Aztecs might be red, white and black, but they’re going green. At San Diego State University, sustainability and green living are an essential way of life. That’s why the school is so excited that its efforts are being recognized.
SDSU’s Associated Students recently won the prestigious 2016 San Diego Earth Works E.A.R.T.H. award. The award recognizes individuals and organizations for their actions toward creating a clean and healthy environment. It also recognized SDSU’s effort to become a LEED certified campus. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a third-party verification for green buildings.
The award was handed out on May 18th and focused specifically on SDSU’s efforts to reduce water and energy consumption. Since 2009, the school has reduced its overall energy consumption by more than 25 percent across all six of its campus facilities. In a continued effort, SDSU’s goal is to make all of its facilities LEED Certified by 2020, according to a recent press release.
In addition to the E.A.R.T.H award, SDSU also recently received several distinctions for sustainable food service. In fact, three restaurants just received significant recognition:
- First café in a convenience store to become a certified green restaurant
- First Chipotle Mexican Grill in the world to become a certified green restaurant
- First Habit Burger Grill in the world to become a certified green restaurant
In a press release from the university, Duane Buske, the senior general manager of purchasing and distribution for Aztec Shops, spoke about the recognition. “Sustainability is a top priority for SDSU,” he said. “Partnering with the GRA keeps our operations in alignment both with the vision of campus and Aztec Shops as a whole.”
Overall, 23 different food service entities at SDSU have met the 2 Star Certified Green Restaurant standards, implementing a total of 841 environmental steps.