Energy & Sustainability

We envision the University of Dayton as a sustainable community that provides for the social and economic needs of its current and future members, while continually promoting and strengthening the University's distinctive Catholic and Marianist identity.

To guide that vision, in 2014 the University created its first Policy on Sustainability. This campus-wide policy promotes greater efficiency through sustainable and environmentally sound practices in energy, waste, and water management, purchasing, transportation, and land stewardship. The policy encourages the use of campus as a living laboratory for students and faculty to meet today's sustainability challenges.

UD's STARS reports reflect campus-wide efforts to become a leader in sustainability education and operations. STARS is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. Reporting to STARS since 2011, the University of Dayton earned its third gold rating in 2022.

The Bicycle League of America awarded the University of Dayton a bronze rating in 2019 for its efforts in promoting and providing a more bikeable campus for students, staff and visitors. We are pleased to join the Bicycle Friendly University program, inspiring action to build healthy, sustainable and livable institutions of higher education.

UD's Solar Prairie at Curran Place earned high marks for pollinators from the Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative. UD works with OPHI to improve and create pollinator habitat on campus and raise awareness of the importance of pollinators in our campus landscape.

With over 9 acres of pollinator habitat ​​on campus, UD earned Xerces Society Bee Campus designation. The Bee Campus program recognizes colleges and universities providing healthy habitat rich in native plants that support native bumble bees, mason bees, monarch butterflies, hummingbirds, and other wildlife. Member campuses also provide outreach and education that promote pollinator conservation.