About Green Campus Partnership

The Green Campus Partnership is the umbrella group that addresses environmental sustainability and stewardship, and advocates for enhanced sustainability policies at Penn. It includes the Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee (ESAC) as well as faculty and student groups, including the Penn Environmental Group (PEG) .

The Green Campus Partnership was formed after Penn President Amy Gutmann signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment in February 2007, the first Ivy League President to do so. Although the University's comprehensive sustainability plan won't be complete until 2009, much is already underway in the Penn Community to lower our carbon footprint.

Despite all the activity and interest in sustainability at Penn, there is always more that can be done. We urge every member of the Penn Community to become a partner in the University's efforts to address the issue of global climate change!

Daniel Garofalo, a planner and architect in the Office of Facilities and Real Estate Services since 2002, has been appointed Penn’s first environmental sustainability coordinator and facilities planner. In his new role, Garofalo will be responsible for Penn’s sustainability strategy, including energy conservation, waste management, green buildings, transportation and planning. Read more...

Welcome

Penn is addressing climate change through research, scholarship, education and sustainable design, construction, and operations. In 2007, the University of Pennsylvania witnessed two milestones that will shape our campus and its environmental impact for years to come.

In February, I pledged that by 2009 Penn would create a plan to significantly reduce emissions that contribute to global warming.

In July, we acquired 14 acres of industrial land next adjacent to campus which is the focus of our award winning campus plan Penn Connects - A Vision for the Future. Sustainability is a guiding principle of this plan. We are excited to increase the amount of green space on campus by over 25% by converting parking lots to parkland, mitigating storm water runoff, reducing urban heat island effect, and creating a beautiful landscape to support native plantings.

The Penn Community is proud of the steps we've taken to reduce our environmental footprint, and we are committed to moving even farther in the future. I am pleased to share with you this summary of Penn's accomplishments, which illustrate Penn's dedication to sustainability.

Amy Gutmann
President