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Celebrate Campus Sustainability Month

Look Back at Campus Achievements 2000 -2021
Oct 29, 2021

Celebrate campus sustainability month by looking back at more than two decades of achievements at Salem State!

2021

  • There are now 14 classes/sections directly addressing climate change, up from one in 2015
  • Thanks to a $100,000 clean energy feasibility grant from the MA Department of Energy Resources, Salem State completes a decarbonization plan for north campus
  • Salem State receives a $48,348 state grant to install a rooftop solar array on Meier Hall
  • Vikings embrace new Bluebikes bike share and Salem Skipper on-demand van share city programs
  • Sustainability social media accounts are launched: Instagram and Twitter: sustainable_ssu; Facebook: Salem State Sustainability

2020

  • Sustainability Council Internship program begins, a collaboration between the Sustainability Office and the Geography and Sustainability Department
  • Six dual-port EV charging stations are installed at O’Keefe, using $116,204 in incentives from National Grid and the MA Department of Environmental Protection

2019      

  • Geography Department changes its name to Geography and Sustainability Department
  • SSU Student Government Association passes sustainability resolution
  • Rooftop solar arrays installed on Berry Library, Gassett Fitness and Marsh Hall bringing total solar capacity on campus to 599 KW. Project was supported by a $193,500 grant from the MA Department of Energy Resources
  • SSU is the only school to divest of the participants in the Multi-School Fossil-Free Divestment Fund, thus winning $57,000 for scholarships and Sunrise Salem
  • Carpooling network miles2share debuts, available exclusively to SSU community
  • SSU begins textile recycling at three campus locations
  • 2018       

  • Board of Trustees votes to divest from fossil fuels
  • Bookstore eliminates plastic bags
  • MA Department of Energy Resources Leading by Example award for campus sustainability initiatives
  • MA Department of Transportation Excellence in Commuting Options Award

2017       

  • Zagster bike share program launches in Salem and on campus; bikes are free to SSU community
  • Sophia Gordon Center is renovated and in 2018 is certified LEED Gold
  • President Keenan signs the “We Are Still In” the Paris Climate Accords declaration
  • SSU commences single-stream recycling of metal, plastic, glass, as well as paper/cardboard
  • MA Department of Transportation Excellence in Commuting Options Award
  • EPA Food Recovery Challenge Certificate of Achievement

2016      

  • Six solar streetlights installed on College Drive
  • The first water bottle refill stations are installed on campus, in response to requests from Student Government Association
  • MA Department of Transportation Excellence in Commuting Options Leadership Award
  • EPA Food Recovery Challenge Award

2015       

  • Students can take Global Climate Change class for the first time
  • North Campus Parking Garage receives a Parksmart Award for its sustainable features
  • Viking Hall receives LEED Gold certification
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Food Recovery Challenge Award

2014       

  • 68 KW solar array installed on Atlantic Hall    
  • Composting starts at SSU dining halls
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Food Recovery Challenge Award

2013       

  • Gassett Fitness Center is certified LEED Silver
  • Berry Library is certified LEED Silver; geothermal system installed at the Library

2012       

  • 151 KW solar array is installed on O’Keefe

2010       

  • Marsh Hall is certified LEED Gold
  • SSU Center for Economic Development and Sustainability opens

2007       

  • SSU commits to carbon neutrality by 2050

2004       

  • Atlantic Hall opens. Building was designed to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Standards

2000

  • First Earth Days celebration at Salem State
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