We are excited to share that this team is evolving to better suit the Mason Community and is spearheading this change with a new name! The Office of Sustainability is becoming University Sustainability. We invite your continued engagement as we focus on initiatives, projects, and outreach to steer Mason's promise of a more sustainable future.

Who We Are & What We Do

Our office was born in 2007 shortly after Mason signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment, which committed Mason to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. We use the strengths of George Mason University – innovation, responsiveness, flexibility, and community strength – to provide leadership in environmental, social, and economic stewardship on our campuses and throughout the local and global communities of which we are a part.

It's 2022 and we're still working every day to make Mason more sustainable.

We were the first institution in the state of Virginia to earn a 'Gold' rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) in 2014 and we just received our third 'Gold' rating in a row in January 2021. Our collaborative efforts are recognized by industry leaders: 9 features in Sierra Club's 'Cool Schools' ranking and 11 consecutive features in The Princeton Review's 'Guide to Green Colleges.' There are too many accomplishments to share, so you can learn more about the impact we're making here.

 

Make Your Sustainable Impact

We provide students with opportunities you can’t find anywhere else.

Volunteer or intern with our Greenhouse and Gardens program across three sustainable food production sites, receive grant funding from our Patriot Green Fund for your sustainability-focused research or infrastructure projects, and live sustainably by participating in our Campus Efficiencies program’s composting and Green Residence programs.

University Sustainability Map

Check out University Sustainability’s interactive map on your tablet, desktop, or Mason Mobile App to explore campus sustainability features!

New Composting Pilot

Mason Facilities is excited to announce the launch of a new zero waste station, with industrial composting, located at the Starbucks Northern Neck on the Fairfax campus!

 

Mason is aiming for over 90% waste diversion from our trash stream, or to become zero waste. Waste reduction, reuse, and donation, as well as diversion strategies like composting/recycling are needed to support our sustainability goal. Join us in reaching our goal: refill and/or reuse items whenever possible and take the extra step to properly sort recycling and composting at campus bins. Learn more here!

Plant Lover? Gardener? Grower?

Support student learning by purchasing plants and seedlings from our Greenhouse & Gardens secure online marketplace. Proceeds support opportunities for students to learn about sustainable agriculture by volunteering and completing for-credit internships!