University of Pittsburgh
EN-4: Outreach Materials and Publications

NEWSLETTTERS:

1) University-wide Sustainability Monthly Newsletter – Sent to University of Pittsburgh individuals and partners; includes updates on Pitt Sustainability initiatives across the institution including publications, project updates, upcoming sustainability events, research and funding highlights and opportunities, sustainability-related internship and job postings (at Pitt and otherwise), Pitt Sustainability news links, and more! Interested individuals can sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/PittSustainabilityNewsletter.

2) Student Office of Sustainability (SOOS) Monthly Newsletter - Updates about various student-focused sustainability events and opportunities (academic year only).

3) Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation (MCSI) – Regular electronic communications to faculty via direct distribution list.

4) Center for Sustainable Business – Quarterly newsletter to affiliated faculty, students, staff, and external partners.

5) Pittsburgh Collaboratory for Water Research, Education, and Outreach – Regular electronic communications and newsletter as needed to affiliated faculty, students, and staff.

6) Sustainability Alumni –Quarterly newsletter for Pitt Sustainability Alumni, delivered in collaboration by the Office of Sustainability and the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation. Interested individuals can sign up here: https://pitt.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=5cea8750579d43dac260324c6&id=c7f8013871.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

1) 4 University-wide Sustainability social media accounts run by the Office of Sustainability keep followers up to date on all things sustainability at the University of Pittsburgh:
• Instagram - @PittSustainability: https://instagram.com/PittSustainability
• Twitter (X) - @SustainablePitt (includes Pitt-led sustainability initiatives along with sustainability news and happenings regionally, nationally, and globally): https://twitter.com/SustainablePitt
• Facebook - https:// facebook.com/PittSustainability
• YouTube - “Pitt Sustainability” YouTube Channel, including videos profiling Pitt Sustainability opportunities; educating the Pitt community about sustainability; and tutorials about basic campus sustainability, biking around campus, using the POGOH bike share system, and more! https://www.youtube.com/@PittSustainability

2) Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation - 4 dedicated social media accounts:
- @PittMCSI on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, & LinkedIn

3) Pitt Center for Sustainable Business
@PittCSB on Instagram, Twitter, & LinkedIn

4) Pittsburgh Collaboratory for Water Research, Education, and Outreach
@Water.Pitt on Instagram & Twitter

5) Student Office of Sustainability (SOOS) - 3 social media accounts to keep students informed about SOOS events and other campus sustainability happenings:
@PittSOOS on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok

5) Pitt Eco Reps - @PittEcoReps on Instagram account to provide student followers tips on how to be more sustainable on campus and in their dorms. https://instagram.com/pittecoreps

6) University of Thriftsburgh - On-campus student-run thrift store
@Thriftsburgh Instagram & TikTok account, to encourage students to think sustainably when picking out their clothing and to engage students in the reuse culture on campus, https://instagram.com/thriftsburgh

7) Other Pitt Sustainability-related Instagram accounts include: @Pitt.Eats, @Pitt.Eats.Sustainably, PittBikeCave, @PittGreenFund, @PittPantry, @PittServes, @PittMobility

8) Other Pitt Sustainability-related Twitter accounts include: @PittMobility & @PittGreenFund

9) Other Pitt Sustainability-related active Facebook accounts exist for the University of Thriftsburgh, Pitt Bike Cave, Pitt Green Fund, and The Pitt Pantry.

A summary of and links to all Pitt Sustainability related-social media accounts is online here: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/green-guides/social-media/

CAMPUS TREE TREK: This walking route LAUNCHED IN 2023 has 17 trees equipped with educational signage to help you learn more about the trees on campus. https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/campus-tree-trek/

DIGITAL SIGNAGE: There is a wide variety of digital signage across campus, which regularly displays Pitt Sustainability initiatives and events. The Office of Sustainability and Student Office of Sustainability both have access to and help prioritize submission of this electronic signage to Academic, Housing, and Student Affairs spaces across campus.

LEED CERTIFIED BUILDINGS: All Pitt LEED certified spaces have their official LEED display plaques proudly displayed, and many have educational signage electronically and/or physically incorporated into them to educate visitors and building occupants on the sustainable features of the facility. https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/leed-buildings

PANTHER WALKING ROUTE: In an effort to boost individual wellbeing and physical activity, Pitt created the urban Panther Walking Route. The Route includes 10 stops throughout the Pittsburgh campus, each with a sign with a QR code to scan to learn more about the stop, why you're there, and some fun facts about sustainability initiatives and opportunities to improve your wellness here at Pitt! https://www.hr.pitt.edu/current-employees/work-life-balance/wellness-life/roc-route

PITT GREEN DESIGNATIONS: Pitt offices and laboratories who have achieved Pitt Green Office or Pitt Green Laboratory designations receive both desk / wall awards AND door / window decals for their workspace to signify to visitors that they are actively participating the Pitt Green programs and advancing a culture of sustainability on campus. https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/what-you-can-do/pitt-green-office

FUTURE CAMPUS SIGNAGE: In line with a University-wide signage update, future campus signage is in development that will highlight pollinators, urban agriculture, and other campus sustainability features.

The University has a variety of online and in-person sustainability maps and tours, as highlighted below:

ONLINE TOUR: The University of Pittsburgh's website offers multiple online tours of campus: https://www.tour.pitt.edu. One of these tours is dedicated to Sustainability at Pitt -- and features 8 "stops," which include photos and descriptions of green buildings, the University's ultra-low emission steam plant, dining hall composting, a rain garden, and other highlights. Content will be updated in 2024: https://www.tour.pitt.edu/tour-categories/sustainability

WALKING TOUR: In addition, the Pitt Sustainability team conducts a variety of campus sustainability walking tours for internal and external stakeholders, including as part of pre-orientation events for incoming students, for K-12 students, topically specific (i.e., trees and rainwater management) and more. Tour attendees (most often, but not exclusively students) are given the chance to visit various campus sustainability features, including urban agriculture, green roofs, rain gardens, the Student Office of Sustainability, Pitt Bike Cave, and other locations.

CAMPUS TREE TREK: This self-guided tour was created in 2023 to highlight the beauty of trees on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus and the University’s commitment to growing tree canopy city-wide. The loop takes about 20 minutes to complete and showcases 17 different tree species.
https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/campus-culture/tree-trek/

UNIVERSITY MAP, SUSTAINABILITY LAYER: The University of Pittsburgh's official online map has of Sustainability category that includes a wide variety of categories: https://www.map.pitt.edu. Pitt Sustainability categories highlighted on the official Pitt online campus map under Sustainability include:

* Compost Locations
* Edible Gardens
* Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
* Green Roofs
* Pollinator Gardens
* Rain Gardens and Bioswales
* Solar Panels
* Solitary Bee Houses
* Textile, Battery, and Toner Recycling Locations

Mobility amenities show up on this map under "Transportation," and include: bike fix-it stations, bike lockers, bike racks, bike rooms, and Pitt shuttle routes and stops. Additionally, green building information is embedded into building information on the Pitt Map – and other key Pitt Sustainability locations highlighted on the online Pitt Campus Map include; Dining Hall materials diversion, the Pitt Bike Cave, and the University of Thriftsburgh (on-campus thrift store).
Explore the campus map: https://www.map.pitt.edu/

Blue and gold make green – and the University of Pittsburgh is proud to support a culture that values sustainability and innovation across all disciplines. Rain gardens and green roofs dot Pitt’s Pittsburgh campus, which is densely walkable and adjacent to the 456-acre, public Schenley Park, which includes the Schenley Plaza open space.

All students have unlimited free access to Pittsburgh transit and bike share system to actively navigate and explore Pitt and the city in a low carbon manner. In dining halls and across campus you’ll find a focus on foods that support a healthy body and planet, strengthen local communities, and minimize waste. Academically, a wide variety of sustainability certificates, majors, minors, and research opportunities transcend schools and departments. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of sustainability, courses are available in almost every academic field. Sustainability-conscious student organizations collaborate via the Student Office of Sustainability, which provides many diverse opportunities for students to pursue green initiatives outside the classroom and via service.

With these copious opportunities, the Pitt Green Guide answers student and employee’s sustainability questions: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/green-guides/. The Pitt Student Green Guide is a resource that includes information about the Pitt Sustainability Plan, Composting and Recycling, Reuse, Energy and Water Conservation, Transportation, Pitt Green Resident & Floor Program, Getting Involved, Academics, Dining, Accessibility Resources, and Sustainability social media. https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/get-involved/students/student-green-guide/. An Off-Campus Green Guide was officially added in 2023, focused on helping students live more sustainably off-campus with resources for Recycling & Waste Diversion, Getting to Campus, Renting Tips, Reducing Apartment Energy & Water Use, Basic Needs, and more. https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/off-campus-student-green-guide/

Students interested in information about sustainability in Pitt residence halls and apartments may also reference the Panther Central Sustainability site: https://www.pc.pitt.edu/housing-services/sustainability. A move-in checklist also embeds sustainability into student decision-making and living spaces from the start: https://www.pc.pitt.edu/move-checklist

PITT SUSTAINABILITY PLAN: The 2018 Pitt Sustainability Plan details the University of Pittsburgh’s 68 sustainability goals, some with achievement years of 2025 or 2030. The Pitt Sustainability Plan's goals are organized into three themes (Stewardship, Exploration, and Community and Culture) and 15 Impact Areas: https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/pitt-sustainability-plan/

2018-22 PROGRESS REPORT ON THE PITT SUSTAINABILITY PLAN: Published in 2023, this comprehensive document provides an update on the University of Pittsburgh’s progress on all 68 goals in the 2018 Pitt Sustainability Plan, including which goals have been achieved, are on-track, and are currently off-track.
https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/progress-report/

SUSTAINABILITY DASHBOARD: To provide an interactive view of progress on certain Pitt Sustainability Plan goals, the Office of Sustainability launched the Pitt Sustainability Dashboard to strengthen transparency, advance analytic capabilities, and help quantify the University’s impact as a global sustainability leader. Launched in 2020, but with regular updates and expansion, Pitt's Sustainability Dashboard currently showcases 6 dashboards: 1) Greenhouse Gas Emissions from 2008 to present; 2) Composting; 3) Food Systems progress, including Food Recovery and Real Food Challenge achievements; 4) Building Energy Use Intensity; 5) Building Water Use Intensity; 6) Bike Share Utilization (2018-21). The University is developing additional dashboards for 2024 launch that increase transparency and celebrate progress towards institutional sustainability goals.
http://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/dashboard/

OTHER PITT SUSTAINABILITY-RELATED WEBSITES & WEBPAGES INCLUDE:

* Pitt Sustainability, https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu
* Student Office of Sustainability, https://www.pittsoos.com/
* Center for Sustainable Business, https://www.sustainablebusiness.pitt.edu
* Clinicians for Climate Action, https://www.c4ca.pitt.edu/
* Panther Central Sustainability, https://www.pc.pitt.edu/housing-services/sustainability
* Pitt HR Sustainability Initiatives & Resources, https://www.hr.pitt.edu/current-employees/work-life-balance/wellness-for-life/environmental
* Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, https://www.sustainabilityinstitute.pitt.edu/
* My.Pitt.edu has an entire category of Sustainability information cards, https://my.pitt.edu
* Pitt Bike Cave, https://www.pts.pitt.edu/mobility/biking/pitt-bike-cave & https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/campus-recreation/pitt-bike-cave/
* Pitt Eats Sustainability, https://dineoncampus.com/pitt/sustainable-practices
* Pitt Facilities Sustainability, https://www.fm.pitt.edu/sustainability
* Pitt Green Fund, https://www.pittgreenfund.com
* Pitt Housing Sustainability, https://www.pc.pitt.edu/housing-services/sustainability
* Pitt Mobile App includes both a Sustainability section and a Live, Well, Pitt module (with sections on Financial Wellness, Emotional Wellness, Social Wellness, Physical Wellness, Environmental Wellness, and Sustainability on Campus), https://www.technology.pitt.edu/services/pitt-mobile
* Pitt Pantry, https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/care-and-resources/pitt-pantry
* Pitt Parking, Transportation & Services Sustainability, https://www.pts.pitt.edu/mobility/sustainability
* Pitt Purchase, Pay, & Travel Sustainability, https://www.ppt.pitt.edu/suppliers/sustainability-initiatives
* Pittsburgh Collaboratory for Water Research, Education, and Outreach, https://www.water.pitt.edu
* Thrive at Pitt, Environmental Wellness, https://www.thrive.pitt.edu/pillars-of-well-being/environmental-well-being
* Student Office of Sustainability, http://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/pittserves/sustain
* SVC Business & Operations, Office of Sustainability, https://www.svcoperations.pitt.edu/offices/office-sustainability
* University of Thriftsburgh (on-campus thrift store), https://www.studentaffairs.pitt.edu/care-and-resources/thriftsburgh