Sustainable Campus Operations

Student Erik Rathmann empties a recycling trash can into a large dumpster reserved for Western's single stream recycling.

Waste Diversion

Recycling is a key part of our commitment to cutting Western’s carbon footprint by 50% by 2035. With clearly marked recycling stations across campus, e-waste recycling partnerships, an on-campus industrial composter, and our FreeCycle program for reusing household items, we’re making waste diversion more accessible for everyone.

We also host regular zero-waste events, promote sustainable practices in campus housing, and encourage students, faculty, and staff to reduce single-use plastics through education and incentives. From compost bins in dining areas to move-out donation drives, we’re building a culture of sustainability that extends beyond the classroom.

There’s still work to do, but every action—big or small—brings us closer to our goal of a cleaner, greener Western.

Transportation

More than half of Western students commute to campus sustainably—by biking, walking, taking the public bus, or carpooling. Western takes pride in being a bike-friendly campus. Bike racks are available at every building, and some buildings also offer longboard and skateboard racks. Covered bicycle parking is provided wherever possible, and students can take advantage of a free bike rental system located at the Leslie J. Savage Library.

Western also supports electric vehicle use, with charging stations available at two locations: outside Taylor Hall and the Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science and Engineering. Additionally, Western partners with the local RTA bus system. A campus bus stop is conveniently located at Colorado Street and Ohio Avenue, providing access to destinations around Gunnison and up to Crested Butte. The bus runs multiple times daily, with schedules that vary by season. You can even bring your skis, snowboard, or bike along for the ride!

Food and Dining

The Rocket Composter diverts up to 95% of food waste from the University Center, making it Western’s flagship sustainable building. Funded by a grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE), the Rocket processes around 460 gallons of food waste each week—even through Gunnison’s harsh winters—by maintaining internal temperatures near 120°F. The finished compost is used in campus gardens and landscaping.

In addition to the Rocket, Western sends excess food scraps to a local pig farm and recycles waste oil through the county’s biodiesel fuel program. These efforts reflect the university’s broader commitment to innovative, community-connected sustainability solutions.

Purchasing Policy

Western’s Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policy (EPP) fortifies the University’s commitment to sustainability. The goal of this policy is to reduce the unfavorable environmental and social impacts of our purchasing decisions by buying goods and services from manufacturers and vendors who share our commitment to the environment. Environmentally preferable purchasing is the method whereby environmental and social considerations are given equal weight to the price, availability, and performance criteria that colleges and universities use to make purchasing decisions. Western strives to purchase products that embody the following principles:

High content from post-consumer recycled materials
Low embodied energy (consumed to extract, manufacture, distribute and dispose)
Recyclable, compostable and biodegradable
Non-toxic
Energy efficient
Durable and/or repairable
Produced in a manner that demonstrates environmental, social, and ethical values
Minimal packaging (packaging should also abide by the above principles)
Afterlife reuse/regeneration potential through the company (carpeting, furniture, etc.)

Monitoring Our Progress

Western’s Facilities Department uses two major reporting platforms—Second Nature and the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS)—to measure and communicate its sustainability progress. These tools help evaluate how new projects can improve energy efficiency on campus and demonstrate the broader benefits of sustainable development.

Second Nature’s mission is to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future by supporting higher education leaders in making sustainability, equity, and resilience central to learning and operations. Since developing its Climate Action Plan in 2009, Western has been a signatory of Second Nature’s Climate Leadership Network. The university uses the Second Nature Reporting Platform to track progress toward its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050. Annual progress updates and greenhouse gas reports are submitted through the platform and are publicly available.

Western also reports its sustainability efforts through the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) using its STARS framework. STARS is a transparent, self-reporting tool that allows colleges and universities to assess their sustainability performance. It evaluates institutions across four broad categories: Academics, Engagement, Operations, and Planning & Administration. Western completed its first STARS report in 2016, earning a Bronze rating, and improved to a Silver rating in 2019.

LEED Buildings

Western Colorado University is committed to sustainable building practices that reduce environmental impact and enhance indoor comfort. Recent construction and renovation projects are designed to meet or exceed LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards—an internationally recognized benchmark for green building. Features include abundant natural light, energy-efficient climate control systems, and CO₂ sensors that improve indoor air quality.

Western’s Facilities Department continues to prioritize energy conservation across campus. Upgrades like switching to LED lighting and improving building systems help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower overall energy use. All future building projects are expected to achieve LEED Gold certification or a comparable standard.

Explore the sustainability features of Western’s green buildings below.

LEED Gold

The University Center, which opened in January 2010, showcases several sustainability features and practices. It features large, south-facing windows that provide abundant natural lighting, 10 recycling centers, xeriscaping (which conserves water) and low-flow faucets. Onsite recycling during construction diverted 60 percent of the waste from the landfill and regional materials were used in the construction of the building. The pulper composter in the café generates rich soil for the university’s community garden.

LEED Silver

The Borick Business Building, which opened in fall 2007, led the way as the model for environmentally sustainable building initiatives at Western Colorado University. The facility, which houses the School of Business, was the first LEED-certified building on campus and the first in the Gunnison Valley. Environmental features include the reuse of the roof —saved during the renovation of other buildings on campus—along with motion lighting and an energy-efficient ventilation system.

LEED Gold

Originally built in 1957, Kelley Hall reopened its doors in fall 2008 after undergoing a $5.5 million renovation. It houses the Behavioral & Social Sciences department, the Center for Environmental Studies and the Master in Environmental Management program. Kelley Hall is more than just a building — it’s part of the curriculum. Students researched and selected environmentally sustainable materials and design elements. Among those features are insulated windows, motion lighting, compact florescent lighting, low-flow faucets and a highly efficient boiler system. Building materials — from flooring to furniture to insulation — are from recycled or renewable resources, such as cork, bamboo, wood and paper fiber, and reclaimed hardwood. Students also spruced up Kelley Hall’s exterior by planting a xeriscape garden and other landscaping with low-water, native plants. Student efforts also resulted in the campus’ first solar panels for solar electricity and thermal systems. An Environmental Studies class applied for grants and helped design the solar panel system, including an educational center and laboratory to provide renewable energy information to the larger community

LEED Gold

The renovated Taylor Hall opened in 2010. It features two of the original teaching facilities in Gunnison, the original high school and original college building. Taylor Hall marries both buildings in a very updated design. Features that add to LEED certification include the recycled fabric used on the furniture, windows that open automatically to help circulate air in the building, bioswales that hold water runoff, and reused, formerly exterior brick walls inside the building.

LEED Gold

Opened in March 2014, the entire facility is 120,000 square feet, with 201-foot trusses, comparable to a Boeing 777’s wingspan. Mountaineer Field House features a 200-meter track, three multipurpose courts, three volleyball courts, three basketball courts, batting and golf cages, a new athletic weight room, a fitness center, fitness classrooms, a 47-foot climbing wall, a foam pit with trampoline, a hot tub and new locker rooms at the adjacent pool, a new High Altitude Performance (HAP) lab, and coaches offices overlooking the track.

LEED Silver

The Pinnacles Apartments were built in 2012 and received LEED-Silver certification. Pinnacles is the newest residence hall on campus, with more than 200 bedrooms, each fully furnished with a full-size bed, a desk, a small bureau and a closet. Upperclassman students can move into two-, three- or four-bedroom apartments. Each comes will a generously sized kitchen and common room, full-sized stove/oven and refrigerator, a large set of cabinets and closet spaces. Two- and three-bedroom units each have one bathroom, while the five-person and four-bedroom units have two bathrooms. Pinnacles has computer labs with printers, kitchens, game rooms and a multipurpose room. It also features a unique, student-led greenhouse, with a hydroponics system that cleans all excess water for reuse.

LEED Gold

Opened in 2021, the Paul M. Rady building is home to the Western-CU Boulder Partnership Program and sets a new standard for sustainability. The 75,000 square foot building harnesses green energy through both passive solar and geothermal energy for heating and cooling. The passive solar design takes advantage of Gunnison’s year-round sunshine, showcasing an abundance of natural light and scenic vistas. Geothermal wells dug 280 feet into the earth provide temperature control, only requiring supplemental heating about six days a year. Approximately 90% of the waste generated in construction, or 747 tons of material was recycled! This cutting-edge building contains advanced instrumentation rooms, teaching and lab spaces, large theatre-style classrooms, and indoor and outdoor collaborative learning spaces.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

W

Common Questions

Common Searches

Waste Diversion

Transportation

Food and Dining

Purchasing Policy

Monitoring Our Progress

LEED Buildings