Making Progress

USC is committed to advancing sustainability solutions on campus and around the world. Our research and education programs are leading the way in addressing climate change. USC campus operations are designed to lessen our impact on the environment. From energy and water use to transportation and food services, USC is cultivating a culture of sustainability.

USC earned a Silver rating from the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). Interested in built environment data sets? Learn more.

What is Sustainability?

Sustainability is the critical alignment of our economic and social systems with nature’s life support systems. By maximizing positive behaviors and minimizing trade-offs, we can support a world in which all species survive and thrive.

Progress Reports

USC Sustainability By the Numbers

View the FY22 Report for more.

Energy and Emissions

31% absolute GHG scope 1 + 2 emissions reduction since 2014 baseline
42,000 kWh energy savings per month resulting from centrally-managed Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Cooling (HVAC) automated scheduling programs
20 academic buildings upgraded to energy-efficient LED lighting
60% lighting load reduction after LED upgrades

Waste Diversion

53.91% USC’s overall waste diversion rate (as of June 2023)
59.76% University Park Campus waste diversion rate (as of June 2023)
41.61% Health Sciences Campus waste diversion rate (as of June 2023)
67.93% USC Village waste diversion rate (as of June 2023)
37.21% USC Housing (off campus) waste diversion rate (as of June 2023)
26.50% CAL/CDF buildings (off campus) waste diversion rate (as of June 2023)

Water Conservation

15% potable water use reduction per sq ft.of bldg. space since 2014 baseline
40% estimated average water use savings resulting from new native or climate adaptive landscaping
90% of UPC irrigation is centrally controlled and employs weather-based sensors
36 additional sub-meter locations for UPC water metering installed

Transportation

7% reduction in single-occupancy vehicles commuting to campus
2.32 average riders per vehicle commuting to our campuses, exceeding SCAQMD target of 1.5
23 bio-fuel buses in operation
112 electric vehicle charging ports installed across UPC and HSC (237 ports total installed on both campuses to date)

Procurement

55% of USC Hospitality food is purchased from sustainable sources
Single-use plastic beverage bottle elimination plan developed with Auxiliary Services, Athletics, and Procurement to help USC transition away from single-use plastics and improve waste reduction (policy effective July 2022)

Education and Research

Presidential Sustainability Solutions Fellowship launched August 2023
1,196 sustainability-focused or inclusive courses offered
11 research centers, programs or institutes dedicated to sustainability research

LA Coliseum 2022 Football Season

91.74% waste diversion rate for seven football games
66.14 tons of game-day waste diverted from landfill (72.1 total tons generated during season)
>1,200 tons of game-day waste diverted from landfill since 2015
Three-time winner of Pac-12 Zero Waste Challenge