Community Engagement
The University community, our staff, faculty, students, and community members, holds an important role in achieving carbon neutrality that can often be difficult to measure. We created programs and educational strategies that educate and integrate sustainability practices in our workspace, laboratory, and student accommodations.
Our Programmatic Strategies
Our programmatic strategies aim to integrate healthy sustainability practices across all areas in our campus
Green Offices
The Green Office Program at UC Merced recognizes departments, units, and offices that have integrated sustainability practices into their workspace. The program is point-based and provides an opportunity for departments to evaluate their current practices, set goals, and receive recognition for their sustainable practices. The program evaluates the following areas: energy and climate, waste and recycling, transportation, purchasing, outreach, and events. Qualifying departments will be certified under one of the following certification levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum.
Green Laboratory
The Green Lab program works with individual laboratory and researchers to inform, collect best practices, and assess areas of improvement in research efficiency, including engagement, and targeted initiatives around efficiency in natural resources and other environmental issues
To date, we have certified five labs. One certified platinum, two certified gold, and two certified silver.
EcoRep Program
The Eco-Rep program aims to educate students about sustainable practices that benefit the community and environment. The goal is to encourage environmental behaviors in all topics related to sustainability, focusing on sustainable living practices using peer education techniques to inform students.
Our Education Strategies
Our education programs target staff, faculty, and students to share knowledge about or to promote sustainability. Our wide list of educational programs includes students and faculty projects that focus on climate energy education through Energize Colleges and the UC President's Bonnie Reiss Carbon Neutrality Initiative, which provides support and funding to students.
