Planning & Sustainability

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Sustainability

Integrating environmental health, social equity, and economic viability

At PSU, sustainability is our institutional operating system. By aligning our physical environment with our mission of social and economic transformation, we ensure that every square foot of PSU generates enduring value for our students and the city of Portland.

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Building a Sustainable Campus

PSU is located at the south end of downtown Portland, where campus buildings are seamlessly integrated with businesses, apartment buildings, public parks, bike lanes, and food carts. Explore many of the innovative, sustainable features of our campus.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SUSTAINABLE BUILDING

How we are doing

Climate Action Plans

Portland State University’s climate strategy serves as a roadmap for achieving carbon neutrality by 2040, beginning with a formal commitment to national and local environmental standards. The process involves a continuous cycle of monitoring carbon emissions and updating institutional targets to reflect current data and state mandates. Over time, the strategy has expanded from a purely technical focus on atmospheric impacts to a holistic approach that considers the human and social dimensions of environmental work.

Read More about climate action

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Climate action plan 2010

This foundational document translated a presidential pledge into a concrete policy framework, legally aligning the university with Oregon’s state mandates and City of Portland goals.

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CAP 2013 Progress Report

This update acted as a mid-term diagnostic tool. It identified  gaps in data collection and revising tracking methodologies to ensure more accurate reporting.

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CAP 2023 Progress Report

Representing a decade of evolution, this report fundamentally redefined the university's mission by integrating social justice and equity as mandatory components of climate resilience.

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REPORTING 

Portland Commercial Building Energy Reporting
For buildings 20,000+ sq. ft. we track and report performance data annually by April 22. This supports the city’s Climate Action Plan by targeting energy and emission reductions.

Oregon Building Performance Standard (HB 3409)
This was enacted in 2023 to reduce energy consumption across Oregon’s existing commercial buildings, which account for 20% of state energy use.

Energy Trust of Oregon (ETO) and Strategic Energy Management (SEM) Partnership
Strategic Energy Management (SEM) provides PSU with tools, training, and peer learning opportunities to proactively cut energy waste, optimize building operations based on data like Energy Use Intensity (EUI), and promote staff engagement around conservation.

Certifications & Standards

Portland State University integrates environmental stewardship into its core operations by maintaining an elite STARS Gold rating and a robust portfolio of LEED-certified buildings. These achievements are supported by rigorous Technical Excellence Standards that mandate high-performance energy targets and sustainable material selection for all campus projects. By requiring LEED Gold certification for all new construction and major renovations, PSU ensures modern facilities prioritize maximum energy efficiency and environmental health. Beyond new builds, the university also optimizes its older structures through a rigorous operations and maintenance program.

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STARS ASHEE PROGRAM

Portland State University has been recertified as a STARS Gold institution, affirming its leadership in sustainability across research, campus operations, and climate action.

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LEED Certification

PSU has 19 LEED-certified buildings across campus. By balancing new design with the longevity of existing spaces, PSU creates a more sustainable environment for the entire community.

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LEED O+M

LEED Operations and Maintenance certification is a strategy used to improve the efficiency and indoor health of existing campus buildings rather than just new construction. PSU currently has 4 buildings under LEED O+M.

SUSTAINABILITY AS A CONNECTOR

Through partnerships and connections across campus and our community, we empower and equip people to successfully self-run their own sustainability initiatives and programming components. 

-  Student Sustainability Center 
-  Facilities 
-  Capital Projects 
-  Materials Management
-  Campus Events 
-  PBOT 
-  City of Portland  
-  Portland Parks 
-  Transportation and Parking
-  Bike Hub

...AND MORE.

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STUDENT INVOLVEMENT!

Visit or contact the Student Sustainability Center to learn more about their programs and resources that are designed for students who want to create positive change on campus and beyond.

STUDENT SUSTAINABILITY CENTER