The Catholic University of America is committed to sustainability.

The Catholic University of America has a legacy of committed and active leadership in sustainability at the local, national, and international levels. At Catholic University we have turned our commitments into actions that are visible across campus, from academics to community engagement to our buildings and grounds, resulting in recognition from a wide variety of organizations focused on sustainability.

Commitments

Catholic University is a leader in sustainability at the local, national, and international levels.

• In November 2021, the Catholic University of America became one of the first universities in the world to sign onto a new Vatican initiative, the Laudato Si' Action Platform. Inspired by the 2015 encyclical on care for creation, Laudato Si', CatholicU is committing to a Laudato Si' plan for environmental sustainability.
• Nine District of Columbia higher education presidents including Catholic University’s President Garvey signed onto the District of Columbia Mayor’s College and University Sustainability Pledge (CUSP)  in 2012 and again in April 2019. This university-based collaborative approach to sustainability was the first of its kind in the nation. DC was the first city in the U.S. to form such a compact between its higher education sector and local government to advance sustainability. Working together in this public/private partnership, the signatories are working to make the District of Columbia the “Greenest College Town in America”.
• Catholic University participates in the District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility's University Roundtable, a quarterly discussion for local colleges and universities in the District to come together, build connections, and share knowledge about their campuses becoming greener with a focus on energy.
• In August 2019, Catholic University became a member of the Better Buildings Alliance, a U.S. Department of Energy program dedicated to promoting leadership in energy innovation. Catholic U also joined the program's Better Buildings Challenge to reduce the University's energy consumption by 20% by the year 2026. Catholic University is one of 30+ colleges and universities sharing best practices and engaging with technical experts to advance energy savings goals.

Recognition

• Green Ribbon School

  Catholic University was named a U.S. Department of Education 2024 Green Ribbon School in recognition of our commitment to improving the environmental well-being of our campus and the greater community.

• Clean Energy DC

  Catholic University received the 2024 Clean Energy DC Award from the District of Columbia in recognition of the development of the West Campus Solar Project.

• Princeton Review

  For the fifth year in a row, Catholic University was included in the Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges: 2025 Edition based on the University's sustainability-related policies, practices, and programs.

   

• College Consensus

  College Consensus ranked Catholic University 21st on a list of the Best Green Colleges in the United States, in recognition of Catholic U’s embrace of renewable energy.

• AASHE STARS

  Catholic University earned an Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) STARS Silver rating in 2022.

  Additionally, Catholic University was recognized in AASHE's 2023 Sustainable Campus Index as the 9th Top Performer in the Energy category.

• UI GreenMetric World University Ranking

  Catholic University was ranked by the UI GreenMetric World Rankings program as the 6th most sustainable campus in the U.S. and 563rd most sustainable campus in the world in 2022 based on academic and operational sustainability programs.

• League of American Bicyclists

  The League of American Bicyclists presented Catholic University with a bronze-level Bicycle Friendly University award in recognition of our actions to address the health and environmental challenges facing America by creating campuses more welcoming to people who bike.

   

• Arbor Day Foundation

  The Catholic University of America was honored with a 2023 Tree Campus Higher Education® recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to effective urban forest management.