Texas A&M Kicks Off Earth Month As Office Of Sustainability Celebrates 15th Anniversary

Texas A&M University’s Office of Sustainability will celebrate Earth Month through a variety of educational events aimed toward empowering attendees to be more sustainable in their daily lives.

The office was created in March 2008 to enhance the university’s sustainability efforts. Fifteen years later, Texas A&M has made notable strides in this area. For example, the university used 7% less total energy in fiscal year 2022 than it did in 2002, even though the campus has grown by 67% over the past two decades.

“Fifteen years ago Texas A&M University took steps to ensure a sustainable Aggieland for generations of Aggies with the creation of the Office of Sustainability, and today as we kick off Earth Month we continue to celebrate that commitment,” said Kelly Wellman, director of the Office of Sustainability. “Throughout Earth Month we’re inviting students, faculty and staff to come learn about how they can make a difference on our campus, in our community and the entire world with in-person and virtual events.”

Events planned for this month can be found at tx.ag/EarthMonth.

Despite the growth of the university over the years, Texas A&M has reduced waste, energy use and water use thanks to the hard work of students, faculty and staff, Wellman said.

“Across campus, the use of alternative transportation such as bikes, skateboards and buses is also reducing our carbon footprint,” she said. “It’s a real testament to individual actions making a collective impact.”

Earth Month also provides an opportunity to celebrate another recent achievement: Texas A&M has received its fifth Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) Gold Rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). The STARS program evaluates institutions based on performance in academics, engagement, operations, and planning and administration.

Texas A&M’s progress in these areas is detailed in the recently released 2022 Sustainability Highlights Report. Some key highlights include: a 58% reduction in potable water use on campus since 1991; 51% of sponsored researchers on campus are engaged in sustainability-related research; and 71% of waste was diverted from landfills through recycling, composting and/or donation and reuse.

“For 15 years, Texas A&M has demonstrated our loyalty to the future by respecting, protecting and preserving the financial, environmental and people resources that ensure Aggies have a sustainable home for the next 15 years and all years that come,” wrote Susan Ballabina, chief external affairs officer and senior vice president of Academic & Strategic Collaborations, in the report.

For more information about sustainability at Texas A&M and for updates on Earth Month events, visit the Office of Sustainability website. Follow the office on social media at @SustainableTAMU to discover code words for a chance to win prizes throughout the month.