Sustainability featured in new Golden Bear Orientation

September 19, 2017

The Office of Sustainability was a proud contributor to this year's Golden Bear Prep, a required on-line orientation for new students. Over 7,000 new undergraduates completed this learning module highlighting campus sustainability and ways to get involved. This is the first time we've been able showcase our points of pride to so many incoming students!

Berkeley sustainability was highlighted as one of six Points of Pride - this is what we shared with our new students

Golden Bear Orientation - Points of Pride: Sustainability

  • 87% of students walk, bike or take public transit to campus
  • Over $2 million in student-fee funding for 166 sustainability projects in
    last eight years
  • 29 percent of undergraduates took at least one course focused on
    sustainability
  • Solar panels on 5 buildings (1 MW total) contribute toward goal of carbon neutrality by 2025

Sustainability is a natural fit for the Berkeley campus – after all, Blue + Gold does make Green. We work to continuously reduce our impacts, and students lead the way with drive, innovation, and a deep commitment to the environment.. Whether it’s making Berkeley Zero Waste by 2020 or helping us save energy and be Carbon Neutral by 2025, we need your action to achieve our ambitious goals and to change the world for the better.

What can you do?  When you arrive, you’ll find a reusable water bottle and composting bins in your room – please use them often.  Enjoy the locally-sourced and sustainable food in the dining halls. Turn off unneeded lights and take shorter showers. Getting around is easy with your transit Class Pass, on campus shuttles or by bike.  Still working on your class schedule? Look through our list of sustainability related courses. Or volunteer to improve the habitat around Strawberry Creek.

We want to make it easy for you to join us and engage with our community of sustainability. The Student Environmental Resource Center is a great starting point for resources and for connecting with existing student groups. You’ll also find peer-to-peer education opportunities from the Residential Sustainability Program.  Visit our student sustainability resources website here, where you can learn more and see our video with sustainability in action.