Sustainable Pomona

Because of the campus closure, Dining Services did not make any food purchases this year. However, Dining Services and the SO continued to advance food sustainability through student engagement and data collection.

Pomona students examined campus attitudes toward sustainable meals and worked closely with Dining to launch Mindful Mondays, a program that will be piloted when the campus reopens in the fall. Students also found community in Grow Getters, a virtual club designed to connect people through a shared love for growing produce sustainably.

Furloughed staff were able to work on a limited basis to prepare meals for local homebound seniors, providing the opportunity to give back to the community while producing delicious plant-forward meals.

While Pomona College did not make any food purchases this year, it met its 2020 sustainable purchasing goals last year and is now in the process of establishing ambitious new goals for 2030.

For more information, click the 2021 SAVE Report link in our bio!

The COVID-19 pandemic eliminated almost all transit to and from campus, yielding a 92% reduction in overall transportation emissions from the baseline.

Pomona extended its pause of study abroad programs, athletic events, and other non-essential travel, reducing College-funded air travel 99% from 2019, the most recent year that campus was fully open.

During the campus closure, faculty and staff telecommuted for 64% of their trips, compared to less than 1% in 2019. Although these results were influenced by the campus closure, COVID-19 has shown how individual choices can significantly reduce carbon emissions.

As people return to campus, College-funded transportation is expected to rebound. However, the Pomona community can continue to utilize telecommuting in their academic, professional, and social activity, something which will help build global networks while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information, click the 2021 SAVE Report link in our bio!

Campus water usage is on a positive downward trend with a 24% decrease from the baseline.

The campus closure reduced domestic water consumption by 51% since 2019, the most recent year that Pomona’s campus was fully open. However, outdoor irrigation increased by 43% compared to 2019, largely due to increased water usage at the Rains Athletic Center’s construction site.

As people return to campus, the Sustainability Office aims to increase WaterWise awareness in the residence halls, the largest consumer of water when the campus is open. Additionally, the Sustainability Office plans to work closely with Grounds to improve irrigation operations.

For more information, click the 2021 SAVE Report link in our bio!

This year, largely because of the campus closure, Pomona College reduced total waste sent to the landfill by 68% (nearly 350 tons) compared to the 2014 baseline and 62% compared to last year.

The campus also diverted 65% of waste from the landfill, mostly because of an increase in grounds projects that produced mulch through the City of Claremont.

While waste is expected to rise with the campus reopening in the fall, the Sustainability Office (SO) plans to further increase waste diversion through improved waste bin signage and strategic placement throughout the campus.

In addition, the SO and Dining Services are piloting a Zero Waste dining program by expanding reusable food boxes and cups and packaging all grab-and-go items in compostable materials.

For more information, click the 2021 SAVE Report link in our bio!

The campus closure provided insight on Pomona College’s baseline energy use— how much energy the College’s buildings use without any occupants.

With the majority of faculty and staff working remotely, Facilities was able to implement flexible building temperatures and shut down non-essential equipment. This reduced energy usage 34% from last year and 51% from the 2014 baseline.

Many of the largest reductions in usage this year came from athletic facilities and the residence halls since those spaces were largely unoccupied.

As the campus reopens in the fall, the Sustainability Office will work with Facilities to identify and prioritize major energy efficiency projects that will continue to reduce campus energy use for years to come.

For more information, click the 2021 SAVE Report link in our bio!

Buy homemade, student-created items from 5C students at the Walker Flea Market on Sunday, February 13th, 11 am - 2pm.

Items sold will include clothes, crochet creations, handmade jewelry, and art prints. We’ll also have craft stations for card making, macramé, and planting succulents!

With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, let’s show our love for the Earth by promoting sustainable gifting!

The Sustainability Office at Pomona would like to announce that we are opening another free room location on campus!

Rather than walking all the way to Walker Lounge on North Campus, students living on South Campus can go to the Sustainability Integration Office located in Harwood East’s basement to grab some free items. This location is open at all times, feel free to come by to freshen up your wardrobe. Donations are also welcome.

Hello all! The 2021 ReCoop will be hosted on Saturday, September 18th with the following hours:

9-11am Full Price
11am-12pm Half-Price
12-1pm Everything is $1

If you have items that you would like to donate, there are donation bins both in Walker Lounge and in the Mudd-Blaisedell hallway near the vending machines.