Belmont University

Belmont University has achieved remarkable sustainability outcomes using a decentralized model of planing and implementation. Instead of a central sustainability office and coordinator, we have vested both the responsibility--and authority-- for new initiatives in the … read more

Belmont University has achieved remarkable sustainability outcomes using a decentralized model of planing and implementation. Instead of a central sustainability office and coordinator, we have vested both the responsibility--and authority-- for new initiatives in the relevant operational and academic areas. This had led to remarkable results: Belmont has the first LEED platinum academic building built in Tennessee; irrigation of the campus is done using water captured and reused on campus; there are 14 green roofs on campus, including one with an apiary; all garden and lawn clipping are composted, as is all food waste in the 1,000-seat cafeteria; and the energy use per student (and per square foot) has fallen dramatically each year due to new initiatives in lighting, heating, and cooling. This is all the more remarkable, as the number of square feet of heated and cooled space has more than doubled in the past decade. Instead of one central office being responsible for sustainability, Belmont has taken an intentionally decentralized approach. Each aspect of becoming a more sustainable campus is overseen by those in the best position to assess the opportunities and make the relevant decisions to implement quick and consequential change. Those who oversee each area meet regularly to assess areas where collaboration and additional efforts are needed to advance Belmont's sustainability efforts.

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