American University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction

American University became the first university in the country to announce carbon neutrality in Spring 2018. The accomplishment reflects the university's long commitment to sustainability and was acheived by focusing on improving efficiency and reducing demand, then adding renewable electricity sources both on campus and off, and finally using offsets that provide environmental benefits and teaching opoprtunities. As AU continues on its sustainability journey, we recognize that carbon neutrality was an important milestone, but the focus remains on continuing to improve efficiency and decrease our environmental footprint while expanding the conversation to focus on wellness, environmental justice, and education. The accomplishment was verified through Sightlines and confirmed by Second Nature.

Founded in 2003, the entire 84 acre campus is an accredited and award winning Arboretum and Gardens.  With 5,000 trees, more than 500 species and varieties of woody plants, and an extensive collection of perennials, the Arboretum displays one of the most diverse collections of plants found on any campus.  The collection highlights and integrates native plants and features pollinators that support our campus apiary.  In addition to providing a beautiful setting, the Arboretum incorporates many sustainable features such as green roofs, rain gardens, bio-retention basins, permeable pavers and rain barrels in our managing of stormwater.  The Arboretum serves as an educational tool that integrates into classrooms across the University’s curriculums.  Guided tours of the Arboretum are offered and educate participants on the values of all of these sustainable elements.

RECIPES (Resilient, Equitable, and Circular Innovations with Partnership and Education Synergies) is an interdisciplinary research network partnering with non-profits, frontline workers, community members, and policymakers across the food system to advance the science needed to make our wasteful food system more sustainable, equitable, and resilient. Our 40 ongoing research projects will aid in the development of new infrastructure and protect U.S. food security by quantifying the amount of wasted food, analyzing root causes, assessing rescue and redistribution systems, recovering value in the carbon, energy, water, and nutrients in unavoidable food waste, assessing policy frameworks addressing wasted food, and more. Based at American University, RECIPES is made up of over 50 faculty & staff researchers and 60 students from 15 institutions. The first five years of our work are supported through NSF award #2115405.