Thank you for supporting sustainability innovation and discovery!

The Office of Sustainability defines sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The Office of Sustainability was honored with the donation of a greenhouse with the intention to serve as a space for sustainability experimentation, innovation and living laboratory initiatives for UT Dallas community members. Without electricity, the greenhouse currently sits unfunctional and vacant, while holding tightly to its unlimited potential to serve as a space open for sustainable research and innovation. Awarded funds will be used to supplement the out-of-pocket costs to establish electricity and create a climate-controlled environment to advance UTD’s sustainable initiatives. The impact of this project stretches beyond the office of sustainability, supporting the health of students, academic programs and the potential for additional activities otherwise limited by weather, pests, etc. This will also contribute to campus-wide efforts by UT Dallas’ Landscaping and Grounds team to produce all seasonal, native flora year-round. A functioning greenhouse also allows for experimentation with other sustainable practices, such as hydroponics, propagation and more sustainability-related activities sensitive to the Texas elements.

The Office of Sustainability has embraced the international standard for sustainability provided by the AASHE STARS report and has adopted a mission statement to collaborate with stakeholders to integrate sustainability into the fabric of UT Dallas impacting academics, engagement, operations and planning and administration. For this reason, the Office of Sustainability is pleased to announce that UT Dallas has achieved AASHE STARS Gold status. This designation is just one of many earned by the Office of Sustainability that encompasses multi-disciplinary recognition for sustainability excellence.

In addition to the AASHE STARS certification, the greenhouse’s potential also applies to UTD’s longstanding additional certifications, such as Bee Campus USA and Tree Campus Higher Education. Bee Campus USA is an organization that provides a framework for campus communities to work together to conserve native pollinators. Campuses are recognized for increasing the abundance of native plants, providing nest sites and reducing the use of pesticides among other projects. As an affiliate since 2018, UTD students, faculty, administrators and staff work together to carry out these commitments and make our campus a better place for pollinators.

The UT Dallas Tree Campus Higher Education^® program began in 2016. With more than 6,700 trees on campus, and as the recipient of $50 million dollars for landscape enhancement, UT Dallas is committed to maintaining our fabulous landscapes. To demonstrate that commitment, the University has been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus Higher Education^®, a program that helps campuses establish and maintain healthy community forests. Electricity at the greenhouse would contribute to these endeavors through offering shelter for experimentation with sustainable innovation.