SUSTAINABILITY
HOUSING & DINING PROGRAMS SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENT
Housing & Dining Programs is committed to the fostering of a sustainable living and learning experience in our facilities for our staff and students. Our department seeks to implement sustainable practices and environmental stewardship in our facilities and support the university’s sustainable priorities and principles through education.
WHAT IS HDP CURRENTLY DOING TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE?
The Student Solar Plaza is a student-driven initiative that will provide Heritage Commons' residents with a sustainable space where they can attend programs, study, connect with friends and enjoy being outside on the U's beautiful campus. Learn more about the Student Solar Plaza here.
We offer easy-to-use single stream recycling. You will find recycling containers in your room, on your floor and next to the dumpsters in the parking lot. Residents can use these bins to recycle paper, cardboard, plastics 1-7 and metals. These bins are not to be used for clothing, shoes, trash or glass. Visit the following website to learn how to recycle at the U.
Not sure how to dispose of a certain item? Use the know where to throw tool to search a database for an item to learn how to dispose of it properly.
When students move out of their residence halls at the end of the year, they donate gently used items like linens, bathroom and kitchen supplies, clothing and unopened food stuffs. We keep all these items out of landfill by donating food to the Feed U Pantry and redistributing everything else to students in a free pop-up thrift shop at the beginning of the next semester. The program, fondly known as “WGACA,” helps meet students’ basic needs, promotes a circular economy and moves toward a zero waste campus.
More information here.
Every move-out, volunteers collect reusable items (clothing, books, appliances, etc) during move-outs to be delivered to Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The Marriot Honors Community is the first LEED Gold certified residence hall in the state of Utah. It is home to over 300 residents and features many sustainable materials and systems.
HDP is working towards complete LED lighting. Currently, all lighting mounted on the sides of the buildings is energy efficient LED. HDP is seeking funding to convert internal lighting to LED.
LEARN HOW TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE AT THE U
Do you have a great idea on how to make the U more sustainable? Apply for a Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund (SCIF) grant!
Another way to get involved with sustainability at the U is by earning a major or an emphasis in 1 of the 4 emphases listed below. Click on each icon to learn more!
OTHER RESOURCES
Check out the University of Utah Sustainability Facebook and the University of Utah Sustainability website.