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
- 54.06% USC’s overall waste diversion rate (as of March 2023)
- 60.18% University Park Campus waste diversion rate (as of March 2023)
- 39.6% Health Sciences Campus waste diversion rate (as of March 2023)
- 68.34% USC Village waste diversion rate (as of March 2023)
- 37.35% USC Housing (off campus) waste diversion rate (as of March 2023)
- 26.91% CAL/CDF buildings (off campus) waste diversion rate (as of March 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
- 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