Sustainability

Since its founding in 1963, Pitzer College has been committed to sustainability.

Sustainable Buildings

In 2007, Pitzer College inaugurated three LEED Gold Certified residence halls. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is awarded by the US Green Building Council.

Over 40 sustainable features were incorporated into their design and building:

  • They were constructed of materials made of recycled content including structural steel, concrete, gypsum board, carpeting and insulation.
  • Over 20% of construction materials were manufactured within 200 miles of the project site.
  • A green-belt area of equal size to the footprint of the buildings is maintained around the site.
  • Solar panels on the buildings provide about 28,067 kilowatt hours of renewable energy annually.
  • A green roof system includes a high quality water proofing and root repellant system, a drainage system, filter cloth, a lightweight growing medium and plants.
  • Surrounding landscaping utilizes drought-tolerant plants. Irrigation is minimized through a high-efficiency irrigation system and climate-based controllers.
  • The buildings are heated and cooled with high-efficiency chillers, boilers and pumps.
  • Their energy costs are lowered by up to 32% thanks to compact fluorescent lighting, daylighting, insulation, chilled water and operable windows.
  • The bathrooms feature low-flow shower heads, faucets and toilets.
  • Residential rooms and halls contain low-emitting adhesives, sealants, paints, carpets, etc.

Sustainable Programs

  • The John Rodman Arboretum grows drought-tolerant and native landscaping. Pitzer students and staff also grow small organic gardens at the Arboretum.
  • Pitzer's Firestone Center for Restoration Ecology resides on 150 acres in Costa Rica and is a biological reserve and logistical base for undergraduate ecological research.
  • Pitzer's Ecology Center sponsors activities, workshops and lectures, and supports campus-based projects. It takes hundreds of pounds of food from the campus's main dining hall, composts it and turns it into organic fertilizer for campus gardens and landscaping.
  • The Leadership in Environmental Education and Partnership Program involves students in a local wild ecosystem.
  • Pitzer's Green Community Bike Place provides bikes, locks and repairs for students at all the Claremont Colleges.

Classes on Sustainability

Pitzer's course offerings on the environment are extensive. Some, including those in the Environmental Studies major, are: Community, Ecology and Design; Eco-logical Landscaping; Ecology and Cultural Change; Environment and Development in the Third World; Environmental Economics; Environments, Arts and Action; Environmental Ethics and Public Policy; Environmental Justice; Natural Resource Management; Plants and People; Ecology, Human Rights and Development; Parks, Conservation Areas & People; US Environmental Policy; Where Has All the Water Gone?

Sustainable Practices

  • The Green Housekeeping: a set of policies and procedures designed to reduce the impact of harsh chemicals and solvents. Pitzer facilities are cleaned with Green Seal-37 approved products only, which are also available for students to use in their individual rooms.
  • Duplex Printing: all Pitzer College printers are set up with duplex mode as their default.
  • Low-water Landscaping: much of Pitzer's landscaping is low-water.