Nationally Recognized

We're nationally recognized for our work to improve recycling, make buildings with more energy-efficient, reduce food waste on campus, and improve bicycle transportation on campus.

For those efforts and more, UL Lafayette is one of 11 universities to earn the 2016 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Postsecondary Sustainability Award.

Keep UL Lafayette Beautiful

As a Keep Louisiana Beautiful University Affiliate, we are committed to continuous improvement in addressing sustainability and environmental issues, promoting student environmental stewardship and engagement, and rigorously measuring outcomes.

Zero Waste

We're committed to not just recycling, but reducing our waste overall.

Our Zero Waste initiative includes efforts to reduce food waste, recycle electronics and office supplies on campus, install bottle-refilling water fountains, and increase recycling from tailgating with the national Gameday Challenge. 

Zero Waste also includes our overall recycling program, Geaux R.E.D., which spans across campus.

Leaders in Sustainability

At the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, we're leaders in sustainability. Our new Student Union is the first major building in Lafayette recognized for environmental sustainability by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.

Being LEED-certified means that we met high standards in construction, recycling, and efficient energy usage.

Sustainability Research

As a university, we're committed to research for a reason—which includes finding alternative fuels, studying the effects of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and designing and building green homes.

Find out more about our efforts to promote sustainable practices through our academics and research.

Sustainability is in our Roots.

At the turn of the 20th century, the first president of the University, Dr. Edwin Lewis Stephens, hand-planted live oaks on campus.  Now known as the Century Oaks, these majestic trees symbolize UL Lafayette’s strength and stability. Our University’s values are deeply rooted in the Cajun and Creole cultures of our Acadiana region. These values strongly connect us to our environment and communities, and influence our inclination toward collaboration to solve problems.  We value the right of each person to have the resources he or she needs to live and thrive. At a time when resource and economic efficiency is more important than ever, we must all commit to do more, together.

Our 2018-2021 Sustainability Strategic Plan sets out strategic, time constrained objectives that will guide the entire University community in continuing our steady progress toward achieving our sustainability goals. Faculty, staff, students, and administrators worked together to incorporate principles of sustainability and strategies for progress into all areas of our institution, including our operations, our mission of education and research, and engagement of our campus community.  In working to achieve our goals, we will utilize our campus and region as a living laboratory to inform and inspire our students, faculty, staff and community to create positive, systemic changes for a sustainable future. This plan is holistic, ambitious, and essential to the sustainability of our institution and community.