Sustainable Achievements & Initiatives
At Unity College, we believe our biggest impact on creating a sustainable future is by making sustainability education flexible, affordable and accessible to all. That is why our strategic plan emphasizes meeting the needs of new audiences, wherever they may be. On top of that, we recognize our responsibility to model how a sustainable business can operate in a manner that supports fiscal, human, and planetary wellbeing. Here are some highlights of our efforts:
Academics
- 100% of graduates graduate from programs that have at least one sustainability learning outcome
- 100% of research-producing units are engaged in sustainability research
- Students regularly use the areas around them including College facilities as living laboratories
Engagement
- All student and employee orientation programs prominently include sustainability topics
- An internal revolving loan fund supports sustainability projects
- All students can voluntarily sign a Green Pledge, “to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organization for which I work.”
Operations
- Unity College has realized over 25% reduction in building energy use in Unity, ME, through efficient construction and retrofits
- 15% of electronic purchases, 80% of janitorial products, and 100% of copy paper meet recognized sustainability standards
- Over 45% of waste is diverted from landfills, including all food service waste, which is recycled into energy
- TerraHaus received Passive House certification in 2012
- Unity House was certified LEED for Homes, Platinum, in 2009
- Dining services always offer menu options that support a healthy planet and healthy people
- Used cooking oil is recycled into bio fuel
- Sustainable operations decisions are written into policy
- Hybrid and low-residency models minimize the College’s carbon footprint
Planning & Administration
- Differentiated tuition rate for learners in the military
- Focus on career pathways for all students
- Unity College was the first to divest from fossil fuels
- Sustainability has an equal voice at the senior leadership level
