Sustainability

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Aerial view of campus showing solar arrays on the roof of Schatz Energy Research Center in the foreground.

Powering Campus Resilience

A renewable energy microgrid designed to keep Cal Poly Humboldt powered throughout outages is expected to be up and running by fall 2025. 

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A photo of Ariel DeLara wearing sunglass near a beach.

Alum's Journey to Environmental Stewardship

Ariel DeLara (‘15, Rangeland Resource Science) now works as a district conservationist for the Natural Resource Conservation Service, where he's dedicated to environmental stewardship and conservation.

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Winners of the 2023 Champions of Sustainability Awards

Meet Our Sustainability Champs

The seventh annual Sustainability Champion Awards program honors Cal Poly Humboldt employees who have deepened a culture of sustainability on campus, advanced  the integration of sustainability into academics or student life, or have reduced the University’s environmental footprint. 

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WRRAP student on a bike towing compost bins for food scraps.

Zero Waste Kudos

Cal Poly Humboldt is on the road to zero waste, and for its efforts was recognized by the Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN) with a bronze Zero Waste Certification.  

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A variety of events and activities are planned during Earth Week, from volunteering opportunities to free plants and skillshops.

Earth Week 2023

A reverence for the environment is instilled in the Humboldt experience, whether it’s via the graduation pledge, or by participating in the many sustainability-driven efforts on campus. Each April, members of the university community affirm these values during Earth Week celebrations.

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A Coast Guard helicopter lands at U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Humboldt Bay.

Groundbreaking Microgrid Ushers in 'New and Exciting Era'

California’s first 100% renewable energy, front-of-the-meter, multi-customer microgrid is now fully operational. Located in Humboldt County, California, the microgrid provides energy resilience for the regional airport and U.S. Coast Guard Air Station.

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Cal Poly Humboldt student Katie Miller, Health Educator Ravin Craig, and  Art Professor Stephen Nachtigall.

Stewards Of Sustainability

Recognizing the innovation, collaboration, and leadership of students, faculty, and staff who are advancing sustainability on campus.

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Bee pollinating a California lilac

Laying the Groundwork for Climate Resilience

With an eye on a warming planet and the North Coast’s future, Cal Poly Humboldt is turning its attention groundward with a new project designed to create a more resilient landscape in the face of climate change. 

The Plan for a Carbon-Free Cal Poly Humboldt

In response to the mounting effects of global climate change, Cal Poly Humboldt has released a draft update of its Climate Action Plan (CAP 2.0). A valuable tool for University-wide climate resilience planning, the CAP 2.0 is a roadmap to guide Cal Poly Humboldt towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2045.

Speaker Series: Environmental Hazards, Offshore Wind Energy, and Children's Rights

Humboldt State University’s Sustainable Futures speaker series (SFSS) kicks off January 27 at 5:30 p.m. with Jill Lindsey Harrison, author of "From the Inside Out: The Fight for Environmental Justice within Government Agencies." Plus, Alison Bates, who will share research on the social acceptance of offshore wind energy, and Andrea Rodgers, who will discuss on children’s fundamental rights, the climate crisis, and the call for judicial branch engagement.

New Minor Offers Education in Sustainability for Every Major

Humboldt State University has launched a new minor that transcends disciplines and can complement any undergraduate major. Starting this Fall, the Sustainability minor will explore real-world problems from a variety of academic perspectives, incorporating curricula from across the natural and social sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.