 2030s.
2022: Sustainable Event Certification Program
The Sustainable Event Program helps plan low-impact events at Cornell with a guide, local catering list, and certification for meeting sustainability steps in areas like food, waste, and accessibility.
2022: Completion of Drilling the Cornell University Borehole Observatory (CUBO)
Cornell’s exploration into the feasibility of using deep geothermal energy to heat the Ithaca campus has reached a major milestone, with the completion of drilling for the Cornell University Borehole Observatory (CUBO).
2022: President's Culture of Sustainability Award
Honoring the importance of sustainability stewardship, culture, and contributions by employees, the "Culture of Sustainability Award" was added in 2022 to the nominations for President's Awards for Employee Excellence.
2024: The BIG RED Energy Transition
A program to Build an Integrated Grid for Reliability, Efficiency, and Decarbonization by performing a comprehensive master planning of the energy transition away from fossil fuels for the Ithaca campus utility system launches. Campus-wide integrated planning includes 1) distribution system steam to hot water conversion 2) building-specific energy retrofits 3) benefits and costs of additional thermal energy storage 4) Central Energy Plant equipment physical needs assessment and renewal recommendations.
2024: Sustainability Integrated into Cornell's Buildings & Property Bylaws
The Board of Trustees approve including inclusion of environmental and sustainability considerations "...for current and future buildings and property pursuant to the University's commitment to sustainability and climate resiliency (PDF)..."
2024: Fossil Fuel-free Future at Cornell's Child Care Center
Shallow ground source heat pumps replaced an old natural gas heating system. The pumps are a great option for decarbonizing standalone buildings like the Cornell's Child Care Center which sit too far from the core of the campus to be connected to the district energy system.