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Blue and Green make Gold
At Fort Lewis College, sustainability isn’t just an abstract concept or vague notion. Maybe that's because a sense of responsibility for land and community comes naturally when you live and work in a place as open, wild, and beautiful as southwestern Colorado. And that's why at FLC, the entire campus is engaged in making sustainability a reality: academically, culturally, administratively, and structurally. Because being deliberate about where we're going and what we're passing forward is also how we define good citizenship.
Read more about sustainability at FLC:
New Environmental Science major expands options for working for the good of the Earth
Both the Environmental Studies and new Environmental Science programs make use of FLC’s unique location to explore issues such as energy production, local foods, water conservation, land use, national parks, and Native American tribal lands.
Read story
For the EC's new leader, environmentalism is rooted in community
For the Environmental Center’s new coordinator, environmentalism is rooted in community. Marty Pool shares his vision for FLC's student-driven, applied-learning center.
Read story
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Sustainability grant
Anyone -- students, faculty, or staff -- with a project aimed at improving sustainability on campus can apply for the Sustainability Initiative Grant, whether it be through academics, research, structural, campus culture, or administrative planning.
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Renewable energy
Fort Lewis College generates on-site renewable electricity from solar panels on the Student Union, Sitter Family Hall, and Berndt Hall. More than half of our purchased electricity is associated with renewable generation through participation in the La Plata Electric Association’s Green Power. FLC is also recognized as a Green Power Partner by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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Academics
Between 2015 and 2017, FLC faculty taught 73 sustainability-oriented courses, 16 percent of all courses taught during that period, and sustainability-oriented courses were offered in more than half of academic departments and programs. Also, nearly one-third of departments and programs were engaged in sustainability-oriented research and creative projects.
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Transportation
Both FLC and Durango are bike-friendly communities, with a wide, interconnected network of bicycle and pedestrian trails and dedicated bicycle lanes, as well as an extensive dirt path system linking campus and town. Students with an FLC I.D. also have free use of public transportation, and commuters with qualifying energy-efficient vehicles receive discounted parking permits.
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Recycling
FLC utilizes the City of Durango’s single-stream recycling services. During the 2017-2018 fiscal year, FLC recycled 40 tons of waste through the campus recycling system, and nearly 100 tons of items were recycled or donated through the campus surplus equipment program. The Environmental Center also hosts an ink jet and toner cartridge recycling station available for all student, faculty, and staff.
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Composting
The Rocket Composter, located in the Student Union, services the San Juan Dining Room and the Rocket Grill, reducing food-service waste by 70 percent and composting up to 5 tons of food waste each year. The output compost is matured in bins and used on the Campus Garden and Food Forest.
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Real food
In 2014, FLC joined the Real Food Challenge Commitment to bring "real food" -- local, sustainably grown, fair-trade, and humane food products – into campus food services. As of Fall 2018, 6 percent of the food served at San Juan Dining met these standards.
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Buildings
U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Gold certifications have been awarded to the Student Union, Animas Residence Hall, the Biology Wing of Berndt Hall, and Sitter Family Hall.
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Presidential initiatives
In 2007, FLC became a charter signatory of the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, today known as the Second Nature Carbon Commitment, through which the College aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 in a series of steps. By 2018, campus had already exceeded goals, reducing carbon emissions by 47 percent.
