Oct. 20, 2009

Backgrounder on Catholic University's "Green" Accomplishments

“As part of our Catholic faith, we strive to be good environmental stewards,” says Very Rev. David M. O’Connell, C.M., president of Catholic University. Sustainable steps taken by Catholic University in recent years include the following:

• In January 2009, CUA opened Opus Hall, the first new LEED-compliant student residence hall in Washington, D.C. http://publicaffairs.cua.edu/Releases/2008/09OpusDedication.cfm
  
  Now home for 400 students, Opus Hall boasts a highly insulated building shell, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, and appliances and mechanical systems that meet EPA Energy Star specifications
  
• Last year, CUA received an Award of Excellence from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for recycling efforts. http://publicaffairs.cua.edu/Releases/2009/09EarthDayMedAdvApril21.cfm
  
  
• In 2002, CUA first partnered with Washington Gas Energy Services and became the first university in the Washington area to purchase a portion of its electricity (12 percent) through wind power. http://publicaffairs.cua.edu/news/02windpower.htm
  
  
• Programs in Environmental Stewardship:
  Master of Science in Sustainable Design and Master of City and Regional Planning at the School of Architecture and Planning http://publicaffairs.cua.edu/Releases/2008/08NewPrograms.cfm
  
  The School of Engineering is offering an Alternative and Renewable Energy Track within the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science http://publicaffairs.cua.edu/Releases/2009/10BacktoSchool.cfm
  
  
• CUA partnered with the Casey Trees Foundation and planted 60 trees on campus in April and October of this year to help increase the tree canopy of Washington, D.C.
  http://publicaffairs.cua.edu/Releases/2009/09EarthDayOf.cfm
  http://publicaffairs.cua.edu/Releases/2009/09FallTreePlantingMedAdv.cfm