Celebrate Campus Sustainability Month

Celebrate campus sustainability month by looking back at more than two decades of achievements at Salem State!

2021

• There are now 14 classes/sections directly addressing climate change, up from one in 2015
• Thanks to a $100,000 clean energy feasibility grant from the MA Department of Energy Resources, Salem State completes a decarbonization plan for north campus
• Salem State receives a $48,348 state grant to install a rooftop solar array on Meier Hall
• Vikings embrace new Bluebikes bike share and Salem Skipper on-demand van share city programs
• Sustainability social media accounts are launched: Instagram and Twitter: sustainable_ssu; Facebook: Salem State Sustainability

2020

• Sustainability Council Internship program begins, a collaboration between the Sustainability Office and the Geography and Sustainability Department
• Six dual-port EV charging stations are installed at O’Keefe, using $116,204 in incentives from National Grid and the MA Department of Environmental Protection

2019      

• Geography Department changes its name to Geography and Sustainability Department
• SSU Student Government Association passes sustainability resolution
• Rooftop solar arrays installed on Berry Library, Gassett Fitness and Marsh Hall bringing total solar capacity on campus to 599 KW. Project was supported by a $193,500 grant from the MA Department of Energy Resources
• SSU is the only school to divest of the participants in the Multi-School Fossil-Free Divestment Fund, thus winning $57,000 for scholarships and Sunrise Salem
• Carpooling network miles2share debuts, available exclusively to SSU community
• SSU begins textile recycling at three campus locations

• 2018       

• Board of Trustees votes to divest from fossil fuels
• Bookstore eliminates plastic bags
• MA Department of Energy Resources Leading by Example award for campus sustainability initiatives
• MA Department of Transportation Excellence in Commuting Options Award

2017       

• Zagster bike share program launches in Salem and on campus; bikes are free to SSU community
• Sophia Gordon Center is renovated and in 2018 is certified LEED Gold
• President Keenan signs the “We Are Still In” the Paris Climate Accords declaration
• SSU commences single-stream recycling of metal, plastic, glass, as well as paper/cardboard
• MA Department of Transportation Excellence in Commuting Options Award
• EPA Food Recovery Challenge Certificate of Achievement

2016      

• Six solar streetlights installed on College Drive
• The first water bottle refill stations are installed on campus, in response to requests from Student Government Association
• MA Department of Transportation Excellence in Commuting Options Leadership Award
• EPA Food Recovery Challenge Award

2015       

• Students can take Global Climate Change class for the first time
• North Campus Parking Garage receives a Parksmart Award for its sustainable features
• Viking Hall receives LEED Gold certification
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Food Recovery Challenge Award

2014       

• 68 KW solar array installed on Atlantic Hall    
• Composting starts at SSU dining halls

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Food Recovery Challenge Award

2013       

• Gassett Fitness Center is certified LEED Silver
• Berry Library is certified LEED Silver; geothermal system installed at the Library

2012       

• 151 KW solar array is installed on O’Keefe

2010       

• Marsh Hall is certified LEED Gold
• SSU Center for Economic Development and Sustainability opens

2007       

• SSU commits to carbon neutrality by 2050

2004       

• Atlantic Hall opens. Building was designed to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Standards

2000

• First Earth Days celebration at Salem State