Pitt’s sustainability journey continues to grow, reflecting the priorities outlined in the Pitt Sustainability Plan and the 2022 Pitt Climate Action Plan. In 2024, the University advanced sustainability and climate action across more infrastructure, divisions, departments, and offices—while strengthening collaborations with individual, institutional, and external partners.
With sustainability as a core priority for the Pitt community, transparent, data-informed decision-making remains essential. Tracking progress on our sustainability goals ensures continued momentum and measurable impact as we work toward a more sustainable future.
Accountability & Trust
2024 BikePGH Educators of the Year: Lucy Klug, Mobility Specialist, and Sarah Sleva, Assistant Director of Outdoor and Adventure Pursuits, for their work organizing and leading 23 bike education classes in Fall 2024.
Received Second Nature’s inaugural Climate Luminary Honors award in the Community category for “Appalachian Bridges to the Future: Resilience in Fayette County” project.
Improved the School of Medicine’s Planetary Health Report Card overall grade to B.
Earned Electric Vehicle Adoption Leadership (EVAL) certifications, with Schenley Garage, Soldiers & Sailors Garage, and The Assembly receiving Platinum, and Meade Street Lot and Residences on Bigelow Garage earning Gold.
It’s Possible at Pitt
Bike Share – Pitt community took 213,822 bike share trips on POGOH between July and December 2024, almost surpassing FY24’s total trip count of 215,465 in only 6 months.
Organic Material Anaerobic Digestion – Pitt Sustainability Challenge winner Ecotone Renewables made first Pitt anaerobic digester at Posvar Hall operational! This first of 5 digesters across 4 Pitt campuses diverted 544 pounds of organic and biodegradable materials in November & December 2024.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Campus Visit by Zealan Hoover, Senior Advisor to the U.S. EPA Administrator & Director of Implementation, who guest lectured in Sustainability Project Management (Environmental Studies) & Climate Fiction (English) courses
2024 Steven D. Manners Research Development Award from UCSUR for “Challenges & Opportunities for Advancing the University of Pittsburgh’s Transition to the Circular Economy” research [Dr. Melissa Bilec & Dr. Amy Brooks, MCSI/CEE]
Solar Power – 33,958,000 kWh of local electricity procured from Vesper Gaucho Solar farm in CY24. 167,516 kWh solar electricity produced in CY24 across 3 rooftop solar arrays (Pittsburgh & Bradford campuses), avoiding over $19,946 in utility ($32,537 avoided CY21-24). 28,993 kW of rooftop solar under construction on Ruskin, Posvar, & David Lawrence Halls.
Scholarship, Creativity, and Innovation
Health Sciences – Inaugural Sustainability in Healthcare Challenge awarded $120,000 to 4 research projects: 1) Reducing Operating Room Waste and Cost Using AI; 2) Additively Manufactured Sustainable Filters for Healthcare Applications; 3) Optimizing STAT Medevac Dispatch for Fuel Efficiency and Carbon Footprint Reduction; & 4) Development of a Reusable Pulse Oximeter Prototype Functional in Clinical Settings. Student research funding & presentations were also awarded.
Collaboration – Newly inked S&B USA collaboration MOU with Engineering & Business built on Sustainability partnerships & projects with MCSI and Center for Sustainable Business.
Student Success
Food Recovery – 34,022 pounds of food recovered in CY24 and 215,000 pounds of food recovered since 2014. 2,929 surplus food meals repackaged and distributed to the community (including 743 to food security lockers) in Fall 2024.
Pitt Food Recovery case study selected as winner in Campus Race to Zero Waste Food Waste Reduction category.
The post Advancing Sustainability and Climate Action in 2024 appeared first on Pitt Sustainability.